Ruth Gleans in the Field

Ruth 2:1-23

INTRODUCTION: The first chapter of Ruth demonstrates the great need and lowly condition of both Naomi and Ruth. This chapter begins to give hope and demonstrates the wonderful grace of God. In chapter one, Ruth claimed Naomi’s God as her God (Ruth 1:16). In chapter two, Ruth begins to understand what it means to come under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12).

1. RUTH GOES TO GLEAN IN THE FIELD (2:1-3)
   1. The Introduction of Boaz (v.1)
      1. A kinsman of Naomi’s husband
      2. A mighty man of wealth
      3. The story of Ruth gives a beautiful picture of God’s grace and the present age of grace
         1. Naomi is a type of Israel. She loses her husband and her joy. She comes home empty (Ruth 1:20-21)
         2. Ruth is a type of the church. She is a Gentile who is a stranger to the God of Israel (Ruth 2:10, 12). She claims Naomi’s God as her God (Ruth 1:16) and finds blessing in that decision.
         3. Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in the line of Christ (Ruth 4:21-22; Matthew 1:1, 5-6). He takes Ruth unto himself as a Gentile bride by becoming her kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 4:6-8)

   2. The Determination of Ruth (v.2)
      1. She determined to glean grain in the field
      2. She was not only loyal to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18), but she was also willing to work
      3. The law had commanded those who harvested a crop to leave the corners of the field so that the poor and the stranger could gather the gleanings for their own needs (Leviticus 23:22). To glean is to collect the remaining portions of the field.

   3. The Providence of God (v.3)
      1. This passage speaks of "her hap"; this refers to good fortune, luck, happenstance (thus, the word hap).
      2. Yet we see God’s working in everything that happened. It was part of God’s providential working in Ruth’s life (Romans 8:28; Proverbs 16:9).

2. BOAZ DISCOVERS THE IDENTITY OF RUTH (2:4-7)
   1. Boaz’s Godly Relationship with the Reapers (v.4)
   2. Boaz’s Curiosity About Ruth (v.5)
   3. The Reapers’ Report About Ruth (v.6-7)
      1. She is a Moabite (v.6)
      2. She asked to glean among the reapers (v.7)
      3. She has worked from morning with little rest (v.7)

3. BOAZ INSISTS SHE GLEAN IN HIS FIELD (2:8-9)
   1. Go Not to Glean in Another Field (v.8)
   2. The Young Men Shall Not Touch You (v.9)
   3. Drink Water of the Vessels They Draw (v.9)
   4. Application: Boaz (a type of Christ) noticed and cared for Ruth (a type of the New Testament believer) before she even knew who he was. He was concerned that she might go to glean from another field. Does not Christ do the dame for us? See Romans 5:6-10.

4. BOAZ EXPRESSES HIS ADMIRATION FOR RUTH (2:10-13)
   1. Ruth is Amazed at the Grace Shown by Boaz (v.10)
      1. That he took knowledge of her (cp. John 1:48)
      2. That he considered one who was a stranger (cp. Ephesians 2:11-13)

   2. Boaz Tells of his Admiration for Ruth (v.11)
      1. Her devotion to Naomi
      2. Her departure from her family and land
      3. Her coming to a strange land

   3. Boaz Blesses Ruth (v.12)
      1. May the Lord recompense her work
      2. May the Lord reward her trust in Him; NOTE: She, as a Gentile, has come to trust in the God of Israel and has placed herself under His care.

   4. Ruth is Overwhelmed with Gratitude (v.13)
      1. His favor
      2. His comfort
      3. His friendship
      4. Despite her being foreign

5. BOAZ TAKES SPECIAL CARE OF RUTH (2:14-17)
   1. He Provides for Her at Mealtime (v.14)
      1. Boaz provided the meal
      2. Boaz served corn to Ruth – "reached her parched corn" means that he reached in and got it for her lest she be too modest to get it for herself

   2. He Provides for Handfuls of Purpose (v.15-16)
      1. She is to be allowed among the sheaves (v.15)
      2. She is not to be reproached (v.15, 16)
      3. She is to be left handfuls of purpose (v.16)

   3. Her Daily Harvest Amounts to an Ephah (v.17)
      1. She gleans until evening
      2. She beats out the grain
      3. She has an ephah of barley; NOTE: This is an amazing amount for one who is simply gleaning the fields. Though the records vary, it is said to amount to from 30 to 50 pounds of grain.

6. RUTH TELLS NAOMI OF HER GOOD FORTUNE (2:18-21)
   1. Ruth Returns to Naomi (v.18)
      1. She shows her the bountiful harvest
      2. She gives Naomi the remainder; NOTE: Naomi (the Jew) is now getting her blessings from Ruth (the Gentile). See Acts 15:11.

   2. Naomi Discovers Ruth’s Benefactor (v.19-21)
      1. His name is Boaz (v.19)
      2. He is near of kin (v.20)
      3. He has offered continued help (v.21)
      4. Naomi sees God blessing again (v.20)

7. RUTH GLEANS UNTIL THE END OF HARVEST (2:22-23)
   1. She is Encouraged by Naomi (v.22)
   2. She Continues Through the Time of Harvest (v.23)

CONCLUSION: Grace and provision have been shown to Ruth and to Naomi through Ruth. Boaz (the type of Christ) has been the source of it all. However, full redemption has not yet been made. That comes in the last half of the book. Then, of course, comes the marriage. What a blessed book!

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