Ruth 2:9-23- Gods Providence

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Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” v9-10

Again we are seeing the foreshadow of the Church (Ruth) we are seeing a foreshadow of the New Covenant, (Jew and Gentile becoming One in Christ)  Boaz a shadow of Christ, the Redeemer, Ruth has found favor in his eyes, just as we are chosen by Christ (Ephesians 1)

She bows down to Boaz, we the Church and every knee will bow down to The Lord Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords (Philippians 2) And she makes an interesting statements “Why have I found favor in your eyes, since I am a foreigner (Gentile)?

Again clearly showing the New Covenant , a Gentile finding favor with the Kinsman Redeemer, nobody would have believed this story unless it actually happened!

And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before v11

Again , I can’t help but see the New Covenant in this, Boaz representing Christ, saying “its been reported to me, all you have done for Naomi (Israel), I truly believe as God promised in Genesis 12

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

You have left your land of your birth (Gentiles) you have been grafted into the Olive Tree, into the Covenant with Israel

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Romans 11:17

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” v12

Boaz echoing Genesis 12, Bless those who bless you. Also Boaz makes a reference to the Exodus

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.  Exodus 19:4

Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”  v13

Again a shadow of Ruth as the Church and Boaz as Christ, let us find favor or grace in the eyes of our Lord, even though we don’t deserve it! All our righteousness is in Christ, who bestowed His grace upon us unworthy sinners!

Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.  Matthew Henry

Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. V14

Come To The Table! Ruth a Gentile outsider being invited to sit at the table with Boaz the Jew, the Kinsman Redeemer. Shadows of Christ inviting us to his table, The Lord supper which ultimately leading to the Great Wedding Feast!

7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” v15-16

Boaz, the Redeemer, gave Ruth the authority to glean in his fields, “do not rebuke her” Nobody can come against Ruth in his fields.

Just as in Christ, we are not only redeemed, authority has been given to us, nobody can bring false charges or past sins against us in Christ

Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. Luke 9:1

So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. V17-18

Ruth again demonstrating the qualities of the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31, she worked the field all night to provide for her and Naomi.

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants Proverbs 31:15

And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” v19

God sovereignty is being demonstrated, The field that Ruth is gleaning from happens to be their Kinsman-Redeemer Boaz. A time that seemed to be total desperation, God is in complete control

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” v20

Other English translations do a better job here KJV has “kinsman” instead of relative. ESV has redeemers , it clear Noami is making known Boaz is their Kinsman Redeemer, the Savior of their family. A shadow of Christ

Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” v21-22

Naomi is instructing Ruth, its good for her to stay under Boaz’s protection and favor. If Ruth, a Gentile, went to glean in another field, the situation might not be as fruitful, as there are many who could target her as a widow and a Gentile, possible putting her life at risk

So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law. V23

Ruth, clings to Boaz for safety and provision, just as we should cling to Christ for our salvation and provision also

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Ruth 2- The Kinsman Redeemer

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There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. v1

Remember Naomi is going back to her homeland of Bethlehem to find her Kinsman Redeemer. The man in her family line, that would be able to provide and support her and Ruth. Also remember , Naomis two sons are dead, so Boaz is apparently the next of Kin to her husband Elimelech

While it’s not exactly known the relation, Jewish history suggests Boaz was possibly Elimelech’s nephew, through his brother Salmon. Which you might remember, married the prostitute Rahab from the book of Joshua. So it also gives you a timeline, in the time of Judges, right after the death of Joshua

Remember through this all, Boaz is a shadow of Christ, our Redeemer

Boaz mean “In Him Is Strength”

So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” v2

“gleaning “ the field was a practice during this time, based on Mosaic Law. Owners of the field not to reap the edges of the field and allow the poor, widows, and orphans to take crops from the edges of the field. Ruth was willing to do this to provide for her and Naomi

Ruth was also hoping to find favor with the landowner, so they may allow her to glean often. However God is going to use this to lead her to Boaz

When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. / You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:9-10

Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. V3

By Gods provision, Ruth ended up gleaning in the field that belonged to Boaz, who is legally the Kinsman Redeemer for Naomi

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!” Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” v4-5

Boaz , The Kinsman Redeemer, came to visit his land, when Ruth caught his eye. He asked “Whose young woman is this”? Boaz was asking for Ruth’s status, was she married? What family line did she belong to? Remember marriages were by arrangement back then.

So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. v6

The fact his workers pointed out she was a Moabite, seems to me they pointing out she was a Gentile. They perhaps were showing a discriminatory view of Ruth, which wouldn’t be surprised to Moabites were not to be allowed in the assembly according to the Mosaic Law

No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. Deuteronomy 23:3

And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” v7

Ruth demonstrated humility and reverence asking for permission in the field. She also showed her determination and work ethic, to provide for her and Naomi.

Ruth demonstrates many of the qualities of the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. V8

Ruth has found favor in the eyes of Boaz, asking her to only stay in his field. Even though she was a Gentile, even though she was a widow, Boaz sees her through the eyes of mercy and grace

This is a foreshadow of how Christ sees us, as outsiders of the Covenant, Christ has redeemed us to be Children of God

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19

Ruth Chapter 1- Return to Bethlehem

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Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”  v17

Ruth is basically making a covenant with Naomi, to death do us part, Ruth is forsaking her heritage and homeland, being buried with the Jews as a Moabite, almost like a foreshadow of our old selves being buried with Christ

As mentioned previously , I see a foreshadow of the Church in Ruth , the Gentile, being united with Naomi (Jew) in the Covenant with Christ

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4

When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.  V18

Remember Naomi pleaded with Ruth previously to go back to her homeland, but she sees that Ruth is committed to this Covenant with Naomi, she stopped trying to change her mind

Ruth made the profession of faith, and is not looking back as The Lord instructed us as followers

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62

Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”  v19

While Naomi was probably hesitant to come back to Bethlehem, after leaving and suffering many failures and hardships. Her return was well greeted, “the city was excited because of them” 

Another interesting point to this response is Naomi is bring her Gentile Daughter in Law Ruth, they were probably unsure how they would be accepted back into the Jewish community

But also reminds you of when Mary and Joseph made that far journey back to Bethelehm, to bring the Christ child into the world for Gods salvation plan for humanity

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. / While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.  Luke 2:4-6

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  V20

The name Naomi means pleasant or , Mara means bitter After all Naomi has been through, she feels as if she has been cursed by God. But was it really God who did this or Naomis and her husbands choice to leave Bethlehem during the famine?

Again we see a foreshadow of the New Covenant in Christ, where our old self has died and we are a New Creation in Christ. While Naomi does’nt understand it right now, but she is actually blessed and provided for by her Redeemer , which leads to Christ

I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”  v21

Naomi believed she was “full” secure because of her daily provision (husband, family) When all of that was stripped away, she felt like she was abandoned or empty, however what God has demonstrated to her, is that God is our provider and not us. Even through her sorrows, she is still full and taken care of by Christ our Redeemer

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.  V22

Naomi returns back to God , to Bethlehem her provided inheritance by God, and God will return back to her. This is a valuable lesson I think we can all learn, to be more obedient to God than obedient to ourselves. Trust in The Lord!

God calls His people to return to His decrees, promising, “Return to me, and I will return to you  Malachi 3:7

Ruth 1- My God and Your God

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Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.  V6

As we continue on, Naomi and her two daughters in law (Ruth and Orpah) are now faced with a crisis, since all of their husbands have died from the famine. Remember Naomi is a Jew and originally came from Bethlehem of Judah, which is ultimately the birth place of the Messiah Jesus (Micah 5:2)

“She had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord has visited His people” Naomi has heard the famine is over in Bethlehem, which was a result of Gods judgement for 7 years due to Israel’s disobedience in the time of Judges. So Naomi is going to head back to Bethlehem to find the Kinsman Redeemer to provide for her and the daughter in law Ruth

‘Giving them bread” is a prophetic message as the City of Bethlehem name means “House of Bread”

Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.  And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.  V7-8

At first the two daughters in law (Ruth and Orpah) were going to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem, but Naomi insisted they go back to their own households in Moab and basically find new husbands to support them. Naomi knows she is old and beyond child bearing age, he chances of finding a new husband or Kinsman Redeemer were probably small, she didn’t want to drag her daughters down with her since they still had a chance of finding new husbands for survival

The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.  And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”  But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?  Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,  would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!”  v9-13

Naomi basically feels like she is cursed, it could be perhaps because they left Israel to live in a pagan Gentile region of Moab and ultimately they lost everything , including the lives of her husband and sons. So Naomi doesn’t want to drag down Ruth and Orpah with her

Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  V14

At this point , after Naomi insisted multiple times, Orpah decided to go back to her household in Moab, while Ruth “clung to her” Ruth was willing to be loyal to Naomi until death, regardless of what happens.

And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”  But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.  v15-16

Here Ruth makes an amazing profession of faith, while Orpah turns back to her “gods”, remembering Moab is a pagan land. Ruth professes “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God”

Ruth has forsaken her pagan “gods” and has pledged allegiance to the on true God of Israel. Which ultimately this story and marriage between Ruth and Boaz will lead to the line of David, which will lead to the Son of God Jesus Christ! 

Introduction to the book of Ruth

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One of only two books names after a woman (Ruth and Esther)

Ruth is part of Jesus Christ  genealogy (Matthew 1:5)

Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Matthew 1:5

Author: Samuel 

Time:  “When the Judges Ruled” 

Location: Moab and Bethlehem

The book of Ruth was typically read during Pentecost due to Harvest references

Major Themes:

  1. New Covenant – Jews and Gentiles in the Covenant
  2. Woman are coheirs in the Kingdom with me part of Gods salvation
  3. Ruth protrays the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31
  4. Gods sovereignty and provision are demonstrated
  5. Ruth is in the genealogy of the Messiah (Christ)
  6. Boaz is a shadow of Christ – The Kinsman Redeemer
  7. The throne of David which points to Jesus Christ