Ruth Smitten

"AND BEHOLD, BOAZ CAME FROM BETHLEHEM. AND HE SAID TO THE REAPERS, "THE LORDBE WITH YOU!" AND THEY ANSWERED, "THE LORDBLESS YOU." THEN BOAZ SAID TO HIS YOUNG MAN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE REAPERS, "WHOSE YOUNG WOMAN IS THIS?" (vs 4-5) And now Boaz enters the scene and his godly character is immediately revealed by the mutual exchange of kindness and blessings with his employees. Not only does he "notice" this interesting young woman in his field but his question presumes that she is no mere vagrant and must surely belong to someone's family - "To whom do you belong"?" He is clearly smitten with this lady, although any action of impropriety would never have crossed this good man's mind. The way the job foreman begins to explain that Ruth "IS THE YOUNG MOABITE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK WITH NAOMI" and that she has been diligently working all day with only a short break, reveals that everyone in the community already knows about the virtuous young foreigner's devotion to her widowed mother-in-law. THE COMPASSION OF BOAZ "THEN BOAZ SAID TO RUTH, "NOW, LISTEN, MY DAUGHTER, DO NOT GO TO GLEAN IN ANOTHER FIELD OR LEAVE THIS ONE, BUT KEEP CLOSE TO MY YOUNG WOMEN. LET YOUR EYES BE ON THE FIELD THAT THEY ARE REAPING, AND GO AFTER THEM. HAVE I NOT CHARGED THE YOUNG MEN NOT TO TOUCH YOU? AND WHEN YOU ARE THIRSTY, GO TO THE VESSELS AND DRINK WHAT THE YOUNG MEN HAVE DRAWN." (VS 8-9)" The Messianic genealogy recorded in Matthew 1:5 shows that Boaz's mother was Rahab the prostitute who hid the spies in Jericho. (Joshua 2:1-15; 6:17-25) Some scholars believe there's a time gap in the genealogy and that Rahab may have been the wife of Salmon Sr. making her either Boaz's grandmother or even great-grandmother. Either way, Boaz knew this remarkable story well and probably knew the courageous Amorite woman who had been spared destruction and was welcomed into the family despite her sordid history. (I've always wondered if Salmon was one of the spies who rescued her!) Boaz had witnessed the example of compassion by his father towards a gentile and also the faith and righteous character that God imputes to His chosen regardless of their background. (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25)THE PROVISION OF BOAZ Because Boaz addresses Ruth as "my daughter" denoting a gentle fatherly kind of relationship we know that he's much older than she is (Ruth 3:10) and that he is already aware of his position in Elimelech's family as a" GOEL - KINSMAN-REDEEMER". Boaz then proceeds to protect Ruth from the "young men" charging her to keep close to his young women and extending abundant provision for her needs. We can't help but notice the many similarities in these passages between Boaz and Christ:

BOAZ GAVE HER WATER (vs 9) "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' John 7:37"BOAZ GAVE HER BREAD AND WINE (VS14) "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger" John 6:35

"

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28"

BOAZ GAVE TO HER ABUNDANTLY (vs 14-16)

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think," Ephesians 3:20"BOAZ COMFORTED HER (VS. 13)"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction," 2 Corinthians 1:3-4"BOAZ PRAYED THAT GOD WOULD REWARD HER (vs 11-12) "he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6"

RUTH'S RESPONSE

"THEN SHE FELL ON HER FACE, BOWING 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?" vs 10 Pure astonishment is Ruth's reaction to all of this and afterwards she continues to work hard for the rest of the day. Because Boaz had instructed his reapers to leave behind extra handfuls on purpose, Ruth was able to take home her leftover lunch for Naomi and an ephah of barley, which is about a five day supply of food for two.. NAOMI'S JOY Upon learning that Ruth had gleaned such an abundance from a close relative of theirs who was also a redeemer, Naomi was overjoyed and instructed her to stay close to Boaz's young women through the end of the barley and wheat harvests. Naomi immediately "KNEW" that this was a magnificent provision from God and there is a valuable lesson we can learn from her prayer here. Listen carefully as this is one of these little gems in Scripture that we can so quickly read over: "MAY HE BE BLESSED BY THE LORD, WHOSE KINDNESS HAS NOT FORSAKEN THE LIVING OR THE DEAD" VS. 20" Being in my 60's, I've seen how God has answered the prayers of His children after He has called them home to Heaven. We are such an impatient people and we want to see answers to our prayers now, if not at least in our lifetime. But God's timetable is not always ours, and His ways are much higher than ours. As we saw in "LESSON #2 " Elimelech was a godly man who was in a desperate situation and was just trying to provide for his family. In the process, God called him home first and then his two sons, leaving behind 3 destitute and childless widows. How many prayers those men must have prayed for their families along the way! Even though they trusted God, their prayers were not realized in their lifetime and they could never have dreamed what final good was coming in the future for their wives - including the Royal House of David from which would spring the Messiah! Ah BUT..." THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM,

"AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, Psalm 103:17 THOUGHTS TO PONDER

* Like Ruth, have we fallen on our faces before Christ in complete submission and awe that He would love someone such as us?
* Are you praying for what seems to be a hopeless situation?
* Have you ever heard the prayers of a righteous person who did not see the answers in their lifetime?

"I'll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,"

"For I will remake you for unending joy;"My promise is faithful though now it is painful;"No power can trample my covenant love."David Ward

PDF PRINTABLE - RUTH 2:4-23 - "SMITTEN!"

(Google sign-in needed to print) "Also in this series:

#1 THE BOOK OF RUTH: INTRODUCTION #2 RUTH 1:1-5 - GOD IN THE DARKEST NIGHT

#3 RUTH 1:6-18: IRRESISTIBLE RESOLVE!

#4 RUTH 1:18-22: "CALL ME MARA"

#5 RUTH 2:1-3 - THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER

"STUDY REFERENCES ">"HERE

(c) Diane Bucknell - Theology for Girls - 2013

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