Sermon Transcript:

This morning, we continue working our way passage by passage through the book of Ruth, coming to chapter 2. Last week we met two women, Naomi and Ruth. Two women who are facing an uncertain future. Naomi has lost her sons, and both have lost their husbands. After Ruth's beautiful declaration of her love and commitment to Naomi, the two women journeyed to Bethlehem. Naomi complains that she is returning to Bethlehem empty. She has no food, no money, no husband, and no sons.

Naomi is understandably in pain but, in her suffering, she was growing bitter against God. It is not sinful to mourn or to be sad. Even Christians will sometimes suffer with anxiety and even depression. God invites us to be honest with him about our anguish. The most common type of psalm in the Bible are psalms of lament. Words inspired by God and given to us to cry out in distress. But we are to bring our suffering to God and to suffer knowing that our afflictions may be lasting, but they will not be everlasting because God is at work, even in them, to bring blessing and glory. That’s why believers can have peace beyond understanding, joy even in suffering, and hope rather than bitterness.

God is good, he is loving, and he is working all things for his glory and the good of those who love him. The main point of our passage today is

In God believers find encouragement, protection, provision, and satisfaction.

God was working even through the difficulties of Naomi and Ruth to keep his promise of redemption that would bring blessings to them and the whole world. Their difficult circumstances brought them to Bethlehem just as the harvest was beginning. In time, God will use this harvest to fill Naomi’s emptiness and cause her cup to overflow with blessing. We pick up in verse 1,

1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

We are immediately introduced to a man named Boaz and are told that he is a relative of Naomi’s husband. In fact, he is a close relative, being of the same clan. We are also told he is a worthy man. The word the ESV translates as worthy can mean in this context either that he is a man of substance or that he is noble of character, he is both. Knowing who Boaz is helps us to appreciate the amazing providence of God in the following events.

 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Ruth is not just “along for the ride”; she intends to do her part to be helpful. She asks Naomi if she can gather in the fields. The Jewish law instructed the harvesters to leave the grain in the corners of their fields and not go back to gather grain they may have dropped so that those who were economically vulnerable, such as orphans, widows, and aliens would be provided for. Leviticus 19:9–10 says,

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

Ruth is looking to pick up scraps so they would have some food. She says she will glean after him in whose sight I shall find favor hoping someone will be gracious enough to leave her something to pick up. She is relying on grace and has no reason to think she will have the goodwill of the locals. She is a foreigner. A young single woman of a different race, with a different accent, who is dirt poor and is hoping to take some of whatever leftover food is available for the poor people who grew up in this town.

3 So she set out 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 clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”

Ruth goes out and just happens to end up in the part of the field that belongs to Boaz. The Hebrew literally says, “and her chance chanced upon the allotted portion of the field of Boaz” In saying this the author is being ironic. The entire structure of the book is designed to show us that it is not luck, but the hand of God that placed Ruth there exactly at the right time.

Boaz is a gracious man in whom Ruth would find favor. He was a good man who had sufficient resources to help. His greeting to his workers and their response shows us he is a godly man. He was a close enough relative to be able to redeem them, something we will look at more closely next week. All these things had to come together just at the right time and place. What an amazing thing it is to delight in the mystery of God’s providence in our lives. God is always at work in us and our circumstances to bring about his purposes.

5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

Boaz is a good boss. He knows the state of his fields and this newcomer immediately catches his eye. She is out of place and what he literally asks is “who does this young woman belong to?” The foreman tells Boaz the situation and explains that she has been there working all day.

 8 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. 9 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.”

After learning who she was, Boaz takes the initiative, and addresses her directly. This is astounding. Sometimes we miss things in the Bible because we are so focused on the facts or the plot that we lose sight of the significance of what is happening. Think about who these two people are. Boaz is a wealthy respected man. He is the owner of the field with substantial enough wealth that he has servants who manage other servants. He is also a faithful Jew and an older man. Ruth is poor and her social status is lower than that of the servants. She is a Moabite and a young single woman. For him to take the initiative to seek her out to bless her is an act of remarkable grace.

First, he addresses her as daughter. Boaz isn’t favoring Ruth out of impure motives. He treats her with dignity and as a person of value. He is older than her and approaches her as one interested in her wellbeing. He tells her to only come to his field and to stay close to the women who work for him. He is elevating her status, giving her an invitation to follow them. She doesn’t need to look anywhere else; she will find food in his field. He assures her that he has personally given orders that the young men treat her properly. It is not difficult to imagine what a young woman may have to put up with working in the fields with the guys. Boaz has instituted a sexual harassment program backed directly by his authority.

Beyond that, he tells her when she is thirsty, she can drink from the water that was provided for his workers. Normally, it was the job of young female servants to draw water, but out here in the fields, working in the heat, the guys fill up containers so they can be refreshed when they take breaks. Boaz tells Ruth she is welcome to drink the water the men have drawn.

10 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?”

Ruth is overwhelmed by all this mercy and kindness. She doesn’t understand it and she bows in respect, and asks him why he would do all this?

11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.

Naomi and Ruth must have been the “talk of the town” and when the supervisor tells him the story, he connects the dots. This is the woman everyone is talking about! Boaz tells her he is impressed with her kindness to her mother-in-law and her courage in returning with her. He knows that she chose to return with Naomi and to live among her people. Ruth doesn’t realize it yet, but Naomi is his relative and he is grateful to Ruth for her extraordinary kindness.

It isn’t just Ruth’s kindness, however, that leads to his favor. Boaz is encouraged by her act of faith and asks God to bless her. He says,

12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

Ruth did not simply move from Moab, she renounced the gods of Moab and embraced Yahweh as her lord and protector. Boaz says she has taken refuge under the wings of Yahweh. This is a beautiful picture of what it means to put our faith in God. Baby birds are completely vulnerable on their own and rely entirely on their mother for protection and care. When a mother bird shelters its young under her wings, she creates a safe, protective canopy over them. Her wings form a barrier against threats such as predators, rain, wind, or cold.

The mother bird positions herself in a way that hides her young from danger, allowing her body to absorb the impact of harsh elements so they remain safe and warm beneath her. The image of a bird sheltering her young captures a picture of love, sacrifice, and total commitment, as the mother puts herself in harm's way to ensure the safety and well-being of her offspring. The babies, who do not have the strength to protect or care for themselves, find warmth, security, and sustenance under the wings.

This is how God shields, sustains, and sacrifices for His people, offering them a place of security and care under His watchful, loving presence. We take great comfort in God as Father, but He is not distant and stern to His people. The Bible presents Him as one who has an almost maternal love, the kind of nurturing sacrificial love that is relentlessly devoted to the wellbeing of His children.

When we are his, there is shelter in the storm, protection from enemies, and the unyielding comfort of His presence. God’s love is not passive; it is fervent, active, and intentional. Under His wings, we find a refuge that is both a sanctuary and a stronghold. This is the God who saves, a God who loves relentlessly, who seeks and saves His own with a steadfast love that never ceases.

Boaz was encouraged by Ruth’s faith, and he prayed for God to reward it. He wanted to do to what he could to encourage her and to display the grace and kindness of God. Does that ever happen to you? Are you ever so encouraged by someone’s faith that it then strengthens yours as you seek to strengthen theirs? This is how God works in us to build up one another in the faith. Boaz is blessed by Ruth and Ruth is blessed by Boaz and behind it all is God strengthening and encouraging them both.

13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” 14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.

Ruth continues to be amazed by his grace, but it is going to get even better. She is already shocked to be treated like a servant, knowing that she is lower than a servant but then Boaz invites her to join them at the table for lunch. She came hoping to pick up scraps of food and now she has been invited to the table of the one who owns the fields. It even says, “he passed to her roasted grain.” He serves her… and it says, “she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.”

What a day of unimaginable blessing this has been for her. She began the morning hungry and empty, and she left completely filled and with more left over. Brothers and sisters, this is how it is when we come to God. We come empty, but we leave it filled and overflowing. She still has nothing of her own and yet, she is filled at the masters table, not because of her hard work, but because of his grace and mercy and kindness toward one who had nothing to offer.

 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

Boaz makes sure that she will have plenty to gather every time she comes. He tells the workers to let her gather among the sheaves. The law requires only that the corners and what is dropped be available, but Boaz is going well beyond what is required. This is an expression of loving care. He even tells them to drop some on purpose and to let her be. He is intentionally diminishing his return to ensure she is taken care of.

It is not uncommon for businessmen in the city give a few dollars to beggars as they leave their offices for lunch or head home for the day. What Boaz is doing here though would be more like one of those businessmen giving a beggar stock options. She is getting a cut of the profits, a piece of the best part of the crop. In all this we have an illustration of how God’s redemptive grace works.

God’s word often teaches us by giving us a picture or a pattern of how God works. The Old Testament is filled with such pictures intended to point us to the glorious final fulfillment of his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. What we have in our passage today is a beautiful picture or illustration of God’s grace that is finally made perfect in Jesus.

Boaz and Ruth are a foreshadow of Jesus Christ and His relationship with his church. Like Ruth, the lost sinner is outside of God's covenant family, lacking resources and without any claim on God’s mercy but through an incredible act of grace and love, God sent his son, to make a way for us to be included in his family through faith in Jesus Christ. I could preach an entire series just on this, but let’s just look at five ways that Boaz’s actions illustrate how God’s grace works.

First, Boaz took the initiative. Ruth would never have come to him if he hadn’t come to her, just as God took the initiative in our salvation. The Bible says we were spiritually dead, enemies of God, sinners and haters of God, but then the Spirit of God, working through the word of God, reached down to us in our helpless state. Ephesians 2:4–5 says,

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…

Just as Ruth, a foreigner and outcast, was welcomed by Boaz with grace, so we, once far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Boaz’s initiative foreshadows God’s own pursuit of His people, who, while we had nothing to offer, were invited into the fullness of His covenant blessings,

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy … (Titus 3:5)

Second, he speaks to her directly. Most of us will never be personally addressed by the most influential and powerful people in the world, but Almighty God has spoken to us. He has revealed himself in his Word and through his son. God directly proclaims his gracious promises to those who are broken and lost. He offers the bread of life and streams of living water to the hungry and poor. His children receive these promises from his own mouth in his word. In John 10:27, Jesus says,

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Third, Boaz promises to protect and provide for her. He told the young women to work with her and the young men to protect her. He allowed her to gather the best gleanings, and even told them to deliberately leave some for her. She was invited to refresh herself in water reserved for his servants and he even ate with her and served her. The master becomes like the servant to show mercy and out of his riches blesses her.

What a breathtaking picture of the grace of God! Philippians 2 tells us Jesus came in the form of a servant, becoming like us, to deliver us. Ephesians 2 says he has poured out on us the immeasurable riches of his inexhaustible grace. We are the foreigners, those of another kingdom, that have become adopted into the family of God by his grace. Ephesians 2:13 says,

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

And as a result Philippians 4:19 assures us,

19 … my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Fourth, Boaz encouraged Ruth. She knew that she was unworthy of his attention, and she could never earn his rewards. She recognized everything he offered was a gift of grace, and in simple faith she believed his promises and rejoiced in them. The only thing she could do was to trust that he would keep his word. It was enough for her that he made the promise, and she was comforted and rejoiced.

Ruth does not forget her miserable estate, but neither does she wallow in it. In the same way, salvation by grace calls us to receive the blessings of God joyfully, never forgetting who we were and thinking we have earned them, but also embracing them wholeheartedly because we can trust the one from whose hand they have come.

Many believers live defeated and discouraged lives because they focus too much on their poverty and not enough on Christ’s riches. Yes, we are miserable sinners saved by Grace, but we have received a new identity. We have been adopted as sons and daughters of God. We are heirs to the kingdom, new creations in Christ being prepared for eternal glory. Our comfort can never come from looking at ourselves, but by looking to Jesus.

We are called to find comfort in Christ, just as Ruth was comforted by the mercy of Boaz. 19th century Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne said it well,

“For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in his almighty arms…”

The pathway to a peaceful heart is to turn our eyes upon Jesus. Instead of being discouraged by our imperfections, it should drive us to rest in His perfections. Instead of dwelling on our defeats, we should rejoice in his victories. The same holy word that reveals our sins also points us to the merciful savior that gave his life on a cross in our place to pay for them and was raised in glory to give us eternal life. Listen to our savior in Matthew 11:28–29,

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Even in the midst of life’s challenges and hardships we can rest in the promises that we have a savior who loves us and our ultimate blessing does not depend on our perfection, but his. Therefore, as Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

1 … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Finally, Ruth is satisfied by his grace. Before she met Boaz, she was hungry, but after, she was filled with more than she needed. All the foolishness and sin we chase is an attempt to find satisfaction. We think that if we just fill the desires of the flesh, we will be content, so we chase power, money, influence, entertainment, pleasure and all these things the world seems to offer but it is like trying to fill a bottomless pit. The more we gain from the world, the emptier we feel so we just keep chasing. One of the most profound blessings of coming to Christ is that in him we can find true peace and true satisfaction.

Isaiah 55:2–3 says,

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

It is Jesus Christ, the Son of David, that fulfills this divine promise. He is the bread of life that nourishes the soul. He is the fountain of every blessing and the source of true satisfaction, and he gives us his word to sustain us and fill us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus we receive the fullness of God and are satisfied. Psalm 34:8 says,

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 36:7–9 declares,

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

In Boaz's kindness to Ruth, we see a glimpse of the Redeemer who would seek and save the lost, who feeds us with the bread of life and quenches our thirst with living water. Just as Ruth found refuge under the wings of Yahweh, all who come to Christ in faith find shelter, security, and eternal life through the finished work of Jesus. The invitation of the gospel is clear: come empty, come broken, and come with nothing, and receive everything in Him. In Christ, God not only meets our deepest needs but fills us with His fullness, transforming our emptiness into abundance. This is the joy of redemption, the love of grace, and the glory of the gospel.

Amen.