Ruth 2 8 13 ESV Then Boaz said

Ruth 2: 8 -13 (ESV) 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. ”

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? ”

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 came to a people that you did not know before.

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!”

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. ”

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. Ruth 2: 8, ESV

Boaz Gives Ruth Directions • Boaz begins a conversation with Ruth • It would have been untraditional for Ruth, who is lower on the social ladder, to begin the conversation • He then urges her to listen to him • This is emphatic, like the “Behold!” statements in the New Testament • She, and the readers, need to pay attention • “My Daughter” • This is also said earlier in the chapter by Naomi • Boaz is likely as old as Naomi • It also shows Boaz is going to be protective of Ruth

Boaz Gives Ruth Directions (2) • Stay in the field • The reason for this is that gleaners might go to other fields to glean for better success • Instead, he wants her to remain in this field • She is also told to stay close to the women • This would make her the first gleaner, able to get the better fruits • It would also protect her from unwanted attention

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. ” Ruth 2: 9, ESV

Further Directions • Keep your eyes on the field • He encourages her to let this be her focus • By following the reapers she is sure not to go into someone else field • The young men • We’re unsure if this is rhetorical, has already made this command, or if he is just informing her of his intentions • To “touch” her would mean to abuse her • There were some landowners who rejected gleaners • Or if gleaners became overzealous they would also be physically removed

Further Directions (2) • If she is thirsty… • She is able to go to the vessels to drink • First: It would allow her to glean more, as she would not become over exhausted • Second: Normally a slave or foreigner would draw water for the Israelites, by allowing her water it is a way of him welcoming her • Ultimately this reminds us that Boaz, and God, seem to be accepting her into the nation of Israel

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 2: 10, ESV

Ruth: First Response • Ruth kneels before Boaz, a common practice in antiquity and even today, when one addresses a greater • What has she done to find favor? • This reflects her earlier statement • She had hoped to follow one in who’s eyes she found favor • Here she is now, finding favor in the eyes of Boaz • This again reminds us of providence • Xenophobia (fear of outsiders) • Ruth recognizes she is a foreigner • Though married to an Israelite, she was still a stranger in the land • Knowing this, why has Boaz given her so much grace?

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 came to a people that you did not know before. Ruth 2: 11, ESV

Boaz: First Response • Boaz responds by informing us of what happened in chapter 1 • He has likely heard the commotion from Bethlehem, and already knows from the commotion what Ruth has done for Naomi • Because of what she has done she finds favor in his eyes

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 2: 12, ESV

Boaz: Second Response • He invokes the name of Yahweh to repay her for what she has done • There is some financial undertones to repayment • But it ultimately reflects God repaying Ruth’s kindness with His own • Full Reward • Boaz does not believe he can repay the debt • The debt is so large only God can do it • This reflects chapter 1 where we learn that human endeavors cannot help Naomi • God of Israel • He sees that she has come under Yahweh's wings • It will be under God’s wings that she finds her protection

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. ” Ruth 2: 13, ESV

Ruth: Second Response • Ruth recognizes that she has found favor in his eyes • Boaz is the one she hoped for • She furthers this by calling him her “lord” a common expression to describe someone higher on the social ladder • Why? • Because he has spoken kindly to her, and comforted her • Despite being a foreigner, Boaz has accepted her • Less than a servant • She says she is his servant, but not really • This likely means that she considers herself less than his servants • Despite being so low on the totem pole, Boaz has been gracious, kind, and merciful to her

Main Point • We see the first exchange between Ruth and Boaz • We learn much about Boaz in this conversation • He is very different then any other character we have met in the story • He truly lives up to his reputation of being worthy

Application Points • Providence has been, and probably will continue to be seen, throughout the book of Ruth • From the negative: Famine, Death • To the positives: End of famine, Ruth and Naomi, Ruth and Boaz • God is working in the lives of these individuals • There are no small coincidences in their story • There is no luck • Both Boaz, and Ruth, are where they need to be, fulfilling their own roles

Application Points • Providence (2) • There are no small things for us either • God is active in the lives of those who belong to Him • Just as Ruth takes shelter under His wings, so do we • It would be meaningless for God to be our refuge if He wasn’t involved in our lives • This is an important difference between Christianity and other religions • In most religions, god is infinite, but not personal • As personal beings this causes a problem, because how are we personal? The answer is because God is personal

Application Points • Providence (3) • However it is possible to go too far in this direction as well • We can think of the Romans or the Greeks, Jupiter and Zeus • The problem with them is not that they were personal, but that they were not infinite • If God is not infinite then there is no absolute, and we gain nothing in regards to knowledge or truth • In Christianity this is solved because we have a God who is infinite and personal • In His infiniteness, He is holy and separate from all else • But in His personhood we share some similarities (though not fully since we are fallen)

Application Points • Providence (4) • What does this have to do with providence? A lot! • Because God is a personal God we can know Him and take refuge under His wing • He will not leave us alone, and we can know Him through the Scriptures and His Son Jesus Christ • Yet He is also infinite • His will and His way will truly guide us through • Though the storms are rough, and the darkness bleak, God is greater than the storms or the darkness

Application Points • Providence (5) • It is because God is infinite and personal we can experience His providence • It is because of who God is we can see Him moving in these lives and our lives • Let’s not forget that God is making Himself known • His providence reminds us what He has revealed about Himself • He is personal, showing that He cares and gives us chesed • He is infinite, greater than all else • Whatever may occur we can rest under the shelter of His wings

Application Points • Fulfilling Providence • There is an element of fulfillment by Boaz • Ruth desired to go to a field and follow someone in whose sight she found favor • This happens with Boaz, and in this we see how humans are partakers of divine providence • Boaz by being a follower of Yahweh, being a man of merit and worth, is being used by God to fulfill God’s providence • God is bringing them together and using them personally to do this

Application Points • Fulfilling Providence (2) • Boaz showed some of his personhood when arriving at the field • He later showed it when he recognized God’s need to repay Ruth’s chesed with His own • Even with this statement, God has already begun to do something through them both • Boaz does not credit himself • Boaz is right, but God will use Boaz to repay the debt, to show His chesed to Ruth and Naomi • This puts us in an interesting position • We are followers of Jesus Christ • We are redeemed by Christ • We have been bought, we were in debt, and are now out of debt

Application Points • Fulfilling Providence (3) • In Christ we are able to show this divine chesed, this love, to others • We can do this especially for each other, but also for the world outside • Just as Boaz was used, so we are when we proclaim the Gospel, and care for each other according to the Scriptures • We are able to be active partakers of the glory of God by how we live • This could never be done apart from the Spirit within us and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ • We are partakers of the glory of God because we are in Christ, this glory belongs to God, not us

Application Points • Fulfilling Providence (4) • This should not cause us to swell up in human pride, but joy • Joy in knowing we can glorify God • We are able to fulfill providence and be used by God in this world • We are not slaves or robots • We are used with our own personalities, our own personhood, to glorify God with our lives • So all those times you felt worthless, or a zero, or you couldn’t glorify God, well you can! • Not by our own doings, just as Boaz recognized it was not his own • But the story does not end with inability, but with God’s will being done through these individuals

Application Points • Fulfilling Providence (5) • Take time to reflect on this • Take time to consider that you are not only a witness, or a refugee, but that you are a participant • That God created you as you are as an individual, to be here corporately, to proclaim the Gospel to each other and the world • Though God brings the restoration, He uses us to proclaim • God is doing something miraculous, and He is going to use us to bring about His accomplishments in the world

Application Points • Retributive Theology • This means that when you do X, then Y will happen • If you murder someone, then you will have the consequences • If you show chesed, then you will receive chesed • This is actually very different than Karma • We generally think of karma as you do something and then that something happens to you • You steal, then someone steals from you • In more religious settings it deals with reincarnation, but in general it means if you do this then that will happen to you

Application Points • Retributive Theology (2) • Retributive theology recognizes that it is not some infinite force that does this • Instead it is the God who is there who is the Absolute who repays good and bad according to Himself • With God, at least the God of Scriptures, there is morality, right and wrong • With Karma there is no real difference between right and wrong because both are absolutely necessary • It is with this we see retributive theology within the text • Boaz prays that because she has done X, let Y happen • In this case it is good, she has done good toward Naomi, so let good come to her • We again, notice, that this can only come from God Himself

Application Points • Retributive Theology (3) • The focus on this is now with His justice • He will not allow evil to simply go without a punishment • Evil will be repayed according to God who is the absolute in regards to holiness, righteousness, and morality • This reminds us of the Gospel as we remember retributive theology being played out in a fascinating way • When God forgives us our sins through Jesus He does not simply forget them, or wave a magic wand to make them disappear • Someone pays the penalty of our sin, and that is Jesus Christ

Application Points • Retributive Theology (4) • It is retributive theology when Christ dies for our sins • Does God still repay “debts” this side of eternity? • It reminds me of a story I once heard from a professor while attending seminary • He met with this individual who was a “seeker” • Eventually the man ended up stealing from the professor quite a hefty sum • I forget if it was blatantly stolen, or if it was given willingly • Anyway, the professor went hope and told his wife and they were in shock • Shortly thereafter, without telling anyone what occurred, they received a check from one of their congregants • It was the exact amount that they had lost

Application Points • Retributive Theology (5) • Some would argue that this is God repaying good for good • Ultimately there is a great amount of grace involved • God had moved, He used individuals to show His glory • Ultimately, all acts of God which are given good for good are gracious acts of God • God doesn’t owe us anything, even if we give everything we still owe Him! • But God does not expect us to give without filling us, and He fills us with Himself • He has given the greatest gift already, life from death, light from darkness • Though there are definitely times when He gives more gifts of grace in this life as we have all experienced

Application Points • Retributive Theology (6) • As we consider this, God is watching • He is not in heaven not involved, He is involved • Though things happen which are unfair and unjust, God will not allow them to remain that way forever • God is a just God, and His righteousness, His justice, will shine forth forever, for the good and the wicked

Application Points • The Gospel • This reminds us of the Gospel of Jesus • Jesus has done what He longed to do with Jerusalem, He has taken us under His wing • The Gospel begins with our origins • We are created in the image of God • Because God is a God of reason, love, has personhood, knows, can be known, and can show Chesed, we can as well • It is here we find dignity and sanctity to all human life

Application Points • The Gospel (2) • Like God, however, we were able to choose • Instead of choosing God and life we chose sin and death and have continued to make that choice ever since • Because of this our relationships with God, within ourselves, each other, and the world are broken • It is also because of this we have a true moral guilt before our God, making us worthy of judgment, not just a feeling of guilt, but true guilt before God • God did not leave us in this state forever • Instead He sent a Light and a Word into the darkness, and that Light and Word was His Son Jesus Christ

Application Points • The Gospel (3) • Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected in space, time, history, and flesh • It is through this we are redeemed • He bore the punishment of our guilt it is by Him we are made right with God • By His propitiation this occurs

Application Points • The Gospel (4) • All that is required of us is obedience in two things • The first is repentance, we are to change the direction of our lives • We are to live according to Christ, the Scriptures, and walk in step with the Spirit • The second is faith in Christ • It is not our deeds which save us from judgment nor our works which make us righteous • It is only the deed and work of Jesus Christ which saves us • It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, for the glory of God alone we are saved

Application Points • The Gospel (5) • For those who are disobedient in these things there is only judgment • There is no righteousness apart from Christ • Those who remain disobedient will only experience the wrath of GOd • For those who are obedient there is peace with God • We find victory over sin through the power of the Holy Spirit within us • We are more than conquerors in Christ • We become coheirs of an eternal kingdom where we will remain with our God forever in His steadfast love