In today’s video, Rudy Ross explains why placing the book of Ruth after Judges is fitting. In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth comes after Proverbs, which ends with the counsel about the excellent woman.
Ruth might be seen as a description of this woman mentioned in Proverbs.
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:10-12).
I agree with Rudy; placing Ruth right after Judges makes sense because it takes place during the time of the Judges and before Samuel.
At this point in the story, Boaz, who is both an acquaintance and a relative of Elimelech, has everything Naomi and Ruth need. Naomi has come back with nothing, while Boaz has plenty.
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz (Ruth 2:1).
Ruth suggests solving their hunger problem by gleaning in the fields. Hebrew law allowed the poor to gather leftovers from fields and keep what they collected without owing anything to the landowner.
The invisible hand of God is at work in the story. Ruth works from morning to evening and, by God’s providence, meets Boaz. Boaz wants to know who she is.
He learns that she is a Moabite woman who has returned with Naomi from Moab. (verses 3-7). Boaz’s kindness is displayed in the way he treats Ruth.
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.
Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn” (Ruth 2:8-9).
The dialogue that follows between Ruth and Boaz is filled with significance.
Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when 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 me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” (Ruth 2:10-12).
- Ruth sees herself as a foreigner.
- Boaz views Ruth as someone who has been loyal to one of his kin.
- Boaz pronounces a blessing on Ruth that includes her incorporation into the people of the Lord and His protection.
Naomi – Empty No More
Naomi and Ruth likely faced severe hunger not just for months, but possibly years. By the end of the day, Boaz provides Ruth with a meal that completely satisfies her. He also allows her to harvest enough grain to fill 11 two-liter bottles (an epahah) to take back to Naomi.
At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley (Ruth 2:14 and 17).
Ruth not only brought her mother-in-law enough grain to make bread for several days, but she also brought good news. Naomi’s kinsman was the one who had provided for them.
Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin” (Ruth 2:19-20).
God’s Invisible Hand
I often joke and call myself God’s blind servant. Many times, I didn’t know what I was doing. But as I’ve gotten older and looked back on my life, I’ve realized that God’s invisible hand was guiding me.
He led me to a church where I met my wife. Then, he guided me to another church where I served for 35 years.
I can’t imagine those experiences without thanking God for his wonderful, invisible hand leading me.
I’m sure you can look back and see where God was leading you, too. Praise God!
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Ruth 2 today on YouTube.
Real Voices 