Ruth 2:14-23

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. 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.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And 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 man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

So far, we have journeyed with Naomi and Ruth through famine and tragedy. Naomi’s two sons died, leaving her with two daughter-in-laws, Ruth being one of them. Being a widow was not an easy life for them. Both of Naomi’s daughter-in-laws were faced with an ultimatum – go home or travel with Naomi to Bethlehem. However, although their situation looked bleak, Ruth would not leave Naomi. She went with Naomi to Bethlehem and she became a stranger in a new land. She sacrificed a lot to follow Naomi but she knew who Naomi was. Naomi was a strong woman with integrity – she faced her challenges and kept going. Naomi was loyal towards Ruth and loved her, which is why Ruth stuck with her.

God was there in the midst of the pain. The laws of the past protected Naomi and Ruth and gave them hope. Deuteronomy 24:19-22 says

19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

The law was clear – it protected the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Ruth could work and gather what had fallen from the harvest and it would be hers to keep. It was provision for Ruth and Naomi! This law sets the scene for the passage of scripture we find ourselves in this week. Ruth is gleaning in Boaz’s field and he sees her and puts favour upon her.

 

Monday 6th February

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.

 

Have you ever joined a meal when you feel like an outsider? It can feel incredibly awkward and nerve-wracking. I wonder if Ruth was feeling apprehensive in this moment. She was sitting with strangers, having been out in the heat of the day, in need of a rest. Ruth would have welcomed the wine at this moment! It would have been hot during the harvest season and the wine would have been refreshing. Ruth was welcomed in by Boaz and given something to eat and drink alongside the reapers. She was not put to the side or ignored and had more than enough to eat. Boaz was displaying a great deal of kindness, which is key part of his character. Can you think of a moment someone has shown you great kindness in a moment of need?

Christ welcomes us into a relationship with him. You have been welcomed in regardless of your status. You have been given a place His table! Take a moment and rejoice in the kindness God has poured out for you.

Tuesday 7th February

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.”

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley.

Today we continue to see the favour Boaz is pouring out onto Ruth. After she ate and was satisfied, Ruth went straight back to work! Ruth was a hard worker who was committed to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and in providing for them. She utilised the law that was in place to protect the poor and allow them to work as well. Boaz was an extremely generous and compassionate man – he allowed people to glean on his land and protected them. It is evident that Boaz was keen to help their situation – he clearly instructed his team to leave extra in Ruth’s path on purpose. He warned the men not to rebuke her as she gleaned which gave Ruth protection. What had she done to deserve that? What was it that made her special? This indicates that Boaz was going above and beyond for Ruth. He was doing this without expecting anything back from her.

How often do you go above and beyond for another? Do you find it easy to be generous? Is there anyone in your life who needs some extra help just now? What could that look like? Could it be an encouraging message, going for a walk together, or dropping round a pint of milk? Take a moment today and make a small difference in someone else’s life.

Wednesday 8th February

18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And 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 man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

 

Ruth is loyal to her core and she clearly loves her mother-in-law. After she has finished gleaning for the day, Ruth heads home and takes the leftover food for Naomi. I wonder how it felt for Naomi seeing Ruth come home after working hard all day? Would she have been worried, waiting for her return? Would she have been hopeful that she would have been able to gather enough for the two of them? It can be difficult stepping into an unknown area. Many of us are walking through unknown periods just now – is there enough money to put food on the table, do I have a bed to sleep in tonight, will my universal credits be enough to provide for my family?

Are you walking through any unknowns just now? Can you see God moving in those moments or do you find this hard? I can imagine the relief she felt when Ruth arrived back safely with food. Naturally, with the success of Ruth’s provisions, Naomi wonders whom Ruth worked for today. She expresses gratitude towards the man who allowed Ruth to work and discovers it was Boaz. Take a moment and express some gratitude to God for his provision in your life even through unknown, often stressful, times.

Thursday 9th February

20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”

Boaz is family! Naomi gives thanks for Boaz and how he has cared for them. She recognises his kindness towards them and her sons. It is interesting to me that Naomi didn’t rely on her extended family when she returned to Bethlehem. She was an independent woman who knew what she had to do without relying on others. However, she appreciates the kindness Boaz displayed and asks God to bless him.

Unexpected people can often turn up in your life at different moments. Has God ever placed someone in your path who you were not expecting? God can use people to be a blessing in your life. Who has gone the extra mile for you? Boaz not only allowed Ruth to work on that particular day, but he tells her to stay for the full harvest season. This must have added to the relief Naomi felt. Not only was Ruth able to provide for them, but she was also going to be safe in doing so. She would be in the company of family. Often at Glasgow City Mission we become a safe space for the people we engage with. They arrive with no one to trust and enter a place of safety. Take a moment and praise God – the Holy Spirit dwells in our buildings! What an incredible thought!

Friday 10th February

22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

 

Naomi encourages Ruth to take Boaz’s offer to continue to glean in his fields. She recognises that it will be a place of safety for her. There were risks for women in those days, as there are today. Ruth joins the other women in the field and continues to work. She did what her mother-in-law asked of her and was faithful towards her. There is a humility within Ruth that we could all learn from. Why did Ruth care so much for Naomi? Naomi was a strong woman who Ruth trusted. Naomi was also extremely loyal towards Ruth. Naomi cared for Ruth as much as Ruth cared for her and this resulted in the strong relationship between the two women. Ruth trusted Naomi’s judgement, got on with the task at hand, and stayed with her.

Ruth knew the importance of looking after another person. It is amazing how Ruth entered Bethlehem as an outsider but has now been welcomed in and provided for. This week we have reflected upon moments we have been welcomed, how we could help others, walking through unknown times, and unexpected people we have encountered along the way. We have also praised God that he has welcomed us to his table, rejoiced that he has provided for us, and marvelled at the thought the Holy Spirit dwells among us. Be brave like Ruth – step into the unknown and trust that God will be the ultimate provider in your life. Remain humble and Christ-like, it is in Christ we find safety and acceptance.

Saturday 11th February

Psalm 111:1-5

Praise the Lord.[b]

I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

Sunday 12th February

Psalm 111:6-10

He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.