Scripture: Ruth 1:14-18

C.I.: Finding Love Again

Last week we saw one of the saddest chapters of the Bible.
Today we will watch as God intervenes – to bring love into the lives of others (girls & widows take note!).

I. The Providence of God in 3 Scenes, (Ruth 2)

A. Scene 1: A Desire to Serve on a “Chance” Location (vs. 1-3)

1. (v. 2), “Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Please let me go into the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.’ She said to her, ‘Go my daughter”
a. Naomi is filled with despair & emptiness – she is barely capable of getting out more than 2 words
b. In Ruth we see strength of character (keeps her promise); “Where you go, I will go….”
c. “Gleaning” was a means God employed in the O.T. – to provide welfare for those in need.
1) (Lev. 23:22), “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap the very corners of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. – I am the Lord your God.”

2. (v. 3), “As it turned out …she found herself working the portion of the field belonging to Boaz.”
a. “As it turned out” = (lit.) her chance chanced upon; hyperbolic irony; God’s providence at work.
b. God made a promise to Abram – and He keeps His promise – over the centuries (Gen. 12:3)!
c. God keeps His promises – though separated by years, miles or situations (quote II Pt. 3:8).
d. “Boaz” = in him/it is strength (only in Ruth used of a person) – (I Kgs. 7:21), “Thus he set up the pillars at the porch; the right pillar he named Jachin, and the left he named Boaz.”

B. Scene 2: The Character of Boaz & Ruth Revealed (vs. 4-17)

1. (v. 4), “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, ‘May the Lord be with you,’ and they said to him, ‘May the Lord bless you.’”
a. “Now behold” = not time - suddenness, i.e., “Wouldn’t you know it, Boaz showed up” = God!!!
b. It is not by accident – that the first words we hear from Boaz – is in regards to the Lord’s blessing.

2. (v. 5), “Then Boaz said to his servant who is in charge of the reapers, ‘Whose young woman is this?’” – 3 Character Qualities of Ruth:
a. Courteous: “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. – And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers,’” (vs. 5-6a).
b. Hard working: “…She came and remained from morning until now,” (v. 6b).
c. Persevering: “…she has been sitting in the house for only a little while,” (v. 6c).
d. How would others view you???!!!

3. Character of Boaz:
a. Boaz showed up in the nick of time – from what he says – we can conclude a couple of things…
1) #1: Ruth was getting ready to leave his field – (v. 8),“Listen carefully, my daughter, do not go to glean another field; furthermore do not go from this one, but stay her with my maids.”
2) #2: She was leaving due to harassment – “Let your eyes be on the field they reap, and go after them. – Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.” - (sexual harrassment?!)
(i) (v. 15), “Boaz commanded his servants, ‘…do not insult her.’” (Moabite 4x)
(ii) (v. 16), “… do not rebuke her.”
(iii) (v. 22), “It is good my daughter, that you go out with his maids, lest others fall upon you in another field.”

4. The Key to Understanding this Chapter: God is at Work! (vs. 10-16)
a. God is working in Ruth’s life - (v. 10), “‘Why have I found favor in your sight – that you should take notice of me, - since I am a foreigner?’”
1) God has responded to her desires – “…Please let me go into the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.”
2) Have you ever been surprised – when God has answered your prayers??!

5. God is working in the life of Boaz (Boaz saw things from God’s perspective):
a. He saw her “FAITH” (v. 11):
1) “Boaz said to her, ‘All that you have done for Naomi after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people you did not previously know.”
2) God saw Abram also as a man of faith – (quote Gen. 12:1), “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to a land which I will show you.” Hb. 11:8.
b. He gave her “GRACE” (vs. 14-15): (3 things about Grace)
1) “Boaz said to her, ‘Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.’ (Relationship)!
2) “…and her served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left [doggy bag].” (Abundance)
3) “When she rose to glean… ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves.’” (Unexpected Blessings).

C. Scene 3: Naomi Evaluates the Day (vs. 17-23)

1. A Day of Blessings:
a. BLESSINGS RECEIVED - (vs. 17-18), “…what she had gleaned was about an ephah of barley. – She also took out and gave Naomi - what she had left after she was satisfied [her doggy bag].”
1) An ephah would feed both these women for about 2 weeks (not bad for 1 day’s work).
b. BLESSINGS GIVEN - (vs. 19-20), “‘May he who took notice of you be blessed.’ … ‘May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and the dead.’”

CONCLUSIONS:
1. God didn’t “make anything happen” – but His loving hand is seen throughout this entire chapter!!!
a. Ruth’s love for Naomi leads her to glean, b. She just happens upon the field of Boaz,
c. Her work ethic just happens to be seen, d. Boaz just happens to show up in the nick of time, e. He just happens to have heard about her compassion, f. He just happens to be a very godly man

2. Although the title “Finding Love Again” sounds like were describing Ruth/Boaz – it’s really about us & God:
a. “God desires for all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (I Tim. 2:4),
b. You being here today is no accident! – (Mk. 16:16)!!