Lesson 2

Reflection

Bible Passage

Ruth 2:3-17

^2:3She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
⁴Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, "Yahweh be with you." They answered him, "Yahweh bless you."
⁵Then said Boaz to his servant who was set over the reapers, "Whose young lady is this?"
⁶The servant who was set over the reapers answered, "It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.
⁷She said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house."
⁸Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Don't go to glean in another field, and don't go from here, but stay here close to my maidens.
⁹Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven't I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn."
¹⁰Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?"
¹¹Boaz answered her, "It has fully been shown me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn't know before.
¹²May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
¹³Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens."
¹⁴At meal time Boaz said to her, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar." She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left some of it.
¹⁵When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don't reproach her.
¹⁶Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don't rebuke her."
¹⁷So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah{1 ephah is about 22 litres or about 2/3 of a bushel} of barley.
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Discovery

We see here that Boaz is a kind man. He's generous and compassionate. He sees good in Ruth and seeks to return some kindness to her for what she's done for Naomi. Boaz let Ruth drink water drawn for his workers and work in the fields behind his maidservants. He also offers her protection by telling his men not to molest her in any way. In addition to these acts of kindness, which didn't really cost him much, Boaz asked Ruth to sit at his table durning lunch, gave her the left overs and even made sure his workers "accidently" left a little extra grain behind so that Ruth wouldn't have to work so hard.

For her part, Ruth was polite and not greedy. She asked permission to take what kernels of grain Boaz's workers left behind and not a bit more she worked hard and didn't slack or ask for other favors. When Boaz offered her more, she reacted with humility. Inspiration

Inspiration

Sometimes people think that the only signifigant things they do are those for which they receive public recognition. Understandably, we all have a fascination with bigness and fame. Soemtimes we are deluded into thinking that if we could just have the chance to preach to the hundreds and thousands that Billy Graham does, we would be doing something worthwhile. We think that in order to do something of ultimate importance, we must write the great American novel or paint some artistic masterpiece. There is a common notion that significance in life depends on some kind of public recongnition. but such is not the case. REally gratifying deeds are often done quietly and with hardly any recognition...

Some of the most important things we do in life are often neither dramatic nor memorable. Happily, on Judgment Day, Jesus will reward a lot of people who hardly remember the important things for which they will be honored. Sending a card of appreciation to someone who is a bit down and needs a lift, visiting a shut-in who is lonely, baby-sitting for a harried mother who needs a few hours off, calling someone on the phone to show that you care, and giving a glass of cool water in the name of Christ are not the sort of things taht we even remember doing after they are done. But, the people we do them for often remember, and I know that Jesus never forgets.

Response

• What character attributes did Ruth exhibit?
• How did Ruth experience God's faithfulness?
• How had God recently shown his faithfulness and provided for your needs?
• What kinds of work in today's society parallel the work of gleaning?
• Why is kindness important in developing Christian character?
• How can you help someone in need?

Prayer

Application

Further study: 1 Sam 20; Matt 9:18-26; Matt 26:6-13; Luke 1:29-41.
To read the whole book of Ruth by the end of this study, read Ruth 2:1-23.
The study is based on Life Lessons with Max Lucado ISBN 08499-5246-8 with a copyright of 1996