Gleanings From Ruth_Not reaping the edges

Editor's Notes

• #3: Series Outline The Turning Point: Ruth 1:1-18 Dealing with Bitterness Ruth 1:19-22 Not Reaping the Edges Ruth 2:1-7 The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 2:8-23 The Threshing Floor Ruth 3 When Responsibility Knocks… Ruth 4
• #4: Not Reaping the Edges
• #5: First Point God does not leave generosity to chance
• #6: Ruth 2 1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 
• #7: 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
• #8: Leviticus 19 9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
• #9: 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.
• #10: 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
• #11: The Hebrew word מִקְרֶה carries the meaning of random chance. It is an event that happens without a particular person deciding or assisting in the action. Some commentators conclude that Ruth is lucky. She just happens to come upon the fields of Boaz. However, in interpreting any language accurately, you need to take idioms into account. When I say, “hit the sack”, you understand that I am saying go to sleep. And if you come in while I am speaking to someone about you, and I say, “Speak of the devil” you understand that I am not calling you Satan! And before you perform in a play, if I say “break a leg” you know I am not wishing you bodily harm. Our language is filled with idioms. You can’t look at the words individually. Their combined meaning carries a special meaning. This combination of words on the screen are an idiom. The same construction appears in Ecclesiastes 2:14-15, and in that context it refers to fate overtaking or befalling a person. The idea of luck is alien to the theology of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. So what is being said in verse 3? We are being told that Ruth did not go looking for the field of Boaz. She is not trying to put the touch on Boaz as a family member. Rather, she has made a simple and humble decision to glean for grain. But there is nothing in the language of this text to overrule the sovereignty of God. Throughout the Book of Ruth we will see the mysterious interplay between human choice and divine decision. I believe that God is so sovereign that he gives his children real choice… free will if you like. Yet, God is able to accomplish his sovereign purpose nonetheless. This has real consequence in our lives. You have a choice and God has a plan. Your choice will not foil God’s plan. However, the more your choices are outside of God’s plan for your life, the more potholes you will encounter on the road of life.
• #12: Lamentations 3 37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
• #13: Second Point God blesses character and compassion.
• #14: Ruth 2 1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 
• #15: The description of Boaz is incredibly rich in the Hebrew text. It would be easy for us to see this as simply a description of Boaz as a wealthy land-owner. We often refer to the rich and powerful as being great men or women. However, this description is filled with references to character. When David refers to this mighty men of valor, they are called “ish chayil.” So, this phrase can be used to describe courage or valor. However, if you have ever read Proverbs 31, you have read of this woman who is the gold standard of wives. She rises early, works diligently, adds to her huband’s good reputation and she manages her household well. Her husband and children call her blessed. In Hebrew, she is called by the female version of this phrase, “Asheth Chayil.” In this context, the primary reference is not to her courage, but rather her impeccable character. When David calls his mightiest warriors “ish chayil” he is speaking of their character as warriors. They are worthy. They are loyal. Those who bear this title are, in God’s Word, more than royalty. They are God’s medal of honor recipients. So, Boaz is no ordinary land owner. The author of this book, possibly the prophet Samuel, wants us to know that this is a man of the greatest character.
• #16: 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” This is one of those little details which we typically breeze by, a verse which simply advances the narrative. However, this is one of the most important verses in the entire book. If Boaz’ greeting was conventional, then we shouldn’t make much of it. That would be like ascribing strong religious faith to someone who says “God Bless You” when you sneeze. Agnostics and religious apathetics still speak this way. It tells us nothing of the faith of the person saying it. Boaz’ greeting, and the response of the harvesters is a picture of a man of faith living out his faith in the work-place. Our faith is not supposed to exist in a box named Religion that we open Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Christian life is to be pervasive. The gospel life is downright invasive. Jesus wants every part of your life. Boaz lived out his faith before his workers. Notice how they return his greeting. They too have been infected with faith.
• #17: Our faith is not supposed to exist in a box named Religion that we open Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Christian life is to be pervasive. The gospel life is downright invasive. Jesus wants every part of your life. Boaz lived out his faith before his workers. Notice how they return his greeting. They too have been infected with faith. You can often tell the real character of a man in authority by seeing how he relates to his staff and by how they think of him.” David Guzik
• #18: 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
• #19: Boaz’ Motives Is this attraction or compassion?
• #20: Third Point
• #21: 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 
• #22: 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
• #23: Ruth’s Work Ethic She has no sense of entitlement.
• #24: A sense of entitlement is a cancerous thought process that is void of gratitude and can be deadly to our relationships.” Dr. Steve Maraboli
• #25: She is not too proud to work.
• #26: She works long and hard.
• #27: Hard work spotlights the character of people: Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.”