Ruth and Boaz Meet (2:1-12)

At the beginning of this second chapter of Ruth, the unknown author provides his readers with information about a relative of Naomi’s late husband. Boaz was not the only one of his relatives that lived in Bethlehem, but the author wants us to take note of his existence. He also wants us to take note of his character, which he describes as worthy. The description indicates that he has a good influence over others, that he is a man who knows how to get things down, who can use his status in the community for the benefit of others, and who is respected by others because of his fear of God. It is possible that Boaz was a military leader as the term translated ‘man’ in verse 1 can have that meaning.

Psalm 15:2-5 gives a character portrait of such a person: ‘He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbour, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honours those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.’ As we get to know more about Boaz in this book, we will see that he fits this description composed by his great descendant David in that psalm of a man who can worship God.

Nevertheless, the reference to Boaz is quite surprising. There is no obvious connection with the previous verse, and nothing is said about him in the next verse either. It is a hint from the author to watch this man. Given his place in the community, maybe he can use his position to help Naomi and Ruth.

The author might be making a contrast between Elimelech and Boaz. Elimelech did not live up to his name (My God is king) and look to God to provide for him in the time of famine. Instead, he looked to his own solution and went off to Moab. Boaz, it is assumed, remained in Bethlehem. His name means strength, and it looks as if he was a strength in the community both in difficult and easier times.

Looking for food (vv. 2-3)

Having come back to Bethlehem empty and impoverished, it was essential that Naomi and Ruth find a food supply. Since it was the time for collecting the barley harvest it would be straightforward for Ruth to find some barley. Provision had been made for needy Israelites in the Mosaic law: ‘When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands’ (Deut. 24:19). She was willing to do so.

The author is reminding us that the way of blessing is to follow the Lord’s directions. When Ruth informed Naomi as they left Moab that they would have the same God, she did not have a vague commitment in mind. She was determined to do what her God wanted her to do. Somehow, she had come to know about the arrangement made by God for those in need. Since she and Naomi were in need, she realised that the allowed activity was suitable for her. She recognised that she had to get involved in the path of obedience to God.

Faith shows itself in appropriate activity that is governed by the Word of God. The easiest way to reveal that we have faith in Jesus is by showing to others that we are determined to obey his commandments. While some of Jesus’ commandments only concern what people cannot see, such as secret prayer or personal giving, he also gave commandments that can only be kept if they are done publicly. He instructed his disciples to let others see their good works so that those others would then glorify God.

After all, if Ruth had not obeyed this divine instruction, would the subsequent incidents mentioned in Ruth 2 have taken place? No, they would not have occurred, and what a loss that would have been to Ruth! Sometimes we can forget that a great deal is dependent on our obedience. Life is often a chain in which there are links, with those links being acts of our obedience. We fail to do one requirement and the link is broken and we lose out on a spiritual blessing.

Mutual greetings (v. 4)

The reapers whom Ruth was following came to the section that belonged to Boaz, and while she was there, he appeared. Obviously, this was not a coincidence. Instead, it is the arrangement of divine providence. We can see that this providence from Ruth’s point of view involved her being there when he arrived. She heard how the worthy man spoke to his workers and she saw his interest in her because she was a stranger. Providence is a matter that we should often consider:

It is plain that divine Providence was her conductor to the field of Boaz. Nothing is accidental to God. When the lot is cast into the lap, the disposing, the whole disposing of it, is of the Lord. We are ever in his hands, and he can bring the richest benefits, or the sorest chastisements, out of causes from which we formed no apprehension, either of good or evil. ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he greatly delighteth in his way.’ The same God that brought Ruth from Moab to Bethlehem, led her to the field of Boaz for her good (Lawson). 

Imagine if every workplace began the day with the mutual greetings exchanged by Boaz and his reapers. Both he and they engage in benedictions of one another. One writer comments that ‘the custom of greeting is not only very ancient, but also very useful for gaining and strengthening love, which our Saviour earnestly commends to all the pious’ (Lavater) We are impressed by the simplicity of their words, and we should be impressed by the spirituality of what they say. Those two features are a good balance of Christian communication, of sharing with one another helpful comments.

This was a real prayer from the mouth of Boaz. It is too common with men to say, ‘God be with you,’ when God is not in their thoughts. The name of God is profaned when it is used without consideration. It is reported of the great philosopher Boyle, that he never mentioned the name of God without making a visible pause in his discourse. Most certainly none of us ought to mention such an awful name without thinking of him who is called by it, or to seek any thing from him for ourselves or others without earnest desires to obtain it, and without a becoming sense of our dependence upon him for all those good things which we wish ourselves or others to enjoy (Lawson).

What does it mean to say, ‘The Lord be with you’? It is not a reference to God’s omnipresence, the term that describes one of his divine attributes. His presence in that sense is constant everywhere. Rather Boaz would have had in mind particular ways in which God had promised to be with the Israelites, such as protecting them from enemies (the time of the Judges involved frequent invasions), strengthening them for tasks (they had been working hard), enabling them to work together in harmony, and teaching them about his kindness towards them as a special people. Indeed, it would have been suitable for them to speak together about those areas of divine blessing.

It is not only Israelites who could pronounce this benediction. Obviously, we are used to benedictions in church services in which something is stated concerning benefits connected to each person of the Trinity. Often Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 13:14 are used: ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’ Such benedictions can be said because they refer to blessings that God has promised to give.

Such ways of speaking should also be the norm in Christian communication as believers interact with one another. An example is found in verse 15 of 3 John where the apostle says to his friend Gaius, ‘Peace be to you.’ Peace in this context is the comfortable sense of the favour of God, and it can be known in each aspect of life by his people as they serve him.

Something similar to what John had in mind may be seen in the response of Boaz’ workers to him when they said, ‘The Lord bless you.’ No doubt, their words of blessing were an expression of gratitude for his goodness to them. They are also a prayer for God to continue blessing him. It is impossible for us to know whether any of them were concerned about him not having a wife. Even if they were, they would not have imagined how that blessing would come to him. Their wishes for him were good and spiritual, but they were about to see how God can respond in ways far above what they could imagine.

Worthy behaviour (vv. 5-12)

Since the author has described Boaz as a worthy man, readers should expect to see signs of how his worthiness was revealed in daily life. Are any such signs seen in this meeting he has with Ruth?

In verse 5, Boaz asks a question of the servant in charge of the reapers: ‘Whose young woman is this?’ The question shows that he was observant and respectful. He was observant because he noticed that a stranger was among them, and no doubt he was aware of the instructions given in the Mosaic law about showing kindness to strangers. Yet he realised that someone else might be responsible for the stranger, so he asked if that was the case. He had the heart to help her, but he also was careful about getting involved in case it was inappropriate. Compassion and wisdom should go together, and they are features of a worthy person.

Having found out that the stranger was Ruth the Moabitess, he arranged for her safety (vv. 6-9). The details he mentions indicate that he took seriously his responsibilities. Although he had not met Ruth previously, he knew about her decision to leave Moab with Naomi and come to live in Bethlehem. Because Naomi was connected by family ties, he was responsible for her, and since Ruth was also connected, he assumed responsibility for her as well. A willingness to be responsible is part of a worthy person’s behaviour.

Ruth was astonished at how Boaz responded to her in her current situation (v.10). Although the reader knows that Boaz is a relative, Ruth does not know who he is. But she recognises that she is in the presence of a worthy man and responds to him with humility and gratitude. He informs her that he knows about her decision to come with Naomi (v. 11). But as was the case with his workers, he wants to speak a blessing to her (v. 12). A worthy man will commend his God consistently whenever he has opportunity to do so.

The blessing of Boaz (v. 12)

In his blessing, Boaz describes the spiritual life, even although he was living in Old Testament times. Such a life involves experiencing the goodness of God. Yet in order to experience his goodness we have to come under his protection. That is the order described by Boaz.

It is possible that when referring to God and wings that Boaz was thinking about the cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant:

 

The living God was exhibited to the faith of his ancient people, as the God who dwelt between the cherubims that spread their wings over the mercy seat, the throne of his grace. It was perhaps in allusion to this symbol of God’s residence amongst his people, that those who sought protection from him were said to trust under the shadow of his wings. ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. His feathers shall cover thee; under his wings shalt thou trust; his faithfulness shall be thy shield and buckler’ (Lawson).

Another interpretation is more likely, however. The protection that God provides and which his people enjoy is likened to a mother bird and her young. We know that Jesus later used this illustration when speaking about the inhabitants of Jerusalem who had rejected him: ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!’ (Luke 13:34). Such protection is secure because the young are totally covered by the wings. It is also comfortable and warm because the chicks are beside the mother.

The idea of likening the great God of heaven to a mother bird is frequent used in the Book of Psalms. David prays to God: ‘hide me in the shadow of your wings’ (Ps. 17:8); he observed: ‘How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings’ (Ps. 36:7); when being chased by Saul, he wrote: ‘Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by’ (Ps. 57:1); and in Psalm 61:4, he seems to refer to the wings of the cherubim: ‘Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!’ David, when he was meditating found this idea of God to be a source of great joy: ‘for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy’ (Ps. 63:7). In Psalm 91:4, David again used this illustration of God to express his sense of divine safety: ‘He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.’

This description is a beautiful picture of what it means to be secure in Christ. As the apostle Paul stated with firmness in Romans 8:35-37: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.’

Having such protection, it is important to keep in mind that Boaz is not suggesting that believers can merit blessing by their behaviour. Nevertheless, obedience is crucial for knowing what we can call rewards of grace from God. There are many commandments that indicate this reality. The key is that believers are in a covenant relationship with the God who has promised to bless those who live dedicated lives for his glory. Ruth had showed goodness to Naomi and the good covenant God would show goodness to her.

The fact is, God is no one’s debtor. Therefore, his faithful people can expect a full reward. Malachi 3:16-18 is an obvious example of this: ‘Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”’