Ruth, chapters 2:3,4
It was just at the beginning of the cutting of the barley grain that Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem. In those days there were no big machines for harvesting grain; men cut the stalks down with scythes; and others gathered them and tied them in bundles. So many hands were needed for the work, and women also helped.
There was a law in Israel, given by God, that when they cut their fields they should let those who were too poor to have fields of their own, gather up any bundles that were dropped, or the stalks which were missed, and have the grain for their food (Lev. 19:9; Deut. 24:19).
Ruth must have heard of that law for she said to Naomi that she would go to the fields and try to gather some grain for them, as they were very poor. Picking up the scattered stalks of grain in the hot sunshine would not be easy work, but Ruth was willing to do it. She came to a field owned by Boaz, a well-known man of Bethlehem, and gathered the stalks left by his reapers.
When Boaz saw the strange young woman in his field, and learned she was Ruth, the daughter in law of Naomi, he spoke very kindly to her, because he had heard of her leaving her own land to come with Naomi, and of her kind help to her, and of her belief in the true God. Boaz knew well about God’s love and power, for his father, Salmon, had been one of those who had come across the Jordan River when God divided the waters. And his mother was Rahab, who had been saved from the house on the wall of Jericho (Joshua 6:25; Ruth 4:21).
Boaz told Ruth that the Lord would reward her because she trusted Him, and he said she could gather grain in his field each day; he also invited her to eat the noon lunch with him and his helpers, and gave her grain ready beaten out to carry to Naomi. Also, he spoke to his reapers to let some stalks fall on purpose for Ruth to gather.
So each night Ruth had grain to carry home to Naomi. They could cook it whole, or grind it for flour.
After the harvest, Boaz helped Naomi and Ruth much more. He bought back their land, which had been lost by the going to Moab, and Ruth became his wife. Theirs must have been a happy home for all trusted the Lord.
The story of Ruth is one everyone enjoys, because of her love, kindness, and humbleness.
The names of Boaz and Ruth are in the New Testament, for it was of their family that the Lord Jesus came, and to that same city of Bethlehem (Matt. 1:5, and 2:1).
ML 09/11/1938