It is sweet to consider in the story of Ruth how her blessings increase as she draws nearer Boaz. She is first found gleaning “after the reapers” in that part of the field which belonged to him (Ruth 2:3). She next hears his gracious admonition not to go to another field, but to stay by his maidens (ch. 2:8). Then Boaz invites Ruth to drink from the vessels of water that “the young men had drawn” (ch. 2:9).
Ruth is next invited to eat in Boaz’s company with his reapers, and there she draws close enough to receive blessing personally from his hand (ch. 2:14). But she draws still closer as she reclines at his feet in the place where the harvest was stored and hears his desire for her (ch. 3:13). Finally, Ruth, the outcast Moabitess, becomes the wife of Boaz (ch. 4:13).
Let us likewise draw ever closer to our Lord He who blessed us “with all spiritual blessings” and who “loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
S. Hallowell (adapted)