In the preceding chapter we found a sad story of turning away from God and its serious consequences; the two desolate women, one a stranger to God and His grace; and the other not vet recognizing that she had but reaped the fruit of a course of self-seeking, were now in Bethlehem, the place of food, as its name literally means.
Never is God sought in vain, and He is ever ready to bless far beyond their thoughts and expectations those who put their trust in Him. Accordingly we now learn in chapter 2 of a kinsman, a mighty man of wealth, Boaz, who met the poor stranger, Ruth, and showed her kindness.
It was the beginning of barley harvest, as we learned in the first chapter (verse 22), and the real sense of need to the two women sent the younger out after the reapers. to pick up the stray ears dropped by them.
It was of God that Ruth went into the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, for it was all unknown to herself that she was taking of the bounty of the mighty kinsman of her mother-in-law, when she asked permission of the servant over the reapers to glean the overlooked barley. And Boaz, presently among his servants in the field, noticed the stranger. He already knew all about her, and bade her not go to glean in another field; she should stay close by his maidens, watching for the stray ears of barley they were missing; and if thirsty, there was water already drawn.
All this puts us in mind of the bountiful provision of our Saviour God. He has it in His heart to meet in love every poor sinner who, trembling and fearful it may well be, comes to trust under His wings (verse 12), and out of His great store He gives the Living Food, Christ, and the. living water, the Word of God. How comfortingly Boaz spoke to the empty handed, sad hearted .stranger, who without rightful claim on him, is there before Him!
This again is like God's way with the sinner who comes to Him. He gives peace (John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)); He gives eternal life ( John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)) to all who turn to Him, and their sins and iniquities will He remember no more (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)). His beloved Son Whom He gave to die in their stead, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God, has undertaken not only to satisfy God's righteous demands for them, but to bring them into the closest and unchanging relationship with Him in heavenly glory. So in this story of Ruth we find the mighty Boaz telling his servants to drop some of the handfuls. of barley they were gathering, on purpose, that she might gather more.
Ruth returned to Naomi, who was cheered by the thought of God's interest in herself as well as in the stranger (verse 20), and told her to continue with the maidens of Boaz. Thus the close of the barley and wheat harvest is reached.