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Ruth 2:13-14
Ruth 2:13 Then she said, “May I always find favor in your eyes, my lord,
for you have comforted me
and indeed have spoken fortitude directly to the heart of your lowest maidservant, though I am not even on par with one of your lowest maidservants.”
14 And at mealtime In Strength (Boaz) said to her, “Come here,
and eat from the bread and dip your portion in the vinegar.”
So she sat down beside the workers; and he passed her roasted grain. Then she ate and was satisfied and even had some left.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Now remember every detail in this section of the book is dominated by the central theme of acceptance. Why? It is YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth that provides the foundation for everything that follows in the account.
Notice then the story thus far: Ruth is absolutely baffled by Boaz’s kindness. She can’t understand why this landowner, who she has never met before, has shown her such extraordinary favor; especially since she is a foreigner?
Therefore, last week Boaz explained the reasons for his kindness. First, Boaz knows all about Ruth’s devotion and dedication to Naomi. Not only that, he also knows all about Ruth’s conversion. Simply put, Ruth is no longer a foreigner. Instead, she is a child of God. As such, it is YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth that is the basis for Boaz’s acceptance and kindness.
However, truth be told, I’m not sure how much Boaz’s explanation has actually helped Ruth. Instead, this notion of acceptance (by God and by God’s people) is something that Ruth (like us) is going to have to see over and again before she gets it. Therefore,
In our text this morning we watch as Ruth completely misses the whole bit about YHWH’s acceptance. However, despite Ruth’s bewilderment, we begin to see just what YHWH’s acceptance looks like and what it actually means.
Verse 13
Notice at once by the time we get to verse 13 Ruth has regained her composure. Therefore, she is finally able to respond to all that Boaz has said and done with a deep felt thanksgiving. Notice then Ruth says, May I always find such favor in your eyes. Importance: notice that Ruth’s thanksgiving is expressed in the form of a wish. In other words, in a very Hebrew manner, Ruth expresses her profound thanks for Boaz’s favor by affirming her desire that it never be taken away, since it is so precious to her FN#1. However, please note: even though Ruth has regained her composure, if we listen to what she says we find that she is still not very clear on what has just happened. Yes, she has heard Boaz’s explanation and blessing; however, their significance has not yet fully registered with her. Not only that, Ruth still does not know the key connection between Boaz and Naomi. Remember, Boaz left that detail out of his explanation. Why? He knows that Ruth would have latched on to it and thus missed (stopped pondering) the real reasons for his kindness (which are Ruth’s character, conversion, and acceptance by God) FN#2. Therefore, all that Ruth knows is that this landowner, who she has never met before, has responded favorably to her loyalty to her mother-in-law. However, the notion that she is God’s child now, in the fullest sense of the word, has still not registered with her. Instead, every detail of Ruth’s response indicates that she still sees herself as just a foreigner.
Next, notice the reason Ruth gives for her thankfulness: Ruth says that Boaz has comforted her. However, please note: Ruth is not merely being polite. Instead, throughout Scripture the word that is used here for “comfort” denotes both vital help as well as an easing of the mind. In other words, Boaz’s kindness has not only addressed the very real hardships that Naomi and Ruth are facing; it has also relieved the very real anxiety that has weighed so heavily on Ruth’s mind (things like: worries over her safety, success, and simply having food to eat- have all been lifted by Boaz’s protection and provision). As such, you can hear the profound relief that Ruth feels in both in what she says and the way she says it.
Next, notice Ruth goes on to underscore the value and the immense impact that Boaz’s kindness has had on her. Ruth says that Boaz has indeed spoken fortitude/hope/assurance directly to her heart. However, notice the way that Ruth’s persistent understanding of herself as a foreigner underlies everything that she is saying here: first, we hear Ruth’s amazement that a rich, Hebrew landowner would take the time and the notice to speak directly to an impoverished foreign gleaner. Not only that, notice how Ruth describes herself: Ruth does not merely say that she is Boaz’s humble servant. Instead, she calls herself the lowest of his maidservants. Importance: the term maidservant that Ruth uses here describes someone who is on the bottom rung of all the servants FN#3. In fact, in I Samuel we hear this sort of maidservant described as the one who would wash the feet of the other servants. Not only that, Ruth then goes on to say that she is not even on the same level with such a lowly slave. In other words, In Ruth’s eyes, because she is a foreigner, she has no claim whatsoever on Boaz’s kindness, not even the meager claim of basic decency that one of his servant girls would have. However, notice the divine irony: all the while that Ruth is depicting herself as lowly foreigner, she is being treated as one of YHYW’s valued people FN#4. Importance: in Boaz’s kindness Ruth is experiencing firsthand God’s acceptance. In other words, Ruth is in the process of learning just what YHWH’s acceptance actually means. It’s just going to take her a while to get it.
Verse 14
Notice at once the flow of our passage: if in verses 8-13 Ruth heard about YHWH’s acceptance (through Boaz’s kindness, explanation and blessing), then beginning with verse 14 she sees that acceptance in action. In other words, Ruth is going to see just what YHWH’s acceptance looks like and means. Notice then the scene as verse 14 opens: first, notice that between verses 13 and 14 quite a bit of time has passed. As such, Ruth has been in the field with Boaz’s workers, gleaning as they reaped. However, notice Ruth’s persistent frame of mind: despite the fact that she has been with the workers all day (something no gleaner was allowed to do), nonetheless, at mealtime, she sits alone and at a distance from them FN#5. In other words, the truth and full meaning of YHWH’s acceptance has still not sunk in. However, notice the heart of YHWH and the heart of YHWH’s instrument Boaz: Boaz looks up and sees Ruth sitting alone and apart. However, such is not at all what acceptance looks like or means. Therefore, Boaz personally and publically, in front of every one, goes and gets her. Importance: this is the very same heart and the very same care with which the very same God comes and gets you and me over and again throughout our life.
Next, notice the extraordinary reason Boaz goes and gets Ruth. Not only has Ruth been allowed the unheard of privilege of gleaning right beside his workers, Boaz now calls her over to eat with them. In fact, when Boaz says eat from the bread, he is talking about the bread/food that he has supplied exclusively for his workers (not gleaners). Not only that, notice the heart of Boaz: Boaz hasn’t just supplied the bare minimum for his staff. Instead, just like the wine he mixed in with the water (2:9), he now supplies his workers with vinegar in which to dip their bread. In other words, this vinegar is an extra, a treat, given to his workers FN#6. And now, Boaz gives even this extra to Ruth. Notice the result: what we are realizing along with Ruth is that Boaz’s actions don’t simply match his words, they exceed them. Importance: remember in Boaz we are seeing YHWH’s acceptance. Such then is the acceptance and promises of God: they are never less than what is presented. Instead, they are always more FN#7.
Next, the enormity and unheard of nature of Boaz’s latest kindness is reflected by the humor of the scene that results: Notice then, Boaz goes and gets Ruth; he brings her over, and sits her down. Then, all at once, absolutely nothing happens. Instead, Ruth just sits there and the workers just stare. The lad who is in charge of serving the food doesn’t know what to do. He has never seen anything like this. As a result, nobody passes Ruth any food. Instead, they are all frozen. Therefore, in disgust, Boaz gets back up, and goes and gets her some food himself. Notice then verse 14 tells us that Boaz passed her some of the roasted grain (which by the way, is yet another extra that Boaz has provided his staff FN#8). Importance: If YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth is the basis of Boaz’s acceptance; then Boaz’s public demonstration of acceptance in front of all his workers sets the norm and his expectation of their acceptance of her as well FN#9.
Finally, notice the extent of Boaz’s provision: verse 14 says that Boaz not only gives Ruth something to eat, he provides her with more than enough to satisfy her hunger. Thus the portion she receives fills her up and she even has some left over FN#10.
Bottom line: remember YHWH is the strength of In Strength. Therefore, as we watch Boaz’ actions, we are seeing a picture of just what YHWH’s acceptance means. In turn, we are finding that such is the heart of YHWH that His acceptance/deliverance/provisions are always more than we ever could have dreamed or expected.
Footnotes
1] Two points: first as we listen to what Ruth says (“may I always find favor in your eyes, my lord”), we can hear the gratitude, deference, and uncertainty in her voice. She is overwhelmed by Boaz’s unheard of kindness and yet is still uncertain about his grounds for showing it. Thus, in Ruth’s voice and posture we glimpse the tenuous nature of the situation that she feels. Her wellbeing is completely at Boaz’s discretion. Second, the idea of a thanksgiving given in the form of a wish is a very Hebrew mannerism that we see elsewhere in Scripture. The idea is that the speaker is expressing their profound gratitude for the favor shown by articulating their desire that it never be taken since it is so precious to them (c.f. I Sam 1:18; II Sam 16:4)
2] Boaz knows that if he had included this obvious connection and explanation, there is a good chance that Ruth would have missed the real reason for his kindness and thus stopped searching for it.
3] The notion of maidservant is used 8x throughout the book of Ruth. However, verse 13 is the only place where “lowest maidservant” (שִׁפְחָה) is used. The majority of the time the term translated as maid is נַעֲרָה. For example, in verse 8 Boaz tells Ruth to stick close to his maids (נַעֲרָה). Importance: the word for maid (נַעֲרָה) that we find most often in the book of Ruth stresses the age of the worker and not her position. Thus, such a maid is a young, marriage age servant girl. This is the word used the vast majority of the time in the book (2:5, 8, 22, 23; 3:2). In 3:9 Ruth uses still another term (אָמָה– handmaiden), which stresses not the age of the servant but her higher household position. However, in verse 13, Ruth refers to herself as a שִׁפְחָה, which is the lowest rung of all the servant girls (servant wench might express more fully the lowliness of this term). I Sam 25:41 gives us a good picture of such a servant’s standing/place/position:
1 Samuel 25:41 And she arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid (שִׁפְחָה) to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
The good news is that verse 13 is the last and only time that we will hear Ruth use the Hebrew term “lowest maidservant” to describe herself. In other words, Ruth is learning what YHWH’s acceptance means. It’s just going to take her a while to get it.
4] Notice, it is not just Boaz who is treating Ruth with favor and kindness. Remember, Ruth was already in Boaz’s field when he got there. Why? His young field watcher also knew about Ruth and therefore responded to her with kindness by letting her glean on his master’s land (2:5-7)
5] Though she has been with the workers all day, Ruth is not going to be presumptuous and go sit with them. However, at the same time, one would imagine that Ruth’s special treatment means that she is not real welcome among the other (native) gleaners who have not been afforded such privileges. Therefore, as verse 14 opens, we find Ruth sitting quite alone and apart from everyone.
6] Note: just with the wine mixed in the water back in 2:9, so too dipping bread in vinegar not only enhanced the taste of the food, it also served to refresh the workers. Importance: Boaz has not just established a YHWH centered work place merely by what he says (blessings, greetings, and talk). Instead, his actions and care for his staff reflect the very heart of YHWH. The vinegar in verse 14 is just one more small example of Boaz’s YHWH focused heart.
7] Scripture over and again expresses the more of God’s promises and intentions for His children
2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
8] Note: Boaz not only provides Ruth and his workers vinegar to go along with their bread, he also roasts some of the grain that has been harvested from his field and gives them that as well. Note: Roasted grain was a staple food during that day. In fact, it was so central to daily life that it was a main item in the offerings that God’s people were to make to YHWH (grain offering), thereby acknowledging that YHWH is the Lord and provider of their very sustenance.
One more point: it is of extreme importance to note that the owner of the field has just gotten up and personally served this gleaner. Here then is a picture of the same heart that sent His own Son, not to be served, but to be a servant of all. So it is that the God of all creation attends to each one of His children, directly and personally.
9] In other words, in Boaz (YHWH’s instrument) YHWH’s acceptance of Ruth has been made public (both to his workers as well as to Ruth).
10] Watch these leftovers because not only have they just shown us the way that Boaz’s heart reflects YHWH’s heart; the next time we see them, they are going to show us the way that Ruth also reflects the very same heart of YHWH. In other words, one to-go box of roasted grain is all it takes to show us that in Ruth and Boaz we have two genuine believers through whom God will work His deliverance (and you thought that tinfoil swan to-go box, which you got over there at the fancy coat and tie only restaurant was something).