Ruth 2:7

Ruth 2:7

Ruth 2:6 So the young servant boy who watched over the reapers answered and said, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with My Pleasant One (Naomi) from the fields of Moab.

⁷ “And she said, ‘Please let me be a gleaner

and gather among the stalks behind the reapers.’

And thus she went and has remained from the morning until now; except for this short break under the shelter.

Introduction

Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.

Notice then the story thus far: Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem destitute. Therefore, Ruth goes out to the field to try and glean/scavenge grain for her and Naomi to eat. However, gleaning is not safe (especially for a foreign woman). Therefore, Ruth promises Naomi to get permission from any landowner before she gleans on his land. Not only that, she also promises to glean behind all the native gleaners so as not to present them with competition and cause resentment.

While gleaning, Ruth inadvertently wanders into a field where she does not have permission to glean. That field just happens to belong to Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband.

Boaz arrives from town, sees an unknown woman in his field and thinks that she is some greedy landowner’s servant who was sent there to take grain from his field. Therefore, he is poised and ready to have her run off. However, before he does, he asks the young servant who is in charge of watching over his field who she is and why she is on his land.

In our text this morning, the young field watcher continues his report to Boaz. Not only that, if our passage last week provided a picture of Boaz as a genuine follower of YHWH, then every detail in our passage this morning provides a picture of who Ruth is.

Verse 7

Notice at once, after the young watcher explains to Boaz who Ruth is, he goes on to report what Ruth requested. Notice then the watcher reports that when he confronted Ruth for being in his master’s field, she was neither insolent nor veiled in her reply. Instead, she was polite and forthcoming. First, she tells the watcher exactly who she is (which is how he knows the information that he gave to Boaz in verse 6). In turn, she politely asks permission to continue gleaning in the field (please allow me). Importance: Ruth’s transparency and demeanor reveal a purity of heart that has nothing to conceal. In other words, in Ruth we see a moral security and strength of character. Next, Ruth goes on to say that she will gather among the stalks behind the reapers. Notice the point: to gather among the stalks behind the reapers is the standard, expected practice of gleaning ^FN#1. In other words, Ruth does not offer some extraordinary condition or restriction in order to gain permission to glean. Instead, what she is doing is assuring the watcher that she will adhere to the proper protocol for gleaning. In other words, she is not going cause trouble in the field or try and snatch more than is allotted to gleaners. Notice the result: Ruth’s approach is not only polite, it is also wise. Her intent is to put the watcher’s mind at ease so she can continue gleaning. And notice that it works.

Important: notice the picture of Ruth that her simple request provides: first you can hear the difficulty that Ruth has faced by gleaning last in line as well as the near desperation in her voice when confronted by the young field watcher. Thus, she does not simply apologize for her mistake and return to her original field. Instead, she almost pleads with the watcher to allow her to continue gleaning there. Why? Gleaning last in line provides such a scant amount of grain that Ruth needs to cover as many fields as possible just to get a little ^FN#2.

Second, her request shows us her true priorities and faith. Notice then, Ruth is not bitter about her low station or its difficulty. As such, she is not belligerent in her response to the watcher who is just a kid. Instead, Ruth understands that her situation is what it is and therefore is diligently working to make the best of it. Importance: remember, Ruth knew what she was getting into when she followed Naomi. She knew that her social station would be low and that her life would be hard ^FN#3. However, to Ruth, Naomi and Naomi’s God are worth all the sacrifice. To Ruth, she has gained far more than she has lost. Therefore, in place of bitterness, we see a quiet acceptance and diligence. Simply put, Ruth’s attitude throughout verse 7 points to the true grounding of her heart. She has gained YHWH and the continuing fellowship of the mother of her faith.  

Finally, Ruth’s request point to her character. Notice then, Ruth gets permission to glean and then goes last in line ^FN#4. In other words, Ruth does exactly what she promised Naomi that she would do (even though Naomi is not there to watch her and even though what Ruth has promised makes her work so much harder). Importance: at once verse 7 reminds me that the book of Ruth is not a book of flat, stock characters. Instead, it is a book that shows us the depth of real people, who are facing real situations. Not only that, the book also shows us the very real way that God works in the real circumstances that His people are facing (people just like you and me). That said, like Naomi and Ruth, we may not always recognize God’s hand, but one thing is clear throughout the book, God is never not at work in His children’s lives.

Next, notice the field watcher tells Boaz “and thus she went”. However, please note, the watcher’s main point here is not to confirm that Ruth went into the field. Boaz can see that Ruth went into the field. Instead, the watcher’s point is to covey to his master (who might be angry that she is there, or concerned that she might cause problems) that these are the terms by which he granted her entrance. In other he assures his master that it was thus (on these terms) that he allowed her into his field. At the same time, the phrase also conveys a strong sense of manner. In other words, the field watcher reports to his master that not only were these the terms under which she was granted permission but also that thus (in this manner) she has conducted herself while in the field. Importance: first the field watcher’s report demonstrates to Boaz that his servant has done his job with thorough competence. Thus, he has not let just anyone in the field for any ol reason. Instead, he has verified her identity and was satisfied with the propriety of her request. The result is that the field watcher’s diligence not only demonstrates his own fitness to Boaz (he has done right by his master), it also establishes the case for Ruth’s legitimacy. In other words, God has this one nameless teenage boy exactly where he needs to be. Not only that, the lad does exactly what he needed to do. Simply put, even though no one in the account sees it yet, God’s hand is directly at work in the very details of His people’s lives.

Next, notice the servant goes on to add, that Ruth has remained there all day (from morning until now). In other words, the field watcher assures his master that Ruth is not a miscreant who just showed up to get a bite to eat. Instead, she arrived in the morning (like an industrious laborer) and has been diligently working, without trouble all day. Importance: this additional information not only further assures Boaz of Ruth’s legitimacy; it also shows him her character and her commitment to Naomi. Ruth has been working hard all day just to help her mother-in-law. Finally, notice the field worker tells Boaz that Ruth has been dutifully at work all day, except for this short break that she is now taking under the shade shelter. However, please note: while this information certainly further demonstrates Ruth’s work ethic, I think it’s main purpose is to discretely assure Boaz, who has arrived to find her sitting under the workers shelter, that this single, widowed, marriage age woman is not a prostitute or some floozy who is conspicuously hanging around the workers camp. Notice the result: bit by bit God has removed any hesitation that Boaz might have about Ruth. Not only that, God has presented a picture to Boaz (and us) of a woman of incredible character/merit.

One las point: notice the extraordinary hand of God’s quiet provision: first, the fact that Ruth is sitting under the shade shelter when Boaz arrives may explain why she is noticed by Boaz at all. Think about it, if Ruth were way out in the field, she probably would not have been that easily spotted. Likewise, the fact that she is a new face would probably not have been immediately recognized. In other words, God has Ruth take a break at the exact time she needs to. That is, God has her take a break at the very time when a man, who she doesn’t even know exists, just happens to drop by his field to check in on his workers ^FN#5.  

Bottom line: The young field watcher concludes his report to Boaz. Afterwards, his master is silent and his face is stern as he ponders what he has been told and what he should do next. So is this it? Is Boaz simply going to give a nod of approval and then get back to more pressing matters with not further thought about Ruth? Or is the deliverance of YHWH brewing even now in the silent considerations of Boaz’s heart and character? Who knows, but the suspense is killing me! And that is exactly where the author wants us to be, on the edge of our seats and completely drawn into the account. Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait a bit before we find out what happens next.

Footnotes

1] Notice that what Ruth asks is exactly what the law of God commands and requires of landowners.

Deuteronomy 24:19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien (foreigner/stranger/sojourner), for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Leviticus 19:10 ‘Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.

In other words, Ruth’s request is not overreaching or assuming. In turn, even though this right is supplied to her by the law, Ruth is not insolent or defensive. Instead, she follows propriety by first asking the owner’s servant for permission to glean. Not only is this polite, it is also wise. Thus, the owner’s servant knows exactly who is in his master’s field, is convinced of the legitimacy of her being there, and has granted her permission to do so. As such, she is covered should any trouble or dispute arise over this stranger being in the field.

2] Remember, Ruth is trying to get food so that she and Naomi can survive. Not only that, she is also trying to keep them from the humiliation of having to beg. Thus, Ruth has gone out so that she and Naomi can provide for themselves and be considered competent and respectable members of society. You can hear the weight of this in her voice as she responds the field watcher. Not only that, you are also reminded of Ruth’s character and wisdom. Thus, with everything on the line, Ruth does not panic or become defensive. Instead, her reply to the young watcher (who very well might be there to throw her off the land) is polite and wise. In other words, her answer is calm, cool, and collected, showing us that Ruth has a good head on her shoulders

3] In fact, in 1:8-14 Naomi does her best to convince her two daughters-in-law to return to their homes by stressing how difficult things will be for them if they should go with her. Ruth knew and had a clear picture of the road she has chosen.

4] Note: Ruth says nothing about going last in line behind all the native gleaners (which is also a part of her promise to Naomi). Instead, she only asks the watcher’s permission to let her go behind the reapers. Why? Ruth assures the watcher that she will follow the standard gleaning practice while in his master’s field, which is all he cares about. He has no concern with her place in line among the gleaners. The gleaners will either sort that out among themselves or folks will start getting tossed from the field for disrupting the work. Thus, Ruth asks the watcher only that with which he is concerned. Once permission is granted, she will then head to the field and go to the back of the gleaning line, just as she promised Naomi. The result is that the watcher reports nothing of Ruth’s place in line to his master because neither he nor his master care. However, he does absolutely report, that while in the field she has caused no trouble (which pushiness in line by a foreign woman would most certainly have caused). The result is that the silence of verse 7 regarding Ruth’s promise to glean last should be expected and in no way indicates that she has failed to keep the second part of her promise. Instead, Ruth’s fidelity to the first part of her promise should assure us of the same regarding the second part of her promise (in fact, the whole point of verse 7 is to verify the strength of Ruth’s character- we should follow that verification). In turn, the watcher’s sterling report about her conduct in the field also supports the conclusion that she has done exactly what she promised her mother-in-law on all accounts.

5] Ruth has no idea who Boaz is or that he is her deceased father-in-law’s relative. Naomi has to explain that to her later (2:19-20)