- (Rth 2:1 ESV) Now __________ had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was __________.
- A worthy man – Gibbor chayil
- Judges 6:12, Judges 11:1, 2 Kings 15:20
- Boaz is a man’s man.
- At this time in Israel there is not a formal army.
- Should a foreign power attack it is on the people to arm and defend themselves
- It is entirely possible that Boaz had seen armed conflict
- There is a contrast here to Naomi and __________
- They were poor, destitute, vulnerable, hungry
- Boaz was the opposite of all those things.
- Of the clan of __________
- Jewish society has 12 tribes
- Under the tribes they had clans
- So Elimelech and Boaz are of the same tribe: __________ was their tribe
- And also of the same clan of that tribe: __________
- (Rth 2:2 ESV) And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
- Catch the contrast here.
- We have the fine, upstanding, __________.
- A man of valor and power
- A man of pure descent
- A man of the elite tribe of God’s people
- And the scum of the earth Moabitess, __________.
- A woman of the lowest nationality
- A woman of pagan idolatry
- One who has it __________ and one who has __________
- Ruth is going to go out and look for food in the fields
- After the harvesters had finished.
- This was common for the poorest of the poor
- To go along picking up bits that were left behind in the field.
- Catch Ruth’s respect for __________ in this
- Her submission to the authority in her life.
- Why are they not both out trying to make it?
- Life expectancy at this time is not that long.
- Naomi was an adult with children when she left Bethlehem
- She might be past the physical point of working like that
- It really all does rest on __________ for them to survive.
- (Rth 2:3 ESV) So she set out and went and __________ in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to __________, who was of the clan of __________.
- Happened to, but was not by __________.
- __________ directs even the “accidental”
- It is no chance that Ruth arrived in a field that belonged to Boaz
- This was the divine direction of God
- (Rth 2:4 ESV) And behold, Boaz came from __________. And he said to the reapers, “The __________ be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD __________ you.”
- Just then __________ showed up. What luck!
- It is __________ who directs our paths.
- And he said to the reapers The Lord be with you!
- Catch the character of Boaz here.
- Shouting blessings on his workers
- Not cursing or crass joking
- How would workplaces change if there was an attitude of blessing and prayer for the people?
- (Rth 2:5 ESV) Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young __________ is this?”
- Whose young woman is this?
- He did not recognize her.
- She likely looked like the rest of them
- Remember the Moabites descended from Lot
- Who was the nephew of __________
- Abraham from whom the __________ descended.
- More likely she is someone he has not seen before
- Growing up in this place, __________ likely knew everyone
- And being in his own fields with his own workers
- He would likely know them all pretty well.
- When this stranger shows up he rightly asks…
- (Rth 2:6 ESV) And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young __________ woman, who came back with __________ from the country of Moab.
- (Rth 2:7 ESV) She said, ‘Please let me __________ and gather among the __________ after the __________.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
- Ruth asks to glean and gather
- Among the sheaves
- This would be in the middle of the harvest before they were __________!
- Gathering grain from and around the piles waiting to be carried out of the field.
- After the reapers
- Ruth is asking if she can follow after the reapers among the __________ grain
- This is something the foreman could not authorize and no land owner was required to allow.
- We saw in her dedication to continue with Naomi
- A __________ attitude
- One that would take risks
- One that has faith beyond the norm
- Deciding on what she hopes for
- Not on what she sees.
- We see in her request here the same
- She is not satisfied with the status quo
- If Ruth is to __________ she must go beyond
- Never assume the no – ask and let them say no.
- (Rth 2:8 ESV) Then Boaz said to __________, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to __________ in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.
- Now listen my daughter
- This is a term of acceptance to the family and society
- Catch the contrast of the outcast coming to the inside
- Boaz – the man at the core of the inside of Israel
- Ruth – as much of an outsider as is possible.
- And he brings her in
- From __________ – To __________.
- But keep close to my young women.
- You left your father and mother, your own lands to __________ to us.
- Now cling.
- Ruth clung to __________
- Now should would cling to the people of Boaz
- (Rth 2:9 ESV) Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”
- (Rth 2:10 ESV) Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
- Ruth is in a __________ position
- And it was not uncommon for women in her position to be taken advantage of
- Boaz offers her __________ in his fields and among his people
- Ruth is also of marriageable age and status
- And it would be entirely likely for one of the workers to pursue that option
- Also __________ by Boaz’s instruction
- So Ruth
- Seeks the bold move
- And permission is granted.
- And even more than that
