RUTH

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:6    Then she [Naomi] arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.

    Naomi's husband and two sons had died, she had two daughters-in-law that were still with her. With no means of support, she wanted to go back to her home country, Bethlehem.
    This verse shows me that Naomi had faith that the Lord God would provide food, as He had done for others. Naomi's direction was from the Lord, as mine should always be. (DRM 8/23/09)

1:8    Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have shown . . .

    Naomi's two daughters-in-law were Ruth & Orpah whose husbands had recently died. Orpah was willing to go home to find another husband, but Ruth would not leave Naomi - which is similar to our devotion to Christ. (DRM 5/30/88)

1:16    But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

    Naomi's husband died, then later both of her sons (v. 3-5). After her sons died, she only had her two daughters-in-law. One left, but the other, Ruth, was determined to stay with Naomi wherever she went. Certainly Ruth loved Naomi like a mother, and didn't want anything to happen to her.
    Apparently God put Ruth's feelings in her heart to stay with Naomi. If God or the Holy Spirit does the same for me, do I follow Him, or go my own way? Ruth had determination. I also need determination to do the Right=Godly things in my life. (DRM 4/13/14)

1:20    She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

    With the loss of her husband and both sons, Naomi was bitter with the Lord. Certainly I understand what it's like to plan on doing something and having a fruitful life, then the Lord changing the plan.
    Rather than being bitter, it's best to just "go with the flow," and know that His plans are truly better - and He will be glorified the way He chooses. (DRM 8/24/09)

2:5, 6    Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" ⁶The servant in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab . . . "

    In that time there were very few big cities. This occurred in the little town of Bethlehem (1:22).
    In small towns, people find out about new people quickly - the news travels fast. Boaz already knew that Naomi and Ruth were in town and why (2:11). He just hadn't met her before.
    Like a small town, or a loving parent, God knows all about us and what we are doing and why. He wants only the best for those who put their trust in Him. Let God direct your path today . . . like Ruth did. Show love to others, like He shows love to you. (DRM 1/12/17)

2:8    So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls.

    Obviously Boaz was attracted to Ruth from the beginning. Boaz knew why Ruth was in his field and had compassion for her plight. Lord, let me be compassionate! (DRM 6/1/88)

2:9    Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw."

    After Boaz discovered Ruth gleaning in his field, he investigated her history - this was easy to do in the small town of Bethlehem. This verse is part of their first conversation.
    It seems to me that Boaz was attracted to Ruth in this first meeting and wanted to keep her nearby, with the added thought that his neighbors might not be as willing to have her glean their fields.
    While not mentioned, God was providing for Ruth and Naomi's needs by the food that Ruth was gleaning in the fields. God was also setting up the circumstances leading to Ruth's marriage. (DRM 8/9/15)

2:10    Then she [Ruth] fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him [Boaz], "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"

    Motives are hard to determine. Boaz's answer to the question presented in this verse is in the following two verses (vv. 11-12), which seems logical, but I wonder if there was anything more, like her beauty? Why would a rich man fall somewhat in love with Ruth, who certainly was poor?
    God knows the reason. He set up this encounter and it led later to the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:5).
    God knows our motives for or against doing things. Others can't tell our motives unless we tell them.
    The most important thing is to serve the Lord, and know His motive is only for our best future. (DRM 3/10/15)

2:11    Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. "

    Throughout all of history, Bethlehem has been a small town/city. Certainly that is the case here. In small towns, everyone knows if ANY change has happened; thus Boaz had been told soon after Naomi and Ruth had arrived. At least in this case, it was good for Ruth to be known.
    Amazingly to me, Jesus knows each of us personally, just like we live in a small town. Like Boaz, He wants to help in our times of trouble - and always is available for us as needed. (DRM 8/25/09)

2:12    . . . May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."

    Boaz had found Ruth in the field that he owned gleaning the grain. It was tradition in that time for poor people to be allowed to do this (not like today).
    This verse is the second part of a quote from Boaz. Obviously Boaz was a God-fearing man and was attracted to Ruth "by first sight." God was providing for Ruth's (and Naomi's) needs through Boaz.
    God will also provide for the needs of believers (like you and me) today. (DRM 8/2/12)

2:15, 16    When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. ¹⁶Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."

    Ruth was gleaning grain in Boaz's field. Naomi had told Ruth that Boaz was a relative (vv. 1-2). After seeing Ruth, Boaz wanted her to stay in his fields to glean (v. 8).
    These two verses seem to show that Boaz was attracted to Ruth and wanted her protected.
    Jesus also wants to protect His family like Boaz wanted to protect Ruth from the outside world. After being a part of His family, we have angels that watch over us. The Lord will only allow things to happen to us that will ultimately be for our good. (DRM 5/23/16)

2:19    Her [Ruth] mother-in-law [Naomi] then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."

    While Bethlehem (1:19) was a small town at the time, there were probably several farms that Ruth could have gone to, but she chose Boaz' farm to glean from for some reason.
    God had to have led Ruth to make this choice, as the whole book of Ruth and the rest of the Bible hinge on this one decision.
    This is another instance where God directs His people - and I (we) have to be open to hear His voice and do His will. (DRM 1/10/12)

    God's care for these people results in the birth of Obed, the grandfather of David (4:17, 21), whose descendants eventually include our Lord (Matt. 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). (Our Daily Bread Insight 1/10/12)

2:22    Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his [Boaz] maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field."

    It seems to me that Naomi knew more than she was telling Ruth. While Naomi didn't tell Ruth which field to go to, she must have known Boaz had fields, as he was a close relative (v. 20). In this verse Naomi wants Ruth to stay at Boaz' fields. Perhaps God was directing Naomi to do and say the things she did - as history shows how important this event would be in the birth of Jesus, much later. (DRM 8/26/09)

3:4    ". . . It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do."

    It seems that Naomi was suggesting that Ruth have relations with Boaz, but apparently that was not her intent - rather that Ruth and Boaz just find out that they enjoy each other's company.
    Because of today's society, I wouldn't follow Naomi's suggestion - and hope the Lord would suggest a different way. (DRM 8/27/09)

3:10    Then he [Boaz] said, "May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

    Apparently what Ruth did in vv. 7-9 was an act of compassion and nothing physical.
    Ruth's act was taken to show of her friendship and desires to marry Boaz.
    How can this apply to me? While I wouldn't do the same thing, it's always good to express our feelings and friendships to others - as it's terrible to be lonely with no friends. (DRM 11/6/12)

3:11b    All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

    Ruth was known for her good character. I hope that as I grow in knowledge of the Lord, that more people will also think of me in that way. (DRM 6/3/88)

4:5    Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitress, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."

    Apparently there was one relative that was closer to Naomi than Boaz. Since she had property, he had the right of "first redemption" or first refusal before Boaz could purchase the land and the right to marry Ruth.
    God worked it out that Boaz would be the purchaser and could marry Ruth, as He knows the future and the plans He had for Ruth's descendants. (DRM 8/28/09)

4:10    I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitress, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property. . .

    In those days, it seems that choosing a wife was a part of a business transaction. From previous chapters though, I still think love had something to do with it. (DRM 6/4/88)

4:15    . . . May he [Obed] also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

    Ruth and Boaz were married and had a son, Obed.
    The emphasis in this verse is on Naomi as she lost her sons (1:5) and now had two daughter-in-laws - one who went another way (1:14). Naomi truly wanted an heir in her family (1:21). Now she had a grandson through her daughter-in-law, Ruth.
    Again I/we are reminded that God works things out in mysterious ways. It's not over until it's over. With prayer and total dependence on the Lord, anything can happen. Don't give up on your hopes and prayers. (DRM 11/7/17)

4:17    The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.