c. The story gets a bit Pygmallion, Pretty woman-esqe in this section
2. We pick up where we left off.
a. Naomi has moved back to her hometown of Bethleham, Ruth with her.
b. They are penniless, and futureless.
Ruth Meets Boaz
2 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 3. Enter the Hero: Boaz means strong, man of war. He was a worthy man which means a few things. a. He was well to do, b. He loved God c. He’d be the type that would drive a hybrid hummer, watch UFC and tip well.
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of rain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 1. So Ruth realizes times are tough. a. Last week we talked about the social safety net in the ancient near east. b. The truth is that God had set up laws to protect the widows, the aliens, the defenseless. i. Gleaning was the safety net. ii. The heart of God. Pure religion James 1:27 iii. Dt 10:18 says"He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
Bono
God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them iv. Instead of asking God where he is in your situation and lamenting over your situation, why not Go where God is. c. Ruth asks Naomi if she can go out and try it. i. Rough way to earn a living. Think welfare, collecting cans, running in dangerous circles. ii. Ruth asks permission because its dangerous and Naomi has lost so many close to her already iii. She asks for favour from the field owners because she knows many people don’t do as they are told. 1. Look God has given regulations for how his church should run. 2. Tithing and offering 3. Helping out iv. Theres a lot of happened to’s in this section of scripture. v. Two ways to view that: 1. That he is saying she actually picked a random one. 2. That God in his provision worked through circumstance to bring her where he could answer Naomi’s prayer. a. Seeing as how the main theme is God’s provision than I would probably lean towards this one. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” Boaz is a good man d. He prays for his workers and they pray for him. i. Can you guys imagine having bosses like that. ii. My boss was. . . iii. He is a good boss 1. Lumburg 2. Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
i. And he notices the woman. 1. Guys looking for the perfect woman look
