And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
First of all, what a beautiful book of this blessed Bible. It brings smiles to the face and tears to eyes to read about Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. What an extreme contrast to the repulsiveness and sorrow of the book of Judges. After reading the last chapters of Judges the book of Ruth is so refreshing I got to say “I needed that!”
Today, I just want to ask you this question. Where hast thou gleaned today? Where have you gathered your nourishment this day? Who’s field did you labor in today for your subsistence?
The foundation of the book of Ruth is the law of the Lord. The law mentions several times that gleanings were to be left for the destitute and the needy. In Leviticus, the law commands that you purposely not harvest the corners of the field and leave for the poor and the stranger. (Leviticus 19:9, 23:22) And in Deuteronomy the fatherless and widow is added to the list.
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow… When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:19,20)
When I picture a field with maybe corn growing, I can see those huge John Deere tractors reaping that large swath of corn, I can see how easy is to just leave the corners undone. It’s not worth the time backing up and repositioning for such little amount of corn. So on the edges of these 1000 acre fields are these little strips and corners of corn. I can see the widows and the fatherless and the poor harvest what is left.
When I see them touch just the edges of that vast field, it makes me think of Jesus and that woman that was diseased that came behind him and touched the border of his garment. “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (Matthew 9:21) When I think about Boaz looking upon across his field and seeing Ruth and saying, “Whose damsel is this?” I think of Jesus when he felt that touch on his garment, he turned him about and saw her there.
Boaz bestowed such kindness upon Ruth when he said, “Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:” He charged his young men to leave her alone, to let her drink water, and leave extra of the harvest for her. I can’t imagine what relief and gratefulness she felt toward Boaz at that moment. The Bible says “Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me?” I see that woman plagued with disease for twelve years bowing before Jesus, as he says to her, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.”
She touched only the hem of his garment. Ruth harvested just the remnants and the corners of his field. I tell you it doesn’t take much of God to touch and change the heart of man. Just the crumbs from the master’s table is sufficient. Yet God opens his bountiful storehouse of blessing and subsistence everyday through his Holy Word and his Spirit. I ask you again. Where hast thou gleaned today?
Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word…But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part… (Luke 10:38,42)
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