Bounty and Care

Judah and Boaz: Pointers to Jesus. Ruth 1.6, 7; 2.6-8

Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Joshua, Judges, Ruth (6)

Pray Psalm 105.8-11, 45.
He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”…
That they might observe His statutes
And keep His laws.
Praise the LORD!

Sing Psalm 105.8-11, 45.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
He will His covenant faithfully guard—His oath, the promise of His Word.
That which He to our fathers swore, He will perform forevermore!

So let us all in our Savior confide, and in His holy Law abide.
Let us observe His glorious Word, and praise our sovereign, faithful LORD!

Preparation
1. Where were people enjoying the blessings of God?

2. What did Boaz say to Ruth?

Meditation
Word reached Naomi, essentially homeless in Moab, that the famine had lifted which led her husband to take her out of their tribal land, the territory of Judah; the report was that God had “visited” His people and blessed them with food, just as He had promised. That word, “visited,” is significant, for it recalls the “numbering” of the people of Israel in the wilderness, when every tent was “visited”, and every inhabitant accounted for by name. As then, God is in the background, continuing to be faithful to His promises and to care for His faithful people. At the same time, He was present among the people of Judah, fulfilling His Word.

Note the role of Boaz as owner and caretaker: He admonished his young men not to trouble Ruth (2.9)—demonstrating his respect for the Law of God (cf. Deut. 10.17-19). And He cautioned her not to stray from his fields. He could not ensure her safety beyond the reach of his own authority. It was still the time of the judges, as we recall, and lawlessness rather than faithfulness was the manner of most. Boaz even went so far as to make his servants her servants, when he authorized her to drink of the water they drew for themselves.

God blessed faithful covenant-keeping people like Boaz. And He used him to give Ruth a “new birth” of care and love. The central role of Judah is emphasized here, along with the grace of Boaz for incorporating a “stranger” into his household. Bounty and care abounded in Judah through faithful people like Boaz. Both the territory of Judah and the man Boaz point forward to Jesus. And this is emphasized in the book of Ruth by the closing verses (4.18-22), where the genealogy given does two things: It connects Ruth with the genealogy of God’s faithful people in the past, and it points forward to the coming of David.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread” (Ruth 1.6).

“If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven,
from there the LORD your God will gather you,
and from there He will bring you” (Deut. 30.4).

“Fear not, for I AM with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by My Name, whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him’” (Is. 43.5-7).

And when we have been brought back into His care, we will do well not to wander away again.
“Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you” (Jude 1.21 TLB).

Here and now—there and then.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I AM, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know…
I AM the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14.1-4, 6).

Jesus was the Way for Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz; and He is the Way for us.
The only Way.
Through Him is perfect direction, bounty, and care.

Reflection
1. All the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1.20). What does that suggest about how you should start each day?

2. How do you experience the bounty and care of Jesus? How should you respond?

3. Whom will you encourage today to enjoy more of the bounty and care of Jesus?

It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ruth 2.4-17

Pray Psalm 105.1-7.
How has God “visited” you lately? What blessings will you praise Him for today? Pray that He will use you, like Boaz, as a source of comfort and encouragement to the people you meet today.

Sing Psalm 105.1-7.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Give thanks unto the LORD Most High; call on His Name, before Him cry!
Make known His deeds in every land; sing praise for all the works of His hand.

Glory in God, rejoice in heart, all you who seek His holy part.
Him and His strength and Presence seek; His works proclaim, His judgments speak.

You holy children of Abraham, you chosen ones of Jacob, stand!
He is our LORD, of wondrous worth; His judgments are in all the earth.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Our Scriptorium study on the book of Ruth, Ruth: Redeeming Grace, is now available in a free PDF. Download your copy by clicking here, then share it freely with friends and start your own Scriptorium study group.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.