Boaz Welcomes Ruth Gleaning in the FieldBible World
2:16Ruth 2:16
And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Ruth 2:16 belongs to the beautiful, brief pastoral story of Ruth from the time of the judges, which ends by tracing the ancestry of the Lord Jesus and shows how a Moabite woman was brought into that line. It records an act of kindness and generous provision in which Boaz orders his workers to deliberately drop extra grain for Ruth to glean. He tells them to leave it for her to keep and not to scold or rebuke her. His generosity allows her to keep what she gathers.
Ruth gleaning the scattered grain stands as an example of humble, useful labor. It encourages going to work and gathering what is available. The handfuls deliberately left for the gleaner represent small opportunities for service that God places in a person's path within reach. They are to be joyfully gathered while following Him, sometimes without at first realizing they were left there. The provision intentionally left for someone in need thus becomes the image of service set within reach.
Gleaning pictures caring for overlooked people by seeking out those who have been missed. That includes the rich or poor, the shy or those passed by. Gathering even a handful counts as valuable work for God's harvest. The harvest field pictures conversion in which cutting down the grain is not enough and binding the sheaves must follow. Binding means gathering loose converts and unorganized followers into Sabbath schools, prayer meetings, missionary associations, and churches.
God's army is to be organized into active companies, regiments, battalions, sharpshooters, artillerymen, infantry, sappers and miners rather than left idle in reserve. With all troops in action it can take the strongholds of sin and sweep the earth for King Immanuel. As handfuls were left within Ruth's reach to glean, means and opportunities lie at the feet of the church. Yet it largely uses them for material advancement rather than for godliness, self-denial, and service to Christ.
Ruth 2:16 belongs to the beautiful, brief pastoral story of Ruth from the time of the judges, which ends by tracing the ancestry of the Lord Jesus and shows how a Moabite woman was brought into that line. It records an act of kindness and generous provision in which Boaz orders his workers to deliberately drop extra grain for Ruth to glean. He tells them to leave it for her to keep and not to scold or rebuke her. His generosity allows her to keep what she gathers.
Ruth gleaning the scattered grain stands as an example of humble, useful labor. It encourages going to work and gathering what is available. The handfuls deliberately left for the gleaner represent small opportunities for service that God places in a person's path within reach. They are to be joyfully gathered while following Him, sometimes without at first realizing they were left there. The provision intentionally left for someone in need thus becomes the image of service set within reach.
Gleaning pictures caring for overlooked people by seeking out those who have been missed. That includes the rich or poor, the shy or those passed by. Gathering even a handful counts as valuable work for God's harvest. The harvest field pictures conversion in which cutting down the grain is not enough and binding the sheaves must follow. Binding means gathering loose converts and unorganized followers into Sabbath schools, prayer meetings, missionary associations, and churches.
God's army is to be organized into active companies, regiments, battalions, sharpshooters, artillerymen, infantry, sappers and miners rather than left idle in reserve. With all troops in action it can take the strongholds of sin and sweep the earth for King Immanuel. As handfuls were left within Ruth's reach to glean, means and opportunities lie at the feet of the church. Yet it largely uses them for material advancement rather than for godliness, self-denial, and service to Christ.