Kindness in the Midst of a Bitter Providence - Ruth 2

25In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25

1Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

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2And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I

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shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

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3So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the

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field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.

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4And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be

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with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.”

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5Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

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6And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young

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Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

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7She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from

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early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

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8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one,

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but keep close to my young women.

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9Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch

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you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”

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10Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes,

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that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

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11But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully

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told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.

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12The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel,

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under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

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13Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your

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servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

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14And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside

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the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.

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15When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let

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her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.

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16And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

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1. He uses his resources to support Ruth and Naomi

2. He uses his authority to protect Ruth from harm

3. He uses his words to affirm Ruth’s character