As we get deeper and deeper
into the story of Ruth, we have come to the point where Boaz has not
only noticed Ruth, inquired about her, but is actually speaking to
her for the first time. We learned in verse eight of chapter two of
Boaz' desire for Ruth to stay in his field and follow his maidens. In
verse nine we learn more of Boaz' request:
[Let] your eyes [be] on
the field that they do reap, and go after them: have I not charged
the young men that they shall not touch you? and when you are
thirsty, go unto the vessels, and drink of [that] which the young men
have drawn.
Boaz
said, “Let your eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go
after them:” Boaz first directs Ruth's attention toward his
field with his laborers. Boaz is familiar with his field, and he
knows the maidens who work in it. Boaz desires that Ruth not let her
eyes stray toward any other field than his. He wants Ruth to continue
in the place where he knows his maidens have trod before, and his
familiarity within his field is one in which he knows there is
advantage and provision for her.
Next
Boaz said, “have I not charged the young men that they shall not
touch you?” Boaz has drawn a hedge of protection around Ruth
even before she knew she needed one. It might be the inclination of
young men to try to take advantage of Ruth as she gleaned in the
field. Ruth was obviously attractive in more ways than one, and if
she appeared to the other young men within Boaz' field as a woman who
was available, one of the young men might approach her. Boaz sees to
it that there will be no such approach. He is guarding her and making
sure that none other will touch her at all.
Finally
we read Boaz' words, “and when you are thirsty, go unto the
vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.” Not
only has Boaz provided protection from the young men, but he also
desires that Ruth enjoy provision from them. As people work in the
field, the body has a natural tendency to be thirsty. We all are
familiar with a cool drink of water on a hot summer day, however,
this water is provided by Boaz for his workers and drawn by them. He
wants certainty within Ruth that she may partake of this water any
time she needs it. Provision for water is within the field, and
doesn't even have to draw it herself. All she must do is recognize
her thirst and drink of the water provided.
Do we
not see the parallels for what Jesus has promised us in these verses?
As Boaz, Jesus desires that His followers keep their eyes upon the
field in which His maidens work. They should not allow their eyes to
wander to other fields, and they should follow after the ones who are
already working diligently within His field. He puts a hedge of
protection around those who listen to Him so that nothing will come
against them that does not pass through His will first. And finally,
whenever we are thirsty, as Jesus said in the gospel of John in
chapter seven and verse thirty-seven:
If any man thirst, let
him come unto me, and drink.
Boaz
made provision for Ruth if she will follow his words, and provision
is made for us. Protection is given for Ruth if she will stay in
Boaz' field, and protection is given for us as we follow Christ in
the world. Provision of water is given by Boaz for when Ruth becomes
thirsty, and it is drawn by others to simply come and drink, and so
it is with us as God has given us His word in advance to satisfy
every thirst that we may have in our lives. May we ever know our
protector and provider Jesus Christ as we live in His field from day
to day.
Next
time we will look at Ruth's reaction to Boaz' words, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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