Keep Fast by My Young Men Ruth 2:21 - Equipped for Battle

The story is getting exciting as we can almost visualize Naomi's thought process when she sees the bounty of barley Ruth has gleaned and then discovers that she has reaped in a field owned by a kinsman redeemer. Boaz could be the answer that Naomi has been looking for in all her troubles, and now that Ruth has made a connection with him, Naomi is increasingly interested in keeping the fires of this relationship going. Ruth adds more to Naomi's interest in chapter two and verse twenty one where we read:

And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, You shall keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

In response to Naomi's comment about Boaz being a kinsman redeemer, Ruth said, “He said unto me also, You shall keep fast by my young men”. In other words, Boaz desired that Ruth stay in his field. She was to stay close to the young men who were agents of Boaz' provision and protection. It was the young men who watched over Boaz' field who dropped extra barley for Ruth to gather. It was the young men who drew water for Ruth to drink when she was thirsty, and it was the young men who gathered for meal time in the middle of the day. Ruth was greatly advantaged by staying close to Boaz' young men.

Not only was Ruth to stay close to Boaz' young men, she was to stay “until they have ended all my harvest.” Staying in the field wasn't a one time venue for Ruth to follow. No, she was to continue gleaning as long as the barley was available. The harvest time was just beginning, and there was ample opportunity to gain substance for life if Ruth would simply stay close to the young men in Boaz' field. Another way of saying this is that Boaz would provide and protect Ruth all through the harvest season. It was directly beneficial for Ruth and indirectly beneficial for Naomi if Ruth would just stay where provision was supplied.

The harvest of the world requires people who glean. Many people do not know our kinsman redeemer Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and each of us can and will be used by the Master of the Field if we will simply stay close to His young men. Our kinsman redeemer Jesus has promised provision and protection for all who will harvest in His field. Supply is abundant, and we can do no better than to keep fast by the Lord's young men. The church is filled with those who will watch over us and care for us while we are harvesting. To stray from God's field only causes loss to come to our lives, and the protection that is available is forfeited should we stray from His provisional care. May we ever stay close to His young men, and continue working in His field until the harvest has ended.

Next time we will see Naomi's instructions to Ruth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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