As we have studied this back
and forth exchange of words between Ruth and Boaz, we have notice
what great care Boaz has extended toward Ruth even though she was new
to his field. This acknowledgment has been humbling for Ruth, and her
appreciation has been expressed for Boaz' favor. Boaz has just give
reasons for giving her grace, and in chapter two and verse thirteen
we read Ruth's response to his words:
Then she said, Let me
find favor in your sight, my lord; for that you have comforted me,
and for that you have spoken friendly unto your handmaid, though I be
not like unto one of your handmaidens.
Ruth's
first words to Boaz' kind remarks was, “Let me find favor in
your sight, my lord:” As though in an assenting request, Ruth
asks, “Let me..” which means, allow me to find favor in
your sight. She has come to the settled place in her mind that Boaz'
favor is extended toward her, and although she might have felt
unworthy of such honor, she now agrees with Boaz' offer and prays
that indeed his favor would come upon her. In other words, “Let it
be. Let it be so, Let be as you have said.”
After
agreeing and requesting to be in the place of favor, Ruth expresses
what Boaz' words have done for her. She said, “for that you have
comforted me.” Most of us know that place of discomfort in
life, and when someone comes along with comforting words it is such a
blessing. Let's think about this for a moment. Ruth lost her husband.
Ruth moved away from her homeland and those who were familiar to her.
Ruth didn't have riches waiting for her when she arrived in Bethlehem
with Naomi. No, she rather had to glean from a field as a poor
person. Each of these positions brings about much discomfort, and
therefore we can imagine how Boaz' words were “like apples of
gold in bowls of silver” to her.
In
addition to favoring and comforting her, Ruth notes that Boaz' had
“spoken friendly unto your handmaid, though I be not like unto
one of your handmaidens.” Ruth knew she was different from the
other girls in the field. She was from Moab, and those who were
foreigners were not always welcomed with open arms. Ruth had a
reputation for staying with her mother in law Naomi as she returned,
but that was about as much as was known. She was a stranger, and it
is likely that she had to push past her being an outsider just to
work in the field. We might imagine that she worked alone and perhaps
as an outsider without a lot of conversation with the other ladies.
Whichever the case, Ruth knew she was different, and yet the kinsman
redeemer acknowledged her above all the others. For this Ruth was
extremely thankful.
Are
there times where we feel like a stranger in the world? Do we wonder
sometimes why Jesus our kinsman redeemer would ever extend favor,
comfort, and friendliness to us? We know there are so many others He
could choose, and yet, we are the chosen. Oh indeed, dear Lord Jesus,
let us find favor in your sight. Extend to us your comfort as we live
in difficult times. Speak friendly to we who are unlike the others
you may choose, and may we ever be grateful for the grace you have
given to us.
Next
time we will see more of Boaz' favor toward Ruth, 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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