(Audio and Text Available)
Title: Fields of the World
Intro:
Has anyone seen “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”
There is a powerful scene at the end of the movie where Johnny Depp is walking out of the huge grocery store with a cake…
As chapter two of the book of Ruth comes to a close, the next thing we see in our story is that Ruth then shares the invitation from Boaz that she keep returning to his field until the end of the harvest. This was Boaz’s pledge that he would assume the care of Ruth (and by proxy, Naomi) until the end of the season.
Naomi’s advice back to Ruth is that she should accept the invitation, and not try to work in any other field, but trust that Boaz would be a man of his word.
Naomi makes it very clear to Ruth that she should NOT go to another field. Why do you think this is?
- It may insult Boaz
- Naomi believes Boaz is the instrument of God’s provision
- What possible reason would you have to go somewhere else?
Matthew Henry does a wonderful job explaining the spiritual significance of why Naomi insists that they solely rely on Boaz.
“She appointed Ruth to continue her attendance in the fields of Boaz (v. 22): “Let them not meet thee in any other field, for that will be construed a contempt of his courtesy.’ Our blessed Saviour is our Goel; it is he that has a right to redeem.
If we expect to receive benefit by him, let us closely adhere to him, and his fields, and his family; let us not go to the world and its fields for that which is to be had with him only, and which he has encouraged us to expect from him. Has the Lord dealt bountifully with us? Let us not be found in any other field…”
What are the ways we “go to the fields of the world”?
- Financially
- Romantically
- Politically
- Seeking Meaning
Does Naomi Rebuke Ruth?
Some scholars have suggested that Naomi actually corrects Ruth when we see the difference between what Ruth reports, “You stay close by my young men” and Naomi’s instructions in the next verse, “go out with his young women”.
The idea is that Naomi says to Ruth, “I know that Boaz told you to stay close to the young men who work in the field, but this is inappropriate for a single young lady to do. Instead, you stay close to maidens of the field, which is more chaste.”
I tend to agree with Matthew Henry that these scholars are reading something into the text that is not there.
Boaz instructs Ruth to stay close to the young men for three reasons:
- He has instructed them to provide for her. (v.15-16)
- He has pledged to Ruth they will do her no harm. (v.9)
- It was assumed her company would be with the maidens, who were also under the care of Boaz.
Matthew Henry:
Ruth spoke of the young men because they were the principal labourers, and to them Boaz had given directions concerning her; and Naomi takes it for granted that, while she attended the young men, her society would be with the maidens, as was fit.
Pastoral Exegetical Point:
Don’t read conclusions into the text that are not there.