May it please Almighty God to
bless us together this morning as we meditate in his holy word. Let's turn to the book of Ruth.
and the first chapter, and we'll read the last verse, verse 22. So the book of Ruth, first chapter,
and reading verse 22. So Naomi returned and Ruth the
Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, which returned out
of the country of Moab and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning
of barley harvest. You might think, well this is
a very strange text to have and I don't see there's going much
benefit from that? Well, we should remember that
the Word of God contains every word which is important and relevant. And such a verse as this is relevant
and important to us. And it's important in this respect,
in this instance, because we're told that Naomi and Ruth they
returned at a particular time and the particular time was in
the beginning of Bali harvest and we can think on the surface
well that's not very important but in reality if you then and
hopefully we will be able to trace out the blessing that followed
because it occurred at this very time If it had not been by the
harvest, it had been after the harvest was finished, then those
things which came about could not have occurred. And we should
realize that in our little lives, God wonderfully ordains a plan
for us. And he plans a timetable for
us. And he plans details for us. And no doubt, when Naomi decided
to return to her own country, we believe therefore, her time
to return was influenced by the Spirit of God. She didn't say,
well now, this is the day. but she was moved by the Spirit
of God to return to Bethlehem just at this time. And she first
of all was to take with her her two daughters-in-law, but we
see that one turned back, one was pretty keen to enjoy the
benefits that they've had of the world and to carry on in
their old life. But Ruth was very different. Ruth had been moved again by
the Spirit of God and it's good to read what Ruth actually said
when she was encouraged by Nehemiah to go back to her old country. She tells us, Entreat me not
to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. Whither
thou goest, I will go. Whither thou lodgest, I will
lodge. Thy people shall be my people,
thy God my God where thou diest when I die and there will I be
buried the Lord do so to me and more also if ought but death
part thee and me so we see there a very clear statement and a
very good reason why Ruth wanted to go with Naomi And the great
secret was, thy people shall be my people and thy God my God. Well, that's a great blessing
to be able to make such a statement as that. And it's a good reminder
for us in our lives to give a good testimony in the world in which
we live to demonstrate quite clearly that we do worship a
true God, the great God, and to realize that our example may
indeed be noted by other people and may, in God's providence,
have a wonderfully good effect. It did here on Ruth. We know,
of course, it was the Spirit's work, but it's wonderful that
it's recorded in this way and right down to the very End of
life, she tells us, where thou diest will I die, and there will
I be buried. And what was the reaction of
Naomi? We're told, when she saw that
she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking
to her. What a wonderful blessing that
is if we in our little lives are steadfastly minded to follow the true God and to
possess that grace so to do. And so they then went and came
back to Bethlehem. And of course the people there
were a bit surprised to see Naomi come back. But it was, she was
able to say that she was now, her name should be called Mara
because the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with her. When
in reality he hadn't. In reality God had dealt very
graciously with her. and especially with Ruth. So it's good just to bear that
in mind as we then consider this situation which occurred and
that came to Bethlehem in the beginning of Barley Harvest. And so you may say, well, so
why was it relevant? Why was it important that she
came back at that very time? Well, it came back at that very
time because through coming back at that time, she was to meet
Boaz. Yeah, she was to meet Boaz. And you know, we can think that
in our little lives, really, because Boaz is really typified
and representative of the Lord Jesus himself. And to think the
Lord directs us to certain places, in certain ways, where by his
grace we come and meet the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we
see how God was in control. And we see that she started gleaning. It wasn't a very important job,
we may think, but it was something that Ruth was able to do. And she asked, let me now go
to the field and glean ears of corn after him, in whose sight
I shall find grace. She had no idea who that person
was that she would find grace in. But she wanted to do that. And Nehemiah said, go, my daughter. And she went, and came and gleaned
in the field after the reapers. And then we're told, and the
hap was to light on the part of the field belonging unto Boaz. That wasn't just something haphazard. appear to be just a chance situation,
but we should realize that here God ordained that Ruth should
come upon this bit of land that was owned by Boaz, and that was
the bit of land that she was to go and to lean in. It wasn't by chance, it was ordained
by Almighty God. And it's good if you and I can
observe that in our lives, both in a natural way and also in
a spiritual way, to realize that God is in control, that God directs
us. And so we're told that Boaz then
came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, the Lord be with
you. And they answered him, the Lord
bless thee. And Boaz asked the question,
whose damsel is this? Who's this person leaning in
my field? And the servant that was set
over the reapers answered, it is the Moabitish damsel that
came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. And she'd asked the question,
she'd asked for permission She said, I pray you, let me glean
and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came
and has continued even from morning until now that she tarried a
little in the house. Well, we see here was a woman
happy to do that, which she was able to do. She wasn't seeking
some very great and important job. She was willing. just to
glean in the fields. And what a mercy it was that
she was willing to glean there. And then Baez came to Ruth and
he spoke and he said, here is thou not my daughter? And he
told her, go not to glean in another field, neither go from
thence. but abide here fast by my maidens.'
Well, that was in a natural condition, but it's a blessing if we have
this picture in a spiritual condition, that God speaks to us and tells
us not to wander all round, but to come and to glean. where the
Lord provides for us. The Lord had provided for Ruth
and therefore she was to stay and to glean in that field. And Boaz said, Go not to glean
in another field, neither go from thence, but abide here fast
by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field.
that they do reap, and go thou after them. Have not I charged
the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou
art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young
men have drawn.' He was really instructing her to be content
with that which had been provided for her. And again, that's a
good word of instruction for us. If God has directed us, if
God has guided us, then we shouldn't be looking around to go somewhere
else. We should realise this is God's
leading, this is God's direction, and we can expect God to bless
such a situation. And so we're told then what her
reaction was. And this is a very wonderful
reaction, a reaction which you and I should take. And remember,
all these things emanate from coming to Bethlehem in the time
of harvest. If it hadn't been the time of
harvest, none of these things would have occurred. And it's
very important for us to realize that God's timing in our lives
is specific and important. in each one to realise that God
is in control. What was her reaction? Well,
it's a very humbling position that we see and it's a very good
word of instruction for us. Then she fell on her face and
bowed herself to the ground and said unto him, Why have I found
grace in thy eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me,
seeing I am a stranger. Well, we see she was humbled
to think that this man, Boaz, and at this time she didn't know
who he was. But you see, she realized that
he had looked upon her and also the person in charge of the Reapers
had been kind to her. So she'd been wonderfully blessed,
really. how true it is again in our natural
life and again in our spiritual life if the Lord looks upon us
and needs us and directs us in our natural lives provides for
us perhaps places at school or university and then when we go
into work that God provides work for us and opens up avenues perhaps
which we didn't know existed. And we see the God showing us
favor, just like he did here to Ruth. Why have I found grace? And we should know by now the
grace, of course, is the unmerited favor of God. And it should be very humbling
if we can trace out God's hand upon us. to realise how kind
He's been. And perhaps we need to ask the
same question. Why have I found grace in thine
eyes, the eyes of Almighty God? Why has God looked upon me? Why has God touched my heart? Why has God shown me the way
of life? Why has the Lord come to me?
Well, no doubt many people in Bethlehem who were gleaners,
many people perhaps who wanted to glean and weren't able to.
And yet you see God in his great sovereign mercy had shown Ruth
this wonderful favour and this wonderful blessing. And it's
good for us. Today, in our lives, if we're
found in a similar attitude, the attitude was that she fell
on her face and bowed herself to the ground. In this case it
was before Boaz, and as I've said already, you know, we have
the heavenly Boaz, and it's a great blessing if you and I bow down
before this great and glorious God, and bow down And ask the
question, why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest
take knowledge of me? It's humbling, isn't it? if God
has come and taken notice of you and me. And then we read
of Jacob. The Lord found him in a waste-howling
wilderness. He led him about. He instructed
him. He kept him as the apple of his
eye. The grace of God it was to Jacob. The grace of God it was to Ruth. And what a blessing. if it's the grace of God to you
and me. There's very much instruction
in this little book of Ruth, and it's quite amazing how God
grants clear pictures, simple pictures. Sometimes we might
think, well, the Word of God and the way of salvation is very
complicated. Well, in reality it's not, and
it's good if you and I are blessed with spiritual eyes to observe
the great truth in God's Word. There is a lovely description,
it's this, the deep that couches beneath. You can read this account,
read it as a natural account, and it has no effect upon you.
But it's a blessing if you and I read it with spiritual eyes
and we see the wonderful application of
it realize how it was blessed to Ruth and realize how the Lord
perhaps has brought us to a place in a particular time in our little
lives we've got all our life my friends God knows exactly
what he's going to do with us therefore to realise that here
we have a wonderful pattern, really, of the leading of Almighty
God. You see, it was the appointed
time, and just think of it, many things had to occur so that she
arrived at just the right time, the beginning of Barney Harvest. Yes, they had to have the discussion,
first of all, about whether Ruth would go back or not, would join
her sister, her sister-in-law, Orpah, and return to our country. All that would have taken time.
And when the Lord, first of all, influenced nobody to desire to
go back. It wasn't something that just
occurred. It was the divine providence
of Almighty God. Don't think in your life or my
life There's anything which is not known by God. God ordains
everything in your life and my life. He ordained it in the life
of Ruth and Naomi. And what a blessing it is, therefore,
to have faith to believe that the Lord ordains everything in
our lives. Nothing comes by chance. And so we have this wonderful
statement that Ruth made and how appropriate it is to really
the whole Church of God. And it's good, therefore, if
you and I can understand the relevance of it and the importance
of it and come in, as she did, fell on her face and bowed herself
to the ground. That means bowing down before
Almighty God as our Lord and Master. Not bowing down to anyone
else, but bowing down to God, the Almighty God. And said, why
have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge
of me? And then she says, see, I am
a stranger. Well, you know, you and I may
sometimes have felt like a stranger. And reality was, of course, Ruth
was a Moabite girl. And here she was, coming to Bethlehem. She was a stranger. Naturally. But you see, it was the place
where God would meet with her. The place where God would bless
her. And that's wonderful, isn't it?
to realize the Lord does that which is for our good and don't
forget it's for his honor and for his glory. And you see Ruth
didn't hide this truth. The great temptation is today
that people are afraid to acknowledge God's goodness and God's mercy. But here was a very clear picture
that we have of Ruth. And she's asking the question
to Baez, why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest
take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? Well, you see,
obviously, Baez at this occasion had taken physical knowledge
of Ruth. But it's good if you and I, in
our life, we have the evidence that God has taken knowledge
of us in a spiritual sense. He hasn't left us to just wander
on aimlessly in this poor old world. But He's made us aware that He's
in charge. He's made us aware that He's
in control. sometimes our way is hedged up
sometimes we don't like it sometimes we've got a plan and
we want God to work to that plan and we may pray to God that he
will work to that plan but then God tells us I've got a plan,
not you. I've got a plan. And you will
work to that plan. And the blessing is, that'll
be the best plan. That'll be the best plan. It
was the best plan for Ruth. She was wonderfully favoured,
as she was able to glean as much as she could. And what a blessing
that will be again spiritually, if you and I can glean. We hear
the gospel preached. We can benefit from that which
we hear. And, well, we're told about what
Ruth did. She didn't just forget about
it. She went home. She beat it out. She meditated. She thought upon it. What a mercy
it is if you and I are able to do that well. Boaz said to her,
It hath fully been shown me all that thou hast done unto thy
mother-in-law since the death of thine husband, and how thou
hast left thy father and thy mother and the land of thy nativity
and are come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore."
Well, you see, Boaz was not ignorant of what had occurred. And my
friends, the great blessing is God is not ignorant of what He's
done for you and me in our little lives. But a great blessing is
to realize that we have a kind and gracious God who leads us
on leads us on in a very specific way there were many fields weren't
there many fields that Ruth could have gone into to no doubt glean
but no God directed her to this one specific field where Boaz
was and then Boaz he may have had other people there but he
particularly noticed Ruth and he particularly addressed her
and went to her And again, how wonderful that is, to think that
God looks upon us as individuals. He knows about us. He comes to
us. He directs us. And He blessed
us. And then, it goes on and says,
the Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee
of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to
trust. What a blessing, my friends,
today, if that can be said of you and me. A full reward be given thee of
the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to
trust. You see, none of these things
would have occurred if she come to Bethlehem in any other time
than the time of the harvesting of barley? No, it was the appointed
time. But has there been, you need
to ask the question, has there been an appointed time in your life and
my life, perhaps, we've done something or said
something which we never thought we would and yet you see God
has directed us and God has brought us into this position and very
clearly Ruth had demonstrated where her trust was as we read
together in that earlier in the first chapter as I've already
spoken about thy people shall be my people and thy God my God
she demonstrated that was the God that she wanted to worship
that was the God that she wanted to be under his wings and that's
why Baez comes and tells her the Lord recompense thy work
and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, unto
whose wings thou art come to trust. Well, my friends, we don't
deserve any reward, but what a mercy if the Lord has shown
us that there is a reward laid up in heaven, and that reward
is the great and glorious gift of eternal life. You see, these
things are far superior do anything natural, natural things pass
away but you see these things which are given of the Lord are
eternal what a mercy it is because she comes and she responds and
says let me find favor in thy sight my Lord do you and I desire
to find favor in the sight of our God Do we desire to have
His smile upon us? To realise that He's looking
upon us and the evidence of it is because He's loved us with
an everlasting love. Let me find favour in thy sight. Is that a great concern? We want
God to show us His favour. that he has loved us, and he
is leading us just like Ruth, and he's blessing us just like
Ruth. Let me find favour in thy sight,
my Lord. Again, she was able to come in
a very positive way, and it's good for us to observe these
examples. Because when we pray, we're not
to pray to the unknown God, we're to come in faith. believing that
we pray to the ever living and true God. Let me find favor in
thy sight, my Lord, for that thou hast comforted me and for
that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, thy benight
not like unto one of thine handmaidens. Well, quite clearly there was
a difference. Quite clearly the Lord had called
Ruth to be a true follower of himself. As Boaz then encouraged
her what to do and how to obtain natural food and how to obtain
that which was Necessary and so she was able to glean and
glean in the field until even and she beat out That she gleaned
and it was about an ether of barley. So again Just revert
into that situation if we're able to glean We don't want to
lose it. Do we? We don't throw it away
We don't want to lose it before we go home. On the journey home,
we've forgotten what we've gleaned. It's all gone away, it's all
dissipated. No, she didn't want that to happen. And she took, until evening,
she beat it out and gleaned. It was about an hour for a bath
and she took it up. and went into her city and brought
it to her mother brought forth and he gave her that she had
reserved after that she was sufficed it's a good thing isn't it to
receive spiritual food and that food be good to us and a strength
to us and not something that we fretter away not something
that we lose You know, we're told, aren't we, in the parable
of the sower, those three instances where the seed was good seed,
but you see, it didn't go into the right place. And those were
the three instances where it didn't profit it didn't grow
up my friends it's a very solemn account we know it perhaps very
well but to realize there was only one and that was the fourth
place the good ground where it grew it was all good seed but
three places where it didn't profit and what a blessing it
is therefore if the good seed that we glean Prophets are souls
and is that which is good for us What a mercy there then to
actually benefit from these things. Well We say that, um She went
home to her mother mother-in-law and she was able to speak of
what had occurred and all these things because They arrived at
Bethlehem in the time of the beginning of Barney Harvest. These things would not have occurred
if they'd come at a different time. But God in His great and
glorious promises and favours toward us brings these situations
at such a time as this. You may remember in Esther's
day there she was in the palace And there she was when Morikei
instructed her what to inquire of and ask for the king. And
she was a bit dividend about it. And she wasn't sure whether
she could. And Murikayo said that perhaps
she'd come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Reality was, it was ordained
by Almighty God. that she should be there at that
very time. And it was through those words
that Esther was able to speak to the king, that the Jews were
delivered. And Haman was hanged for his
evil ways. God's providence, God's mercy,
God's love. that's what it comes down to
exactly the same in our little lives God's mercy toward us God's
love toward us it was the same with Ruth she could have been
left couldn't she in the country of Myra could have been left
there but no God in his sovereign love and grace called her, brought
her into this land of Bethlehem, where she was to come and to
meet buyers, where she was directed, where to glean, and how she did
glean, and how she benefited from it. And she came back and
saw her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law said, where has
thou gleaned today? And where wrought is thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge
of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law
with whom she had wrought and said, the man's name with whom
I wrought today is Boaz. Naomi said, Aunt, our daughter-in-law,
blessed be the Lord. Again, what do we note with that? we see honour and glory coming
to God. How often I say, and how relevant
it is, that if we are believers, our life is for the honour and
glory of God. So what did Naomi say? The first
thing she said, Blessed be he of the Lord. Of the Lord. She knew who Baez was. and not left of His kindness
to the living and to the dead. And now, O my Saviour, the man
is nearer of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. You see
what a wonderful revelation that was. And what a wonderful revelation
that will be if you and I in our spiritual life find that
God is leading us and then directing us to know that it was the Lord
The Lord God Almighty who directed us. The Lord God Almighty who'd
spoken to us. The Lord God Almighty who had
encouraged us. What a wonderful truth that was
in Ruth's case. And what a wonderful blessing
it'll be in our case. You know then, what does she
really conclude when she says, so she kept fast by the maidens
of Baez to glean unto the end of barley harvest. Yes, she kept close. And we might
think of that in a spiritual term to keep close to the people
of God. It's very easy to wander away
from the people of God. It's very easy to be consumed
by the poor things of this world, which do not profit, but what
a blessing if God gives us grace to keep fast by the maidens of
Baez, keep fast by the children of God. Desire to work with them,
desire to walk with them, desire to talk with them, You see, if we wander away from
the family of God, where do we go? We go into the world. Does it profit us? Does it benefit
our soul? The truth is, no, it doesn't.
It takes us away from the things of God. And so quickly, our minds
become taken up with the vanities of time. That's just what the
devil wants. And what a mercy, therefore,
we have such examples like this, which are easy for us to understand. So she kept fast by the maidens
of Baeth. Well, it's an instruction for
us today to keep fast by the children of God, to not wander
away The things of the world are very attractive to our mind
and to our head, but they don't profit the soul, they don't benefit
the soul. And she was content. She came
with and dwelt with her mother-in-law. Didn't go wandering away. She
was content to dwell with her mother-in-law. What a wonderful
blessing that was. What a blessing it is for us
today. You know, godliness with contentment
is great gain. For we brought nothing into this
world and is certain we should carry nothing out. What a mercy,
therefore, to be content with what God has given us, and to
realize that the Lord has blessed us, and the Lord has directed
us, and the Lord is gracious to us. And so, as we ponder these
words here, and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of
barley harvest, and we see what flows from that simple statement,
It may be in your life and my life we can realise that God
directed us to go and do a certain thing in a certain place and
God has blessed us in it. If God before us, who can be
against us? And what an evidence it is of
God's mercy and grace and love to us. to realise that this great
God has not dealt with us as our sins deserve, but has been
gracious to us and has taught us and directed us. And because of that, we have
a good hope that one day we shall be with that great and glorious
God, with our wonderful Saviour in heaven forever, to be able
to praise Him for all that He's done For all is favour to such
an unworthy person. Come back and don't forget that
10th verse. Why have I found grace in thine
eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am
a stranger? Well, may God help us to ponder
these things. There's many things you can think
of in your life and in my life I can think of. God has been
gracious to us and directed us and blessed us. Well may God
and his blessing. Amen.