All right. We're going to look at Ruth the
gleaner tonight. She went to glean in a field. And that means that she went
to pick up little pieces that was dropped off as they was gleaned. Cutting a barley or weed or whatever
it was. She follows the reapers along
and picks up a little bit off the ground. But we've seen Ruth's
commitment. Oh, she was committed to her
mother-in-law. She is committed to returning
to Bethlehem, Judah. And the time that they had returned
in the last verse of chapter 1 was they came to Bethlehem
in the beginning of the barley harvest. So she made her commitment
and they got back into Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley
harvest. Now she is a representative of a sinner saved by grace. Oh,
such a representative. First of all, she acted upon
the testimony of things not seen. She had heard that there was
bread in Bethlehem. She had never, they hadn't seen
it. They just heard about it. And that's the way we have to
do. We have to hear the gospel. God blesses us to hear the gospel.
But then not only did she hear about it, but her faith caused
her to go out. She went forth from where she
was to go where the bread was. And that's what a man has to
do when he hears of the bread. He has to go and didn't go where
that bread's at. And Christ is that bread which
came down from heaven. So she heard, she believed, and
she went forth. And the scriptures tells us there
in verse 18 of chapter one, she saw she was steadfastly minded
to go with her. Steadfastly minded. I mean, this
woman, her mind was made up. She had one direction to go,
one thing to do, and she was committed to that. And she didn't
know the future. When she left Moab with Naomi,
she did not know the future. She didn't know what it would
be like in Bethlehem, Judah. She didn't know this, that she
would be a stranger when she got there. She was a Gentile. Her mother-in-law tried to discourage
her from following her, told her to go back home. But she
was steadfast. She was committed. She burned
her bridges behind her. Look here. Look what she said
in verse 16. She burned her bridges. And that's
what we gotta do. Burn our bridges. I read one
time about a bunch of Roman soldiers were sent off to fight a war
and they took them over on ships and they sent all kinds of food
and stuff on ships to take with them. Bunch of grain and wheat
and things to feed them while they were there. Well, they all
got on shore And the centurion, general, whoever was leading
them, he said, went out there and had the ships burned. Burnt
the ships with all the food and everything. Why did you do that?
We'll never get back now, he said. We're not going back. We're
here to stay. And that's what we do. We burn
our bridges behind us. We ain't got no bridges to go
back. We got no place to go except to Christ. We've done committed
ourselves to Him and His blessed cause and His gospel. And that's
what she did. Here's what she said. Ruth said,
Entreat me not to leave thee, nor return from following after
thee. For where you go, I'll go. Where you lodge, I'll lodge. Your people be my people. Thy
God will be my God. Oh, what a commitment. And where
thou dies, I'll die. And there will I be buried. The
Lord do so to me, if aught but death part me in thee. She burned
her bridges. She burned her bridges. Now it
says here in verse 1 of chapter 2, Naomi had a kinsman of her
husband's. And look how he's described,
a mighty man of wealth. Not just anybody, but a mighty
man of wealth. of the family of the Limelech
and his name was Boax. Oh my, so she's got this kinsman. Ruth ain't never met this kinsman.
And Naomi hadn't seen him in a long time. And look what happens
now. See Ruth's humility. And Ruth of Moabitess said unto
Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and gleam ears of corn, and that
corn could be weed or barley or whatever, they called it corn,
after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto
her, Go, my daughter. And this year she became a gleaner. She became a gleaner. And when
you was a gleaner, and you went out to glean after the fields,
it proved that she was poor. And you went to find just enough
to eat, just enough to get by on, just enough to keep from
starving to death. And so she was poor, but she
was willing to take that place of poorness. She was willing
to take her place down there, gleaning out of the fields as
a very poor person, as a stranger. Now you keep Ruth and look in
Leviticus chapter 19. You'll see what I'm talking about.
In Leviticus 19. In verse 9. Look what it says here. And oh my, she would rather glean
and be recognized as poor as to return to Moab. She wasn't
ashamed to be a gleaner. She wasn't ashamed of being poor.
She was willing to take what was left. after they had done
gleaned the field. But look what God said here in
Leviticus 19 and 9. And when you reap the harvest
of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of the
field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou
gather every grape of thy vineyard. Thou shalt leave them for the
poor and the stranger. I am the Lord your God. And she
was both of them. She was poor and she is a stranger. And I tell you, so here she was.
She was not ashamed of being poor. She was not ashamed of
going gleaning. And now here was a grown woman.
Here was a widow. But notice, she would do nothing
without Naomi's permission. She asked her mother-in-law,
she says, let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn.
Her mother-in-law, she said, she's a grown woman, a woman,
and yet she would not go without her mother-in-law's permission.
That's how much love and respect she had for her mother-in-law.
And all she was living in the day, you remember I showed you
there in the last verse of Judges, where it says, Every man, there
was no king in Israel, and every man did that was right in his
own eyes. And this was the day in which
they lived. Every man did that was right in his own eyes. But
here is a woman, Here is a woman who asked permission from her
mother-in-law before she went to the field. Now that's a lot
different than it was every man doing thyself to their own self.
She submitted herself to her elder. And that's what she did.
That's what the scripture says. You younger be subject to the
elders. And let all of you be clothed
with humility and humble yourselves for God giveth grace unto the
humble. But he resists the proud. And
here she was. She got down. She was willing
to go into a field. And here's these fellas gleaning,
and oh, when they would cut a little bit, there'd be just a little
bit fall on the ground, she'd go along, pick that up off the
ground. Had a little sack, she'd keep it all in. But now look
at God's blessed Providence. She had some humility. She wasn't
ashamed of being poor. She wasn't ashamed of going out
among the gleaners and that. And look what it said in verse
3. And she went and came and gleaned
in the field after the reapers. After they went through reaping,
she went to glean in the field after the reapers. Now listen
to this, and her half, I love that, her half, her half, it
just happened, her half was to light or go on the part of the
field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. That just happened to happen. Oh my. She said when she left
the house, where shall I go? What field shall I enter? When
she went to a field and she saw this field, she just went into
a field. She didn't know who it belonged to. She didn't know
anything about it. Nothing to distinguish it from
one field to another. But we know how she ended up
in this field. We know how she ended up in Boaz's
field, gleaning after Boaz. Keep this and look in Proverbs
16. Look at Proverbs 16. You know, this is the Lord's
doing. We know that. Proverbs 16. We know how she
ended up in this field. She didn't know how she ended
up in it. Boaz didn't know how she ended up in it. But God knows
how she ended up in it. God put her in this field. For
we know that all things work together for the good. that them
that love God and are called according to His purpose. He
told Paul, I separated you from my mother's womb. He said, called
you by grace. He told Jeremiah, before you
was formed in the belly, I knew you. So God Himself put her in
this field. Boaz didn't know why. Ruth didn't
know why. She didn't know Boaz. And oh,
look what God says here in verse 9 of Proverbs 16. A man's heart
devises his way. He said, oh, this way I'm going
to go. But wait, what happened? Wait a minute. The Lord directs
his steps. I won't go this way. God says,
nope, you're going that way. Look down in verse 33. The lot
is cast into the lap. We're going to cast lots. But the whole disposing thereof
is of the Lord. So she's there because God put
her there. Man intends one thing, God intends
something else. It's like Joseph. When his brothers
hated him and they sold him into slavery in Egypt. But he got
down there and God exalted him and put him as high as a man
could possibly go. And here comes all of his brothers.
And then when he exposed himself to his brothers, you know what
he said? You intended it for evil, but God did it for good
that I might save you. And that's what happened here.
She decided, well, I'm going to go this way. And God put her
exactly where she's supposed to be. Right in Boaz's field,
the kinsman's field. Huh? And oh, it was while she
was gleaning in her poverty that she met this mighty man of wealth,
this kinsman, Redeemer. I see a sinner and a Savior have
to be brought together. And God's going to see that the
Savior and the sinner is going to meet. He's going to cross
their paths before this thing's over here. Now look what happens
next. Look what Boaz does now. It said in verse 4, Behold, Boaz
came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be
with you. He gave us salutations, and they
answered him, The Lord bless thee. And Boaz, he come up there,
and he looked out over the field, looked at the people in the field,
and he had a servant as the boss. He was the boss over all the
reapers. He was the one that, he had said over all the people.
And he said, whose damsel is this? He saw Ruth there, and
he said, whose damsel is this? And the servant that was sent
over the reapers, you know, see, here he's going to search her
character. Oh, listen, Boaz is going to
search her character. And the servant that was sent over the
reapers answered and said, this is the Boabites. This is the
Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country
of Moab. That tells him that she's a Gentile.
That tells him that she's not an Israelite. She's not a Jew.
She's not allowed in the congregation of Israel. But God's got different
plans and different purposes. God, he can do what he wants
to when he wants to. And oh, he goes on to say this.
Now look here what he said. And she said, I pray you. Now
she went to this boss man, the fellas running the whole field,
all these group gleaners out there. I ask you, I pray you,
let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.
Where they set them sheaves in the field, do you care if all
the pieces fell off? Will you let me glean them? Do
you mind if I glean them? And oh my. so she came and she started early
this morning and she's been here all right up until now except
for a minute she stayed there in the house where they had a
place for the fellows to go. Now look what he all the master
considers her case this man of wealth considers her case now
there were other gleaners in that field there were other poor
people in that field there were other winners in that field but
he didn't take notice of none of those Not one of them, but
he had his eyes set on one. He seen one. And nothing's hidden
from him. He's a mighty man of wealth.
And he condescends to notice this one woman. A Moabite woman. And he condescends to notice.
He's a mighty man of wealth. And oh my, it's the Moabite stanzas. Gentiles are not allowed in the
congregation. And oh, I tell you what. The
Scriptures tells us that God broke down, broke down that middle
wall of petition between Jew and Gentile. Now there's neither
bond or free Jew or Gentile, male or female. We're all one
in Christ Jesus. And she asked, let me glean after
you. Well, then look what happens now. He was searching out her character. Who is this person? Who is this
damsel? And oh, then Boaz said unto Ruth,
he went over to talk to her. He's this mighty man of wealth
now. This is the man who's got, she
ain't got nothing. She's out there trying to glean
enough to have a little something to eat when she got home that
evening, her and Naomi. And oh, and then Boaz said unto
Ruth, he went and talked to her. Could you imagine her down there
gleaning? And here's this mighty man of wealth and debt. She didn't
know who he was. She didn't. You'll find out later
what happened. Here's to them up, my daughter. Will you listen
to me? That's what he said. Will you
listen to me? I want you to listen to me. Oh. And here's a word. Who made her? Her ways made plain.
And oh, go not abide here, you know. He said, go not to glean
in another field. Neither go from here, but abide
here fast by my maintenance." Oh my. Here's this wealthy man,
this powerful man, this man that takes notice of the poor, poverty-stricken
woman, a stranger, and oh my, that he should speak to her,
this widow, this poverty-stricken, and don't you hear me, my daughter?
Oh, she's indeed found grace. Oh, she's found grace. And then
look what he says, you know, he called her daughter. He said,
oh, hearst thou not my daughter? My daughter? He called her, you
know, that's a term of affection. It defines a relationship. Tender
and intimate and permanent. And what he's saying is, you're
regarded as part of my household now. Called her daughter. And
then he says, glean not in another field. Go not to another field. Glean not in another field. He
said, stay here by my maidens, those women that I've got here
to take care of things here. Wherever they go, look what he
says in verse nine. Let thine eyes be on the field
that they do reap, and go after them. Follow them. You follow
them. And look what he said. I've charged
the young men that they shall not touch thee. I've told them
that they're going to protect you, I'm going to provide for
you, and I'm going to protect you, and there's nobody going
to touch you, nobody's going to molest you, nobody's going
to bother you. So she had provision, keep your
eyes on my field, glean in my field, don't go no place else.
I want you here where I can keep an eye on you, and I want my
folks to keep an eye on you, and I want to see that you got
plenty. and all she had provision and then she had protection from
the master, from this man of wealth. She found friendship,
she found fellowship, and here's one thing she didn't say. This
is what women would have said today. Now, not women of grace,
but most women would have said this. You can't tell me where
I need to go. You ain't got no business telling
me what field I go in, what I can't. Who in the world do you think
you are? If I want to go to this other fellow's field, I'll go. That'd be the average woman today.
That'd be the average woman today. If you have to mention to her,
say, well, stay here in my field, I'll go where I want to go. I
may starve to death, but I'll do what I want to do. But no,
no, she didn't say that. Oh, no, no. She was so thankful. She was so, she, oh, the fact
that Boaz would even condescend to
speak to her. They would look at her and ask
about her. And that of all the women in
that field, he set his eyes on her. And I tell you, beloved,
and of all the people, strangers on this earth, and all the poor
people that's on this earth, blessed are the poor in spirit,
they shall be called the children of God. And I tell you what, beloved,
you won't be poor until God makes you poor. Now that's a fact. You won't be poor until God makes
you poor. You know what's the matter with most people? Most
people are satisfied with what they got. They're comfortable
where they're at. And the only way in the world
that they'll ever feel what it is to be poor in spirit, poor
before God, and have nothing before God is for God Himself
to make them understand that and feel that. And once they
ever learn that, they'll find out from that day they ain't
got nothing except what God gives them. They don't know nothing
but what God taught them. And they can't do nothing but what
God enables them to do. And they'll never forget that.
They'll never forget it. And then look what happened after
he told her all this. And I've told the young men not
to touch. When you get thirsty, go get
something to drink. The young men will keep water
there for you. Oh, look what she did in verse 10. Then she
fell on her face. Oh my. Bowed herself to the ground. She prostrated herself in front
of this man. Prostrated herself in front of
the master, this man of wealth, this redeemed, this kinsman.
She bowed herself to the ground and said unto him. This is the
first question. This is the first question. Why
have I found grace in thine eyes? Why have I? Why me? Why have
I found grace in your eyes? Why not some of these other people?
Why have I found grace in your eyes? That you've looked at me,
and you've seen me, and you know I'm nothing, and you know I've
got nothing. And here you are, you speak to
me. Why have I found grace in my
eyes? And look what else you said. And that thou shouldest
take knowledge of me. that you would even take knowledge,
that you would look at me and think of me and consider me in
any way. Why would you take knowledge
of me? Well, I know you're going to
be a good woman. I know you're going to be a good cleaner. No,
no, no, no. Oh, listen to you, why have I
found grace in thy eyes? How often have we wondered that?
And the only thing we can answer is, as it pleased Him, according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace. And then, why would thou takeest
knowledge of me? Why would you want to know me?
Why would you want to know anything about me? Why would you know anything about
me? And then look what she said here. Saying, I'm a stranger. Nobody around here knows me.
I'm a stranger here. I'm nobody. Absolutely, I'm nothing. I'm nobody. Why in the world
are you doing this to me? I'll tell you why. Because he's
gracious. She found grace because He's
gracious. She found grace because she has
nothing, He has everything. He took knowledge of her because
He is the master and he wants to know something about her.
Took knowledge of her. Know some things about her. Learn some
things about her. She didn't deserve his notice.
She didn't deserve his grace. She didn't deserve his provision. She didn't deserve his protection.
She was a stranger. But now look what Boaz says to
her now. Look what Boaz says to her. And Boaz answered and
said unto her, It has been fully showed me all that thou hast
done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband, and
how that thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land
of thy nativity, and art come unto a people thou knewest not
heretofore. So he comforts her heart with
assurance. Oh, what assurance. What he said
is, I know all about you. I know all about you. This is
like the Lord Jesus meeting the woman at the well. And she said,
how do you know all these things about me? Go call your husband. I don't have a husband. I know
you've had five. And the one you're living with
now, that's not your husband. Oh, how do you know all this?
All of us are understanding when the Messiah comes he'll tell
me all things. I am he that speaketh unto thee. And all he knows all about her.
And he says I know who you are. I know who you are. I know exactly
who you are. I know where you come from. You
came from Moab. I know what you've done. I know
where you've come from. You left your country. And look
what he says. And you not only did that, but
you forsook your father and your mother. You left your father
and your mother. You left your family. You forsook
all to come over here. And look at that. And you left
your father and your mother. And the land of your nativity,
the place that you were born. the place that you was raised.
You left all of that. You forsook all. And then look
what he said. And you've come unto a people
which you didn't know a thing about. You didn't know how they
was going to treat you. You didn't know if they would
accept you. You didn't know if they would be friendly. You didn't
know if they would even have anything to do with you. And oh my, he comforted her heart. Oh, and then look what else he
says now. Verse 12. The Lord recompensed
thy work. Oh, you've been good to your
mother-in-law since the death of your husband. You've watched
out for her. You've cared for her. You've
tried to provide for her and love her. You left your father. You left your mother. Our Lord
said accept you. forsake all, you know, if you
love your father, mother, brother, sisters more than me, he says
you're not worthy of me. And you left all the places you
were born and raised to come to a people that you don't know
nothing about. Then he says, the Lord bless you. Bless your
work. And listen to this. And a full
reward be given thee. Who? Given who? Who's going to
give it to you? The Lord God of Israel. Oh my,
God bless you. The Lord God of Israel bless
you. How is He going to bless you?
Under whose wings? That's where He's going to bless
you. To bring you under His wings. And look what else He says about
it. And whom you have come to trust. She came to trust the
one true and living God. And she shattered under his wings. And she said, if you get anything,
let God give it to you. God rewards you. God bless you. God recompense it to you. I can't. Nobody else in this world can
do for you what God can. And God rewards you and God recompense
you for who you are. And God meets your needs. And
beloved, I tell you what, she was a gleaner. Started out in
humility. Boaz, that man of wealth, that kinsman, who is this woman? And he told her what to do. Don't
you do anything else but stay right here. I'll see that you
got plenty and I'll see that nobody hurts you. I'll see that
you fed and you got something to eat. And I tell you what,
then he said, listen. I know who you are. I know where
you're from. I know what you've done. I know
everything. I know all about you. And ain't
the way our Lord Jesus Christ, and He knows us. He knows us. And thank God He does. You know,
people say, if I know my own heart, I know this enough about
my heart, and I've told you this so many times, I know enough
about my heart that I don't trust it. I don't trust it. I trust the Lord. My heart's
fooled me too many times. It's made promises that it ain't
able to keep. But he's never made a promise
that he didn't keep. Our Father, in the blessed name
of Christ our Lord, thank you for allowing us to meet here
tonight. Thank you for allowing us to look into your word. Lord,
your word's precious. It's a blessing. It's encouraging,
it's enlightening, and it's food for our souls. And we pray that
you'd bless it to our understanding, bless it to our hearts, bless
it to our faith. We ask these things in the Lord
Jesus' name, as you preserve these people, these dear saints
of God, as they go out and as they come in. Lord, you're the
great high priest. who protects and offers sacrifices
and provides for your people. You're the king who fights their enemies, feeds
them and takes care of youths of young. God bless, for Christ's
sake, in his name we pray. Amen. turn your eyes upon Jesus
look full in his wonderful face and the strings of earth will
grow strangely dim in the light I'll see you Sunday, God willing.