Country Road Faith

O. T. #563  "Word Gets Around"
July 23, 2015
Ruth 2-Part 3
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done...
Ruth 2:11

LET IT GLOW

She found grace in his eyes, alright. He had already heard about the young widowed daughter in law of Naomi's who came back with her from Moab. Now he saw her in his field, working. Was it love-at-first-sight? Ruth had every reason to think Boaz might reject her but had every hope that he would accept her.
What was being said around town about this young woman named Ruth, the talk of the town?

• The good things she had done, since her husband's death, for Naomi.
• She left her family and homeland to live with a people unknown to her before.

Now Ruth was working her fingers to the bone as an incredibly hard worker to provide food for herself and Naomi by picking up corn in Boaz's field. Her reputation of being a hard-working, kind, loving, faithful and brave person proceeded her.

How do we react when others are talking about us? Perhaps it is truth or false words, good or bad, hurtful or encouraging words. Are we going to keep on going in spite of whatever is being said? Do we work hard to honor the Lord Jesus in our life? Do others see Him in us? What kind of reputation do we have around town?

LET IT GROW

 Boaz was willing to show chesed, kindness, which indicates the personal expression of godliness on the part of one servant of the Lord to another. (Falwell)

This couple, who was not a couple as of yet, is found carrying on quite a conversation. Shall we continue to listen in on them?

Boaz blessed Ruth in verse 12 (NIV) by saying:

• May the Lord repay you for what you have done.
• May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

King James Version uses the word trust instead of refuge. In the Hebrew language, trust means to flee for protection; to confide in: have hope, make refuge.

Scripture pictures God as catching Israel up on His wings in the Exodus (Ex. 19:4; Deut. 32:11). God is here portrayed as a mother bird sheltering the young and  fragile with her wings. Boaz blessed Ruth in light of her new found commitment to and dependence on the Lord. Later, he would become God's answer to this prayer (3:9).  (MacArthur)

Are we fully trusting in the God of Israel?

What else happened in this beautiful love story, a story of Ruth desires to continue to find favor in Boaz's eyes. She acknowledges to him the comfort and kindness which Boaz has shown her, though she did not have the standing of one of his servant girls.

Are you in a long season of unnoticed hard work, sacrifice, faithfulness? Are you wondering if you will ever be recognized?

In Isaiah 58:6-12, what does God promise for those who take care of their own flesh and blood, feed the poor, help the oppressed, and fight against injustice?
The day is not over, so come tomorrow for more of this sweet and inspiring story.

LET IT GO

Stay faithful to the Lord Jesus.

Show kindness to someone today.