Matthew Henry Commentary Ruth 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ruth 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ruth 2
"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband`s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." — Ruth 2:1-3 (ASV)
Observe Ruth's humility. When Providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. Proud individuals would rather starve than stoop; but not Ruth. Indeed, it was her own proposal. She speaks humbly in her expectation of permission to glean.
We should not demand kindness as a debt, but ask for it and receive it as a favor, even in a small matter. Ruth also was an example of industry. She did not like to eat the bread of idleness.
This is an example for young people. Diligence holds good promise, both for this world and the next. We must not shy away from any honest employment. No labor is a disgrace. Sin is beneath us, but we must not think that anything else to which Providence calls us is also beneath us.
She was an example of regard for her mother and of trust in Providence. God wisely orders events that seem small to us; and those that appear entirely uncertain are nevertheless directed to serve his own glory and the good of his people.
"And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not 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. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore. Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge. Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens. And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not." — Ruth 2:4-16 (ASV)
The devout and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly people in Israel. Such language as this is rarely heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is heard is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land from what Ruth would have formed of Israel based on the conversation and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a person to behave properly in all situations; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families.
True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among people of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them, he prayed for them. They did not curse him as soon as he was out of hearing, as some ill-natured servants do who hate their master's presence; instead, they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go well where there is such goodwill between masters and servants.
They expressed their kindness to each other by praying for one another. Boaz asked about the stranger he saw and ordered her to be treated well. Masters must take care, not only that they do no harm themselves, but also that they do not allow their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly acknowledged herself unworthy of favors, since she was born and brought up a heathen.
It is very fitting for us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.
"So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed. And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? 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 to-day is Boaz. And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen. And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law." — Ruth 2:17-23 (ASV)
It encourages industry, for in all labor, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us therefore take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good (2 John 1:8). Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them in a way that makes them hate home or tempts them to tell a lie, but to commend them if they have done well, and with gentleness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise.
It is a good question for us to ask ourselves every night: Where have I gleaned today? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will yield a good return? When the Lord deals generously with us, let us not be found in any other field, nor seeking happiness and satisfaction in the creature.
We lose divine favors if we disregard them. Ruth dutifully observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, she kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace (Genesis 34). Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in advancement.
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