Matthew Henry Commentary Ruth 2:17-23

"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.