Commentary - Ruth 2:1-7

Bird's-eye view

In this second chapter of Ruth, we see the curtain rise on God's active provision for the two widows who returned to Bethlehem in chapter one. The theme here is the beautiful intersection of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Ruth, in her covenant loyalty, does not sit around waiting for a handout but resolves to work. God, in His meticulous providence, guides her every step. The chapter introduces Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, a man of great character and standing. What appears to be a series of fortunate coincidences is, in fact, the invisible hand of God weaving together the lives of these individuals for His redemptive purposes, purposes that extend all the way to the birth of the Messiah.

This passage sets the stage for the entire book. Ruth's humble diligence and Boaz's godly integrity are put on display. We see how God's law concerning gleaning was designed to provide for the poor in a way that preserved their dignity. And we are taught a crucial lesson about the nature of God's providence: He works through ordinary means, through people getting up and going to work, and He orchestrates events in such a way that His grace appears to "happen" upon us.

Outline

Context In Ruth

Chapter one ended on a note of emptiness. Naomi returned to Bethlehem, bitter and bereaved, renaming herself Mara. She had left full, but Yahweh had brought her home empty. Chapter two marks the decisive turning point. God begins the process of filling what was empty. While Naomi is passive, sitting at home in her grief, Ruth is active. Her loyal love, her hesed, which caused her to cling to Naomi, now motivates her to provide for Naomi. This chapter introduces the agent of God's provision, Boaz, whose name itself means "in him is strength." The bitter providence of chapter one is about to be sweetened by the gracious providence of chapter two.

Key Issues

The Providence of God in "Happenstance"

One of the central glories of this book is its depiction of God's sovereignty. The narrator tells us in verse 3 that Ruth "happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz." The Hebrew here is potent; it is a coincidence of a coincidence, an accident of an accident. From a human perspective, it was sheer luck. She just picked a field and went to work. But from the divine perspective, nothing is accidental. God is not the great cosmic gambler, hoping the dice fall His way. He is the meticulous weaver, and every thread is placed exactly where He intends it. This is the doctrine of providence. God governs all things, from the orbits of galaxies down to which field a poor Moabitess widow wanders into. He works through secondary causes, through the choices and actions of people, to bring about His perfect will. Christians must learn to see the hand of God in the "happenstances" of their own lives.

Ruth 2:1

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a mighty man of excellence, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

The story pivots here and introduces the man God will use to redeem this broken family. Notice the qualifications. First, he is a kinsman of Elimelech. This is crucial for the law of the kinsman-redeemer to come into play later on. God had already put the solution in place, even while Naomi was despairing. Second, he is a mighty man of excellence. The Hebrew is gibbor hayil, the same phrase used to describe valiant warriors or men of great standing and character. This is not just about wealth; it is about substance. Boaz is a man of integrity, strength, and influence. He is the kind of man who can get things done. His name is Boaz, meaning "strength." So, after a chapter of weakness, loss, and death, God brings a man of strength, character, and relation onto the scene.

Ruth 2:2

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one whom I may find favor in his eyes." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."

Here we see the character of Ruth. She is not idle. She is not entitled. She is a Moabitess, an outsider, and she knows it. But she is determined to provide for her mother-in-law. She takes the initiative. Notice her humility. She asks Naomi's permission. And she doesn't demand her rights under the law of gleaning; she hopes to find favor or grace in the eyes of some landowner. She is going out to seek grace, and she is about to be inundated with it. Naomi's reply is simple and affectionate: "Go, my daughter." The relationship between these two women is a model of covenantal love.

Ruth 2:3

So she went. And she came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And it so happened that she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

This is the central verse of the chapter, and perhaps the whole book. "So she went." Faith acts. She did not just talk about it; she did it. And then we have the glorious "happenstance." The text emphasizes the apparent randomness of it. From her point of view, it was a shot in the dark. But the narrator, inspired by the Holy Spirit, lets us in on the secret. This was no accident. The God who directs the steps of the righteous directed her steps right to the one man in all of Bethlehem who could solve her problems. This is how God works. He doesn't usually send chariots of fire; He sends us to work, and on the way, we "happen" to run into our destiny. The narrator reminds us again that Boaz was of the family of Elimelech, driving the point home. The redeemer is near.

Ruth 2:4

Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May Yahweh be with you." And they said to him, "May Yahweh bless you."

Just as Ruth "happens" into his field, Boaz "happens" to show up from town. More divine timing. And his first words reveal his character. He greets his workers with a benediction, a blessing in the name of the covenant God, Yahweh. And they respond in kind. This is not some sterile, secular workplace. This is a covenantal community at work. The master is a godly man, and his piety sets the tone for the whole operation. This is a picture of a healthy, godly economy, where labor and management are united in their fear of the Lord. Piety is not just for Sunday mornings; it is for the barley fields on a Monday.

Ruth 2:5-7

Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" The young man in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab. And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."

Boaz is not an absentee landlord. He is observant. He notices the new person in his field and immediately inquires about her. He is a protector of his people and his property. The foreman's reply is telling. He knows exactly who she is. Her reputation for loyalty has preceded her: "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi." Her story is already known. This is a small town, and her extraordinary act of hesed is public knowledge. The foreman then testifies to her character. She was humble, asking permission to do what the law already allowed. And she is diligent, working tirelessly from morning until this moment, with only a short break. Ruth's faithfulness in one area has prepared the way for her to receive grace in another.

Application

This passage is a master class in the Christian life. First, we see the necessity of faithful action. Ruth didn't sit around bemoaning her fate. She got up and did the next right thing. God blesses diligence. We are to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, trusting that He will provide.

Second, we must learn to trust in the minute providence of God. Our lives are not a series of random accidents. The God who guided Ruth to Boaz's field is the same God who guides your career choices, your relationships, and your daily commute. We should look for His hand in the "coincidences" and give Him thanks for His unseen guidance.

Third, we see the beauty of godly character. Boaz is a model of a godly man of substance. He is pious, generous, observant, and protective. His godliness creates a culture of blessing around him. Ruth is a model of a virtuous woman. She is loyal, humble, and hardworking. God honors such character.

Finally, the whole story points us to our greater Boaz, the Lord Jesus Christ. We, like Ruth, were outsiders, strangers from the covenants of promise. We had nothing. But we came seeking grace and "happened" upon the field of the Lord of the harvest. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer, who saw our lowly state and took notice of us. He has welcomed us, provided for us, and will ultimately take us as His own bride.