Study 5 – The Lord is a companion

Read Ruth 2.1-7

We are noticing something about the nature of God as it appears from what the characters in the book say and do. In so doing, we learn some lessons for our own Christian life.

V1            What a great contrast: the rich and powerful Boaz and the poor and weak Naomi! This is particularly noticeable when you compare 1.21 and 2.1

Let us thank God there are rich and influential people who know and love him. God can use them not to show their love and sympathy for the less well-off but his love and providential care. He did this through Boaz. It is far from wrong for a Christian to be rich and influential but he or she has a greater degree of stewardship and accountability which must be fully accepted. It has to be worked out in practical ways as Paul wrote to Timothy, Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. 1 Timothy 6.18.

You may or may not be wealthy, but the Lord has given to you according to his good purpose. What do we have that we have not received from him? Nothing. Thus, every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you. Deuteronomy 16.17 (see also 1 Corinthians 16.2; 2 Corinthians 8.12).

Consider: how generous am I with what I have received from the Lord?

V2            The Law, in Leviticus 19.9-10, made provision for the poor. Ruth and Naomi had no option but to glean. Here were the poor (Naomi and Ruth), one of whom was a stranger (Ruth). It was glean or go hungry. It was no picnic to labour in a field under the hot and unrelenting sun gathering what little was strewn about. So it is, we should be willing to share what we have of our plenty with those who have little. Most certainly, we should not be wasteful. Do you recall the gathering of the fragments after the Lord had fed thousands? A little can mean a lot.

There is no law of gleaning for the poor and stranger today in our western culture. Could that be the reason there is perhaps a greater degree of carelessness toward those in need? Apart from occasional national charity appeals that provide people with a feeling of doing good, there is but little in the way of ongoing charity toward those in need. True, we have our social services and the UK population are good at giving money for the annual Children in Need and Sport Relief appeals. But by and large the haves do not really help the have-nots. I hope that is not a jaundiced view.

Thus we, the Lord’s people, must try to counter-balance inequality whenever we see a need or opportunity. Because, as we do, we express the nature of our Lord and Saviour who says, The poor you always have with you (John 12.8a).

V3            I like this - Ruth happened to come upon Boaz’ part of the field. The Authorised Version has the quaint phrase, and her hap was to light on a part of the field. Hap is Middle English/Old Norse which means luck or chance.
The word in our Bible translates the equivalent Hebrew word that comes from a root word meaning to meet. But there is no happenstance here. The visible events conceal the invisible hand of God – the God who was the constant providing companion of Naomi and Ruth. As you read the book of Ruth you are very conscience that he is in the wings as the drama is played out. He is there directing all the events.

Consider: do I really believe that nothing happens by chance in this life – absolutely nothing? Can I truly acknowledge that there are no coincidences just God incidents?

V4            Boaz gave a godly salutation that clearly showed something of his nature. Such a greeting is not often heard today among Christians. Perhaps in certain traditions the verse and response has become trite – “The Lord be with you!” “And with you also!” Does it mean we should ignore this kind of greeting altogether? However, there is a question that arises from this greeting: What does it mean to have the Lord with you?

It is must be stressed that we should be with the Lord before ever he will be with us. We need to have turned away from our sin and self-life (repented) and trust in the Saviour Jesus before we may begin to experience the presence of the Lord. Yet, having the Lord with you is not something that is neither tangible nor very expressible.

Are you a cordon-bleu cook? Then maybe you know the expression Je ne sais quoi – I know not what – when a dish has that certain something you cannot describe. So it is with the presence of the Lord. You don’t quite know what it is but if you were without his presence you would know. In fact you cannot imagine what it would be like if the Lord did ever leave you or you were not a Christian. Of course, once a Christian, born-again by God’s Holy Spirit, God never leaves you. The Bible has many verses that speak about the presence of the Lord in different situations. Here are some verses to consider and to prompt thanksgiving to the Lord.

Genesis 28.15 – the pilgrimage of life.
Exodus 33.14  - giving rest (see the first study).
Deuteronomy 20.1  - giving courage in life’s battles.
Isaiah 43.2 – providing comfort and strength in trials.
Matthew 18.20 – with the smallest company of believers.
Matthew 28.20 – right up to the end, either of your life or this world as we now know it.
John 14.3 – forever in glory!

Pray: Father God, I cannot thank you enough for your constant presence with me and how you have provided me with all that is necessary for life and godliness. Help me to reflect your generosity to those around me as you give me opportunities to share what I have. I ask this so that Jesus will be seen in all I do. Amen.

Michael S. Bostock, October 2020.