The Field of the LORD

​Ruth 2:8 ~ “Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.’”
 
Dear Christian, our Kinsman Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ, bids us to glean only from His field. Much of the distress that occurs in the life of a believer comes from stepping across into the fields of the world to try and find the necessary comforts and wisdom that can only come through Jesus Christ. There is, in fact, only trouble when we seek to sustain our life outside of Christ.
 
The story of Ruth and Boaz is counted among the greatest, classic romances of antiquity. Yet, from this story we find such a rich treasure of how our LORD Jesus will look upon His bride and receive her, though she began as a foreigner to Him. He will bless us and sustain us and call us to walk amongst His orchards and fields that we should find our rest and supply in Him. I would encourage you to read the entirety of the book of Ruth, and today make sure you read through chapter two.
 
As we consider our text for today, we read the tender words of Boaz, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one.” There is a genuine compassion shown from the owner of the land to the one who has come. He calls her “daughter” and does not our LORD Jesus Christ call us His brothers and sisters? We read in Hebrews 2:11, “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.” We do not want to go further than the text would allow, but merely to see the illustration of the genuineness and tenderness of the compassion of the Savior reflected in the man, Boaz.
 
And, beyond such compassion, there is also a view to the protection offered to Ruth, for he warns her not to glean in another field. We read in Ruth 2:9, “Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you?” This was a real concern, for even Naomi understood that in another field, Ruth might be assaulted (see Ruth 2:22). Oh, dear ones, let us glean from the fields of Christ alone, lest we find ourselves keeping company with worldliness. Psalm 141:4 declares, “Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!” And let us not forget the warning of 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”
 
Ruth is also instructed not to leave the field of Boaz. Certainly, this instruction was for her own safety, but also that the one who had the means of provision would see that she received such provision. Look upon how richly he desired that she would be able to work and receive an abundance. Ruth 2:15-16 reveals, “When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.’” And for the Christian, the world holds nothing but weeds and thorns, there is nothing in the world that could sustain the life of a believer. Yet, from the hand of the LORD we receive an abundant supply of wisdom, knowledge, strength, insight and more—all from gleaning through the field of His word. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” The LORD Jesus has pulled out the bundles for us that we should receive from His bountiful grace all that we need for life and godliness. Ruth was not merely given these sheaves, she had to work to harvest them. But they were laid before her that she should have no lack. And, beloved, we must work to harvest from God’s word all the treasure of wisdom and faith, gleaning from His field in order that we should also be abundantly supplied (see 2 Corinthians 9:10).
 
And let the final statement of our text today be a delight to you as well. Boaz instructed Ruth, “but keep close to my young women.” The master of the field had instructed Ruth to remain near those who were doing the same as she. And does not our Master remind us to maintain close fellowship with those who are also working in His field. Even from the beginnings of the church, this was the condition of the redeemed. We read in Acts 2:42 of such devotion to one another, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
 
Let us look to the field of Christ alone, and keep our fellowship close with those who are serving the LORD as well. It will always be to our benefit to remain faithful to our Savior and close to His people.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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