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Outlines on the Book of Ruth
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Introduction: After the meal with Boaz and his reapers, Ruth went back to the field to continue her gleaning. No doubt the kindness shown to her by Boaz and his reapers was a great source of encouragement to Ruth as she gleaned. Such work as Ruth was doing, like the Lord's work for us, was not easy. It is easy for a laborer to become tired and discouraged; but a few words and deeds of kindness by the Lord of the harvest and his reapers can give a fellowlaborer all the enthusiasm he needs to labor with joy all day. Fellow Christian, only the Lord in eternity will reveal what a help and encouragement a few well chosen words by you are to other Christians laboring in the Lord's field.

a. Praise be unto God for Ruth's example. I Cor. 15:58 says, "therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..." Too many laborers start, then stop, then start, then stop, etc. They are on and off, with no consistent, sustained testimony of service. Galationas 6:9 tells us to "not be weary in welldoing"; but in spite of that, it is almost impossible to find a laborer in God's service, who has been faithfully at it for a very long period.

Very few laborers faithfully serve in God's field for more than five years.

b. Ruth, as a gleaner, typifies the faithful believer, working from the "morning" of his conversion "until even" of life. it is those who follow her example today, who shall receive a "full reward". as mentioned in II John 8.

B. After her gleaning, Ruth "beat out that she had gleaned:"

1. At the end of her gleaning, Ruth had heads ' and stalks of grain; but before it could be used, the grain had to be separated from the husks, stalks, leaves, and general chaff. To accomplish this, a flail was taken; and with it the grain was beaten from the husk. The heavier grain would, with beating, settle to the bottom of a sack or similar container. Most of the ruffage could then be lifted off the top of the grain and be thrown away. Afterwards, the grain, with the small husk and chaff in it was winnowed. This was the process of pouring the grain from one bucket to another. As the heavy grain would fall into the bucket, the wind would drive the chaff away leaving only the grain.

2. Ruth's beating of what she gleaned is representative of the need for God's children to practice self-judgment in the light of god's word. As God's children, we need to separate the "chaff" from "the wheat" in our lives. No doubt, a great portion of what most of us do is nothing more than "stubble, husks, and chaff." it may appear impressive to men who "looketh on the outward appearance" [I Sam. 16:7], and they may praise us highly for it, Matthew 6:5. But, God is never impressed with stubble, husks, and chaff- and he will prove it at this judgment seat at which time Christians will be judged for rewards, I Cor. 3:14. On that occasion, all the stubble, husks, and chaff will be burned, I Cor. 3:12-15. As these verses state, that will be a day of great loss for many. Although, I Cor. 11:31 tells us that "if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." judging our works, as to the motive and the method, in light of God's word will tell us which is ruffage and which is grain. By God's word, we can be "transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God," Romans 12:2. Thus, our ways become cleansed (Ps. 119:9) so that we won't lose so much bulk in the day of judgment. May there be a desire within each of us that when we go home, we will take lots of grain, and not just a big pile of stubble. Let us, like Ruth, beat out the ruffage by self-judgment by God's word. As the scriptures put it, let us "Prove all things" that we may "hold fast that which is good, " I Thes. 5:21.

3. In Ruth's case, the true grain of her gleanings proved to be "about an ephah of barley." In his commentary on Ruth, Leon Morris says "an ephah was about four gallons. " This was a large amount for a gleaner, which is obvious from Naomi's reaction in Ruth 2:19. This is testimonial to the fact that Boaz' servants had obeyed his instructions and that Ruth had worked hard.

 II. Ruth shared what she gathered with Naomi: Ruth 2:18

A. Naomi could see the results and fruits of Ruth's work:

1. Ruth could not have physically carried the bulk of all that she had taken from the field, except she had beaten it out first. Although, she was able to take up the good grain and present it in such a way that Naomi could see it.

2. The same stands true today. If we want people to see what has been done through us to the honor of God, we must beat it out. The real quantity of true grain cannot be seen all covered in the stubble. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Matthew5:16. Paul told Timothy to let "thy profiting ... appear to all, " I Tim. 4:15. By all means, we are not to exhalt ourselves before men- but neither are we to be ashamed of and conceal what God does in and through us. The things that are good and genuinely to the honor and glory of God should be evident in our lives.

3. This truth has a particularly good application with regard to the scriptures. H. Frank Fort in his commentary on Ruth has pointed out that "it is not how much we know, but how much we are able to show others that is 'profitable unto men' Titus 3:8. As a man once said, having listened to a young preacher ramble on a big subject, 'I like to see hay baled before it is delivered'. " It is easy enough to go into the scriptures and memorize some verses and get a few unorganized thoughts on several points of truth But, until vou have thrashed it out by "rightly dividing the word of truth," II Tim. 2-15 . you cannot show anyone else any truth When it comes to the Word, too few today are like Ruth Too few will spend the tiresome labor of beating out the grains of truth that are contained in the precious pages of the Bible. As a result, they never have any real grain to show anyone like Naomi. They can only show a little stubble here and there.

B. Ruth also gave to Naomi "that she had reserved after she was sufficied:" Ruth had eaten at Boaz' table and was "sufficed" (Ruth 2:14), but she had not forgotten Naomi. What a tender, wonderful, considerate love is evident in Ruth! Normal human selfishness is not there. Boaz had "reached her parched corn," and that implies a large portion. She took of it for her own needs, then reserved enough for her weary, broken, and waiting old mother-in-law. it tells us how we should take of the corn of God's word for ourselves first; but then we should bring it forth, like Ruth, and give it to others also.

 III. God received the glory for all Ruth received- Ruth 2:19-20

A. Naomi wanted to know where Ruth had gleaned, which of course would also tell her with whom Ruth had gleaned:

1. Ruth was quick to answer that the man's name was Boaz. Boaz is a type of Christ, and Ruth was not ashamed to acknowledge him, who had done so much for her. Peter said, "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, " I Pet. 3:15. Ruth was practicing just that. Oh, how the heart of the early saints should be in us. Their prayer was, "grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word," Acts 4:29.

2. Ruth wanted no credit and took no credit for what had happened that day. On her lips is the name: "Boaz." It was because of him that she came home to Naomi with four bushels of grain and parched corn to eat. She could say with Paul in I Cor. 15:10, "by the grace of God I am what I am." His name is Wonderful (Isa. 9:6); and anything we ever have been, are, or shall be is by his grace. He "hath made us Kings and priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen, " Rev. 1:6. How the name of Jesus should be on our lips, even as the name of Boaz was on the lips of Ruth! How we should properly credit him with all we have, even as Ruth credited Boaz!

3. Ruth confessed to Naomi that all her labors had been done in Boaz' field. He had told her, "Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens," Ruth 2:8. In verse 19, Ruth admitted that this is what she had done. Boaz' field corresponds to "the faith once delivered to the saints" of Jude 3, which is contained in the Bible. The lesson for us is that anything we get that is worth having must be wrought "in the faith", for it is here that our redeemer promises to bless us. Remember that James 1:25 says, "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (i.e., the faith once delivered or the Word of God), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. " Every child of God should limit his labors to the confines of the truth, for it is only labors within the truth that bring forth grain.

4. It is blessed to know that whenever we labor within the truth to reach the grain of the harvest, we have God and his people as colaborers. I Cor. 3:9 states clearly, "For we are laborers together with God." We don't have to labor alone. If we stay in the right field, God is there along with his saints; and you can't beat company like that. When that is the case, we can confess of God as Ruth did when Naomi asked. She said she'd been with Boaz in his field.

B. When Naomi heard Ruth's report, she began to praise and glorify God:

1. For the first time in the book of Ruth, Naomi is praising God! She said, "Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead, " Ruth 2:20. Naomi is saying God is gracious and kind. How wonderful that this one, who backslid, and felt the lash of God upon her, and who came home bitter and empty can now rejoice and praise God. It is not difficult now to see how good the harsh dealings of God had really been for her. They got her out of Moab, and into the house of bread. In the house of bread, she received a bushel of grain on the first day. And, for the first time in over 10 years, Naomi praises God. But, that's not too hard to understand once you remember that Judah means "land of praise." When Naomi came back to the house of bread, which was in the land of praise, it wasn't long until she found that praise was spontaneous from her lips. That's how it always is when God's people go to the place where he wants them to be. As King David prayed to God, "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice," Ps. 51:7,8. That's how it so often is. "Broken bones" are necessary to rejoicing.

2. Once our conduct is such as becomes the children of God, men will see; and some of them will "glorify your Father which is in heaven," Matthew 5:16. It was when Naomi could see Boaz (our Christ) working in Ruth (we, who are children of God) that God was glorified. That is still how it is. When we perform tasks in the energy of our flesh and for self glory, God is not honored thereby. Although when we let God work in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure," Phil. 2:13 then "whatsoever" we do, it will be to the glory of God, I Cor. 10:31. Some will then see, and like Naomi, they will rejoice in the God of our salvation, who doeth all things well.