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

Introduction: Through the providence of God, this poor stranger, who had chosen Jehovah as her own God, came to glean in the field of him, who represents Christ our Redeemer. In that field she found kindness far above what she deserved or expected. Ruth went to Naomi after gleaning all day in the field; and upon learning of what had happened, Naomi began to rejoice and praise God, a thing she had not done in more than 10 years. Naomi's was spontaneous praise; and how it illustrates the fact that praise is natural for God's people, who choose to walk in truth in the center of God's will. Naomi was in Judah, the land of praise!

2. Naomi and Ruth were alive, and God was kindly working in their lives Naomi has finally reached the place where she can bless God for that. The fact that God extends kindness "to the living" is the promise to every child of God that as long as he lives God can take care of his needs. His promise is "lo, I am with you alway," Matthew 28:20.

3. But, the kindness of God is not nullified by death. Elimelech was dead, but by the kindness to his daughter-in-law Ruth, God was extending favor and kindness to Elimelech. Here is solid proof of the fact that simply because a generation to whom certain promises were made, is now gone, does not mean that God will, upon its death, forget His promises to it. God never forgets what He promises, and death never renders void God's oath. What God has promised, that will He also perform. As Paul wrote in Romans 4:21, he was, "fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." God said, "I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass, " Isa. 46: 11. Every promise God has ever made either has been or will be kept. The successes or failures of men, nor the death of men or nations never disturb the programs of God. Elimelech died, but God showed kindness to him through his daughter-in-law.

B. The basis of the kindness of God to them was their kinsman relationship to Boaz:

1. This relationship had been established by a birth. (Boaz and Elimelech were born in their particular relationship, and this established the kinship of Ruth and Naomi.) This is typical of the fact that a person must be born again to have any rights in the field of God, John 3:3.

2. The kindness Ruth found in Boaz' field was predicated upon the relationship which had been previously established. No man is invited to work in God's field where he can find handfuls of purpose until after a proper relationship has been established with the Lord of the harvest by a new birth. The divine order of truth is first the birth, and then the service. We are saved "by grace through faith" Eph 2:8 ; and, as such, are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," Eph. 2:10.

3. All of this is proof of the fact that if you expect the kindness of God, then your relationship to Him must be right.

 II. IN VERSE 21 RUTH TALKED ABOUT HER COMPANIONS IN BOAZ' FIELD:

A. She first told Naomi about the "youngmen";

1. The young men knew the boundaries of their master's field, and they knew how to do the work. By following them, Ruth could learn, and be safe in the work.

2. These young men stand representative of the Lord's ministers and pastors of today. To these men God says, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, In purity," I Tim. 4:12. As to how others should treat these, Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourse/ves.- for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." If you have a man or group of men in your church, who study the Word and lead you in the paths of truth, you should, as Ruth did, "Keep fast by" such ones. Such ones are examples unto the flock (I Tim. 4:12), and you should follow them as they follow the Lord, I Cor. 11:1. Boaz had men, whom he could instruct Ruth to follow; and our God has such men today also.

B. Also, in Boaz' field, there were maidens; and Ruth was to "abide" by them:

1. This is seen in Verse 8 of Chapter 2; and there is no contradiction between what Ruth reports to Naomi in Verse 21 and what is said in Verse 8. There were young men and maidens in Boaz' field. Ruth was to follow the young men, and stay close by the maidens. From Ruth's statement in Verse 21 more light is shed on the arrangement of Boaz' field. There were the leaders, who established the perimeters of labor; then there were the maidens, who followed their leadership.

2. This is an excellent picture of how it is in the Lord's church today. There are the pastors, who lead; and there are the members, who follow their leadership. Christians today, like Ruth, need not only to follow the leadership of their pastors, they also need the companionship of fellow members within the church. The young men, representing pastors, and the maidens, representing fellow members within the church are extremely instructive of how the Lord is currently conducting His business. Like Ruth, all of us need both the young men and the maidens.

C. Ruth was to follow the young men and stay by the maidens "until they have ended all my harvest:"

1. "The children of the Kingdom" Matthew 13:38 are to "occupy till I come". Luke 19:13.

2. Let us realize that there is never a time to stop; never a justifiable reason for quitting the labors of the Lord until the harvest is ended. Jesus said in John 4:35 that the work is very great, and will be until He comes. Therefore, until He comes, there will always be plenty to keep every laborer busy all of the time.

III. THE LAST TWO VERSES OF RUTH 2 SHOW A CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF RUTH'S LOT:

A. In view of what Naomi observed and heard from Ruth, she could say it was good:

1. Naomi "saw what she had gleaned" [Verse 18], heard where she had gleaned [Verse 19], learned for whom she had gleaned [Verse 19], and learned with whom she had gleaned in Verse 21 .

2. From talking to Ruth and observing her fruits, Naomi could see that what Boaz (The Redeemer) had asked her to do was good. That's how it will often be when God's people exemplify such right conduct that other men can see it in them. The one who enjoined them to do the right conduct will receive the glory for it. From Ruth, Naomi could see that what Boaz did was good, and she blessed him. When you as God's child, do what He tells you, others will see through you that what God says is good. Jesus put it this way in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Paul wrote in Titus 2:7-8, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

B. In Verse 22 the importance of staying in the right field is regressed:

1. H. Frank Fort, in his commentary on Ruth, has made a very good application of the phrase, "meet thee not in any other field." He said the greatest testimony that a church has is that it is a happy church and the fact that its members are not willing to meet in any other field. He applies the field to the church, and shows that happy members stay in their own church; and don't hop around from church to church. They are satisfied with the gleanings among the sheaves and the handfuls of purpose that they find in their church.

2. In his comments, he goes on to point out that some fail to "beat out" (Ruth 2:17) what has been left for their gleaning, and consequently have nothing to show, Ruth 2:19. Some churches are so cold and dead that nothing is offered to the earnest gleaner. But, in a church where truth is preached, gleaners occasionally are not "sufficed" or satisfied because they fail to avail themselves of what is being made available. Bro. Fort said, "While your body occupies a seat, your heart may be roaming in other fields. If you have nothing to show for your membership in this church, look down. There may be barley to glean at your feet, and you may be standing knee deep in handfuls of purpose."

C. Verse 23 says Ruth kept right on gleaning in the harvest:

1. "So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean..." The word "so" means that Ruth, being satisfied with her situation, continued the same things that she had been doing previously. She had found all she needed to sustain her, along with unparalleled kindness in Boaz' field. While there, she could rely upon Boaz' promise of protection and provision. It was a blessed condition, as being in the center of God's will always is. "So" Ruth continued there. Why should she go elsewhere? It is quite difficult to see why so many Christians fail to follow the example of Ruth in keeping fast by the maidens. That failure has robbed many a one of what could rightfully be his at the hands of the redeemer.

2. The barley harvest preceeded the wheat harvest, and Ruth progressed from the barley on to the wheat. Barley is lesser in quality and value than wheat, and Ruth's movement from barley to wheat points out an improvement in her estate. It is indicative of the continued improvement a child of God experiences as he grows into spiritual maturity. Israel came from "manna" Num. 11:5-6 to the "old corn of the land" Josh. 5:11; and Ruth came from Moab to Canaan through barley harvest on to wheat harvest. The growing child of God travels from "milk" in his spiritual infancy to "meat" as he grows into spiritual manhood, Heb. 5:11-14. Although, there is a progression in growth, and those who would eat wheat must first glean in the barley. The child of God can always be assured that it is better up ahead. However good and rich the blessings are now, the child of God, who is growing in grace and knowledge, can know that it will be even better and sweeter as the days go by.