The Field of Blessing (Ruth 2:17-23)

 

The Field of Blessing

Scripture

“So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took [it] up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man’s name with whom I worked today [is] Boaz." Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed [be] he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man [is] a relation of ours, one of our close relatives." Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’" And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "[It is] good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field." So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.” (Ruth 2:17-23 NKJV)

Commentary

Providence has brought Ruth to the field of blessing. What she gleaned in the field was about an ephah, roughly a bushel. This may not sound like much for a day’s work, but remember she was going behind the harvesters. What she collected for Naomi and herself was more than enough to meet their needs.

God has richly blessed every believer. “As His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV). He has given us of His Spirit and His Word. Unfortunately, we don’t always do as Ruth and glean diligently.

Let’s make sure we do our part to receive the blessings of God. As it is written, “A lazy [man] buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 19:24 NKJV). Feed diligently upon the Word of God, mine the deep secrets. Make full use of your blessing.

It is a sad testimony to hear people, who are abundantly blessed, complain of their lack when manna lay all about them. If you are a believer, you have all you need to be a blessing to God. Glorify Him in all your ways!

Prayer

Father, thank you for your Word and the freedom we have to study it. Open our eyes to our need, and prick our hearts to feed upon you. Lord we need you this day and every day. Forgive us when we act as if we don’t, amen.