How does Ruth 2:21 connect to God's laws on gleaning in Leviticus 19:9-10? Setting the Scene Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem destitute. Ruth heads to the fields during barley harvest, hoping to gather leftover grain so they can eat. God’s Law on Gleaning “ When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am the LORD your God.” Key features of the law • Landowners must leave unharvested edges. • Fallen or missed produce stays in the field. • The provision targets “the poor and the foreign resident.” • Obedience is grounded in God’s covenant authority: “I am the LORD your God.” Ruth 2:21 in Context “Then Ruth the Moabitess said, ‘He also told me, “Stay with my young men until they have finished gathering all my harvest.” ’ ” Connection Between the Two Passages • Leviticus sets the principle; Ruth shows the principle lived out. • Ruth, a Moabite foreigner, fits the exact category protected by the law. • Boaz’s invitation—“Stay… until they have finished gathering all my harvest” —mirrors the command to leave grain accessible through the entire harvest period. • The gleaning law safeguards dignity; Ruth gathers with the reapers rather than begging. • God’s covenant name in Leviticus grounds the law; Boaz’s later blessing (“May the LORD repay your work,” 2:12) reflects awareness of that same covenant authority. Boaz as a Model of Obedience • He goes beyond bare compliance: additional sheaves are deliberately pulled out for Ruth (2:15-16). • Protection is included; young men are told not to touch her (2:9). • Provision extends to water and shared meals (2:14). • The law’s spirit—generous care for the vulnerable—is fully embraced. See also Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Leviticus 23:22. Theological Themes • Covenant faithfulness: God’s command stands centuries later, shaping daily life. • Divine providence: God guides Ruth to a landowner who honors His Word (cf. Proverbs 16:9). • Inclusivity of redemption: A Moabite finds refuge under Israel’s God (Ruth 2:12), previewing the gospel’s reach to all nations (Galatians 3:8). • Human instruments: Boaz’s obedience becomes the conduit for God’s blessing, leading ultimately to the Messianic line (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:5-6). Practical Takeaways • God’s heart prioritizes the vulnerable; contemporary stewardship should mirror that concern. • Obedience to Scripture invites God’s providential use of ordinary work to accomplish extraordinary purposes. • Generosity that surpasses minimum requirements reflects God’s own lavish grace (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). |
    |