Boaz invites Ruth to lunch

Ruth 2:14–23
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Boaz invited Ruth to eat lunch with him and his workers (v. 14). They would often tie a few stalks of grain together and roast it over a blazing fire. Ruth had all she wanted to eat and still had food left over. Her being able to eat with Boaz and the reapers was a mark of special favor. After the meal Ruth returned to the field to glean. The law gave the gleaners the right to go over the field after the reapers had taken all they wanted. However, Boaz instructed his reapers to drop some grain along the way for her (v. 15). At the end of the day, she had about three fourths of a bushel (vv. 16-17).

She took what she had gleaned and went to where Naomi was staying (v. 18). It also appears that Boaz had sent along a quantity of food so that Ruth was able to present this to Naomi. Naomi realized that some special favor had been shown to Ruth and she looked for the source (v. 19). When Ruth shared that Boaz was responsible for this special favor Naomi broke out in praise to God (v. 20). She then told Ruth that Boaz was a relative and a next of kin. She then advised Ruth to stay with Boaz’s maidens and glean to the end of the harvest (vv. 21-23). Ruth continued to live with Naomi and worked in the fields until the barley and wheat was all harvested.

Application

I need to look for any widows whom I could help by show­ing special favors to them? This is something that is greatly neglected by many families and churches today (1 Tim 5:16).