Preached at PM Service, 27 October 2024
Our passage today focuses on a seemingly simple event—Ruth gleaning in the fields to gather food for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Yet this simple act reflects something much greater than a search for daily bread. It reveals God’s deep concern for the poor and vulnerable. It demonstrates His provision, not just through material means, but ultimately through the coming of a Redeemer, both in Ruth’s story and in ours.
The law of gleaning, which we encounter in this passage, was one of God’s ways of ensuring that those who had little could still survive and be sustained. But even more profoundly, it speaks to God’s character—His compassion, His justice, and His care for those who are overlooked. Through Boaz, we see a reflection of Christ, the ultimate Redeemer, who fulfills the law and provides far more than we could ever ask or imagine.
As we explore these verses, we will see how God’s law made provision for the poor, how His providence worked in Ruth’s life, and how Christ perfectly fulfills these principles in His own ministry. Furthermore, we’ll be reminded that Christ doesn’t just fulfill the law for us, but He also enables us to live out the same compassion and generosity that Boaz demonstrated to Ruth.
Ruth’s journey of faith and provision begins in a field, but it ultimately points to the greater story of redemption—a story that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today, we will consider how God’s heart for the poor is revealed through His law, His providence, and, most importantly, through His Son, our Redeemer.