Series: Ruth (from ruin to redemption)

Title:  You Need His Favor

So far in this series we have talked about coming out of the ruins and watching what we cling to.  Though we may be surrounded with ruins, we can find the hope that we need when we rise out of the ruins, come to the place where the Lord Visits and join together with other like-minded believers.  We don’t need to have it all together, we may even feel like we do not have anything to offer, but our responsibility is to come to Him regardless.

Last week we talked about watching who or what we are clinging to.  Orpha clung to the gods of Moab while Ruth clung to the God of Naomi.  From Ruth’s descendants comes King David and from Orpha’s descendants comes a philistine named Goliath (philistines were the sworn enemy of Israel) One was a vessel of honor, while the other a vessel of dishonor.

Ruth 1:22

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth 2:1-23

² Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. ² And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 

GLEANING, pick or gather up, glean, is used of the gathering of grain by the poor,

Leviticus 19:9-10

⁹ “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. ¹⁰ And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

Ruth who is learning the ways of the Israelites was apparently aware of their methods for dealing with the poor, probably told to her by Naomi.  This law was given in consideration of the poor and instructs the Israelites of their responsibility regarding the poor.  After all, they were not like other nations, they were God’s chosen people, and they were called to be different than other surrounding nations.  Part of their responsibility as God’s chosen people included helping the poor and the sojourner.  But the way they were to help is quite different than what you may expect.

They were not to wipe their fields completely clean, but they were to leave some for the poor.  It was then the duty of the poor to go out and glean for themselves and gather food to eat.  This was the way of dealing with the poor not to simply give them a handout but rather they were to go and glean the fields.  This required even the poor to be industrious with their hands.   Several scriptures supports this.

Proverbs 10:4  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Psalm 128:2      You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 

Many want the favor of God and the blessings of God but are not willing to put in the work. 

Gleaming barley was not a glamorous job.  In fact, it was quite humbling.  Though Barley was one of the most important grainsraised in Palestine it was mainly grown to feed horses and donkeys but was also eaten by the poor. So, to glean barley and to eat the same food as horses and donkeys was to be identified as being poor.

Upon learning of God’s design for taking care of the poor, Ruth gladly accepts His means of provision and applies herself to do the work which was necessary.  She didn’t complain or say that it was beneath her to pick up barley, she did not say she had it better in Moab as the Israelites had complained coming out of Egypt.  She simply did what was necessary for her and her mother in-law’s survival. 

What a valuable lesson to all in the workforce.  You may not have a glamorous job, but you must do it with all your might and unto the Lord.  It is only then that you will find His favor upon your life in such a great way. This is exactly what takes place in Ruth’s life.  She sought out to find favor, and it is favor that she found.

God’s Favor abounds as we align with His Word

³ So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 

Just so that we understand, Ruth did not know what field to glean from.  She did not know if the workers would treat her nicely or abuse her.  Naomi had not instructed Ruth where to go, only that she should go.   In later verses we find Naomi asking Ruth where she had gleaned for, she did not know.  When Ruth tells Naomi that she gleaned in Boaz’s field then suddenly Naomi is reminded of Boaz and of his relation to her husband Elimelech.  If she had remembered Boaz, surely, she would have sent Ruth to his field first.

But when we set out to do that which we know we ought to do, the Lord will make our paths straight.  You will not know all the details.  Sometimes He is just wanting us to step out first and trust Him.  Just ask Peter.  As you step out, He will direct your paths.

I believe Ruth is starting to know God personally for herself at this point.  Because He has prospered her journey and has brought her exactly where she needed to be. 

God’s Favor will position you where you need to be.

⁴ And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”

You can tell Boaz’s workers loved working for him.  He greets them with a blessing and in return receives a blessing from them.  His workers knew that through Boaz’s blessing they would be blessed. 

What if you were to apply the same principle to your life.  Instead of talking about your boss, that you would begin to speak blessing over him/her.  So that through his blessing you too would be blessed. 

I don’t speak too much of God’s blessing only because I have seen it abused in churches.  But there is a blessing for those who will honor God in their work, who work diligently unto the Lord, and for those who are good stewards over what the Lord has entrusted to them and for those who will honor the authority that God has placed over their lives. 

Ruth did not have much, but she put to good use what she did have.

 ⁵ Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” ⁶ And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. ⁷ She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

God’s favor abounds to those who work diligently unto Him.

Instead of sitting at home waiting for God to provide food for her and Naomi, she applies herself, begins to work the field and in return God blesses her.  She was diligent in her work as the text says that she started early in the morning, worked all day, with just a short rest.

How often are we just waiting for God to do something, yet we have not done what is within our means to do.  Sometimes we must take a step of faith, before we see the miracle.

• Peter had to step out of the boat-before he was able to walk on water
• The man with the withered hand had to stretch out his hand for it to be restored
• The ten lepers had to show themselves to the priest in order to be cleansed, as they went they were made whole
• The disciples had to gather the five loaves and two fish before witnessing the feeding of the multitude

These are just a few of many examples in which the miracle or provision came after a step of faith.

The favor of God came to Ruth as she applied herself to working diligently.

⁸ Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. ⁹ Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” ¹⁰ Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Boaz says a few encouraging things to Ruth.

• Listen my daughter- I consider you as family
• Stay in this field- You will be provided for
• Keep close to my women- you belong here
• The young men won’t touch you- You will be protected
• When you are thirsty- I will quench your thirst

Ruth is the benefactor of Boaz’s undeserved favor.  It did not make sense for a foreigner to be received and treated as kindly as Boaz has treated Ruth.  She has done nothing to deserve such kindness. God’s favor came to Ruth as she became in alignmentwith God’s word.

God’s Favor is Unmerited (undeserved) but comes as we come in alignment with His Word

Yes

• God’s Favor abounds as we are faithful in the small
• God’s Favor will position you where you need to be.
• God’s favor abounds to those who work diligently unto Him.

But ultimately any good thing that He would bestow upon us is done so not because we deserve it, but because He is a good Father.  It is the Lord who is the giver of all good things and He gives according to His good plan and purposes.

¹¹ But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. ¹² The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” ¹³ Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

Ruth received even more than what she originally sought after as she received favor with both man and God. It was Boaz who showed Ruth kindness, but ultimately it was God who had used Boaz as instrument to display His favor upon Ruth’s life.  Even Boaz declares “The Lord repay you for what you have done.”

This is a perfect picture of God’s unmerited favor which He bestows upon all those who believe.  Before we came to Christ or into the family of God, we were a lot like Ruth. 

• We were separated from the things of God.
• We were not in fellowship with the people of God.
• We dwelt with others who live to please their selfish

Yet He calls us out of those dark places, out of the ruins and into abundant life.

Matthew 19:29-30

²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

It is His unmerited favor which He bestows upon those who follow Him whole heartedly.

When we are saved by the power of Christ, we may have to leave behind friends and even family who hinder us from following the Lord whole heartedly.  Not only are we to leave behind those but we are to be joined togetherwith our new family, mainly other believers. 

Much like how Ruth left behind the people of Moab and joined herself to the people of God.  She was a Moabite woman, now Boaz considers her family. 

As we are joined with the people of God, we must come in alignment with the word of God.  When we fall in alignment with the word of God, only then will we see the favor of God poured out on our lives.

It is then that we will find

• His provision,
• His protection,
• our sense of belonging,
• He will quench our thirst,

John 4:13-14

¹³ Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

• He alone will fill the voids in our lives.

His favor means that sometimes really good things happen to you for no real reason other than the fact that the Lord bestowed upon you His favor.  He does so because He is good, not that we are deserving.

The “favor of God” can be described as a divine kindness, or an act of true compassion on the part of God Himself toward needy and undeserving human recipients. 

How do we obtain His favor?

Psalms 84:10-11

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

            Proverbs 3:1-4

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

From these two verses we find that the favor of God comes

• As we dwell in His Courts (delight ourselves in His presence)
• Walking uprightly
• Keeping His commandments
• Walking in steadfast love
• Walking in faithfulness

Ruth experienced the unmerited favor of God as she

• was in alignment with the will of God for her life, (being positioned where she needed to be, in relationshipwith God and His people)
• as she was faithful in the small things, (being industrious with her hands)
• Accepted God’s plan of provision for her life and walked in His commands
• She showed steadfast love toward her mother in-law Naomi

• God’s Favor abounds as we align with His word.
• God’s Favor will position you where you need to be.
• God’s Favor abounds to those who work diligently unto Him.
• God’s Favor is unmerited

Another word for unmerited favor is Grace. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.