Life Applications and Lessons from Ruth Chapter Two
Saturday Morning Life Applications (Vol. 83)
Just like in chapter one, the life applications and lessons from Ruth chapter two are tremendous! The Lord is really speaking through the book of Ruth!
If you were with us last week as we read Life Applications and Lessons from Ruth Chapter One, or if you have read the book of Ruth, you know the background story of Ruth and Naomi.
Ruth Chapter One Recap
- Naomi’s family moved to the land of Moab due to a famine in Israel.
- Naomi’s husband and both sons died while they were in Moab.
- Both of Naomi’s sons had married Moabite women, so she was left with two daughters-in-law.
- Naomi heard that there were provisions in Israel, so she decided to go back to her native land.
- One daughter-in-law stayed in Moab, but Ruth followed her mother-in-law to Israel.
A Brief History of the Book of Ruth – Second Chapter
Chapter two begins with Naomi and Ruth back in the land of Israel. As two widows, they were going to have to make their own living and provide their own food.
- Ruth went to gather fallen grain in a field.
- She just “happened” to end up in the field of Boaz.
- She worked hard all day, only taking a short rest.
- Boaz noticed her hard work and asked his workers who she was. He had already heard about the character of Ruth and what she had done for Naomi from some of the townspeople.
- He told her not to go work in any other fields, and he provided her with food and protection.
- When Naomi found out whose field Ruth had worked in, she told her that he was a close relative and a kinsman redeemer.
Ruth chapter one showed us that God was in the details of their lives. Now we can see even more clearly in chapter two that God was writing their stories!
The same can be said for us – He is in the details of our lives, directing and leading us down the best paths while He continues to write our stories!
Naomi and Ruth’s Story in Chapter Two
- Characters: Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, Boaz’s Servants, Harvesters
- Setting
- Time: Harvest Time (Beginning of the Barley Harvest and the Wheat Harvest)
- Place: Bethlehem, Boaz’s Field
- Conflict: Lack of food, Finding a safe place to gather grain
- Theme: God is writing our stories.
- Foreshadowing: Ruth 2:2 “Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, ‘Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?'”
Life Applications and Lessons from Ruth Chapter Two
God was writing their stories!
In the following verses, we get to know the characters a little better. There is a lot of character development in this chapter!
Boaz’s Character
“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.”
Ruth 2:1
Boaz was a prominent man of great wealth. He was a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech and a Godly man.
The Lord knew the character of Boaz!
- V. 1 – Prominent man of noble character
- V. 8-9 – Protective – He told her to stay with the young women in his fields, and he told the young men not to bother her.
- V. 13 – Comforting and Encouraging – He built her up by sharing what a noble thing she had done. He also asked the Lord to give her a full reward.
- V. 14 – Benevolent Provider – He provided a meal for her even though she was a foreign woman, and he was a man of great wealth.
Ruth’s Character
“So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.”
- V. 7 – Hard Worker and Dedicated – She worked from early morning until evening with just a short rest now and then.
- V. 11 – Loyal and Sacrificed for Naomi – As a young woman, she could have stayed with her parents and remarried, yet she chose to go with Naomi.
- V. 18 – Thoughtful and Generous – She saved part of the meal Boaz gave her to take home to Naomi.
Life Applications and Lessons from Ruth Chapter Two
- The Lord shows up while we are doing the work we need to do. He can show up and move while we are doing the most mundane tasks!
- There are no coincidences! If we allow Him to, the Lord directs our paths to the best situations for us.
- The noble character of Boaz and Ruth was evident to other people because of their actions.
- The things we do as well as the things we do not do, don’t go unnoticed – good or bad.
- Our actions can say a lot about our character.
- The Lord puts people in our paths so they will help and encourage us.
- He also puts people in our path for us to help and encourage.
- Be careful who you allow into your story. What does their character look like? What do their actions say about them?
Related Song to Ruth Chapter Two
God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells
A Few Other Thoughts from Ruth Chapter Two
- Naomi wanted to work in the field of someone with whom she found favor. In verses 10 and 13, she knows she has found favor with Boaz.
- Naomi was on Ruth’s mind throughout the day. In verse 18, she pulled out the leftover grain that she saved to take to Naomi.
- Verse 23 says she continued working until the end of the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. From what I can find, that would have been approximately 3 months. Many times we read this story and it seems like they meet and continue on with their relationship (which we will see in chapters 3 and 4) in a matter of days. They may have had 3 months or more to get to know each other’s character a little better.
I am looking forward to diving in a little deeper in the coming chapters. We will get to see the love story and how this story has a part in the lineage of Jesus Christ – Amazing!
The study of Ruth definitely shows God’s Providence and how He weaves all the pieces of the story together. Always remember, He does the same thing in our lives too.
Life Applications in Weekly Bible Study
Please join us as we read God’s Word each week and learn to apply His principles to our lives.
Life Application Resources
If you have joined me recently, these daily life application posts are examples of some of the comments I am writing in the Bibles I am giving to my grandchildren when they graduate from high school. Click here to see the post where I explain this eternal gift idea. I want to give them all the resources I can to use in today’s world!
Related Posts
Ruth Chapter 2 Bible Study: Growing in Grace
Life Applications and Lessons from Ruth Chapter One
Until next week…
disclosure: Amazon affiliate links are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website.
“So she fell on her face, bowed down 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?’” Ruth 2:10
Thoughtful as always. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much! Have a great week!
Am loving this study. Gleaning so much🌻
Thanks🌻
Thank you Glenda! I really enjoyed Ruth too!
Love learning from you, Susan! I can’t imagine what these ladies went through on a daily basis but how cool is it that they are these teaching us how to live, love, build character through actions, and the inportance of divine appointments all these centuries later. Such a blessing! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you CoCo! I cannot imagine what they went through either. I think life was hard back then, but especially for women. These women of faith were strong! they are such great examples for us.