Widows and Orphans - Ruth 2:8-9

Over the next few days I am going to look at one of the best examples we have in the Scriptures regarding the care of widows and orphans: Boaz. In particular we will look at his care for the widow Ruth. Let us start in Ruth 2:


Ruth 2:8-9  

Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.  "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." (NKJ)

First it appears that Boaz observed the Deuteronomy 24:19 admonition to not over harvest his fields and to leave some for the “stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.”  More than that, he makes sure that Ruth knew she was welcome to glean in his fields.  We can imagine that many in Israel did not observe this custom as the law commanded.  Ruth might fear being viewed and treated as a thief for taking grain from someone else’s field.  Boaz set her mind at easy by telling her she was welcome in his fields.  Boaz even gave her provisions that went beyond what was required, offering her drink.

We also see in Boaz more than just a wooden obedience to God’s Law. He went beyond the command to leave some unharvested and made sure that Ruth was welcomed as one of his own telling her to “stay close by my young women.”  Rather than making her an outcast he brought her close so that he could make sure she was cared for.

Boaz insured her safety.  Knowing the way of young men, Boaz commanded the young men not to touch her.  A young woman who has no protector can often fall prey to young men of the rougher sort.  Boaz used his authority over them to protect her who had no protector.  Again this was more than was required of him by a simple interpretation of the letter of the Law.

Finally, we note in all of this that Boaz was active in caring for Ruth.  He recognized her need and set about meeting that need.  More than passively allowing her to glean the dropped grain, he made her welcome and met her needs.  He went beyond what was strictly required, capturing not just the letter of the law, but its spirit as well.

May there be more of Boaz’s kind in our midst today.