Ruth Review

We will do a review of what we learned from the book of Ruth.   First, we see that bad things do happen to God's people.  Because of a famine in Israel, the land of God's chosen people, Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion left Israel and went to Moab.  While there, another tragedy struck Naomi, as Elimelech died, leaving her dependent on her two sons.  The sons had married women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth and lived there for about ten years, then both sons died, another tragedy for Naomi.  We need to realize that just because one tragedy strikes us in life as followers of Christ that it does not mean that we are exempt from another one.  Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law that she did not know how to provide for, so she decided to return to Israel and her people.  When tragedy does strike us today, the best thing we can do is turn to God and His people if we are Christians.  Of course, the best thing anyone can do in a tragedy is to look to God for help, but if we are His people but are away from Him spiritually for whatever reason, then we definitely need to return to Him.  Then, Naomi told Orpah and Ruth that they would be better off going to their own people for help.  I believe that even if we don't know all the answers, we should never attempt to send others away from God.  Naomi seems to have become bitter toward God though and this may have influenced her actions.  No matter what happens in life, as followers of Christ we cannot allow it to make us bitter toward God or to even question His love and provision for us.  Orpah left, but Ruth declared her devotion to Naomi, her people, and her God.  Our best choice in a tragedy is to declare our devotion to God, even if He was not our God before.  In Israel, Ruth proved her devotion to Naomi by working to provide them with food.  She was a widow herself in a strange land, but she exhibited a greater faith than Naomi did.  She did not expect others to provide for them.  Because of her willingness to work, she met Boaz.  I believe that we can accurately say that God led Ruth to this place.  Even when we may not realize it, God is at work in our lives if we are His people.  Naomi saw a solution to their problem after there was no longer a crop to glean for food, and that was the fact that Boaz was one of her kinsmen, and she was going to put Ruth in a position where he would have to marry her.  I don't believe that we should ever use deceitful or dishonest means to better ourselves if we are followers of Christ.  Boaz looked out for Ruth's good name and then did the honorable and legal thing concerning her.  He first made sure that another closer kinsman did not want to redeem Naomi's land with the stipulation that he marry Ruth, who could also have had a claim on the land.  We must never try to claim what might rightly be considered something that belongs to another without letting them have a chance to claim it themselves.  Then, we see that God blessed Ruth with a husband and a child and Naomi with a grandchild, and that Ruth, a woman of Moab, was in the direct lineage of David.  It does not matter where we are born, if we become a follower of Christ, then we are a part of His family forevermore.         

Ruth 4:11

Ruth 4:11 says, And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:  The people at the gate told Boaz that they would be witnesses that he had been honorable in his actions.  They then asked that God would bless his marriage to Ruth and that she would be like Rachel and Leah who had produced the nation of Israel.  Of course, there were two other women who were also responsible, but they were not mentioned.  Even if we are honest in our actions, unless we are doing what God has led us to do, we should not expect Him to bless us in the action.  Verse twelve adds, And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.  The men continued to ask by asking God's blessing on the family, that they might have many descendants, like Pharez of old.  Verse thirteen continues, So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.  After they were married, God gave Ruth and Boaz a son.  Boaz, and Ruth as well, had lived honorably and followed God's laws, and He had blessed them with a son.  This is not to say that they were prefect people, but they were doing their best to follow God's law.  Even as followers of Christ, we will never be perfect, but if we want to be blessed by God, then we need to try to follow His laws.  Verse fourteen states, And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.  The women also said that God had blessed Naomi by giving her a grandson, so that her name would not be cut off but that her grandson would be famous throughout Israel.  She was still considered Ruth's mother-in-law, and the son was seen as a continuation of her family name, even though Naomi had seemingly become somewhat bitter toward God.  God had not forgotten her, and He will never forget us today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen adds, And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.  The women told Naomi that this grandson would restore her life and that Ruth's love for her was better than seven sons would have been.  Naomi now had no reason to give up on life and to be bitter toward God.  Of course, as followers of Christ, we should never do either of these things.  Verse sixteen continues, And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.  Naomi now had a new purpose, and that was to nurture her grandchild.  When we accept the salvation of God, we have a new purpose in life.  We are to nurture our fellow Christians in faith, as they are to nurture us.  Verse seventeen says, And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.  The women named the child, and said he was Naomi's son, though he was really her grandson.  He was the one through whom her family name would be carried on.  Then, the next five verses list the genealogy of Obed, Ruth's son, going back to Pharez and ending with David.  Verse eighteen adds, Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,  Verse nineteen continues, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,  Verse twenty states, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,  Verse twenty-one adds, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,  Verse twenty-two continues, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.  Ruth, a widowed Moabite woman because of her devotion to her mother-in-law and becoming one of her people and accepting her God as her own, became a part of the lineage of David.  We really aren't told of anything great that Ruth did, except to be a devoted daughter-in-law who accepted her mother-in-law's people and God as her own, and then lived honorably to provide for the two of them.  We may not think that we have done a lot in life today, but if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, try to live honorable lives by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, identify with God's people, and reach out to others with His message of redemption, that is all that we can do.  Fortunately, that is all that is required after we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Ruth 4:1

Ruth 4:1 says, Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.  Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, waiting to see if his kinsman would come by, and he did.  Boaz asked him to come and talk with him.  The gate of the city was where court was held.  Verse two adds, And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.  Boaz had ten of the elders of the city there with him to do things legally.  Even if we are attempting to get something we want as Christians, we must do it honesty and above board.  Verse three continues, And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:  Boaz told his kinsman that Naomi had a parcel of land to sell that belonged to Elimelech before he left.  There were specific redemption laws in Israel, and Matthew Henry says that Elimelech might have mortgaged the land before he left during the famine, and now Naomi wanted one of her kinsmen to redeem it for her.  He also said that the other possibility was that Naomi wanted to sell her rights to the property so she would have money to live on.  I believe we can say that God has the right of redemption for every person, but it is up to us whether or not we allow Him to use it.  Verse four states, And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.  Boaz told his kinsman that he wanted to come before the elders and see if the man would redeem the property, and Boaz told him if he didn't that he was the next in line to be able to redeem it.  He was doing nothing behind the man's back, but was dealing honestly and openly with the situation.  We must do the same with people today, even if means that we may not get what we want.   The man said he would redeem the property.  Verse five adds, Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.  Boaz then told his kinsman that when he redeemed the land from Naomi, he was also redeeming it from Ruth, a woman of Moab, who was the widow of one of Naomi's sons, and that he would need to marry her to produce an heir.  Matthew Henry points out that the marriage law at least at first only applied to the brothers of the man who had died but may have been changed at some time.  Still, this was basically being done based on the law of redemption.  Verse six continues, And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.  The kinsman then said he couldn't redeem it himself because he might mar his inheritance.  Matthew Henry says that the man may have already been married and had children and didn't want another heir with a claim to his inheritance, but for whatever reason, he would not or could not claim the inheritance if it meant marrying Ruth as well.  He told Boaz to redeem the property himself.  God offers us redemption today if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but he does not force us to accept it, just as this man was not forced to redeem the land.  God will continue to offer redemption to others, even if we turn it down.  Verse seven says, Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.  We are told that in Israel that the manner of confirming a deal was for a person confirming it to take off his shoe and give it to the one with whom he was confirming it.  This may have been a better way than all the lawyers who would likely be involved today.  Verse eight adds. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.  The kinsman confirmed the deal with Boaz by handing him his shoe to confirm the deal.  Verse nine continues, And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.  Boaz told the elders and all the people around that they would be witnesses to the fact that he had bought all that was Elimelech's and his two sons, Chilion and Mahlon, inheritance, from Naomi.  We are never told what the price was.  We can rest assured that when we accept redemption through faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord that the price has been paid by Him through the His death on the cross.  Verse ten concludes, Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.  Boaz said he had also purchased Ruth to be his wife to raise up an inheritance, or a child, to carry on the name of Mahlon.  We don't have any such inheritance laws today, but we do know that Christ died so that we can have an eternal inheritance with Him if we accept salvation that He alone makes available.

Ruth 3:8

Ruth 3:8 says, And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.  Boaz awoke at midnight afraid, and turned over and saw the woman, Ruth, at his feet.  We are not told why he was afraid, but I am sure he didn't expect to find a woman at his feet.  Verse nine adds, And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.  Ruth told him her name and said she was a near kinswomen of his.  She also said she was his handmaiden and asked that he spread his skirt over her.  She was simply asking Boaz to take her under his protection as the Jewish law of that time would have dictated he do.  We are likewise to come under the protection of Christ if we are His followers, and when we do, we will be wrapped in his protective arms.  Verse ten continues, And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.  Boaz asked God's blessings on Ruth, since she had not gone to a young man for protection, but had come to him, even though he was old.  There may be more physically appealing things in the world today than the ways of God, but we need to realize that the old paths of God will always be better.  Verse eleven states, And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.  Boaz told Ruth not to fear, that he would do what she asked so that all the city would know that she was a virtuous woman.  He had seen her work to take care of her mother-in-law and knew that she would not be there for immoral reasons.  What does our character tell people about us today?  Verse twelve adds, And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.  Boaz told Ruth that he was a near kinsman, but that there was one who was closer kin.  If Boaz were to follow the law of God, he could not simply ignore a part of it to suit himself, just as we cannot ignore any of God's law today simply to suit ourselves if we are followers of Christ.  Boaz would only marry Ruth if the closer kinsman refused to do so.  Matthew Henry says that Naomi must not have known of this closer kinsman, or she would have sent Ruth to him instead of to Boaz.  Verse thirteen continues, Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.  Boaz told Ruth to lie down until the morning, and if the closer kinsman would fulfill his obligation to marry her, then that was how it would be.  We as followers of Christ should never have to rely on others to fulfill our obligations to God, but sometimes if they don't fulfill theirs, we may have to fulfill theirs.  Boaz also said that if this other kinsman would not marry Ruth, then he would.  Verse fourteen says, And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.  She rested there until sometime before morning and then left as Boaz had instructed her to do.  Though they had done nothing wrong, it would have appeared that they had to others.  Boaz did not want this to be a problem for either of them.  We must live in such a way that no one can accuse us of sinning just because the appearance of what we are doing makes it look like we may be doing something immoral.  When it comes to our relationship to God, we do have to care what others think.  Verse fifteen adds, Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.  Before Ruth left, he gave her a measure of barley in her veil.  He was already beginning to take care of her needs, just as God will always take care of ours today if we put our faith in Hm through our relationship with Christ.  Verse sixteen continues, And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.  When Ruth returned to Naomi, she asked Ruth who she was, not because she didn't recognize her, but because she wanted to know if she was now married or not.  Ruth told Naomi all that had happened.  Verse seventeen states, And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.  Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had not sent her away empty handed but had sent her with food for the two of them to eat.  Since it was past gleaning time, Ruth would not be able to get food for them that day.  We do not need to simply glean spiritually from God's provisions as Christians but can feast at His table if we put our faith in Him.  Verse eighteen adds, Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.  Naomi told Ruth to rest, because Boaz would not wait, but would settle the matter that day.  We as followers of Christ can rest easy today, because God has already settled the matter of our salvation when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  

Ruth 3:1

Ruth 3:1 says, Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?  Naomi asked Ruth if she should not seek rest for her.  She was concerned about Ruth's health and welfare, especially now that there were no crops to glean.  Verse two adds, And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.  Naomi's intention was to get Ruth a husband, and Boaz was the selected groom.  Naomi pointed out that he was their near kinsman, and under the law of that time might have even been the one who should have married Ruth, since she was a widow of one of Boaz's kinsmen who had no child.  Of course this really only applied to brothers.  Still, Naomi did not present her case to Boaz, but instead devised a plan to trap him into marrying Ruth.  If we need help from our fellow Christians today, we should simply ask them for help and never attempt to trick them into helping us.  Verse three continues,Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.  Naomi told Ruth to get cleaned up and go down to Boaz's house but to not let him know she was there.  People who are doing things that might not be legally or morally correct often don't want to be found out until they have completed what they have set out to do.  We need to also remember that Ruth had declared her faithfulness to Naomi and her God, so she may have felt that this was God's plan as well.  We cannot just simply conclude that God is behind everything that those who profess to be His people do.  Verse four states, And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.  Naomi told Ruth to watch where Boaz went to bed at, and then to go into his room and uncover his feet and lie down there.  Naomi intended for Ruth to approach Boaz as a wife, according to Matthew Henry, since under Jewish law he might have been required to marry her if he was the closest kinsman.  Still, we cannot justify this as God's plan.  We, as followers of Christ, cannot do evil in order to accomplish good, especially if that good is for our benefit.  Verse five adds, And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.  Ruth told Naomi that she would do as she had advised her to do.  We should not necessarily do what someone else tells us to do, even if they are supposedly a Christian.  As a matter of fact, we should always pray and seek God's guidance before we do anything if we are one of His children.  Verse six continues, And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. Then verse seven concludes, And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.  Ruth went into the bedroom or chamber of Boaz and laid down at his feet.  I have to wonder how Ruth was feeling at this time.  She put herself in a very compromising position at the direction of Naomi, and she had no assurance that she would not be called all kinds of bad things and run out of Boaz's house.  I don't believe she even had the assurance that this was what God would want her to do.  We will never know what Boaz's reaction would have been if Naomi and Ruth simply approached him and presented the situation to him.  As Christians, we should never attempt to trick people into doing something, even if it might be the morally correct thing to do.

Ruth 2:10

Ruth 2:10 says, Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?  Ruth fell on the ground and asked Boaz why she, a stranger, had found grace in his eyes.  As followers of Christ, this is a question that we could ask God every day, because when we were but a stranger to Him, we found grace in His eyes.  Verse eleven adds, And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.  Boaz said that he knew all that Ruth had done for her mother-in-law, leaving her own people to come to a strange land to help provide for her.  How much are we willing to give up to provide for the spiritual and even physical needs of others today?  Verse twelve continues, The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.  Boaz then gave the credit to God for protecting and providing for Ruth.  He did not claim the honor for himself.  If we help those in need today, as Christians we must make sure that we give God the credit.  Verse thirteen states, Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.  Ruth asked that she might find favor with Boaz, even if she wasn't like the other maidens around him.  We likewise need to treat those that we encounter with kindness out of the love of God, even if they are not like us.  Verse fourteen adds, And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the readers, and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.  Boaz invited Ruth to come and share with him at mealtime.  Sometimes, the first thing we may be able to do is to ensure that others have enough to eat and offer them our hospitality.  Verse fifteen continues, And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:  When Ruth got up to glean again, Boaz told the young men working for him to allow her to glean even among the areas that hadn't been harvested.  He was allowing her to gather more than just the leftovers, and when it comes to helping others today, we should be willing to allow them more than just the leftovers of what God has blessed us with.  Verse sixteen says, And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.  Boaz told his servants to not only allow Ruth to glean, but to also leave a little more behind.  We likewise should be willing to give to others in need more than just the remnants of what God has blessed us with.  Verse seventeen adds, So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.  After gleaning all day, Ruth then separated the barley from the chaff, and she had about four pecks worth.  Verse eighteen continues, And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.  Ruth returned that night to where she and Naomi were staying, not only with the barley, but also with some of the food that she had been given at lunch.  She had not simply eaten the good food herself, but she was concerned with Naomi as well.  Verse nineteen states, And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.  Naomi was curious as to where Ruth had been gleaning, and Ruth told her in the field of a man called Boaz.  Like Naomi, we should be curious as to what our children are doing in the world today.  Verse twenty adds, And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.  Naomi said that Boaz was a near kinsman of theirs, but he was related to Ruth by marriage only.  Still, we are told when a man and a woman are married that they become one flesh, so family of each spouse becomes the family of the other spouse.  I am not sure why Naomi had not gone to Boaz for help, but it may have been that she had been gone so long that she forgot him.  Verse twenty-one continues, And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.  Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had told her to keep close to his young men, to work behind them only and for no other reason.  He was looking out for Ruth in his own way.  People do not necessarily know everything that we are doing to help them out today, but we need to rely on God to direct our help that He might be glorified.  Verse twenty-two says, And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.  Ruth told Naomi to not go to any other field but to continue to glean in Boaz's field and to continue to associate with his maidens.  Verse twenty-three adds, So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.  Ruth continued to work in Boaz's field until the harvest was over.  Then there would be the new problem of what they would do then.  God had provided for them so far, even if they did not recognize it, and He will provide for us today, if we are followers of Christ, whether we always recognize it or not.

Ruth 2:1

Ruth 2:1 says, And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.  Naomi was back with her people, the nation of Israel.  There was a man that she was kin to named Boaz, and he was a wealthy man.  Verse two adds, And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.  Ruth proposed that she go glean for food, which was a common practice then.  Ruth was taking responsibility for providing for both of them.  Verse three continues, And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.  Ruth was gleaning after the reapers, and was in Boaz's field.  We might say that she was lucky that this happened, but I believe that God was blessing her by placing her there.  God is always at work in the world, even when we may not realize it or give Him credit.  Verse four states, And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.  Boaz came to the field where the workers were, and greeted them by asking that the LORD bless them, and they returned the greeting.  We need to ask God's blessing on those that we encounter each day, and we need to sincerely mean it if we do.  Verse five adds, Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?  Boaz saw Ruth gleaning in the field and asked the one over the servants who she was.  If we are to help others, we must first notice them and then find out who they are.  We may see people in need every day, but if we don't care enough to find out about them, then we are no help to them at all.  Verse six continues, And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:  The servant firsts identified her as a Moabite damsel, not even an Israelite, and then said she came back with Naomi.  When we first meet someone in need, do we first identify them by some physical characteristic, or do we simply identify them as a fellow human being of great value in God's eyes?  Verse seven says, And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.  The servant said Ruth asked permission to glean, and she had been doing so most of the day.  Ruth was dedicated to providing for Naomi and herself.  People should be willing to whatever they can that is honest to meet their needs.  Verse eight adds, Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:  Boaz told Ruth to not go anywhere else to glean, but to continue to do so in his field.  He also invited her to abide with his maidens.  We need to do as much as we can to help make life easier for those in need, especially if God has blessed us with more than enough.  I believe God will let us know what we should do if we only ask Him.  Verse nine continues, Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.  Boaz told her she would be safe and that if she was thirsty, there was water to drink.  If we put our faith in Christ, we are forever spiritually safe, and there is always Living Water to satisfy our thirst.