“May the Lord reward your work; and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

In Chapter 2 of the book of Ruth there is some solid Biblical truth that struck me this week.  Looking at the above verse 12, I think if we really examine our hearts, these words contain a blessing that we all long to have fulfilled in our lives.  “May the Lord reward your work and your wages be full from the Lord,the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Ruth Chapter 2 tells us what happened after Ruth and Naomi returned from the land of Moab.  Remember Ruth is from Moab – and is only coming to Israel with her mother in law because Ruth’s husband has died and Ruth has committed herself and her service to following Naomi back to her homeland and serving the God of Israel.

Ruth and Naomi returned to Israel with no man to take care of them.  Ruth quickly recognizes that if they plan to eat, she is going to have to go and glean from the fields.  Gleaning from the fields means to go back over the field after the harvest was reaped and picking up, or gleaning, whatever has been dropped or left behind.   In Leviticus 19:10 God instructed that field owners were not to glean their own fields, but leave the gleaning for the widows and the strangers, as a means of their receiving food.  Ruth was both a widow and a stranger in Israel.

Here is the condensed version of Chapter 2.  Ruth gains Naomi’s permission to go glean.  Ruth happens across the field of a man named Boaz.  Boaz just happens to be a close relative of Naomi’s.  Boaz, who has heard of Naomi’s situation, instructs Ruth to stay in his field and glean.  He tells her not to even bother looking for other fields.  He instructs his servants to look out for her, and even tells them to purposely drop some grain so she has plenty to glean.  He feeds her enough food at the lunch break that she has some to take home to Naomi.  Boaz takes care of his relatives.

As I read through this passage there is something that stood out to me that I’d like to share with you.   The book of Ruth is written in third person narrative.  In Chapter 2, the people who speak to each other are: Ruth with Naomi; Boaz with the servants; Boaz with Ruth; Ruth with Boaz; and Naomi with Ruth.

One thing that struck me from the conversations these people all had with one another is the frequency of the speaker asking for the Lord’s blessing on the other people in the story.  This chapter is chock full of requests for blessing.  Boaz greets his servants with a blessing.  They bless him back.  Boaz blesses Ruth.  Ruth tells Naomi of his kindness and Naomi asks for blessing onto Boaz – before she even knows he is a relative.

Blessings, blessings, blessings.

What is a blessing? Quite simply… a blessing is God’s favor.  A prayer up to the Lord to request His favor be upon us or upon someone else.  When I ask the Lord to bless my food – I am asking that His favor be upon it that it would nourish and sustain me for the work I have to do.  When I ask that the Lord bless my family or my friend – I am praying that He show them His favor; His mercy, His kindness, His love.

Check out these verses from Luke Chapter 6: 27 & 28:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies and do good those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Hmmm – “Bless” those who curse me?  Yes, my friend.  Bless.  Ask for God’s favor to be upon them.  Asking God’s favor to be upon those who actively go out of their way to mistreat you is not a suggestion.  It is as much of a directive from God as leaving grain in the field for the widows and strangers to glean was to the Israelites.

Some directives from God are easier to follow than others.  But if we truly believe that God knows what is best for us, then we have to believe He knows what is best for others – even our enemies.  We don’t know why God asks us to ‘bless’ those who curse us.  But He does.  It is what is best for us; and best for them.  Think about someone in your life who you are having trouble with right now.  Take a deep breath, and ask God to bless them.  Go ahead.  God wouldn’t ask you to do something if you didn’t have the strength in you to do it.  Were you able to do it?  If so, think on this…your prayer for blessing might be the only one God’s ears hear for that person today.

If you can’t do it, think on this…God’s ears might not be hearing any requests to show favor, mercy or grace for that person.

We know our petitions to God are heard by Him.  I am so thankful to have learned that when I wasn’t following God’s ways that others were praying for me.  Did those prayers change my life?  All I know is that I am not the same person I was.  Thanks be to God for that!

“May the Lord reward your work; and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Seek His refuge friend, and be blessed!

~Peace