The Beauty in Humility

A godly woman shows honor and respect; a holy reverence to her LORD.

by VANESSA WHITE

 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

Ruth displays such humility, the scriptures tell us in Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

We can learn so much from Ruth’s character. She displays humility, when she fell on her face and bowed to the ground. May our hearts bow down low in humble adoration before the LORD because He is Holy and Majestic.

A godly woman shows honor and respect; a holy reverence to her LORD. She comes before the throne of grace, because it is where she finds mercy and help in the time of need. A godly woman wants to honor her LORD and learn of His ways. His grace is sufficient and we learn to grow in grace, this beautiful grace that covers us, it’s resting in His love, asking in faith for His help and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The Hebrew word chen,חֵן means favour, grace, elegance: pleasant, precious, well-favored, acceptance. Doesn’t the word display beauty in itself? Ruth asked Boaz why she found favor in his eyes and he took notice of her since she was only a foreigner. Boaz saw her as precious, he saw elegance and he gave her grace.

 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? Psalm 8:4 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 

God has graced us with His saving grace, He lavishes us with His love. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

What are some ways God has shown you undeserving grace and mercy?

Read Ruth 2:11-23

Boaz tells Ruth it was fully reported to him all that she has done for her mother-in-law, he knew the details of her life: where she’s been and what she was doing. Boaz blessed Ruth and prayed for her. He took notice of Ruth putting her trust in the God of Israel. Ruth 2:12 says; The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

In times of sorrow, or when the storms of life overwhelm a weary soul– where do you go for comfort? When your heart is aching and the trials of life overwhelm you, who do you turn to or who do you call upon?

Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. Psalm 63:7

He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart Psalm 91:4. Psalm 27:9, Psalm 57:1.

Ruth finds favor and comfort

 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” Ruth 2:13

We see these acts of grace as a foreshadowing of the comfort, unmerited grace, loving-kindness our Savior Christ Jesus gives to us. God’s faithful love is on display in Hosea 2:14, “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.

God comforts us in all of our afflictions. 2 Corinthians 1:4.

Boaz then asks Ruth to come and dine with him to eat of the bread and dip her bread in the vinegar v. 14.

In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says; Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. The LORD offers us an invitation to dine with Him, to partake of His Word, to eat and drink. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water. He is a feast for our soul. Spiritually speaking; He is everything we need, He satisfies our weary hearts.

JESUS IS WISDOM AND JESUS IS THE WAY TO WISDOM.

Proverbs 9:4-6, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

Ruth ate and she was satisfied and kept some back. Ruth 2:14-15.

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.

Ruth 2:15

Sheaf; A bundle of cut stalks of grain or similar plants bound with straw or twine —the reaper with his sickle goes ahead, and cuts the grain; then it is gathered into bundles by workers (often women) who follow, and the bundles are tied, by using a few stalks, into sheaves. After the gatherers come the gleaners, who collect any loose stalks dropped in the reaping.

So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

Ruth 2:17

Ruth made the most of her time, she was productive, she gleaned until evening. We must not become weary in well-doing, because in due season we shall reap a harvest of blessings. She did not make an excuse to sit still, be idle or go home, she gleaned until the evening.

Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Ruth 2:18-19.

Naomi is being a mother with wisdom, she gives us an example how we should inquire about our children’s lives. We should ask them questions about their life, their relationship with the Lord, is there anything pressing on their hearts today, where have they gleaned today? What are they learning in God’s Word? If you do not have any children these are wonderful questions to ask our friends or loved ones.

I love what Matthew Henry said; “Where have I gleaned today? What improvements have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done or obtained that will turn to a good account?

Naomi’s example is beautiful in Ruth 2:20, she praised the LORD and gave thanks to Him. God’s favor and providence is on display. At times it’s hard to see what the LORD is doing behind the scenes in our lives. The Scriptures tell us; “to walk by faith and not by sight”. It’s not always easy, but we must take a leap of faith — knowing God has a perfect plan for our lives. Let’s not be idle while we are waiting, in due time we will reap a harvest. Let us be busy about our Father’s business.

The response of ruth

Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”

Ruth 2:21

Ruth told her mother what kindness Boaz had shown her, that she might take some occasion or another to acknowledge it and return him thanks; but she did not tell her how Boaz had commended her, v. 11. Humility teaches us, not only not to praise ourselves, but not to be forward to publish others’ praises of us. —Matthew Henry

Abide in Christ – stay close to him

And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not [a]meet you in any other field.” 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law. Ruth 2:22-23

In times of uncertainty, when the culture around us is threatened with fear and disillusionment. Lawlessness and deceptiveness are running rampant– let us keep our eyes on the LORD, gleaning from His foundational truth found in the Holy Bible. Staying in the field of our LORD and doing the work He has called us to do. Stay close to Jesus, stay in fellowship with other believers, praying fervently for lost loved ones, the nations, peace for Jerusalem, boldness to share the Gospel, for hearts to be soften to receive God’s truth, Matthew 9:35-38. The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Remeber his faithful promises

He gives hope to the hopeless. peace that surpasses all understanding. He is a shelter from the storm. Let’s seek Him and His wisdom.

Let’s live each day walking in His grace being filled with His knowledge. Jesus is wisdom.

be steadfast

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18

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