by John O’Malley
“So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now” (Ruth 2:7).
Boaz’s servant had been explaining the events surrounding the arrival of Ruth to Boaz. When he came from Bethlehem-judah, Boaz found this woman that came to glean in his fields. However, it seems that since his arrival, she had gleaned much more than his harvest; she had gleaned his heart. Boaz was taken with Ruth’s presence in the field. The servant told Boaz about Ruth’s devotion, her desire, her determination, and her dedication concerning working in the harvest.
The first element of the phrase reads, “So she came.” Yes, Ruth was given access to the fields of Boaz. She could come and go in the fields that day with the authority of the servant. She did not have to sneak into the fields or operate in a covert manner. She had full access to Boaz’s fields.
Ruth was even given an area where she was to work for Boaz. She was to glean among the sheaves for Boaz. She had an area with which to concern herself. She did not have to look after another’s work, only her own.
Ruth had a specific activity to carry out for Boaz. Anything that was dropped, she was to pick up. Not a grain of barley was to be left in the field. Every grain was important to Boaz, so what was important to Boaz became important to her. Boaz’s assignment became her chief activity.
We must not look lightly upon the next phrase in verse seven, “And hath continued.” Ruth came early and stayed late to get the job finished for Boaz. Ruth knew that harvesting was daylight work. She had to be in her area, fulfilling her assignment for Boaz, in order to complete the harvest work. Ruth determined that she had come to Boaz’s fields to stay.
Have you come to stay in the fields of our Eternal Boaz? Have you determined to stay and complete your assignment? Have you decided that you are going to step back and let others take care of things? Did you get to the harvest field, see the workload, and then quit?
Harvesting souls, both locally and globally, is daylight work. The night is coming when no man can work. Make up your mind that you have come to our Eternal Boaz’s harvest to continue.