Ruth 2: 8-10 Then
Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in
another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Keep
your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I
have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to
the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then
she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why
have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me,
when I am a foreigner?”
Ruth was doing the right thing. As a young widow, she left her own country to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Israel and tried to start a new life. She
obeyed all that Naomi told her to do, and she worked hard. However,
when Boaz noticed Ruth and helped her to earn a livelihood, Ruth
responded by falling prostrate on the ground and asking, Why me? What have I done to deserve your favor? Not only Ruth, but other stories in the Bible demonstrate a similar way of receiving grace. In 2 Samuel 9, King David shows kindness to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, by providing him with a place to live and food to eat for the rest of his life. In verse 8 , Mephibosheth "did obeisance and said, 'What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?'" NRSV. In Luke 17:12-16 ten lepers begged Jesus to heal them, but only one returned to prostrate himself at Jesus feet and thank him. These examples show not only gratitude for grace, but also an undeserving attitude. Why me? Why would a great person look upon a lowly person with kindness and respect?
I needed this reminder today!!!!!
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