Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 2:12
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.
12. the Lord recompense ] Cf. Rth 1:8.
under whose wings refuge ] This beautiful idea is repeated in Psa 36:7; Psa 57:2; Psa 91:4; the figure is that of an eagle, Deu 32:11. May the God of Israel take care of the homeless stranger from a heathen country! The prayer was answered through the agency of him who uttered it a fine touch, as Bertholet points out.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The similarity of expression here to Gen 15:1, and in Rth 2:11 to Gen 12:1, makes it probable that Boaz had the case of Abraham in his mind.
The Lord God of Israel – Jehovah the God of Israel. Compare Jos 14:14, where, as here, the force of the addition, the God of Israel, lies in the person spoken of being a foreigner (see Jdg 11:21 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Rth 2:12
The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee.
Ruths reward; or, cheer for converts
I. what has the young convert done? We illustrate the subject by the instance of Ruth.
1. Many young converts deserve encouragement because they have left all their old associates. Ruth, no doubt, had many friends in her native country, but she tore herself away to cling to Naomi and her God.
2. Next, Ruth, having left her old companions, had come amongst strangers. She knew Naomi, but in the whole town of Bethlehem she knew no one else. She felt herself to be alone, though under the wings of Israels God. Boaz very properly felt that she should not think that courtesy and kindness had died out of Israel; and he made a point, though he was by far her superior in station, to go to her and speak a word of encouragement to her. Come, let us pluck up courage, and encourage every Ruth when she is timid among strangers. Let us help her to feel at home in Immanuels land.
3. The new convert is like Ruth in another respect: he is very lowly in his own eyes. Ruth had little self-esteem, and therefore she won the esteem of others. She felt herself to be a very inconsiderable person, to whom any kindness was a great favour; and so do young converts, if they are real and true.
4. Once more, the young convert is like Ruth because he has come to trust under the wings of Jehovah, the God of Israel. This is what our young converts have done: they have come, not to trust themselves, but to trust in Jesus. They have come to find a righteousness in Christ–aye, to find everything in Him.
II. what is the full reward of those who come to trust under the wings of God? I would answer that a full reward will come to us in that day when we lay down these bodies of flesh, that they may sleep in Jesus, while our unclothed spirits are absent from the body but present with the Lord. But there is a present reward, and to that Boaz referred. There is in this world a present recompense for the godly, notwithstanding the fact that many are the afflictions of the righteous. Even in losing the present life for Christs sake we are saving it, and self-denial and taking up the cross are but forms of blessedness. Do you ask me, How shall we be rewarded for trusting in the Lord?
1. I answer, first, by the deep peace of conscience which He will grant you. Can any reward be better than this? That, however, is only the beginning of the believers reward.
2. He that has come to trust in God shall be quiet from fear of evil. What a blessing that must be! He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
3. More than this: the man who trusts in God rests in Him with respect to all the supplies he now needs, or shall ever need.
4. Another part of the believers great gain lies in the consciousness that all things are working together for his good. Nothing is, after all, able to injure us. Neither pains of body, nor sufferings of mind, nor losses in business, nor cruel blows of death, can work us real ill. Is not this a reward for which a man may well forego the flatteries of sin?
5. Then, let me tell you, they that trust in God and follow Him have another full reward, and that is, the bliss of doing good. Can any happiness excel this?
6. Many other items make up the full of the reward; but perhaps the chief of all is communion with God.
III. what figure sets forth this full reward? I do not think that Boaz knew the full meaning of what he said. He could not foresee all that was appointed of the Lord. In the light of Ruths history we will read the good mans blessing. This poor stranger, Ruth, in coming to put her trust in the God of Israel, was giving up everything; yes, but she was also gaining everything. Ah! when you come to trust in Christ, you find in the Lord Jesus Christ one who is next of kin to you, who redeems your heritage, and unites you to Himself. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Gods reward
A military gentleman once said to an excellent old minister in the North of Scotland, who was becoming infirm, Why, if I had power over the pension list, I would have you put on half-pay for your long and faithful services. He replied, Ah, my friend, your master may put you off with half-pay, but my Master will not serve me so meanly–He will give me full-pay. Through grace I expect a full reward.
Under whose wings thou art come to trust.
The wings of God
1. They were swift wings under which Ruth had come to trust. There is nothing in all the handiwork of God more curious than a birds wing. You have been surprised sometimes to see how far a bird can fly with one stroke of the wings; and, when it has food in prospect, or when it is affrighted, the pulsations of the birds wings are unimaginable for velocity. The English lords used to pride themselves on the speed of their falcons. These birds, when trained, had in them the dart of the lightning. How swift were the carrier-pigeons in the time of Anthony and at the siege of Jerusalem! Wonderful speed! A carrier-pigeon was thrown up at Rouen and came down at Ghent–ninety miles off in one hour. The carrier-pigeons were the telegraphs of the olden time. Swallows have been shot in our latitude having the undigested rice of Georgia swamps in their crops, showing that they had come four hundred miles in six hours. It has been estimated that, in the ten years of a swallows life, it flies far enough to have gone round the world eighty-nine times, so great is its velocity. And so the wings of the Almighty, spoken of in the text, are swift wings. They are swift when they drop upon the foe, and swift when they come to help Gods friends.
2. The wings under which Ruth had come to trust were very broad wings. There have been eagles shot on the Rocky Mountains with wings that were seven feet from tip to tip. When the king of the air sits on the crag the wings are spread over all the eaglets in the eyrie, and when the eagle starts from the rock the shadow is like the spreading of a storm cloud. So the wings of God are broad wings. They cover up all our wants, all our sorrows, all our sufferings. He puts one wing over our cradle, and He puts the other over our grave. Yes, it is not a desert in which we are placed; it is a nest. Sometimes it is a very hard nest, like that of the eagle, spread on the rock, with ragged moss and rough sticks, but still it is a nest; and, although it may be very hard under us, over us are the wings of the Almighty.
3. The wings under which Ruth came to trust were strong wings. The strength of a birds wing–of a sea-fowls wing, for example–you might guess from the fact that sometimes for five, six, or seven days it seems to fly without resting. There have been condors in the Andes that could overcome an ox or a stag. There have been eagles that have picked up children and swung them to the top of the cliffs. The flap of an eagles wing has death in it. There are birds whose wings are packed with strength to fly, to lift, to destroy. So the wings of God are strong wings. Mighty to save. Mighty to destroy.
4. The wings under which Ruth had come to trust were gentle wings. There is nothing softer than a feather. You have noticed when a bird returns from flight how gently it stoops over the nest. The young birds are not afraid of having their lives trampled out by the mother-bird; the old whip-poor-will drops into its nest of leaves, the oriole into its casket of bark, the humming-bird into its hammock of moss, gentle as the light. And so, says the psalmist, He shall cover thee with His wing. Oh, the gentleness of God! But even that figure does not fully set it forth; for I have sometimes looked into the birds nest and seen a dead bird, its life having been trampled out by the mother-bird. But no one that ever came under the feathers of the Almighty was trodden on. Blessed nest! warm nest! Why will men stay out in the cold to be shot of temptation and to be chilled by the blast, when there is this Divine shelter? (T. De Witt Talmage.)
Jehovahs wings
Some have imagined the reference to be to a hen, beneath whose wings her little birds flee for shelter and warmth, according to one memorable and touching comparison used by our Lord (Luk 13:34). It has been suggested by others that the allusion is to the mercyseat in the holy of holies in the ancient tabernacle, over which the wings of the cherubim stretched from the one extremity to the other, and above which the Divine glory shone with benignant radiance. Nothing could be more sublimely descriptive of dedication to the service of the true God–committing oneself to Him for providential protection and salvation, and seeking the loving fellowship of His Church–than coming to trust beneath Jehovahs wings. (A. Thomson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. The Lord recompense thy work] The dutiful respect which thou hast paid to thy husband, and thy tender and affectionate attachment to thy aged mother-in-law.
And a full reward be given thee] This is spoken with great modesty and piety: The kindness I show thee is little in comparison of thy desert; God alone can give thee a full reward for thy kindness to thy husband and mother-in-law, and he will do it, because thou art come to trust under his wings-to become a proselyte to his religion. The metaphor is taken from the young of fowls, who, seeing a bird of prey, run to their mother to be covered by her wings from danger, and also to take shelter from storms, tempests, cold, &c. It is evident from this that Ruth had already attached herself to the Jewish religion.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wings, i.e. protection and care, as Deu 32:11; Psa 17:8; 36:7; 91:4. An allusion either to hens, which protect and cherish their young ones under their wings; or to the wings of the cherubims, between which God dwelt.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The Lord recompence thy work,…. The Targum adds, in this world; meaning the kind offices she had performed, and the good service she had done to her mother-in-law; nor is God unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love, which is shown by children to their parents; and though such works are not in themselves meritorious of any blessing from God here or hereafter, yet he is pleased of his own grace to recompence them, and return the good into their bosom manifold, it being acceptable in his sight:
and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel; the Targum adds, in the world to come; which is called the reward of the inheritance, Col 3:24 a reward not of debt, but of grace; and that will be a full one indeed, fulness of joy, peace, and happiness, an abundance of good things not to be conceived of, see 2Jo 1:8,
under whose wings thou art come to trust; whom she professed to be her God, and whom she determined to serve and worship; whose grace and favour she expected, and to whose care and protection she committed herself: the allusion is either to fowls, which cover their young with their wings, and thereby keep them warm and comfortable, and shelter and protect them, see Ps 36:7 or to the wings of the cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat, Ex 25:20 and the phrase is now adopted by the Jews to express proselytism; and so the Targum here,
“thou art come to be proselyted, and to be hid under the wings of the Shechinah of his glory,”
or his glorious Shechinah.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) Boaz prays that God will recompense Ruths dutifulness to her mother-in-law, and the more seeing that she herself has put herself under His protection. Faith in Divine help and grace will win an undoubted recompense.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Under whose wings thou art come to trust Jehovah in his care for his people is represented as an eagle fluttering over her young, and spreading abroad her wings over them. Compare Deu 32:11; Psa 57:1; Psa 91:4. Boaz here speaks as the true Israelite, and recognises in Ruth the Moabitess a proselyte who has come to be incorporated with Jehovah’s chosen people.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ YHWH recompense your work, and a full reward be given you by YHWH, the God of Israel, under whose wings you are come to take refuge.”
Boaz’s godliness comes out in his wish for Ruth, that she be recompensed by YHWH, the God of Israel, and given the full reward that she deserved. In view of his age he was probably unaware at this moment that he would prove the answer to his own prayer.
Especially important in the narrative are his words concerning the fact that she had come ‘to take refuge under the wings of YHWH’. This would suggest that he was aware of her piety and genuine love for YHWH. To take refuge under the wings of YHWH indicated a commitment to the covenant. But what is even more important is that it was making clear to the reader or listener that her faith in YHWH was true and genuine. She was a genuine proselyte and as such one of the children of Israel by adoption (Exo 12:48). What follows in the story would not have happened had it been otherwise. While her race would not matter (it was deemed more important with males), especially because she had married an Israelite, her attitude towards YHWH and His covenant would matte. It is this continued emphasis that indicates that part of the reason for the account was in order to indicate to would be proselytes that they could be totally accepted into Israel. This was especially important at the time of David’s greatness when many foreigners would have been considering the claims of YHWH.
This figurative expression is derived from Deu 32:11, and we can compare Psa 91:4; Psa 36:7; Psa 57:1. It was a classic description of someone who was genuinely true to the covenant and therefore under the protection of YHWH.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rth 2:12 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.
Ver. 12. The Lord recompense thy work. ] Though Ruth lacked the world’s wealth, yet she lacked not good works, such as God regarded and rewarded too. Many Papists, and some as silly, have shrunk up good works to a hand-breadth, to giving of alms. Ruth had no alms to give, and yet her work was with the Lord, who heard this good man’s prayer for her, and gave her a full reward, yet not of merit, but of free grace and fatherly love, as a father rewardeth his son that serveth him.
And a full reward be given thee.
Under whose wings thou art come to trust.
a Vatab.
b Luther.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
work . . . reward . . . trust. Note the order of these three words for a spiritual application.
wings. By Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6) attributed to Jehovah; denoting His tender care.
trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Chapter 11
Ruths Reward
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.
Rth 2:12
The Book of Ruth is full of instruction to the believing heart. It sets before us the romance of redemption and beautifully portrays the grace of God toward fallen, depraved sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ, our Boaz, our Kinsman Redeemer. There are several lessons which are continually brought before us as we go through this brief, instructive book of inspiration.
THE DANGER OF WORLDLINESS
The Book of Ruth opens with a sad, sad picture. Elimelech, a wealthy man, took his money and his family and fled from Bethlehem down to Moab when famine struck the land of Bethlehem-Judah. When he died, he left his family, without a trace of good influence, in the idolatrous land of Moab.
Perhaps Elimelech was a believer. We are not told. His parents apparently were, for in the days when there was no king in Israel and every man did that which was right in his own eyes, Elimelechs parents named him Elimelech, which means – My God is King. But Elimelech did not live up to his name. He fled when he should have been faithful. He left the people of God, the Word of God, and the worship of God for the sake of temporal, earthly interests (Mat 13:22; Luk 12:15).
Let no believer settle in any place where he would not want to leave his family without his influence. I am sure he had no intention of doing so; but Elimelech died in Moab. There he left his family to fend for themselves among pagans, far away from the people of God, the worship of God, and the influence of the congregation of the Lord. Some things are more important than financial security. Read and learn what our Lord teaches us about the love of this world (Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-17).
THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE
The Book of Ruth illustrates the fact that all things are of God (2Co 5:18). For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory forever! (Rom 11:36). God overruled Elimelechs failure to fetch Ruth out of Moab, because he had chosen Ruth both to be an heir of grace and to be in the genealogy of Christ. When Naomi came back to Bethlehem, she was full of bitterness. Yet, within a few weeks she was called the happiest of women (Rth 4:14-15).
We read that Ruths hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz. As far as she was concerned, it was altogether accidental. But as one of the many links in the chain of Gods purpose, it was ordained and brought to pass by God. What God does in this world he does on purpose (Eph 1:11; Rom 11:28). And the purpose of God in all things providential is twofold: (1.) The glory of Christ (Col 1:18) and (2.) The saving of his people (Rom 8:28-29).
THE WONDERS OF REDEMPTION
The primary subject of this little book is redemption, redemption by a near kinsman (Rth 2:1). As we have seen, Boaz was a picture of Christ in many ways. He was a mighty man (Heb 7:25), a wealthy man (Eph 3:8), and a near kinsman (Heb 2:9-18). Two things were required in the law of Moses for the express purpose of foreshadowing our redemption by Christ: (1.) The nearest kinsman had the right to redeem the inheritance his brother had lost (Lev 25:25). (2.) The kinsman was to marry the widow of his brother to preserve alive the seed of Israel (Deu 25:5-10). Boaz did both (Rth 4:9-10). So did the Lord Jesus Christ as our near kinsman. He who is our Redeemer is also our Husband.
THE SUPER-ABOUNDING GRACE OF GOD
Redemption and grace always go hand in hand. Wherever you find one, you find the other. As with Boaz, those who are redeemed by Christ shall be wed to Christ. All whom he redeemed, he saves. All whom he redeemed, he forgives. All whom he redeemed, he blesses with all the exceeding riches of his abundant grace. The Book of Ruth is a book about grace, the super-abounding grace of God. It shows us a beautiful illustration of Gods prevenient grace, by which he prepares the way for his saving grace. Ruths redemption by and marriage to Boaz portrays our Lords undeserved grace to us. Ruth was a Moabite, the cursed child of a cursed race. Yet, Boaz loved her, redeemed her, and married her. That is a picture of grace, the free, unmerited grace of God to sinners in Christ.
Rth 2:12 sets before us a picture of the superabundance of Gods grace to us. As Boaz invoked upon Ruth a full reward from God for what she had done, so the Lord Jesus Christ invokes upon every believer a full reward from the Lord God.
A WORK OF FAITH
The first thing seen in this twelfth verse is Ruths work of faith. Boaz said to her, 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.
We understand that faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8). Faith is wrought in us by the exceeding greatness of Gods almighty power in saving grace (Eph 1:19). Faith is the work of the operation of God in our hearts (Col 2:12). If I believe God, it is because of his grace. Yet, faith, being produced in us by the power of God the Holy Spirit, is not a passive experience. Faith is a living principle, a grace that works (Gal 5:6). Faith does something (Jas 2:14-26). And God will not forget your work of faith and labor of love (1Th 1:3; Heb 6:10).
Remember, as you read the Book of Ruth, Ruth represents us, sinners saved by grace, Gods elect, all who are converted by the power and grace of God. This woman had come to trust God. Naomi had taught both Ruth and Orpah the things of God. No doubt, Orpah believed Naomis words and was prepared to go with her to Bethlehem, until she realized what it would cost her. When she realized that, she went back to Moab. She believed Naomi; but she did not trust the Lord. But Ruth had come to trust the Lord God of Israel himself. She believed God. She had come to trust under his wings.
The metaphor used by Boaz to describe Ruths faith refers either to the wings of the cherubim overshadowing the mercy-seat; or to the wings of a mother hen. In either case, it speaks of a place of great strength, complete safety, personal care, and great comfort. Christ is that hiding place for sinners. In him, we take refuge under the wings of the Almighty.
Because she believed God, Ruth did what Orpah could not do (Rth 2:11). She forsook her own relations. She abandoned all earthly comfort and benefit. She resolved to worship and serve the Lord God of Israel, whom she had learned to trust through Naomis faithful witness. She had come to trust the covenant keeping God, of whom her mother-in-law gave faithful witness, who is faithful and true, sovereign and omnipotent, merciful and gracious. Ruth learned to worship and trust the Lord God by Naomis witness. Naomi told Ruth who God is, what he had done, and where he was to be found. And Ruth believed. She believed Naomis word; but more, she trusted Naomis God.
The Reward Of Grace
As this text speaks of a work of faith, it also speaks of the great reward of Gods great grace. 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. Here is the super-abundance of Gods grace. He rewards our works of faith (faith which he has given) with the full reward of grace (1Sa 2:30). This is beautifully demonstrated in Ruth.
She found what she never expected or looked for – a husband. She who was barren, bare a son through whom untold millions have been born of God, for her son was the man through whom the human lineage of Christ was directly traced. Like Ruth, we have found in Christ more than a Redeemer and a Savior. We have found in him a husband (Eph 5:25-30).
Being married to Boaz, Ruth obtained an inheritance to which she had no natural claim. Even so, in Christ, Gods elect have obtained an inheritance to which we have no natural claim. Our reward from God is a heritage of grace given to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord God gives chosen sinners free forgiveness of all sin (Isa 43:25). He gives every believer the blessedness of a peaceful conscience (Heb 9:12-14), quietness from fear of evil (Pro 1:33), the blessed assurance of all good (Psalms 23; Rom 8:32), the confidence of merciful, divinely ordered providence (Rom 8:28), communion with himself and all the fulness of eternal glory (Rom 8:17). In the last day, our God shall grant us the full reward of grace which is the fulness of heavenly glory. The Lord will give grace and glory!
Yes, God will reward his own elect, like all others, according to their works, in strict accordance with absolute justice. He will reward us for the perfect righteousness of Christ. Just as he rewarded our Substitute in strict justice for our sins which were imputed to him, so he will reward every believing sinner in strict justice with heavenly glory, because of the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed to us (2Co 5:21; Rev 20:12-15; Rev 21:27; Rev 22:14).
Gods saints will possess all the fulness of heavenly glory, because in Christ they are worthy of it (Col 1:12; Col 3:23-24). Are you worthy of heaven? If you are in Christ you are. As Boaz invoked a full reward for Ruth, the Lord Jesus Christ has earned and purchased a full reward for his people; and he gives it to all who trust him (Joh 17:5; Joh 17:22; Rom 6:23).
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
trust
(See Scofield “Psa 2:12”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
recompense: 1Sa 24:19, Psa 19:11, Psa 58:11, Pro 11:18, Pro 23:18, *marg. Mat 5:12, Mat 6:1, Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Luk 6:35, Luk 14:12-14, Col 2:18, 2Ti 1:18, 2Ti 4:8, Heb 6:10, Heb 11:6, Heb 11:26
wings: Rth 1:16, Psa 17:8, Psa 36:7, Psa 57:1, Psa 61:4, Psa 63:7, Psa 91:4, Mat 23:37
Reciprocal: Gen 15:1 – and thy Deu 6:7 – shalt talk 1Sa 2:20 – blessed 2Sa 9:7 – for I will 2Sa 21:11 – told David 2Ch 6:32 – the stranger 2Ch 15:7 – your work Psa 18:24 – the Lord recompensed me Ecc 4:9 – a good Son 6:1 – that Isa 18:1 – shadowing Jer 31:16 – for Mal 4:2 – wings Luk 13:34 – as Col 3:24 – ye shall 1Ti 5:5 – trusteth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rth 2:12. The Lord recompense thy work, &c. Thy dutiful kindness to thy mother-in-law, and thy leaving thy country and kindred, and all things, to embrace the true religion. This implied such a work of divine grace wrought in her, and such a work of righteousness wrought by her, as was sure to be crowned with a full reward. Under whose wings thou art come to trust That is, under whose protection and care. An allusion, either to hens, which protect and cherish their young ones under their wings; or to the wings of the cherubim, between which God dwelt.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose {e} wings thou art come to trust.
(e) Signifying, that she would never lack anything, if she put her trust in God, and lived under his protection.