The reapers
have their service in connection with Ruth.
They pass before us in verses 4, 5-7, 9 and 21. They were the servants of Boaz and vividly
set before us the characteristics that should mark the servants of the Lord who
addict themselves to ministry for the help of the Lord’s people.
The first
necessity for every servant of the Lord is the presence of the Lord. So we find Boaz greeting his reapers with
the beautiful desire “The Lord be with you” (v.4). And in like spirit we read in the gospel day, “They went forth,
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them” (Mark 16:20).
Second, for
the service of Boaz to be effectually accomplished there must be subjection to
the servant set over the reapers. We
need not only the Lord with us but also the control of the Spirit, the Divine
Person that is prefigured by the nameless servant (v.5).
Third, the
reapers go before, and Ruth follows after, as she can say, ”Let me glean and
gather after the reapers.” Scripture recognizes that there are those among the
people of God who lead spiritually, who have spoken to us the Word of God and
whose faith we are told to follow. Such
we are to obey and to such submit, for they watch for our souls (Heb. 13:7, 17)
The servant
of Boaz, set over the reapers, also has his place in connection with the
progress of Ruth in Gleaning. He is
nameless and little seen and yet is behind all, on behalf of Boaz, controlling
every reaper in the fields of Boaz.
Furthermore, he brings Ruth into touch with Boaz, conversing with Boaz
about Ruth. The servant too is in
perfect accord with the mind of Boaz.
He acquaints Boaz with the truth, but utters no word to her
disparagement, and anticipates the mind of Boaz in encouraging Ruth to glean in
the fields of Boaz. Surely a striking
type of that great Person – the Holy Spirit _ who has come from the glorified
Christ in the name of Christ to represent the interests of Christ. One who does not speak of Himself, who is
unseen by the word, but who controls the servants of the Lord and, by His
gracious work in souls, brings into contact with Christ. He is One who has come to earth in the
interests of Christ, and who thinks and acts in perfect accord with the mind
and heart of the Father and the Son.