Jars Of Water

I had awakened to the sound of light rain and as I pondered on the different weather patterns, I heard myself singing the chorus of this hymn, written by D. W. Whittle.

“Showers of Blessing, Showers of blessing we need;

Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.”

Showers of blessing fall upon us in many different ways. The chorus acknowledges the drops of mercy we receive daily and we are most grateful and thankful for them in our dry and parched lives, but we know that there is more. We are pleading for showers now, for more than the drops. It’s like what happens in our dry season, when we have some light rains falling. The famers and others, are thankful for the little rains, but the earth is still dry and the plants are still thirsty. The farmers want rain showers, which will make a difference in the soil.

Ruth, the Moabitess, has planted her feet in the field of Boaz.  She has been given the privilege of entering and remaining in this place of Boaz. To enter and remain is good, for he has been merciful to her. However, Boaz goes on to not just give mercy drops, but give her showers of blessing. Here is our text of interest. 

Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls.  I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled. Ruth 2: 9.

Boaz speaks four words of advice to this foreigner, to whom he has given a space in his field.

There’s advice on where her focus should be. Watch the field where the men are harvesting. Ruth has opportunities for gleaning anywhere, but Boaz gives her focus as he invites her to keep her eyes fixed on the one field where his men are harvesting. 

There’s advice on whom she should follow. Follow along after the girls. I found this most interesting indeed.  When Boaz told Ruth to watch, to focus on the field where the men were harvesting, he never told her to follow the men. No!  Boaz told Ruth to follow behind the girls because her work in his field was to follow after the women.

There’s advice on her freedom to work un-harassed.  I have told the men not to touch you. Boaz has instructed his men not to chase her away, rebuke her, embarrass her or be unkind to her.  Instead, they are to help her, even make it easier for her to glean more. 

There’s advice on her filling. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled. We have been seeing the mercy drops as they have been faithfully falling upon Ruth, but it is here that we will pause and stand unsheltered in these falling showers. Our curious eyes of faith and heart of belief are looking upon the water jars, the filled water jars.

And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.

Water jars are available, visible and accessible in the eyes of all workers. In other words, this isn’t a worksite where water is something rare. Boaz has water jars on his property.

Water jars are not just present, but they are water jars which each contain water. Water jars are filled by men, not women, and this non-employee, this gleaner is told that she can drink from these water jars. I mean, to touch them is a big no, no, for a foreigner, yet Ruth is able to more than touch, she is able to have drinks of water from these water jars.

Water jars, sufficient for her needs. Anytime she gets thirsty, with no one watching her or breathing down her neck to ensure she keeps protocol, she is free to go and drink as much as she needs from the water jars.

At this juncture, we need to reason a bit more, as our Spiritual senses are sharpened and awakened by what is happening, around water jars on Boaz’s field.

When, because of the work she is doing, Ruth becomes thirsty, when she becomes ‘dry’ as it were, she has the filling supply of water put there by the men, who are not to touch her. Doesn’t this really grab you tight, the fact that she has filled water jars at her disposal, for whenever, yes whenever, she is in need of water? 

It depends not on the availability of water, just the demands of her thirst.  She does not have to search for water, or go and fill her own water jar or any such like. Does she ever have to find her own water? No! Never! Water is always provided and all she has to do when she has the need is to go and drink. Listen again to this. God has told you to come into His field and remain there. He has not left you to struggle and be all depressed and helpless in His service.  He has provided a Source of Living Water for you, which is always full and available to you, at any time you have the need.