It is the Young Moabite Woman

“She came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.” V. 6. The servant who was in charge of the reapers had already made inquiries as to her circumstances. As far as that goes, every good servant of the Lord does that when he sees a poor and hungry soul searching for bread. He told Boaz that she had returned from the land of Moab together with Naomi. By revealing this, he showed a genuine servant’s faithfulness, for he did not take the honor for himself for having brought her. He said quite frankly that she belonged to Naomi. However, she had turned to him to receive something to eat; therefore he felt responsible for her. He was like the good shepherd in the church who knows each individual by name and knows his inner life, so that he can also give account for it.

Oh, the many little, hungry souls in today’s churches who are far away from shepherds and their care! Quite often these shepherds are not even aware that these little ones have come into God’s field. Their names and their lives are unknown to them, and as a result they don’t receive any guidance. This servant who was in charge of Boaz’s reapers was awake, pure, and keen in his spirit, well worth setting up as an example for today’s shepherds. He knew where Ruth came from, who had led her, and what she had purposed to do as soon as she had arrived in the field.

Just as Boaz required an accounting of the servant who was in charge of the reapers for the lowly Ruth, so God requires an accounting from the shepherds for each single soul that comes into his field.