Boaz and Ruth’s conversation is filled with prophetic references to Israel’s future restoration. The people will meet their Redeemer, and He will speak to them. Currently, the Jewish people still have a veil over the Tanakh (2 Cor. 3:14), but then the veil will be removed (2 Cor. 3:16), and they will read the Scriptures and find grace.
Ruth 2
14 At mealtime, Boaz said, “Come near, and eat some of the bread, and dip your bread in vinegar.” So she sat beside the harvest workers, and he gave her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied, and she had some left over.
Community
Ruth is invited to the meal by Boaz, a picture of community (Isaiah 25:6; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17). At Boaz’s table are bread and roasted grain, a picture of the word of God (Matthew 4:4) and of Christ (John 6:35).
Vinegar
At first glance, it seems somewhat strange that they dip the bread in vinegar. We would rather expect Boaz to give Ruth bread and wine. Vinegar is sour and in the Bible has the meaning of suffering, bitterness, and humiliation.
When Israel meets her resurrected Messiah in the future (>in Him is strength), they will recognize that He is the one who bore their sorrows and walked in humiliation for their sake (Isaiah 53). They will see the One they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10) and share in His suffering, death, and resurrection.
From suffering to glory
One of the words translated as wine in the Old Testament is chamar (H2562), which is closely related to the word translated here as vinegar (chomets, H2558). Vinegar speaks of suffering, and wine of new life and glory.
Luke 24
26 Didn’t Christ have to suffer these things to enter into his glory?
Satisfaction
Ruth eats until she is satisfied. We previously referred to Isaiah 53. Here too, a parallel can be found with this passage, for it is said of the Messiah:
Isaiah 53
10 (…) the desire of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11 He will see the travail of His soul, and He will be satisfied…
Abundance
After Ruth has eaten and is satisfied, there is leftover. In Matthew 15:29-39 and Mark 8:1-9, we find the story of the miraculous feeding of the four thousand. There, the Lord feeds the multitude with seven loaves of bread, and after everyone has eaten and is satisfied (Matt. 15:37; Mark 8:8), seven baskets of bread remain.
In the future, when the great Sabbath arrives, the seventh day of a thousand years, Israel will be restored and come to fullness (Rom. 11:12). But not only Israel, but also the whole world will receive life and abundance through them!