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.] Fiat merces tua solida. a It was so when she became his wife, which he little thought of, when he thus heartily prayed for her, but especially when she came to heaven; whither that proud merit monger never came who said, Caelum gratis non accipiam, If I may not earn heaven, I will never have it of free gift. Let us "look to ourselves that we lose not the things that we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." 2Jn 1:8
Under whose wings thou art come to trust.] A metaphor usual in Scripture, from young birds hovering and covering under the dam's wings. Ruth "coming to God, believed that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6 Fides est quae te pullastram, Christum gallinam facit, ut sub pennis eius speres; nam salus in pennis eius. b
a Vatab.
b Luther.