Ruth Welcome to Ruth We are so excited that you have picked up this study guide to the book of Ruth. We encourage you to spend time each day diving into the story and themes present in the story of Ruth.
Getting the most out of the study: • Grab a few friends and form a group, or join an existing group. • Find a good Study Bible. It will help give insight into cultural and theological backgrounds. • Read through the book once a week. It’s a short book and will take about 20 minutes. • After you have read through the story at least once, watch the video of Ruth from the Bible Project. This will give you a good overview of the characters and themes in the story. • https://bibleproject.com/videos/ruth/ • Each day, Monday - Friday, choose a rhythm to complete.
Weekly Rhythms :
Explore: Get a wider picture of God working behind the scenes of the story.
Study: Dive into scripture. Take a refreshing swim with a few passages and let God’s word soak in.
Apply: Take what you have learned and put it into practice. Take action steps toward understanding God, yourself, and others.
Reflect: Take time to reflect on your week. Look to discover where God is active in your life this week.
Share: Sitting across the table with a friend, talk about what God is teaching you through your studies. INTRODUCTION TO RUTH
The book of Ruth is an incredible masterpiece of storytelling. It’s a story (1), within a story (2), within a story(3).
Story 1 is the story of Naomi, a widowed woman living in a foreign country. She begins the story being emptied of everything of value, yet ends the story being filled with joy, reflecting her value. I am amazed the book is not titled, Naomi.
Story 2 is the story of Ruth, a Moabite widow who demonstrates incredible loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law. This is a story of a restricted foreigner being weaved into the people of God. Ruth’s kindness and loyalty is the picture of God’s loyalty to his people. Stop and ponder the craziness of a foreign woman having her name used as the title. What does this say about God?
Story 3 is the overarching story of God working behind the scenes to bring about the redemption of the world. It’s the story of God working through ordinary events to highlight his loyalty, kindness, and grace.
The very first line in the story provides both the setting and the tension within the story. “In the days when the Judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.” This verse places the book of Ruth early in the Story of God (3). It’s the time of Judges. It also signals that something is off—there is a famine.
In the book of Judges there is a leadership crisis in the land. There is an often-repeated line throughout the book of Judges, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” This line initiates the start of a repeated cycle:
The last few stories in the book of Judges are messed up. It shows how far the people living in the Promise Land have strayed, and the social chaos that ensues. The book of Judges ends with the line, “Israel had no king, and everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 17:6 and 21:25)
The leadership crisis was not the only issue. The land was experiencing a famine and it prompted a man named Elimelech to move his family away from God’s promised land and settle in the land of Moab. There are three quick things to see here.
First, Famine in the land of Israel was an indication something was wrong. God had promised, if you obey the covenant, he will bless the crops. If you neglect the covenant, the crops will fail. Deut. 28.
Second, Elimelech’s name means, “God is king” and he was living in a time when “Israel had no king”. (Yes, the writer is crafty --pulling together words and phrases that have deeper meaning. Be on the lookout for dual meanings and repeated words.)
Third, the land of Moab has multiple meanings. Moab has a stormy past with Israel, politically and socially, but Israel spent important time encamped on the plains of Moab. Deut. 29:1
Things We Know About Moab
Genesis • Moabites are the descendants of Lot and his eldest 19:30-36 daughter.
Judges 11:17 • Israel sent a message to Moab asking permission to travel through the land on the way to the Promise Land. Moab refused entrance.
Numbers 23-25 • Balak, king of Moab, hires Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Numbers 25 • Moabite women seduce Israelite men into worshiping foreign gods. A plague kills 24,000 as a result.
Deuteronomy • Moses dies and is buried in Moab. 34:4-5
Deuteronomy • All of Deuteronomy takes place in Moab. It is in Moab 29:1 that Israel renews the covenant.
Judges 3:14 • Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord and become subjects of Eglon, King of Moab, for 18 years. Familiar Setting
The last few months in America, we have experienced political and social upheavals. We see rioting and social unrest. We divide ourselves up into red and blue factions. We get our sources of truth from different news stations. It appears as if everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.
In the midst of the political and social crisis of Judges, God inserts the book of Ruth. The story highlights the fact that God has not given up on those who were in a covenant relationship with him. Much like Jesus using the story of the Good Samaritan to shock the listeners (the Jews in the New Testament looked down on the Samaritans). God uses Ruth the Moabite as a symbol of loyalty. The Israelites, God’s covenant people, were not living up to the covenant. However, Ruth, the foreigner, displays amazing loyalty.
One last thing to set the stage for the book of Ruth. It is important to know a little background information about the covenant made in the book of Deuteronomy. Ruth makes an important allusion to Deuteronomy 28 - 30.
During the time of the Judges, Israel was dropping the ball on their end of the covenant. They were failing so bad that famine entered the land and Israelites like Elimelech were leaving the promised land. In Deuteronomy 28-30, God told the Israelites that this would happen. He also promised that after they left, he would still restore them and return them to the land (30:3). On top of all that, He would also make them flourish once back in the land (30:9). It is interesting that the location where the people made this covenant was in Moab—the place where Ruth is from and where the story begins.
Weekly Focus: Return: God is in the process of bringing us back to him. Favor: We have been presented an amazing gift of grace. Kindness: God continues to show kindness in dark times. Refuge: God gathers us under his wings and protects us. Redeem: God is redeeming the whole, one person at a time. Week 1 Return
EXPLORE
Read Ruth 1.
Verses 1-5 give us the setting for the story. What is happening to the family?
In the midst of the terrible circumstances, how does Ruth shine? What does Ruth sacrifice to show her love for Naomi?
How is God showing kindness and love to Naomi through Ruth in this chapter, even when Naomi thinks the opposite of God?
Names in the story have important meaning: Elimelech means God is king. Naomi means pleasant. Mahlon means weakling. Ruth means refreshing. Kilion means frail. Mara means bitter.
Why is Naomi changing her name? Where do you see glimpses of hope in the story?
STUDY Good news; Bad, Bad, Bad news. When someone says “I have good news and bad news, which do you want first,” how do you respond? What if they say, “I have good news and bad, bad, bad news?” That seems to be what is written in Deut. 28. There are 14 verses of blessing for those who obey the covenant, and then 54 verses of curses for those who do not obey. In my Bible there is a column of blessings and 3 1/2 columns of curses.
Read Deuteronomy 28. Why do you think there is 3 1/2 more curses than blessings? What hits you after reading this chapter?
Once you read the curses, you can see how Naomi might have thought she was cursed by God. Everything she did fell apart. It might be the reason she wanted to change her name from “pleasant” to “bitter”. Have you ever felt like this? How did God bring about hope in your situation?
Blessing Curses Curses APPLY As you read through Ruth 1, there is an often repeated word or idea: return. The .shub), to return- go back, appears 12 times in verse 6-22) שוב Hebrew word This same concentration is found in Deut. 30:1-10. 7 times in 10 verses.
Read Deuteronomy 30:1-10. It’s interesting that chapter 30 even exists. God lays out the covenant and tells the Israelites what will happen if they obey or disobey (ch 28), then comes (ch 30) which tells us, he already knows they will disobey.
How does this chapter show God’s love and kindness towards us? What promises does God offer in this chapter?
Read Acts 3:1-19 Take time to turn your attention שוב and your direction back to God. Pray REFLECT Read Hosea 14. Returning to the Lord will bring growth and fruitfulness; an idea incapsulated in the word-“flourish”. What does it mean for you to flourish?
What does it look like to flourish where you are? Notice how Israel’s growth leads to blessing others. (v7)
How can you use your flourishing to benefit others?
SHARE WITH GROUP 1. If you could choose your own nick-name, what would you want to be called? 2. Who does Naomi blame for her circumstances? Have you ever been in a situation when God felt very distant? What was the cause for the distance? What brought you back? 3. Did you learn anything surprising from your study this week? Please share. 4. God uses Ruth to show his presence in Naomi’s life. How can you and your group be the instrument of God to show his love and kindness to one another? Week 2 Favor
EXPLORE
Read Ruth 2:1-13.
God as a character in the story of Ruth appears to be absent; He doesn’t show up and we don’t hear his voice. However, God’s name is on the lips of the people. We catch a glimpse of his working at the beginning and end of the story. In (1:6) God is credited for coming to the aid of the people by supplying food. In (4:13) he enables Ruth to get pregnant.
In the OT we become accustomed to God’s big actions: parting the Red Sea, sending the plagues, providing water from a rock, traveling in a pillar of fire. In the book of Ruth, we encounter God working behind the scenes.
In chapter 2 there are a few interesting comments by the narrator and Naomi. First, the narrator introduces the reader to Boaz, before he is on the scene. Then, he inserts, “As is turned out” (2:3), and “just then”(2:4) to indicate that it wasn’t an accident Ruth met Boaz. Naomi’s comment, “He has not stopped showing his kindness” (2:20), also indicates God’s behind the scenes work.
Boaz is introduced in this section as a worthy man, what are his actions that back up that statement? List everything Boaz does to show kindness to Ruth and Naomi.
STUDY
God’s guidelines to provide for others. Read Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22.
What do you make of the gleaning laws? The gleaning laws were given to provide for the poor and the foreigner. As you read through Ruth 2, make a list of all the ways Ruth and Naomi are being protected and provided for.
Boaz goes above and beyond the gleaning laws of Leviticus. In what areas do you think you should go beyond the minimum required to help others? When have you succeeded? When have you failed? APPLY As you read through Ruth 2:1-13, there are three speeches given by Ruth in which she uses the phrase “find favor” (2:2, 10, 12). It comes for the Hebrew .Khen). This word has multiple meanings: favor, beauty, grace, and gift) חֵן word In verse 10, Ruth is startled to experience such favor. She uses a pun on the word foreigner to express her amazement. How have you noticed one usually unnoticed?
Who are the people that go unnoticed in our world? How can we turn our eyes and our favor toward them? What is one thing we can do this week to let others know we see them and they are valuable in our sight?
Watch the Rightnow Video: Character of God: Grace This 5 minutes video can also be seen at https://bibleproject.com/videos/character-of-god-grace/
Read Exodus 33:12-34:9. חֵן Read Ephesians 2:1-10
REFLECT Read Isaiah 61. Jesus uses this passage to describe his work and ministry. As disciples, we are to carry on this kingdom work. Reflect on the passage’s language of planting, growth, and seeds- sprouting.
What are we doing to grow justice and righteousness? What is a good next step in the process? Who did you notice this week?
SHARE WITH GROUP 1. Share with the group a time when you felt unnoticed. How did you react? 2. In this section Boaz provides for both Ruth and Naomi. In what ways have you seen God use others to provide for you? How has he used you to provide for others? 3. What did you learn from this week’s study? 4. Share with the group a time when you thought/ felt like God was working behind the scenes to provide, protect, or grab your attention. Week 3 Kindness
EXPLORE
Read Ruth 2:14-23
This week’s study focuses on the word, “kindness,” used three times in our story. First, Naomi blesses her daughters-in-law, “May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown me kindness”(1:8). Second, it appears in Naomi’s remarks in (2:20), “He has not stopped showing his kindness.” This comment may be directed at Boaz’s kindness, but it is also the LORD’s kindness shown through Boaz. Third, it is prominent in the startled reply Boaz makes to Ruth in (3:10), “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier”.
This idea of kindness is one of the main focal points of the story of Ruth. Just as Ruth and Boaz have shown kindness to Naomi, God is still ready to show kindness to the people of Israel— his covenant people. This is .חֶסֶד (The word translated “kindness” is the Hebrew word, (hesed a hard word to translate. Most of the time it is translated into English as “love”. However, when we read “love”, most of us think of emotions. We get the idea that God’s love is his warm thoughts of us. This is not the idea conveyed in hesed.
Read Exodus 34:6-7. Hesed is connected to the character of God. When God chooses to Faith- describe himself, twice he uses the fullness Long- Loyalty word hesed to give Moses a clear suffering picture of his nature. It’s the idea of loyalty to the covenant. Often writers use “steadfast love” as a Hesed Kindness Covenant way to convey the thought. Keeping
Rightnow Media has a great video Tender- explaining God’s name. Truth Watch Character of God: Ex. 34:6-7 Mercies It’s 5 min. APPLY
Read Psalm 103. Spend time meditating on God’s kindness. Write out your praises to God for his kindness. חֶסֶד
REFLECT
Watch the video of the song, Steadfast by Sandra McCracken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKlrXbvlnY0
What images come to mind when you hear the word, “steadfast”?
Read Micah 6:1-8 and Galatians 5:13-25 Hesed could also be translated love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
SHARE WITH GROUP 1. When have you experienced the loyalty of a friend that caught you off guard? 2. Does Boaz going above and beyond the gleaning laws challenge you to do more for those in need? How did you show kindness to others this week? When did you miss a chance? 3. What did you learn from your study this week? 4. Do you think kindness in society is on the rise, on the decline, or about the same? What do you see as the cause of the change? 5. Give one specific way you can model God’s kindness/loyalty/love this week. Week 4 Refuge
EXPLORE
Read Ruth 3. There are two types of people. Those that plan out every detail of the day, and those that fly by the seat of their pants. Chapter 3 is all about the plan. Naomi and Ruth devise a risky plan. They are betting on the character of Boaz and relying on the marriage laws in Deuteronomy 25. Naomi and Ruth have a plan, but Ruth goes a little off script and makes a word play based on something Boaz had said to her.
In Chapter 2, Boaz speaks a blessing onto Ruth, “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge”(12). In Chapter 3, Ruth uses this word play to propose to Boaz. Verse 9, “Spread the corner of your garment over me.” (see Ezekiel 16:8).
The words “corner” and “wing” have the same root. Ruth is saying, “Yes Boaz, I have taken refuge under God’s wings, and you are a part of that refuge, spread your protection over me.”
People often wonder how much they should do to make something happen and how much they should let God do. How does Ruth 3 give us insight into answering this question?
STUDY
Read Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
God set up the gleaning laws as a plan to help protect the poor, widows, and foreigners. Likewise, the laws in Ch. 25 are a plan designed to help protect the widow from being taken advantage of. God’s laws are a set of protection and refuge. How have you experienced God’s laws as protection and refuge? APPLY
Read Exodus 19:1-6. Read Luke 13:31-35.
What does a modern day refuge look like? How have you taken refuge under God’s wings?
REFLECT Read Psalm 57. Can you relate to the writer of this Psalm? When have you cried out to God for help and hidden under the protection of His wings?
Taking refuge in something indicates a level of trust. It’s saying, “I trust God for my protection, I trust him with my future.” What areas of life do you need to increase your trust of God? Relationships? Career? Fulfillment? Finances?
SHARE WITH GROUP 1. Where do you feel the most safe? Share with the group a time when you didn’t feel safe. What did you do? Where did you take refuge?
2. What can you do this week to make your home a refuge for your family and neighbors?
3. What new insight did you learn from this week’s study?
4. Boaz is a welcomed refuge for Naomi and Ruth. What are we doing to help build a refuge for those in need? Week 5 Redeem
EXPLORE
Read Ruth 4. At the start of the story, Naomi moves from pleasant to bitter because of the loss in her life. Through the kindness of Ruth and the redemption from Boaz, Naomi sits at the end of the story in joy, being praised by her friends, and holding a baby boy on her lap. God worked through others to show his love to Naomi.
However, there were huddles to jump. In Ruth 4, we learn there is another man with a closer tie to Elimelech. There is another possible redeemer. The way Boaz goes about settling the issue of Naomi’s redeemer shows his character. How does Boaz’s actions show a trust in God?
It’s . גָאַל This week’s word is redeemer. In Hebrew it’s the word gaal translated redeemer, kinsman, avenger, purchase, buy back, and rescue. From the story, we can see how to redeem is to buy back, and it points forward to Jesus purchasing us for God. We can also look at a few of the meanings and get excited about being on a rescue team or the avengers team. With Jesus as our redeemer, how do we form a team to rescue גָאַל ?more Naomi’s
STUDY Read Job 19:1-27. Job 19 is similar to the story of Naomi. Both Naomi and Job direct their frustrations at God. He is the one causing the troubles. Each is bitter and sad at the beginning, but each call to mind the redeemer and their attitude and expressions change.
Job spends 6 verses (8-13), railing about what God has done to Him, and 7 more verses (14-20) listing the casualties of God’s attack on him. However, verse 25 changes everything. “I know that my redeemer lives.” After calling to mind his redeemer, Job’s heart yearns within him.
What are some ways that God has acted in your life to pull you out of bitterness and sadness? APPLY Read Psalm 19. Psalm 19 is a song written to The LORD, my Rock and Redeemer. The writer announces that Gods creation proclaims his glory (1-6). He declares how God’s word speaks beauty and refreshment (7-11). He ends by praying that his words speak the truth of his redemption (12-14).
How has your speech declared the glory of God’s redemption? How should a Christ followers words be different? How does the idea of redemption change how you speak to others?
REFLECT
Read Revelation 5:6-10 In this view of Heaven, we see the Lamb approaching the throne. A new song is being sung because Jesus’ blood has purchased for God people from every tribe, language, people and nation. Jesus is the ultimate redeemer, paying the price for our redemption.
Read Galatians 3:7-14 We started this study by reading Deuteronomy 28—the blessings and the curses. Even though the curses would frighten anyone away, we still didn’t obey. God knew in advance we would need to return and trust in a redeemer. This is not something we do once, each day is an opportunity to return and trust the redeemer, Jesus.
SHARE WITH GROUP
1. What is the most expensive item you have purchased (don’t include house or car)? How did you treat that item?
2. Redemption is the price paid to rescue people out of trouble. The price that Jesus paid for you and others makes us of great value. How do you treat items of great value? How can you treat others with great value starting today?
3. What new insight did you learn from this week’s study?
4. The book of Ruth is an amazing story of God’s kindness and faithfulness. Where have you seen God’s kindness and faithfulness at work his in your life? Where do you need to trust in his kindness and faithfulness now? Week 1. Return notes Ruth 1 ______Deut. 28:1-29:1 ______Deut.30:1-10 ______Hosea 14 ______Acts 3:1-19 ______
Week 2. Favor Ruth 2:1-13 ______Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22 ______Ex. 33:12-34:9 ______Isaiah 61 ______Ephesians 2:1-10 ______
Week 3. Kindness Ruth 2 ______Exodus 34 ______Psalm 103 ______Micah 6:1-8 ______Galatians 5:13-25 ______
Week 4. Refuge Ruth 3 ______Exodus 19:1-6 ______Psalm 57 ______Luke 13:31-35 ______Deut. 25:5-10 ______
Week 5. Redeem Ruth 4 ______Job 19:1-27 ______Revelation 5 ______Psalm 19 ______Galatians 3:7-14 ______