Week 1 - Ruth Chapter 1

This semester we will be studying the . This week we will begin by establishing the context and meeting some of the main characters. The below questions are given to help you think through the passage and guide your group discussion. Take some time during the week to read the passage, answer the questions, and consider the application section. Our prayer is that we would not only grow in our ability to read, understand, and apply the Word of God but that as we do so the Holy Spirit would conform us into the image of Christ day by day.

Ruth 1:1-5 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of in went to sojourn in the country of , he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife , and the names of his two sons were . They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.”

As we study God's Word, it is important that we do the work necessary to correctly understand the context. This enables us to accurately interpret what was written and helps us properly apply it to our lives. The author of Ruth does a wonderful job of setting the context for the book in verses 1-5.

- According to the beginning of verse 1, when do these events take place? What do we know about this time period (Judges 1:27-2:19, 21:25)?

- According to Judges 6:1-6 & 10:6-10, how was the famine we see in verse 1 most likely brought about? Why did the Lord ordain this suffering for His people?

- Where is Moab? Why is it significant that Elimelech led his family into the country of Moab to escape the famine (Numbers 22:1-6, 25:1-4, Judges 3:12-14)?

- In verse 4, we are told Naomi’s sons took Moabite wives. Why is this significant (Deuteronomy 23:3-6, Deuteronomy 7:1-4)

- How would you summarize the context established by this first five verses?

Ruth 1:6-13 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.””

​​ - Why does Naomi return to the land of Judah? What might this tell us about her view of God and His people?

- Why does Naomi entreat Orpah and Ruth to return to their families instead of going with her to Judah (see especially verses 9 & 11)? Why is it so important that they have husbands?

- In verse 10, we see that Orpah and Ruth want to return to Judah with Naomi. What does this tell us about Naomi and her character? How does Naomi respond?

- In verse 12, Naomi implies that her situation is hopeless. In verse 13, she says that “the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Why is her situation so hopeless (see verses 5, 11, & 12)?

- To whom does Naomi attribute her current circumstance? Is she right in doing so (Psalm 135:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 45:7)?

Ruth 1:14-18 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.”

In verses 14-18, we see Orpah and Ruth’s response to Naomi’s plea for them to leave this hopeless situation and return to their people.

- What does verse 14 teach us about the relationship between Naomi and her daughters-in-law?

- Compare and contrast the responses of Orpah and Ruth in verses 14-15.

- What does Orpah return to according to verse 15? Why is this significant?

- Once again, Naomi tries to convince Ruth to leave. What does her appeal teach us about Naomi?

- Verses 16-18 are some of the most moving words in the book. What do we learn about Ruth from these verses? What does she commit to? Why is this significant? How does her response to these circumstances differ from Naomi’s?

- How does Naomi respond to Ruth in verse 18? How should she have responded (Matthew 16:17)?

Ruth 1:19-22 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”

​ - How do the people of Bethlehem respond to Naomi’s return? Why might they have responded in this way?

- What is happening in Bethlehem upon Naomi’s return? Who is with her?

- What are the meanings of the names Naomi and Mara? What is Naomi communicating by insisting on being called Mara? What does this imply about her current outlook?

- In verses 20-21, Naomi says that the Lord has dealt bitterly with her and has testified against her. In this entire chapter, Naomi has recognized that the Lord was in control of every event of her life; however, in these last few verses she seems to imply that the Lord has dealt with her in a way that is overly harsh or unjust. Why might she feel this way? Is she right in her indictment (Amos 3:6, Lamentations 2:1-5, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)?

Application

- At the beginning of Ruth, we saw that the Lord brought a famine to the land of Israel as a judgement against their wickedness and idolatry. Elimelech and Naomi fled from God’s judgment to Moab, a people who were enemies of Israel and idolaters. Elimelech and Naomi not only made their home among these people but they also allowed their sons to take wives from the Moabites. While these specific circumstances might be foreign to us, this response to discipline and temptation is often prevalent in our lives. Can you think of a time when God disciplined you in order to deliver you from sin? How did you respond? Did you turn to Him in repentance or push further into sinfulness? What hope is there in the midst of the Lord’s discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11)?

- In verses 15-18, we saw that Ruth was committed to following the Lord and staying with Naomi for the rest of her life. She had nothing to gain in this commitment. She was willing to sacrifice the potential of having a husband, children, security, and worldly happiness for the sake of following the Lord. This is true faith. How does your faith compare with Ruth’s? What have you sacrificed for the sake of following the Lord? What are you still trying to hold on to that is preventing deeper communion with the Father? What does it reveal about your priorities when you seek temporal happiness in things like family, financial security, and weekend recreation to the detriment of walking in obedience to the Father? How does Jesus describe true faith (Matthew 13:44-46, 16:24-26, Luke 14:25-33)? How might God be calling you to walk in greater faith today?

- Numerous times in this chapter, we have seen Naomi recognize the Lord’s sovereignty in her own suffering; however, we see in verses 20-21 that she failed to trust the Lord’s goodness. As we walk through suffering, we are often tempted to either doubt that God is in control or that He has a good purpose in suffering. Remember a time of suffering you experienced. Were you tempted to doubt that the Lord was in control or trust that He had a good plan? It is possible to have great theology and yet not suffer well. Was there a time when you allowed discouragement to distort your view of God? What did this look like? How did the Lord bring you through this time? How can you prepare now that you might suffer well when hardship comes?

Week 2 - Ruth Chapter 2

As we began our study in Ruth last week, we familiarized ourselves with the context of the book and some of the main characters. Our time in God's Word led us to reflect on our response to the loving discipline of the Lord, true faith, hopelessness and the difficulties of suffering well. This week we will turn our attention to Ruth chapter 2, where we will meet , the final main character of the book and begin to see how God is providentially at work in the story of Ruth. Our prayer is that as we spend time in God's word we would be transformed into the image of Christ and God would be glorified as He moves in and among us.

Ruth 2:1-3 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.”

- At the beginning of chapter 2 we are introduced to the remaining main character of the book, Boaz. How is Boaz described in verse 1? What does it mean that he was a “worthy man” (it might be helpful to consult a few different translations on this)?

- In verses 2-3, Ruth sets out in the hopes that she may glean grain. According to verse 2, what must Ruth do in order to have the opportunity to glean?

- God instructed the Israelites in how they should harvest their fields in order to provide for the poor and the sojourner. Read these passages and explain how the Lord planned to provide for these people (Leviticus 19:9-10, 33-34, 23:22).

- In verse 3, Ruth “happened to come to the part of field belonging to Boaz”. Consider what takes place in the rest of the book, is this merely a coincidence? Why or why not? What does this teach us about how the Lord brings His will to pass?

Ruth 2:4-7 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest."”

- Consider how Boaz greets his servants and how his servants respond. How do we see Boaz’s worthiness even in this?

- In verses 5-7, Boaz learns of Ruth’s identity. What aspect of Ruth’s identity is highlighted in servants response in verse 6 (pay attention to the repetition)?

- How do we see Boaz’s character further evidenced in how his servants responded to Ruth in verse 7 (remember the commands from Leviticus)?

- Lastly, what do we learn of Ruth’s character in verse 7?

Ruth 2:8-9 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ “Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.””

- How does Boaz address Ruth in verse 8? How does this contrast with how the servant referred to her in verse 6? What does this highlight?

- How does Boaz provide for Ruth (and thereby Naomi) in verses 8-9? How do we see great generosity and kindness in his provision?

Ruth 2:10-13 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.””

- How does Ruth respond to Boaz’s kindness in verse 10? What do we learn about her character through her response?

- What reason does Boaz give for having favor on Ruth in verse 11? What has Ruth done for Naomi?

- What do we learn of Boaz’s character through his response in verses 11-12?

- How do we see the Lord sovereignly answering the prayers of Ruth in verse 13 (refer back to verse 2)?

Ruth 2:14-18 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.”

- How do we see Boaz providing and caring for Ruth in verses 14-16? Once again, how do we see great kindness and generosity in his provision?

- Ruth returns to the city with an ephah of barley and some leftover food. How is this a great blessing to Naomi?

Ruth 2:19-23 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you ​​ worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.”

- What stands out in Naomi’s reaction to Ruth’s return home after her day in the fields? How is this different than what we’ve seen from her up until now?

- To whom does Naomi attribute the kindness that they’ve been shown?

- Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is “one of our redeemers”. What does she mean by this (Deuteronomy 25:5-6, Leviticus 25:23-28, 35-38, 47-49, :1-6)? Why does Naomi say that the Lord has not forsaken the living or the dead?

- What are some of the ways we see God's hand at work in these passages?

Application

- Chapter 2 begins with Boaz’s introduction as a “worthy man”. As the passage continues, we come to better understand Boaz’s worthiness. Based on this chapter, how would you describe Boaz? Why? How do we see the character of God reflected in Boaz? Would you say that people similarly see the character of God reflected in you (2 Corinthians 5:20)? How might you better display God’s character to those you come in contact with on a daily basis?

- In this passage, we see Ruth working hard in a difficult situation to provide for Naomi and herself. Take a moment to put yourself in Ruth’s shoes. She is a foreigner in Israel. She left her family and everything that she knew in Moab to serve the Lord and care for Naomi in Bethlehem. She has no husband and no one to provide for her. She is widowed, poor, and hopeless. In spite of all of this, we see her setting out early in the morning to glean grain, which was hard, dangerous work especially for a foreign woman (see verses 2, 9, & 22). Ruth boldy chose in faith to serve the Lord and commit to providing for Naomi. At no point in the book do we see her expressing regret over this decision. How does Ruth’s example encourage you as you seek to walk in obedience to the Lord even in difficult situations? How does her faithful witness motivate you to joyfully provide for and love those the Lord has put in your care?

- One thing we see highlighted in this chapter is God’s provision for the poor and sojourner. The Lord has commanded His people throughout much of redemptive history to show concern and care for the poor, sojourner, and outcast (Leviticus 19:9-10, 33-34, Deuteronomy 10:17-20, Exodus 22:21-24, Zechariah 7:8-14, Micah 6:6-8, Matthew 25:31-46, James 1:22-27, 1 John 3:16-18). In light of how important this is to the Father, how important would you say it is for you? How sensitive are you to the needs of the marginalized and outcast? Are you content to turn a blind eye to those in need around you or do you move towards those in need? What does this practically look like? Are you willing to be taken advantage of for the sake of the gospel (Matthew 5:38-42)? How are you sharing the gospel through your care for the poor, widow, outcast, and marginalized?

- In all of Ruth, we see the hand of God at work in the seemingly insignificant details of life. At the end of chapter one we see that Naomi and Ruth happened to arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Then in chapter 2 we see that Ruth just happened to be gleaning in the field of Boaz, a righteous, worthy man who was of the clan of Elimelech. How should this example of God’s providential work be an encouragement to us in our day to day lives? Is there any detail that God is not in control of? How should this give us hope in monotony, hopelessness, and everyday life?

Week 3 - Ruth Chapter 3

In week one, we were introduced to Ruth and Naomi and learned of their plight in Moab. Last week, we met Boaz and began to see how the Lord was providentially working to provide for Ruth and Naomi and potentially restore some of what was lost in Moab. This week, as we dive into chapter 3, we must remember what we have learned thus far and continue reading in the context we have established in order to properly understand all that we read. As always, our prayer is that God would move in mighty ways to convict, encourage and sanctify each of us as we seek Him through Scripture, Christian community, and prayer.

Ruth 3:1- 5 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”"

A common theme we have seen so far in Ruth is the sovereign providence of God in every event, no matter how large or small. We begin to see in these first several verses of chapter 3 how God will work through Naomi’s scheming to bring Boaz and Ruth together. At first glance these verses might seem quite odd; however, as we progress through the study, we should grasp a better understanding of what is actually taking place.

- According to verse 1, what does Naomi desire for Ruth? Think back to Naomi from chapter 1. How have we seen her outlook change as the book has progressed?

- What does Naomi instruct Ruth to do in verse 3? Up to this point, where have Boaz and Ruth’s interactions exclusively taken place (Ruth 2:3)? Understanding this then, why is it significant that Noami tells Ruth to wash and anoint herself?

- Noami says that Ruth should approach Boaz at the threshing floor after he has winnowed barley. What does this mean? What was the process of threshing and winnowing barley like (Isaiah 28:27-29, Deuteronomy 25:4, Matthew 3:12)? Why was it necessary that Boaz and his servant stay overnight to keep watch over the grain?

- How does Ruth respond to Naomi’s plan?

- It seems quite clear in these verses that Naomi believes Boaz is interested in taking Ruth as his wife. This is foundational to her plan. Scan back through chapter 2. Why might Noami believe this to be the case?

- Think through Naomi’s plan as outlined in verses 1-5. What is your impression of it?

Ruth 3:6-9 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer."

- We see in these verses that Ruth sets out to execute Naomi’s plan just as she instructed. In verse 7, as Naomi advised, Ruth does not approach Boaz until after he had eaten and drank. How do we see great shrewdness in this detail of Naomi’s plan?

- After Boaz lies down, Ruth approaches and uncovers his feet. According to verse 8, what effect does this have? Once again, how do we see the subtle shrewdness of Naomi’s plan in this detail?

- After awakening, Boaz inquires as to the identity of the woman at his feet. How does Ruth respond? How does she identify herself?

- What does Ruth ask of Boaz in verse 9? What does this mean (Ezekial 16:8-14)?

- Where else have we seen this language in Ruth (Ruth 2:12)? What does this imply about how the Lord is blessing Ruth because of her great faith?

- What does Ruth mean when she says that Boaz is a redeemer?

​

Ruth 3:10-13 ESV ​ ​ ​ ”And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last ​​ kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.””

- How does Boaz respond to Ruth’s bold request?

- How does Boaz say that Ruth has been kind to him in verse 10? How does he address Ruth in verses 10 & 11? What does this communicate about Boaz’s character?

- Boaz instructs Ruth not to fear at the beginning of verse 11. Why might she be fearful?

- What reason does Boaz give for responding to Ruth’s request joyfully? What does this say about Ruth’s character? What does this communicate about Boaz’s priorities in a spouse?

- How do we see Boaz’s righteous character displayed in verses 12-13?

- When does Boaz say that he will seek to settle this matter? What seems to be his primary concern(s) in verse 13?

- Why does Boaz instruct Ruth to stay at the threshing floor until morning (Ruth 2:9, 22, Judges 21:25)? What does this verse not imply?

Ruth 3:14-18ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ”So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. ​​ And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.””

- In verse 14, we see that Boaz sends Ruth away early in the morning before she could be recognized. How is he protecting her in this act (see verses 11-13)?

- How do we see Boaz’s provision for Ruth and Naomi in verses 15-17? How is this a foreshadowing of what he will set out to do that morning?

- What does Naomi say of Boaz in verse 18? What does this imply about his character?

Application

- In chapter 3, we have seen how God is often pleased to work through the bold, shrewd planning of His people to bring His will to pass. Can you think of any other examples in Scripture where the Lord sovereignly worked through the clever plans of men? How do we reconcile this idea with verses like Proverbs 19:21, Luke 12:16-21, & James 4:13-15? What are some ways we can please the Lord through clever planning and strategy (Matthew 10:5-16, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Proverbs 11:14)? How devoted are you to spending the intelligence God has given you for the furthering of His kingdom and the glory of His name?

- One thing that sticks out in this chapter is Boaz’s godly respect for Ruth and active protection of her reputation and purity. Numerous times he refers to her as “my daughter”. He instructs her to remain at the threshing floor overnight that he might protect her. He does not take advantage of her when she approaches him in the middle of the night but instead delays all sexual advances until he makes her his wife. He sends her away from the threshing floor early in the morning that she might not be identified and her worthy reputation unnecessarily tarnished. Men, is this how you treat the women God has placed in your life? Is godly respect for the women God has placed in your life evident in the way that you relate to them in all purity (1 Timothy 5:1-2)? How are you actively protecting the purity of heart, mind, and conscience of your wife, daughters, and sisters in Christ? What would it look like to walk in these ways with greater seriousness?

- For those that are single and seeking marriage, it is important to note in this passage Boaz’s prioritizes in a spouse and the urgency with which he seeks to make Ruth his wife. First, Boaz says that he will gladly seek to make Ruth his wife because everyone knows that she is “a worthy woman”. He didn’t say that she was an attractive woman or had a good personality. He instead focuses on her character. His ultimate qualification in a spouse is godly character. Would you say that this true of you? More than an attractive appearance or a dynamic personality, are you seeking a worthy spouse? What is most important to you in a spouse and how is this evident in the way that you are pursuing marriage? Secondly, we see that Boaz commits to set out the next day to seek to become Ruth’s redeemer. He does not delay or drag his feet. Paul instructs the Corinthians to marry that they might not be given over to sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9). He also encourages them to not let marriage distract them from spiritual matters in light of the brevity of life and the impending return of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). If God has called you to marriage, are you actively seeking this end with earnest urgency and seriousness? Is this pursuit distracting you from walking in obedience to Christ? To those that are dating or engaged, are you earnestly seeking marriage that you might not be given over to temptation or distracted from walking in obedience to Christ? How might the cultural ideas of romantic love and a magnificent wedding be distracting you from pursuing marriage as God would have you?

- In verse 13, we see that walking in obedience to the law is more important to Boaz than taking Ruth as his wife. He would rather settle the matter rightly and have Ruth marry another than attempt to obtain what he desires by sinful or deceptive means. How does Boaz’s example encourage you to walk in obedience to the Lord’s commands? How are you tempted to obtain your desires by sinful means? How are you tempted to doubt that the Lord will provide your every need (Philippians 4:19, James 4:1-10)? What would it look like to walk in upright faith in these areas?

- Up to this point, we have examined Boaz’s example and considered how he shows us what it looks like to walk in obedience to the Lord; however, Boaz, the redeemer, points us towards a much better redeemer, Jesus. Unlike Boaz, Jesus did not wait for us to approach Him on the threshing floor. Instead He went to a cross, paid the price for our redemption, and calls us to trust Him in faith. With Jesus, we do not need to wait until the next morning for Him to settle the matter.The price of our salvation has been paid for all eternity at Calvary. Unlike Boaz, there is no nearer redeemer to us than Christ. He alone was the sacrifice that we need for our sin. Take a moment to consider these truths and praise God for providing our Perfect Redeemer.

Week 4 - Ruth 4:1-16

Last week, we got a wonderful look at faith driven, godly character at work through Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. We saw Naomi and Ruth’s strategic plan to take hold of the opportunity of the Lord’s provision through Boaz. We considered how Ruth and Boaz both valued righteousness over instant gratification or temporal happiness. This week we will focus in on Ruth 4:1-16. Our prayer is that God will lavish his grace upon us as we seek His face through the Word, Christian community, and prayer.

Ruth 4:1-4 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.””

- What is the significance of the city gate (Genesis 24:20-24, Proverbs 31:23)? Who are these elders (Deuteronomy 16:18)?

- What do we see Boaz doing in verses 1 & 2?

- In verses 3-4, we see Boaz informing the redeemer of Elimelech’s property and offering him the opportunity to purchase it. Why is Boaz speaking of property here when he is actually concerned with marrying Ruth (Leviticus 25:25-28, Numbers 27:1-11)?

- How does the redeemer respond to Boaz? What reaction should this cause in us?

Ruth 4:5-8 ESV “Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.”

- In verse 5, Boaz informs the redeemer that the responsibility of taking Ruth as a wife comes with taking ownership of Naomi’s land. Why is this the case (Deuteronomy 25:5-6, Leviticus 25:35-38, 55)?

- Why does the redeemer say he cannot buy Naomi’s land in verse 6? What might this mean (it might be helpful to consult a few commentaries)?

- What does the redeemer tell Boaz to do in verse 6? What reaction should this cause in us?

Ruth 4:9-12 ESV “Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like and , who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of , whom bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.””

- What reason does Boaz give for buying Naomi’s property and taking Ruth to be his wife? How do we see his righteous character on display in this (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)?

- How do the witnesses respond to Boaz? What two things do the people desire for Boaz and Ruth? - Who are Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-30)? How are they significant? What are the people communicating by praying that Ruth may be like Rachel and Leah?

- Who is Perez (Genesis 38:12-30)? How is he significant (Numbers 26:19-22, 1 Chronicles 2:1-15, Ruth 4:18-22)? What are the people communicating by praying that Boaz’s house may be like that of Perez?

Ruth 4:13-16 ESV “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.”

- In verse 13 we read that Boaz took Ruth and she bore a son. Why is this so incredible (Ruth 1:4-5)? To whom is credit given for Ruth’s conception? Why should this stand out to us?

- In verse 14, the author abruptly turns our attention back on Naomi. Why? What does this communicate about the focus of the book?

- How does Naomi’s state in verse 16 contrast with what we saw of her in chapter 1 (see especially 1:13, 20-21)?

- How is the Lord described in verse 15? What do we learn about Him through the women’s praise in verses 14-15?

Application

- Consider the character of Boaz displayed in verses 1-10. He set out the next morning as promised to settle the matter with the nearer redeemer. He patiently waits at the gate for the redeemer to come by and then asks him to turn aside when he does. He assembled the elders that the proper witnesses might be present and the matter might be handled rightly according to the custom of the day. He tells the redeemer of the matter plainly and honestly and offers him the right of redemption. How would you describe Boaz’s character based on these verses? Which of the character traits do you see evident in your own life? Which ones are lacking? How is Boaz’s example inspiring to you? - In verse 13, we see that Boaz takes Ruth as his wife and goes into her, yet it was the Lord that granted her conception and gave them a son. God is sovereign over all of the affairs of men. We have seen this recurring theme again and again in Ruth. Here specifically, we see that the Lord is sovereign over marriage and the giving of children. To the singles, how is this truth an encouragement to you? Are you often tempted to doubt that the Lord is sovereign over these matters? What would it look like to walk in confidence that God has a plan for your life and He is certainly bringing it about? To the couples that are struggling with infertility, be encouraged. Our Lord is sovereign over the womb. If it is His will to bless you by giving you offspring, He will surely bring this about. How confident are you of this fact? Our Father promises in Romans to work all things together for good for His children. How are you tempted to doubt that God is in control or is good in what He has purposed? What would it look like to resolve to trust that God is sovereign and good even in the midst of this struggle or disappointment? How can your community group encourage you in this trial? To the parents, it is implied in Ruth and stated outright in Psalm 127, children are a gracious gift of the Lord. Honestly, is this how you view your children most days? If not, what are you functionally believing? When was the last time you thanked the Lord for the gracious gift of your children? What does it look like to parent your children as blessings from the Lord that you are given to steward instead of property that you own and manage?

- We saw at the end of this week’s passage that the Lord restored Naomi through Ruth, Boaz, and their son. In chapter one, we saw how Naomi was stripped of her husband, sons, provision, hope, and faith. She had become very embittered and blamed the Lord for her hopeless estate. Yet as the book progressed, we saw how Yahweh provided for her through Ruth’s loving service and Boaz’s generosity. Finally, we see that the Lord restored her progeny, faith, and hope at the end of the book. How is this story an encouragement to you? What good things has the Lord removed from your life and what might He be trying to accomplish through the trial? Do you struggle well when the Lord leads you through hardship? Are you quick to become bitter like Naomi or like Job do you fight to trust the Lord even in great difficulty (Job 1:21)?

Week 5 - Ruth 4:17-22 & Review

Over the course of our study in Ruth, we have seen the providence of God on display. Time and time again, the author directs our attention to God's sovereignty and providence over every circumstance of life. Up to this point, we have intentionally focused on the invisible hand of God at work in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. This week we will broaden our perspective to see how God's work of restoration in Naomi’s life was just a small part of a much larger plan to bring redemption and restoration to all people. Our prayer is that as we wrap up this study we will be overwhelmed by the glory of God and led into deeper communion and lives of sincere trust and worship.

Ruth 4:17-22 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to ​ Naomi.” They named him . He was the father of , the father of . 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered , 19 Hezron fathered , Ram fathered , 20 Amminadab fathered , Nahshon fathered , 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”

- In verse 17, who do the women of the neighborhood say a son has been born to? Why is this stated in this way? What does this teach us about the point of the book of Ruth?

- The child is given the name Obed. What does this name mean (consult your study or favorite commentary)? Why might they have given him this name (Ruth 4:15)?

- We are told in verse 17 that Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David. Then we are given a more detailed genealogy. The author is obviously emphasizing the significance of Obed’s descendants here. Why? Who is David and why is he significant (1 Samuel 13:14, 16:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-10)?

Matthew 1:1-16 ESV ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”

- In the genealogy of Matthew, we see that not only was Obed the grandfather of David but he was also an ancestor of Jesus. Why is it significant that Ruth, the Moabite, is in the line of Christ? What does this teach us about God and His plan of redemption (Romans 9:25-29)?

- Reflect back on the whole story of Ruth. Remember the context in which it was written (Judges 1:27-2:19, 21:25). Outside of just providing for and restoring Naomi, how do we see God working out His plan of redemption in a dark and difficult time?

Ruth 4:14-15 ESV ​​ “Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.””

We covered these verses last week; however, they might be helpful to us as we consider the larger significance of the story of Ruth.

- Upon first glance, the redeemer in verse 14 seems to be Boaz; however, in verse 15, the women say that Ruth have given birth to him. Knowing this then, who is the redeemer?

- How will Obed restore life to Naomi and nourish her in her old age?

- How will Obed’s name be renowned in Israel?

- How do we see shadows and glimpses of Christ in these verses? How has He restored life to us and nourished us? In what way is His name renowned?

We see in the book of Ruth a story of loss and restoration; however, this story does not begin and end in Ruth. Through the lives of Boaz, Ruth, and Obed, we see that the story of Ruth is one piece in the overarching narrative of Scripture. This short story is a small part of God’s massive plan to restore and redeem man to the communion with Him that was lost at the Fall. The redeemers of Boaz and Obed point us forward to the perfect redeemer that was to come. He would not simply propagate the familial line or restore joy to a single, hopeless widow. He would pay the price of redemption for all men for all of time and bring eternal joy and hope to a lost and dying world.

Review

Reflect on our study in Ruth and answer the following questions

- How was the story of Naomi’s suffering and restoration encouraging to you?

- How were you inspired by faith of Ruth?

- How did the righteous character of Boaz motivate you to walk in uprightness?

- In what ways did you see the sovereignty of God at work in this story? How was this encouraging?

- What did you learn about the nature and character of God through this study?

- How has this study led you to walk in greater obedience to Christ and joy in the gospel?