Sunday September 19 Sermon on Ruth Chapter 1 - From Famine to Harvest (Matthew 10:35-38, Psalm 138)

Transcription

1 Book of Ruth Study Guide Sunday September 19 Sermon on Ruth Chapter 1 - From Famine to Harvest (Matthew 10:35-38, Psalm 138) Monday September 20 The Scene: The days of the Judges - Read: Ruth 1:1-5 and Judges 21:25 1) Why did Naomi and Elimelech leave Bethlehem? Was this a faithfilled move? 2) Locate Bethlehem and Moab on this map or one in your Bible. Notice that Naomi and Elimelech had to travel about 60 miles to get from Bethlehem to Moab. Notice that Moab is a vast country. What would it be like to walk across this desert land for just Ruth and Naomi? What water must be passed by on the journey? 3) How is our day and time in history like the era of the Judges? (Hint: Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. )

2 Tuesday September 21 The Family: What makes a family? Read Ruth 1:6-13 1) How does Naomi end up with only Ruth to return to Bethlehem? 2) Why is having a husband so important to these women? How is this still true? How has it changed? 3) Why does Naomi say that that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me (v. 13)? Is it true that God is in control of all of our circumstances (see )? Wednesday September 22 Community Groups Thursday September 23 The Plan: Return to Bethlehem Read Ruth 1:6-13 1) Why does Naomi decide to return to her hometown? (see verse 6) 2) What will she face by going home? Will it be difficult or easy? 3) Was it faithful for Naomi and Elimelech to leave Bethlehem in the first place? How easy is it to admit when you are wrong? Think of a time and share it with your family. 4) Activity Friday September 24 Ruth s Pledge: I will never leave you Read Ruth 1:14-18 and Exodus 6:7 1) Why does Ruth decide to stay with Naomi? What does it mean in verse 16 your God [will be] my God? (remember Moab was a pagan nation) 2) The language Ruth is using in verse 16 is very similar to Exodus 6:7. It is covenant language. Is Ruth entering into the covenant people of Israel by this profession of faith? How do people enter into the covenant today? 3) Recall your own conversion, how you entered into God s family. Were you influenced by another person as Ruth was? Share a bit of your story with the family.

3 Saturday September 25 Naomi s Return: Call me Mara Read Ruth 1: ) Why does Naomi say she left full and returned empty? Why does her return cause such a stir in Bethlehem? (remember Bethlehem is a small town. At this time probably no more than 200 people total.) 2) Why is Naomi s bitterness directed toward God? Is she right, did God bring calamity upon her? 3) Notice the sign of hope in verse 25. There is a harvest. Remember in verse 1, there is a famine. How have things changed? Read Romans 8:28. How does this relate to Naomi s situation? Has she failed to see God s hand at work? Sunday September 26 Sermon on Ruth Chapter 2 (Psalm 91:1-7, Luke 1:67-72) Monday September 27 Family Ties: Boaz, the man Read Ruth 2:1-5 1) How is Boaz related to Ruth and Naomi? What does this imply? 2) What is gleaning and why were God s people commanded to allow it? 3) Boaz greeting in verse 4 tells us something about his faith. How do the words that we use tell others about our faith? What words should we use more often? Tuesday September 28 The Kindness of Boaz Read Ruth 2: ) What does Boaz provide to Ruth that she needs? 2) Why is protection so important for a woman in this culture? 3) When asked, Boaz responds that he is acting toward Ruth in the way that she has acted towards Naomi. In a small town like Bethlehem, what must have been the gossip about Ruth? Think of someone that has shown similar devotion to relatives in your family. Share the story.

4 Wednesday September 29 Community Groups Thursday September 30 Under the Wings Read Ruth 2: ) What does Boaz mean when he says that Ruth has sought shelter under the wings of the God of Israel? See Chapter 1:16. What does this say about her relationship with Yahweh and His Covenant? 2) Describe the ways in which Boaz cares for and provides for Ruth. What does this indicate? 3) In verse 14, it says she ate until she was satisfied. Contrast this satisfaction with the famine and her life in Moab. What is the writer indicating about the God of Israel? Friday October 1 Kinsman-Redeemer Read Ruth 2: ) How did Naomi know that Ruth had been noticed (v. 19) by a man? 2) Why in verse 20 does Naomi attribute the Lord s kindness to the living and the dead? What is she saying about Boaz? 3) In verse 20, Boaz is identified as a close relative and a redeemer or in biblical terms a kinsman-redeemer. This means that Boaz has an obligation towards the widows of his dead relatives. How is Jesus a kinsman-redeemer for us? 4) Activity Saturday October 2 Ruth s Fidelity - Read Ruth 2: ) Why is Naomi worried about Ruth being assaulted? How is she vulnerable? In what way does Boaz provide protection? 2) Ruth is faithful to Naomi in many ways. After finding Boaz, how does she stay faithful to her mother-in-law?

5 3) What doe we see emerging in the characters of Ruth and Boaz? Can you begin to see that the character of each is a compliment to the other? Sunday October 3 Sermon on Ruth Chapter 3 (Psalm 37:3-10, Luke 17:5-10) Monday October 4 The Plan Read Ruth 3:1-5 1) Why does Naomi send Ruth to the threshing floor? 2) What is the danger for Ruth? 3) Explain Ruth s trust of Naomi in verse 5. Why does she go along with this dangerous plan? Tuesday October 5 Spread Your Wings Read Ruth 3:6-10 1) Does this clandestine activity suggest to you deceit or God s Providence? 2) What does Ruth s response in verse 9 remind you of (see 2:12)? What is Ruth asking Boaz to do? 3) What about Ruth s presence is a pleasant surprise to Boaz? Explain the blessing he offers. Wednesday October 6 Community Groups Thursday October 7 Do not fear - Read Ruth 3: ) Why does Boaz respond to Ruth s request with do not fear? What could he have done to her? Where else in the Bible do we hear the response do not fear?

6 2) The honor of Boaz is revealed in his response. List some ways that he is honorable: 3) Boaz trusts the Lord to work out the details of his relationship with Ruth. Contrast this with Naomi who seems to want to engineer the relationship. Friday October 8 Protector/Provider - Read Ruth 3: ) How does Boaz protect Ruth? 2) How does Boaz provide for Ruth and Naomi? 3) How is Naomi s advice for Ruth to wait in verse 18 related to Boaz character? Saturday October 9 Do Compline together as a family. Sunday October 10 Sermon on Ruth Chapter 4 (Psalm 113, Matthew 1:1-6) Monday October 11 The Faith of Boaz - Read Ruth 4:1-6 1) How do you think Boaz felt when the closer kinsman said he would redeem the land? What would it mean for Boaz to lose Ruth? 2) Why does the addition of Ruth to the bargain cause the closer redeemer to back out of the deal? What responsibilities would the redeemer take on with Ruth? 3) Boaz is a faithful man. This is testified to in his ability to faithfully wait and walk through the process of redeeming Ruth. Name a time in your life that God caused you to wait on something you wanted in order to form your character. Tuesday October 12 Shoe Exchange Read Ruth 4:7-12

7 1) By drawing off his sandal, the kinsman was relinquishing any claims he had to the land or Ruth. This freed up Boaz to follow through on his promise of redeeming Ruth. What would be the emotions that Boaz felt knowing that he could now freely marry Ruth? 2) Who were the witnesses to the transaction? Why is this important? 3) The elders bless Boaz and Ruth with some OT names. Who are Rachel and Leah? Why is Tamar important (see Matthew 1:3)? Wednesday October 13 Community Groups Thursday October 14 Obed - Read Ruth 4: ) Contrast the Blessing of the Lord in verse 14 with Naomi s bitterness 1:20. How has God redeemed Naomi s situation? Why do the women in town say that a son has been born to Naomi? 2) Obed means servant. How were Obed s parents both servants of the Lord? 3) What does it mean for King David to be descended from a Moabite woman? How big is God s plan for redemption? Friday October 15 Who are your kin? - Read Ruth 4: ) Compare the genealogy in Ruth to Matthew 1:1-6. What does it tell that these two genealogies are exactly the same even though they are separated by nearly 1,000 years? 2) Because Ruth is in the line of Jesus, all have hope for Him to be their redeemer. How important is this idea of kinsman-redeemer when we connect it to the Savior of the world Jesus? 3) Looking back over Ruth, talk about how God is doing something greater that we can imagine in the circumstances of our lives. How should we respond then to the ups and downs of life?

8 Saturday October 16 Read the Book of Jonah