Ruth Bible Study 4

Recap:

Ruth was a heathen in the country of Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea, but then moves to Bethlehem.

This true account takes place during the days of failure and rebellion of the Israelites, called the period of the Judges.

A famine forces Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her two sons, who soon marry two Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth.

Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem.

Ruth 4 CEV

1 In the meanwhile, Boaz had gone to the meeting place at the town gate and was sitting there when the other close relative came by. So Boaz invited him to come over and sit down, and he did. 2 Then Boaz got ten of the town leaders and also asked them to sit down. After they had sat down, 3 he said to the man: Naomi has come back from Moab and is selling the land that belonged to her husband Elimelech. 4 I am telling you about this, since you are his closest relative and have the right to buy the property. If you want it, you can buy it now. These ten men and the others standing here can be witnesses. But if you don’t want the property, let me know, because I am next in line. The man replied, “I will buy it!” 5 “If you do buy it from Naomi,” Boaz told him, “you must also marry Ruth. Then if you have a son by her, the property will stay in the family of Ruth’s first husband.” 6 The man answered, “If that’s the case, I don’t want to buy it! That would make problems with the property I already own. You may buy it yourself, because I cannot.” 7 To make a sale legal in those days, one person would take off a sandal and give it to the other. 8 So after the man had agreed to let Boaz buy the property, he took off one of his sandals and handed it to Boaz. 9 Boaz told the town leaders and everyone else: All of you are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi the property that belonged to Elimelech and his two sons, Chilion and Mahlon. 10 You are also witnesses that I have agreed to marry Mahlon’s widow Ruth, the Moabite woman. This will keep the property in his family’s name, and he will be remembered in this town. 11 The town leaders and the others standing there said: We are witnesses to this. And we pray that the Lord will give your wife many children, just as he did Leah and Rachel, the wives of Jacob. May you be a rich man in the tribe of Ephrath and an important man in Bethlehem. 12 May the children you have by this young woman make your family as famous as the family of Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah. 13 Boaz married Ruth, and the Lord blessed her with a son. 14 After his birth, the women said to Naomi: Praise the Lord! Today he has given you a grandson to take care of you. We pray that the boy will grow up to be famous everywhere in Israel. 15 He will make you happy and take care of you in your old age, because he is the son of your daughter-in-law. And she loves you more than seven sons of your own would love you. 16 Naomi loved the boy and took good care of him. 17 The neighborhood women named him Obed, but they called him “Naomi’s Boy.” When Obed grew up he had a son named Jesse, who later became the father of King David. 18 Here is a list of the ancestors of David: Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Ram, Hezron, and Perez.

In the final chapter Ruth’ married the wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David and the ancestor of Jesus.

After Boaz expresses his intention to redeem Ruth and continue the line of Elimelech, the people gave a blessing on Ruth. They pray that God will make her like Rachel and Leah, who were considered the mothers of Israel. Ruth is no longer “the Moabite”.

Let’s think about the progression of events that brings Ruth from a widow in Moab to this point in her life. What decisions did Ruth, Naomi and Boaz make that contributed to this change? How is God’s hand evident in the course of events?

How have you seen evidence of God’s work in your life?

Have you ever questioned God in difficult times? How can Ruth and Naomi’s story encourage you to remain faithful through struggles?

The events in the book of Ruth take place in the lives of two women, yet they also affect the community. Have there been times when God’s work in your life caused others to praise Him?

If not, how can you speak intentionally about God’s work in your life? Are there situations in which you have praised God for working in the lives of others? How can you be more reflective of God’s work in the lives of others?

God is concerned about the day-to-day struggles of ordinary people as much as He is with those who are part of big picture events. In the book of Ruth, He works through everyday circumstances and faithfully provides for two seemingly ordinary women—Naomi and Ruth. Yet by arranging rest for Ruth and Naomi, He also paves the way for His extraordinary plan of salvation—ultimate rest through the work of Jesus Christ. God cares about your struggles and difficulties today just as much as He cared about Naomi and Ruth’s. May you feel God’s hand in all aspects of your life, and may your actions display His love to others.