— Ruth –
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 25:5-10; The Book of Ruth; Matthew 1:5-6
Her Decision:
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Read Ruth 1:1-18
(v. 8-15) Both of the daughters-in-law originally went. Orpah decided to go backwards. Ruth decided to go forwards.
Look over verses 16-18. What were the things that Ruth was determined about? How can you personally be determined by these same things in your walk with God?
“Ruth’s outstanding quality was a beauty of heart, a generosity of soul, a firm sense of duty, and a meekness which often goes hand in hand with decision.” -H. Morton
“Ruth proved to be a woman of decision. Though Naomi had said that she could offer her nothing a woman needs in Judah, Ruth firmly closed the door to her way of life, her family, and her gods and bravely faced a bleak and uncertain future by the side of her destitute mother-in-law.” -Frances Vander Velde
“She did not seek for self-pity neither did she manifest the bitterness that had gripped the heart of Naomi because of her sad lot. Amid the shadows Ruth maintained a poise and a serenity which even her mother-in-law must have coveted.” -Herbert Lockyer
John 14:27 NIV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
We can go forward, like Ruth, into the unknown before us. We have the peace of God! He knows all things and through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
The story of Ruth is a story of God’s sovereignty.
God being “sovereign” means that He has supreme rank, power and authority over all things.
“The most comforting thing to a child of God is the sovereignty of God.” -Charles Spurgeon
Look at your life through the eyes of God’s sovereignty. Ask God to reveal to you ways He sovereignly has worked it out. By faith, look at the circumstances in your life and give an account for how God has been involved.
Psalm 103:19 NASB “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”
Our God is EL ELYON: God Most High
As believers we are to take our trials and circumstances and bring them to the Lord and allow Him to give us a positive and heavenly perspective on them. He will use these things to sanctify and purify us more into His image. Having this view we will make ourselves pliable to God for sanctification.
To “sanctify” means “to make holy, purify, consecrate”
Verses on sanctification:
Ephesians 1:4 NASB “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 17:17 NASB “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Ruth means “friendship”
In a woman like Ruth, you find a friend. What is your personal favorite quality in a friend and why?
Her Faith That Works:
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Read Ruth chapter 2 and 3
(ch 2:1) Boaz means “Standing in Strength”
Boaz is a picture of our kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ. Ruth is a picture of the Bride of Christ; hungry, poor and in need.
(ch 2:2) Ruth stepped out in faith.
Habakkuk 2:4b NASB “But the righteous will live by his faith.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Faith and believing God is so important to Him! As women of God we should be interested in the things that He is interested in. Let this be our prayer.
“Ruth now became Naomi’s means of support. Each family usually had sufficient women to care for the complete needs of the household. There was no work for a woman outside of the home. The poor and the widow would have been destitute, indeed, if God had not provided for them (Lev. 19:9-10). To be a gleaner with the other poor was a humble task. Ruth was not afraid of work (Ruth 2:7) and gleaned from the break of day until the warm red sun left its last glow on the swaying barley and slowly dipped behind the low hills of Judah. “ -Frances Vander Velde
Ruth had a servant heart.
Ways to serve: (taken from Elizabeth George)
● Service to others -Nurturing a servant’s heart beings with the decision to serve others -anyone and everyone. Jesus Himself models this heart attitude for us, for He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28)
● Service to your husband -God’s Word is clear: “Whatever you do [including serving your husband] so it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).
● Service to your children -As a familiar kitchen plaque reads, “Divine services rendered here three times a day!” It’s true that not only every meal prepared, but also every piece of clothing washed, every room tidied, every floor swept, every ride given is love in action.
● Service to your church -Married or single, you can exercise your servant heart at your church. There are always meals to take to those in need, pew racks to stock, chairs to set up, and Sunday school classes to teach.
(v. 12) -Boaz recognized who Ruth trusted in when he said “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
Boaz saw that by leaving Moab and taking the risk to go to Bethlehem among Jewish people with an old widow that she was walking by faith and trusting in the God of Israel.
“Being one who feared God, and one who cared for the poor, Boaz went among his reapers, spoke kindly to them and earned their benediction. Coming upon Ruth he was arrested by her staid and modest look. Although poorly clad there was dignity in her mien, a refinement giving her distinction, and Boaz is arrested by her beauty and personality. Making inquiries about her, Boaz learns of her sacrifice for Naomi, and of her conversion to the worship of Jehovah (2:6,7), and commands the reapers to purposefully drop extra sheaves for Ruth’s benefit. Boaz also bade Ruth to glean only in his field, and to stand fast by his female workers. He wanted to preserve her from coarse contact with men who might take advantage of such a poor woman, who was in his admiring eyes a superior one. She was not to eat with others but present herself at his feasts.” -Herbert Lockyer
(2:4) You see Boaz walking among everyone as Jesus “Emmanuel -God with us” walked among us, rich and poor alike.
(2:8) Just like Boaz didn’t want Ruth to wander off into another field, the Lord does not want us to wander away from Him where we can find ourselves in danger. His desire is that we stay among Him and His people.
(2:14) Ruth’s servant’s heart inspired Boaz to serve her! What a beautiful picture of honoring and serving one another. Boaz was a man who valued all people. The rich and the poor.
(2:15-16) Because she trusted in God, this man of God gave provision and protection to her.
BOAZ and RUTH
The ultimate CINDERELLA story!
“It’s not about finding the right man, but becoming the right woman.” -Jackie Kendall in Lady in Waiting
This is heart of a godly woman!
(3:3) Like Ruth, spiritually speaking, as the Bride of Christ we are to wash ourselves with the water of the Word, be anointed with the Holy Spirit, and take of the garment of heaviness and put on the garment of praise.
(3:7) As Ruth laid at the feet of Boaz so are we to lay at the feet of Jesus.
(3:8) “There is nothing immodest or immoral about this. By her actions, Ruth was declaring to Boaz that she desired him to be a spiritual covering for her. ‘You are a near kinsman,’ said Ruth -’my redeemer, my goel, my only hope. Please cover me.’ Here’s the question: Would Boaz do it? Would this wealthy, strong individual stretch his robe to cover a Moabitish woman, a new kid on the block, the one who had no credibility, no credentials, nothing to offer him? What would he do?” -Jon Courson
Remember the mother of Boaz was Rahab.
(ch 3:11) “All the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
Ruth had a beautiful reputation! This is what captured the heart of Boaz. Character and virtue is beautiful and desirable to a man of God.
*Having a good reputation is a Biblical requirement for widows to be supported by the church. (1 Timothy 5:9-10)
Boaz called Ruth a “virtuous woman.” The Biblical portrait for a virtuous woman is found in Proverbs 31:10-31
Traits of a Proverbs 31 Woman:
verse 10 Noble verse 21 Farsighted, looks ahead
verse 11 Trustworthy verse 22 Crafty, creative, takes care of appearance
verse 12 Honors her husband verse 23 Honors her husband publicly and by actions
verse 13 Hardworking verse 24 Acquires skills
verse 14 Selective, makes wise choices verse 25 Fearless of the future, prepared
verse 15 Has a plan verse 26 Wise and speaks kindly
verse 16 Thrifty verse 27 Watchful, diligent homemaker
verse 17 Works willingly verse 28 Praised by her family
verse 18 Makes profitable goods verse 29 Excels the mediocre
verse 19 Works hard verse 30 She fears the Lord
verse 20 Generous verse 31 She earns reward and receives praise
The Law of Kinsman Redeemer
“A kinsman redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or in need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Gen 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9-25; 25:47-55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz.” (Got Questions Ministries)
(3:14) Start off your day in the presence of Jesus!
Her Marriage:
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Read Ruth 4:1-13: From rags to riches!
(4:1-4) The ten elders are a picture of the law. Which came before Jesus, our Redeemer.
Ruth, a Moabitess, picture of the church. Boaz is a picture of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer.
We are washed with the Word and anointed with the Holy Spirit when we come to the feet of Jesus for redemption. We are redeemed as Jesus fulfilled the Law. Jesus spotted us first just like Boaz spotted Ruth and took note of her before she took note of him. We see the Holy Spirit working the whole thing out! Through the whole story there is unity and redemption for everyone.
Life Lesson:
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Just as you came to Jesus at the foot of the cross to redeem you from all of your sin ...enter a marriage relationship with Him as His Bride. Ruth now had a daily relationship with her groom. Jesus has redeemed us at our initial salvation experience but His desire is to redeem us every single day!
Discussion Questions:
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1. What does the name Ruth mean? Compare it with the meaning of the word ruthless. Characterize Ruth.
2. Was it love for God or for Naomi that determined Ruth’s choice?
3. What are the main values shown in the book of Ruth?
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