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Ruth

1:1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. 6 When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. 8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. 9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." Then she kissed them and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, "We will go back with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!"

• Naomi had some difficult times. She summarized her situation by saying that the Lord’s hand had gone out against her. God was actually doing good through her life. How can you avoid making false assumptions about the difficulties you face?

• What made Ruth determined to stay with Naomi?

• When Ruth went to glean, she was willing to work but dependent on someone showing her favor. How are your effort and the favor you receive through others important in your life?

• In what ways did Boaz show kindness to Ruth?

• Naomi recognizes God’s kindness. She could have still been consumed with sorrow and bitterness over her own hardship. How can you focus on God’s goodness despite whatever trouble you might face?

• Naomi could have preferred to have Ruth stay with her and help her. Why was she motivated to see Ruth marry and have a home of her own?

• Some have imagined that the phrases “uncovering his feet” and “spread the corner of your garment” are politely describing a sexual encounter. Here are three reasons for believing that the passage means just what it describes and not something more, 1) The Bible is not bashful in mentioning sexual encounters, both moral and immoral, when they are significant. If there had been a sexual encounter here, it would have been frankly mentioned, 2) It would make no sense for Boaz to be sexually involved with Ruth and then offer to defer to another relative to acquire her as his wife, and 3) After they were married, the Bible states that Boaz went to Ruth and she conceived. The implication is that this was the beginning of their sexual relationship. Certainly Ruth’s actions were bold and put her at Boaz’s mercy. Why would Naomi recommend such bold actions?

• Why did Boaz consider Ruth actions as kindness?

4:1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down." So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so. 3 Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line." "I will redeem it," he said. 5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property." 6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it."

• Why did the other relative not want to marry Ruth?

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

• Ruth was from Moab. She was not an Israelite. However, she became an ancestor of David, and therefore, an ancestor of Jesus. Why would God work in Ruth’s life in this way? What do you learn about God from this story?

Posted by Cute at 7:19 AM