December 10, 2023

BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN: RUTH

December 10, 2023

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

The Biblical love story of Ruth is one most Christ-followers are familiar with. The Moabites, having descended from Lot, settled in the land southeast and east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. Ruth was a Moabitess, marrying into the Israelite family of Elimelech and Naomi, and, when Naomi returned to her native home of Bethlehem after a famine of the area had ended, Ruth went with her. Ruth’s beautiful words in Chapter 1:16-17 have become part of the vows of many couples during their wedding ceremony.

Focal Passage: The Book of Ruth

Loss is not the end of the story!

  • Read Ruth 1:1-5. What happened to Naomi once her husband decided they should go to Moab, where there was food? There was no mention of prayer, yet what was God’s purpose in taking the family to Moab?
  • Read Deut. 7:2-3. Do you think Elimelech and Naomi were ignorant of the Laws of Moses, or had they given up on returning to Bethlehem?
  • How do you think Naomi felt when her sons had died (after Elimelech) and she was left with two foreign daughters-in-law? How would you have felt?
  • Read vv. 6-10. How would Naomi have found out there was food in Bethlehem? Why did she have second thoughts about the women going with her? What in her speech indicated she had a kind heart, even though she considered herself abandoned by God? What was significant about returning to Judea at the beginning of barley harvest time?

The righteous acts of today will follow you tomorrow:

  • Read Ruth 2:10-12. In verses 1-2 of this chapter, do you think Ruth had any knowledge of the Levirate law? Where does the scene now shift to? What was the tradition (given by God) that allowed gleaning in the fields?
  • What had Boaz heard that caused him to feel kindly toward Ruth? Read vv. 17-19. How does he react? What are some indications that he served God?
  • What kind of response indicates Ruth had a genuine humility, recognizing that she was dependent on Naomi? How did God bless her faithfulness?

God responds to our needs in the most unlikely ways:

  • In Ruth 2:19, why does it seem as though Naomi had not taken in the fact that it was Boaz that Ruth had spoken of in verses 1-2? Read verse 20. Why does Naomi get excited when she realizes Boaz has been kind to Ruth?
  • Read 3:1-4. At the end of the barley harvest, why does Naomi give Ruth instructions, based on the Levirate law as well as Boaz’s kindness to Ruth?
  • Naomi stresses Ruth’s attire: is it possible she had been in widow’s clothes until now? Knowing it was the custom of that day, would it seem so forward? How did she react to Naomi’s instructions?
  • Read 3:10-13. How does Boaz react? How does he show that he is a man of integrity, even when he must have desired otherwise? How had God met Ruth and Naomi’s needs since they had returned to Bethlehem? Was Naomi still “bitter”?

God is always faithful:

  • Read Ruth. 4:1-6. Where was this scene? How do you think Ruth was feeling as she waited for the verdict? What about Naomi? Do you think Ruth was pre-disposed to desire Boaz, as she had never met the “close relative”? How did this man feel? Did he reject Ruth?
  • Read vv. 11-15. What was the reaction of the people of Bethlehem? Did they seem to hold Ruth’s ethnic background against her?
  • What was the climax of the story for Ruth and Naomi in verse 17? Last week, Rahab, had married Salmon, and had the son Boaz; now Boaz has Obed by a Moabitess, Ruth. Obed has Jesse, the father of King David. Can God do anything He wants, with anyone He wants to use?

Close:

This series on the four women (plus Mary) in the genealogy of Jesus Christ from Matt. 1 teaches us that one is never too broken to be used by God. We read of Tamar, who resorted to playing a prostitute in order to get Judah, son of Jacob, to realize his sin in not giving his son, Shelah, to her when he became old enough to fulfil the Levirate law. Rahab, the harlot, pondered the things she was hearing about Israel’s God and became a believer. No longer was she the harlot—she was now Rahab, the believer! Her life was changed and she became a child of God. Ruth, the Moabitess, believed in the God of Israel and was no longer known as the Moabitess, but as the mother of Obed, and eventually became the great grandmother of King David. No one is beyond the reach of God. There is nothing you have done that can keep you from faith in Jesus, allowing God to make you into a new creation, useful for whatever purpose He has for you! Never let Satan convince you that you are too bad to be saved. Likewise, don’t ever give up on praying for someone else’s salvation!

 

By Sandy Day

December 10, 2023

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