Ruth: Gracious Caring - Ruth 1; 2; 4 - May 7, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Ruth: Gracious Caring – May 7, 2006

This begins a new series of study, “Godly Women of Devotion.”

May 7 – Ruth: Gracious Caring – The Book of Ruth

May 14 – Hannah: Determined Devotion – 1 Samuel

May 21 – Lydia: Willing Service – Acts and Philippians

May 28 – Mary (Sister of Martha and Lazarus) – Luke and John

Our scripture is Ruth 1:15-18; 2:2-7, 10-12; 4:13-17.

Let’s examine the book of Ruth from a broad view. When I saw this study I asked the LORD to reveal to me what HE wanted us to see in the study of Ruth. Well HE did. It is a foreshadow of JESUS as our redeemer.

First let’s look at the structure of the Book of Ruth.

1. Ruth’s Decision to remain with Naomi. Ruth 1:1-18
2. Ruth’s Devotion to care for Naomi. Ruth 1:19-2:23
3. Ruth’s Request for redemption by Boaz. Ruth 3:1-18
4. Ruth’s Reward of redemption by Boaz. Ruth 4:1-22

First we are not sure of the earthly author of the Book of Ruth. It is believed that the Prophet Samuel may have written it. It was written about 990 BC after David the great-grandson of Ruth was King of Judah.

Ruth’s life is an example of the care and providence of GOD. Ruth was a vital part of GOD’S plan and purpose for the redemption of mankind. It is through her line and Boaz’s line that JESUS was born. GOD needed to get Ruth from the far country of Moab into the household of Boaz and give birth to Obed who would father Jesse, who in turn fathered David.
Ruth’s journey gives us a glimpse of salvation which would come through a future descendant, JESUS. Ruth was faced with decisions. She made the decision to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi and to be loyal to her. By doing so she had to renounce her heritage and embrace the GOD of Naomi and the culture of Naomi.

By being obedient to the care of Naomi, Ruth was led to a rewarding relationship with Boaz which resulted in an ancestry which would glorify GOD and redeem mankind through the birth, sinless life, death, resurrection and ascension of JESUS. We have the opportunity to read about the journey of Ruth as GOD brings her to exactly where HE wants her to be. Little did she know what GOD had in store for her.

Our nature can be a help or a hindrance to us in serving our LORD. Orpah had to choose as well. She chose to stay where she was and to possibly return to the gods she had worshipped.

As we study Ruth’s journey keep this brief overview in mind and ask GOD to reveal to you the joy of seeing HIS hand at work in the life of Ruth. Think of Boaz as a foreshadow of JESUS. Boaz was Ruth's redeemer and JESUS is the redeemer of all mankind. JESUS is our redeemer and Boaz was Ruth’s redeemer. Boaz’s steps were ordered by GOD, as well as Ruth’s steps. Both had willing and caring hearts. GOD looks upon the heart.

Ruth is a Gentile and lives in the land of Moab. The name “Ruth” means “friendship.” Ruth certainly lived up to her name as we see captured in the beautiful statement in our first scripture, which is also used in many marriage ceremonies.

Let’s read Ruth 1:15-18:

15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”
16 But Ruth replied: Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do this to me,[11] A solemn oath formula; 1 Sm 3:17; 2 Sm 3:9,35; 1 Kg 2:23; 2 Kg 6:31 and even more, if anything but death separates you and me. 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.

We see determination and commitment. This is exactly what GOD wants us to do when we accept JESUS as our SAVIOR. It is a life long journey; wherever HE leads we will follow. Notice that Ruth fully embraces the GOD of Naomi, “Yahweh” and has confidence in HIM. Naomi must have been a GODLY woman to be an example to her daughter-in-law. Ruth had been raised worshipping wooden and stone images. The Moabites worshipped a number of gods but their main god is Chemosh (KEE-mahsh).

Naomi had followed her husband, Elimelech (ih-LIM-uh-lek) to Moab when a famine hit Judah. Some might view Elimelech’s decision to leave Judah as a lack of faith by not trusting GOD to take care of him and his family. There is no evidence that this is the case. However some Jews would interpret the fact that Elimelech and his two (2) sons died in a foreign land as a judgment from GOD. The fact that both sons married Moabite women was a sin against the Mosaic Law.

Since we know the rest of the story, it seems it was GOD’S plan to urge Elimelech to travel to Moab, since Ruth is vital to the ancestry of JESUS. It is also interesting that in the distant past, the Moabites had a connection with the Israelites because Moab was the son of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. However the Moabites did not worship the GOD of Abraham.

Elimelech and Naomi had two (2) sons, possibly twins. One son is named Mahlon (MA-lahn) which means “the sickly one” or “invalid” and he married Ruth. The other son is named Chilion (KIL-ih-ahn) which means “the pinning one” or “wasting away” and he married Orpah (AWR pah). The husband’s names were likely related to their condition at birth.
Imagine being married to a husband named “invalid” or “wasting away.” No comments. Don’t rename your husbands!

After living in Moab for about ten (10) years, Mahlon and Chilion died. Neither Ruth nor Orpah had children by either of Naomi’s sons. Naomi is a widow in a foreign land with nothing. Both daughters-in-law have a choice, stay in Moab or go to Israel with Naomi.

Orpah decides to remain in Moab. Naomi urges Ruth to stay with her sister-in-law. Ruth makes her decision to go with Naomi.

Ruth’s decision to commit herself to Naomi is:
v Voluntary
v Total
v Unconditional

Isn’t this the type of commitment a bride and groom make to each other? This is what GOD wants us to do when we commit our life to CHRIST. This is the commitment we make as a caregiver to our spouse, family member or friend.

Let’s read Ruth 2:2-7:

2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone who allows me to?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather [grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. behind the harvesters. She happened[3] Pr 16:33; 20:24 to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. 4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.” “The Lord bless you,” they replied. 5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has remained from early morning until now, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”[4] LXX reads until evening she has not stopped in the field; Vg reads now and she did not return to the house; Hb uncertain

They arrive at their destination. Guess where it is they have arrived? None other than Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “House of Bread” because they grew wheat and barley in that area. What do we know about Bethlehem? You got it, JESUS was born in Bethlehem. The Bread of Life was born in the “House of Bread.”

We see that Ruth asked Naomi to let her go into the fields to gather behind someone who allows her to gather the fallen grain behind her.

According to Mosaic Law found in Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19, once the Israelites had gathered grain into their arms and it should fall to the ground, they could not pick it up again. The principle was for the land owner to show compassion to the poor, aliens, widows and orphans. Further, the field workers were not to harvest the corners of the fields leaving them for this unfortunate group of people. Not every land owner followed this law but most did, which reflected the character of the land owner.

Ruth, just by accident, chose the field of Boaz. No! GOD chose the field and directed Ruth to it. Did they know GOD’S plan? No.

Ruth’s journey began with her decision to leave Moab with Naomi. Often it is only in retrospect that we can see how GOD has guided our life to the point that HE wants us to be to serve HIM. As HIS children we are all on a journey and we may still be on a journey to where GOD’S wants us to be.

Naomi tried to talk Ruth out of going back to Israel with her but Ruth was persistent. Persistence pays off in prayer and in serving our LORD.

Notice the order. Boaz spots Ruth. He checks her out first through a servant he trusted, his foreman. Boaz wanted to determine her marital status. The foreman connects Ruth to Naomi his kin. So Ruth is family.

Verse 7 tells us that Ruth asks if she could follow behind the harvester. She did not just jump in and do it because the law said so. This tells a great deal about a person, even though one has the right to do something; it is always good to make sure you get permission. I think this impressed Boaz. She asked before she started to gather the dropped grain.

The foreman reports back to Boaz that she is no slacker, she is a hard worker. When we work, we are always to work as unto the LORD. It is the LORD we need to please not our boss. If we please the LORD, we will please the boss.

This is true with any relationship. When our relationship with our LORD is what it should be, all our other relationships will fall into proper place along with the proper attitude toward others.

One interesting fact about Boaz, “Do you know who Boaz’s mother is?” None other than, Rahab the harlot from Jericho. Rahab, a Gentile, had protected the Jewish spies who had come on a reconnaissance mission. (Joshua 2: 1-14 copied at the end of the lesson.)

So Boaz is the son of a prostitute who does well for himself. He is used by GOD in HIS plan to redeem mankind through his bloodline and his mother’s bloodline because both are ancestors of JESUS. How about that!

Boaz is a kind and honorable man. We see this in Ruth 2:6-9 as he goes to Ruth and tells her:

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter.[5] Lit Haven‘t you heard, my daughter? Don’t go and gather [grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my young women. 9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow [them]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. . Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you?[6] Either sexual or physical harassment When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

I think we see the budding of a romance! Some speculate that Boaz was an eligible rich bachelor, who had some age on him. Ruth was a younger, pretty female and there is speculation that Boaz did not think she would be interested in an older man.

What happens next?

Let’s read Ruth 2:10-12:

10 She bowed with her face to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner?” 11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: [how]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you left your father and mother, and the land of your birth, and [how]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you came to a people you didn’t previously know. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Bowing was to show respect for Boaz. It was routine for people to bow before royalty. Ruth is very gracious toward Boaz for looking out for her. (The Bible tells us at the end of time every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD.)

Boaz reveals that he knew a lot about her, he had done his homework. He was very impressed that Ruth had committed herself to Naomi when she did not have to. He also learned she was a widow just like Naomi. Then Boaz asks that GOD bless her. This shows that Boaz recognized that she worshipped the GOD of Israel. Little did he know that her blessing from GOD would come from him. Isn’t GOD great! GOD is our refuge and strength, just keep on plugging along.

Let’s read Ruth 2:13-20:

14 At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had [some]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. left over. 15 When she got up to gather [grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , Boaz ordered his young men, “Be sure to let her gather [grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her. 16 Pull out [some]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. stalks from the bundles for her and leave [them]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.” 17 So Ruth gathered [grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about 26 quarts[8] Lit about an ephah of barley. 18 She picked up [the grain]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. and went into the city, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. Then she brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to her. 19 Then her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather [barley]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. today, and where did you work? May [the Lord]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. bless the man who noticed you.” Ruth told her mother-in-law about the men she had worked [with]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.” 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, who has not forsaken his[9] Or His kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our • family redeemers.”

But there is another relative next in line before Boaz for Elimelech’s and Mahlon’s land and Ruth.

The Levirate Law means “husbands brother”. This law states, when a woman’s husband dies and the husband did not have an heir, then the widow could ask her husband’s brother to be as a husband to her to produce a male child to carry on the name of the deceased husband. If the widow’s husband did not have a brother then the next of kin would be a candidate to produce an heir with her. In the case of Ruth, her husband’s brother had died, so the next of kin was eligible to be called upon to be her “redeemer.”

Naomi has a plan to get Boaz interested in Ruth. Naomi is confident Boaz will know how to deal with the relative next in line eligible for Elimelech and Mahlon’s property and Ruth.

Boaz deals with the matter according to the Levirate Law. Boaz tells the next of kin that Elimelech and Mahlon’s land is for sale and asks if he wants to purchase it? Yes! Boaz then tells him that is fine but when you purchase the land you will also get Mahlon’s widow, the Moabite, for the purpose of producing an heir. The man refuses.

It has been speculated that the man already had land and possibly children. If he took Ruth as his wife he would be obligated to try to produce a child with her. Producing a child with Ruth would mean the child would share in the inheritance of the total estate of the man at his death. He did not want to take a chance of diluting the inheritance for his heirs by another woman. Did he already have other children? We do not know. All we know is that he declines the offer.

This refusal terminates his right as next of kin to “redeem” Ruth and paves the way for Boaz to “redeem” Ruth by her becoming his wife. Boaz had already made his intentions very clear to the next of kin that he would take Ruth as his wife if he gave up his right to her. Ruth 4:1-12 captures this event and is copied at the end of the lesson.

Notice the order and the steps taken. It was as the Levirate Law required and above board. What did Boaz see in Ruth?

Boaz knew Ruth’s heart! He knew her character! He fell head over heels in love with her. He knew she was loyal, faithful, caring, unselfish and a hard worker. The key is GOD had plans for their offspring to redeem mankind about 1,000 years later.

The way is clear for Boaz to take Ruth as his wife.

Let’s read Ruth 4:13-17:

13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name be famous in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and took care of him. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed.[11] = Servant He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Life is never an accident when we are willing to serve GOD. HE orders our steps.

Romans 8:28-30:

28 We know that all things work together[16] Other mss read that God works together in all things for the good[17] The ultimate good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew[18] From eternity God knew His people and entered into a personal relationship with them He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Verse 28 – Things are not the driver in life but GOD is in all things working for good for those who love GOD. We all make mistakes and are accountable for those mistakes. But when we are GOD’S child and we love GOD, HE is working to make the best come from our life mistakes, messes and all.

Think for a minute about the Israelites. When GOD delivered them from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites walked with GOD, saw the miracles HE performed, got disgruntled with GOD, walked with GOD again, lost confidence in GOD, wandered in the wilderness for forty (40) years, then entered into the Promised Land, the place GOD wanted them forty (40) years earlier. Even Moses disobeyed GOD and struck the rock rather than speaking to the rock for water. GOD told Moses; sorry you will not enter the Promised Land because you disobeyed ME. I will let you see it but you will not go there. Sin has consequences.

Moses did go to heaven when he died, which is our eternal destination. In the meantime we can dwell in the Promised Land of experiencing the joy and power of the HOLY SPIRIT and GOD’S presence in our life.

Compare the Israelites journey to Ruth and her journey. She is faithful, obedient, humble, caring and willing to serve. Her steps were ordered by GOD and she arrived in the arms of her “redeemer”, Boaz, which produced JESUS, “The Redeemer” for all mankind.

Life is much the same way. We can kick and scream along our life’s journey, all the way to the place where GOD wants us to be to experience HIM. Or we can yield ourselves to HIM and be obedient and HE will direct our paths to the place HE wants us to be.

It is all about relationship. Do we love GOD and want to please HIM or do we struggle with GOD?

When we have a loving, intimate relationship with GOD, it produces the right relationship with others.

Naomi means “pleasant.” When Naomi returned to Bethlehem she said she had changed her name to Mara, which means “bitter.” Naomi was bitter toward GOD for the death of her husband, two (2) sons and no heir to carry on the family name. When Obed (means to serve) was born the women referred to her as Naomi. Her joy had been restored through the birth of Obed.

Joshua 2:1-14 - Spies Sent to Jericho
1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from Acacia Grove,[1] Or from Shittim saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent [word]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!” 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. 7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the gate was shut.
The Promise to Rahab
8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.[2] Or land panics at your approach 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the • Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt,[3] Ex 14:21–30 and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you • completely destroyed[4] Nm 21:23–30, 33–35; Dt 2:32–34; 3:1–3 across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed[5] Lit and spirit no longer remained in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you.[6] Lit to your father‘s house Give me a sure sign[7] Or a sign of truth 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.” 14 The men answered her, “[We will give]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.”
Ruth 4:1-12:
1 Boaz went to the • gate [of the town]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. [1] Ru 3:11 and sat down there. Soon, the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about[2] Ru 3:12 came by. Boaz called him by name and said, “Come[3] Lit Boaz said so-and-so come over here and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Then Boaz took 10 men of the city’s elders and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down. 3 He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling a piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should inform you:[4] Lit should uncover your ear, saying Buy [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , do so. But if you do[5] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read if he does not want to redeem [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , tell me, so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , and I am next after you.” “I want to redeem [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. ,” he answered. 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you will also acquire[6] Vg; MT reads Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”[7] Gn 38:6–11; Lv 25:23–34; Dt 25:5–10 6 The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. myself, or I will ruin my [own]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.” 7 At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal[8] Dt 25:9 and gave [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to the other party in order to make any matter [legally]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was [the method of]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. legally binding a transaction in Israel. 8 So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy back [the property]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. yourself.” 9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10 I will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property,[9] Ru 4:5 so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.” 11 The elders and all the people who were at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah,[10] Gn 38 because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

Ruth’s Journey Moab to Bethlehem/Boaz

v Ruth’s Decision to remain with Naomi. Ruth 1:1-18
v Ruth’s Devotion to care for Naomi. Ruth 1:19-2:23
v Ruth’s Request for redemption by Boaz. Ruth 3:1-18
v Ruth’s Reward of redemption by Boaz. Ruth 4:1-22

GOD’S Deliverance of the Israelites From Slavery in Egypt and Their Journey From Egypt to the Promised Land (A Foreshadow of Salvation Through JESUS).


GOD’S Deliverance of Ruth from Moab and Her gods to Her Redeemer Boaz (A Foreshadow of Salvation JESUS being our Redeemer).

All People Have A Journey To Salvation.
GOD Calls, The HOLY SPIRIT Works Within and Urges A Person To Accept CHRIST As Their SAVIOR and LORD. The Decision Is Still Ours To Make. Once We Accept CHRIST As Our SAVIOR We Are Still On A Journey Of Building A Relationship With Our LORD.

Getting to Know HIM In A More Loving, Intimate Way Is Our Choice.

As With Any Journey It Is A Step At A Time, Moment By Moment, Day By Day, Year By Year Until We Meet HIM Face To Face.

Then We Will Know HIM and Be Like HIM.