Bible Study Notes in Ruth- Chapter 4

Ruth 4

-Now Boaz followed through with his word to seek out a kinsman redeemer for the widowed Ruth. He went to the gate and sat down there as was the custom when matters needed to be addressed. As this closer relative to Elimelech soon passed by, Boaz had him turn aside and sit down with him to offer him the opportunity to buy Elimelech’s inherited land as a redemption property. Initially, this close relative did want to buy the land and redeem it. But, when Boaz informed him that if he bought the land he needed to also acquire Ruth as his wife, the close relative thought again about his decision and for whatever reason now declined the offer. He did mention that somehow he would jeopardize his own inheritance; therefore, he allowed Boaz the right to redemption of the land and Ruth. They performed the customary removal of the sandal from one to another to confirm the exchange of the land unto the manner of attestation in Israel at the time, and the matter was completed. Boaz said to the elders and all the people who were there, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon (Elimelech’s sons who had passed away, Ruth 4:1-9).”

-He went on, “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” All the people there agreed. They then pronounced blessing upon Ruth and Boaz by saying, “May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem (Ruth 4:10-11).” They went on with the pouring out of favor, “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman (Ruth 4:12).” So Boaz completed his honorable and loveable mission by marrying his young bride and having sexual intimacy. They conceived by the enabling of the LORD and had a son. The women of the region blessed Naomi now and told her that indeed the LORD had raised up a redeemer who would become famous in Israel. Boaz would become a restorer of life to this older widow and a sustainer for her well-being. They went on to say something really special of this Moabitess foreigner, the impeccable and noble Ruth. She was to Naomi better than seven sons because she loved her mother-in-law and gave her a grandchild to carry on the family name (Ruth 4:13-15).

-In time Naomi laid the new child on her lap and became his nurse. He was named Obed, who later became the father of Jesse, who was the father of the future King David (Ruth 4:16-17). The book ends with the genealogy from Perez to David, a remarkable-real family line that fulfilled the ancient prophecies and would lead to the Messiah in the fullness of time (Ruth 4:18-22, Genesis 38:11-29; 49:10, Galatians 4:4-7).

-*Application* To this day, Boaz and Ruth’s names are famous in Bethlehem Ephrathah. Included is a picture of a restaurant built in the fertile area where Boaz’s wheat once grew. More important than this however is the legacy of love and redemption that truly began with this great man and woman of God. They had transformed lives that exuded class, kindness, and courage. For their character they received blessings, honor, and favor perhaps more than any other family in Israel. Let’s think about it, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came from them. Do we want to incur the favor of God in our lives like these remarkable people? I don’t even need to answer that question do I? It’s obvious, as we allow the LORD to change our hearts, wills, and minds into conformity with His image, we too will experience the blessings of the Almighty in small and large ways.

                          (from: http://www.seetheholyland.net/field-of-boaz/#jp-carousel-4654)

Verses to Memorize: Ruth 4:10, 14

Bible Study Notes in Ruth- Chapter 3

Ruth 3

-Naomi now had a plan to move forward in an attempt to find a kinsman redeemer for her lovely daughter-in-law, Ruth. She was seeking security for this young life and developed an interesting opportunity according to the cultural tradition. She had in mind Boaz; after all, he had shown incredible kindness already in showing them favor. Ruth was operating with his maids already in the harvesting of sustenance, so this was the logical maneuver. Somehow Naomi knew that Boaz would be winnowing barley at the threshing floor on a particular night. This was a section, usually outside the city where the wheat chaff, which was useless, was separated from the good inner kernel grain on an elevated site where the wind could do its work in blowing the chaff away (see Psalm 1:4, Daniel 2:35, Malachi 4:1, Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17). The good kernels would remain for sustenance and provision. Boaz was probably there by appointment as individuals shared this common threshing area in the community. He was staying there for the night either to prevent theft, or he may have been there waiting his turn to thresh the wheat. Harvesting was done in the daylight hours, and threshing was more of a nighttime activity in this culture. Naomi had Ruth wash herself, anoint herself with perfume, and put on her very best clothes. She was instructed to then go down to the threshing floor without making herself known to Boaz until he had finished his eating and drinking. When he lay down for the evening, she was to go and uncover his feet and lie down (a culture tradition, no sexually explicit promiscuous come on here). Naomi told Ruth that Boaz would let her know what to do next. Ruth, as always, graciously complied to Naomi’s design and followed through with the plan (Ruth 3:1-6).

-When Boaz had eaten and drank his heart to merriment, he went to lie down for the evening at the end of the heap of grain. Ruth came in secretly and uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night, Boaz awoke startled as he bent forward and observed this young woman lying at his feet. In the dark, he asked, “Who are you?” When Ruth told him who she was, she encouraged him to cover her as his close relative and maidservant. Boaz blessed her in the Name of the LORD for her kindness in considering an older man, probably past his prime, for a redeemer. However, there was one matter that needed to be taken care of first. After telling her not to fear and that he would do all that she asked for because she was a woman of excellence, he related that there was a relative closer to their family than he. Ruth was instructed by Boaz to stay there with him for the night in safety until the morning when he could see if the other-closer relative would redeem her or not. If not, Boaz promised, as the LORD lives, to redeem her himself. She lay at his feet until morning in obedience to this benevolent man. But while it was still dark, she departed before anyone could recognize that a woman had come to the threshing floor, which could give indication that this kind of activity would not have been condoned by the society. But, he could have been keeping her activity hidden for the sake of the closer relative. He didn’t want to hurt any reputations it appears from the text. But before she could go, Boaz once again blessed her with sustenance to share with her mother-in-law. He asked for her outward cloak and filled it with six measures of barley. Ruth then went into the city and gave the provisions to her mother-in-law. Upon approaching, Naomi asked, “How did it go my daughter?” Ruth gleefully told her all that had transpired, and how Boaz did not want to leave Naomi empty-handed. The chapter ends with this fundamental statement, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today (Ruth 3:7-18).”

-*Application* Boaz must have considered his relationship with Ruth sometime prior to what happened on the threshing floor. He knew the cultural protocol, and kept his righteous ways before him at all times. His wisdom shines through and is perceived by all. He was a true man of success in every facet. Naomi, knowing his character, knew that Boaz was a man that could be counted on. How good are we at keeping our word and fulling our promises? This is the meditation of the day from this Scripture (Psalm 15:4).

Verses to Memorize: Ruth 3:6, 11

Bible Study Notes in Ruth- Chapter 2

Ruth 2

-“Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz (Ruth 2:1).” This introduces new intrigue into the story of God’s salvation plan as we continue. Ruth, described as the Moabitess several times in the pericope (Ruth 1:22; 2:2, 6, 21), requests from her mother-in-law to go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after the one who gives her favor. Naomi consented to this request, more than likely out of need more than want. So, Ruth departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers according to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:18-22). She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, again who was of the family of Elimelech. Whether or not she had knowledge of whose field this was in the first encounter is unknown from text. Boaz then comes into the picture asking whose young woman this was as he came from Bethlehem blessing his reapers in the Name of the LORD (Ruth 2:2-5). From the beginning we can discern the kindness and humble spirit of this incredible man of God. He soon discovered from his reapers that this was the young Moabite woman who had returned with Naomi. The reapers further relayed that she had come to them in the morning asking to glean after them among the sheaves and had patiently remained there in the house until the time Boaz had arrived (Ruth 2:6-7).

-Boaz now spoke to her for the first time, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw (Ruth 2:8-9).” Humbled and grateful, Ruth fell on her face before him bowing to the ground in homage asking, “Why I have found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” Boaz now reveals that he had done his background work, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.” Then he blessed her and acknowledged her faith as well as his own, “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 (Ruth 2:10-12).” Ruth had nothing but excitement from this unexpected blessing, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants (Ruth 2:13).”

-At mealtime, Boaz had her come and eat of the bread and vinegar they had provided for the reapers. She was served roasted grain until she was full and still had some left over. When she arose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants to let her glean among the sheaves (more than the Law accounted for) and not to insult her in any way. He further had them purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it so that she could glean without any rebuke. Ruth gleaned until evening, hard at work and very grateful. She was able to beat out what she had gleaned, and it came to about an ephah of barley. This was an awesome day of work! She took it up into the city showing her mother-in-law what she had gleaned. The leftover bread she had saved was given to Naomi. The aged mother-in-law then asked, “Where did you glean today and where did you work?” Then she blessed the giver of this bountiful surplus, “May he who took notice of you be blessed.” Ruth related that she had worked with Boaz, and Naomi again blessed him for his kindness to the living and to the dead. Then, as she began to think about it, surmised, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.” Ruth then further related that he had told her to stay close to his servants until they had finished all his harvest in the field. Naomi responded that it was good that she go out with his maids for protection as she was out in the field. Ruth delightfully obeyed staying close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and wheat harvest, and she continued to live and support her mother-in-law (Ruth 2:14-23).

-*Application* Things always begin to turn around for the better when we continue to trust in the LORD and seek His refuge. What a beautiful story of kindness and generosity we are given here today. I am praying that the LORD rewards all of our work and that our wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel and everyone else who believes in His wonderful-matchless Name. Notice that this kindness involves action. If you are blessed, and all of us in America really are when we think about it, share your provisions and favor others, especially those who are having a rough go of it. It will make all of our day and provide a future hope, which we so desperately need. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father through us as a blessing (James 1:17). Be like Boaz, extend the favor of the LORD to others. If we are in need today, keep trusting and working like Ruth did. She was proactive and diligent to receive all God had for her. We should be the exact same.

Verses to Memorize: Ruth 2:12-13

Bible Study Notes in Ruth- Introduction and Chapter 1

Ruth 1

-Introduction: During the period of the judges of Israel an important family makes its appearance on the biblical scene in regard to God’s salvation plan for mankind. The book of Ruth tells us how God worked through a Gentile woman to bring her into the Family of Boaz, who is a direct ancestor of King David and Jesus the Messiah. The Israeli society around this family was collapsing in many ways with people living to please themselves rather than their covenant LORD, but God was still at work for the redemption of mankind as we will see in this short narrative. This book has an unknown author, though some have speculated it to be the prophet Samuel. The date of the writing is also unknown, but the events of the story happen three generations before the birth of King David with Ruth being the great-grandmother of this future leader after the heart of God (Acts 13:32). Therefore, the themes of this work include, but are not limited to, grace, faithfulness, kindness, integrity, protection, prosperity, blessing, and redemption. So as we read and study let us remember that no matter how discouraging or antagonistic the world may seem, there are always people who follow God around us, and His purposes will always transcend the junk.

(Ideas extracted from “New American Standard Bible: Life Application Study Bible.” Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1995, pgs. 426-427)

-Chapter 1: There was a famine in the land of Israel at a point of the later period of the judges’ governance. A certain man, Elimelech, from Bethlehem in Judah sojourned to the land of Moab with his wife and two sons in search for sustenance and optimistic about a better life during these days of distress. Elimelech’s wife was named Naomi (pleasant), and his sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They remained in Moab until the death of Elimelech, and his boys had both married Moabite women in due time. The Moabite women are biblically named as Orpah and Ruth. Events occurred in time where both of the sons of Elimelech died as well leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth without the support of a man. Women were very dependent on husbands for well-being in those days, and something had to be done for survival. The decision was made by Naomi that she would return to her ancestral home in Judah because she received word that the LORD had visited His people with favor in giving them food again (Ruth 1:1-6).

-They departed the place where they were staying and went on their way towards Judah. Along the journey, somewhere probably in the barren land of that region, Naomi beseeched her daughters-in-law to return to their mother’s house with the blessings of the LORD for rest, kindness, and a husband for each. She had been very blessed to have had them as kind and considerate daughters-in-law in her time of grief. Now she desired to release them so they could pick up the pieces of their lives and somehow prosper again. They lifted their up voices together and wept. They wanted to stay with Naomi, but Naomi rationalized that she could not support them for she was old, unable to remarry, and could not possibly provide for them other sons. She felt like the Hand of the LORD had gone forth against her, and she felt like detaining these girls would not be a good thing at all for their sake (Ruth 1:7-13).

-They lifted up their voices and wept again. Orpah decided at this point to return to her people and her gods, but Ruth had another idea. She clung to her mother-in-law telling her, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me (Ruth 1:14-17).” What a stirring testimony! Her faith and her commitment was enduring. She would stick with this mother-in-law that she so dearly loved, not knowing the future or what would become of them. She desired oneness and communion. She would not separate the unity they had as a family.

-When Naomi saw that Ruth was indeed determined to go with her, they ventured on together into the bold new future back in Israel. They eventually came to Bethlehem, and the small city was stirred by the news of their arrival. The women of the city said, “Is this Naomi?” It had been so long since they’d seen her. Her reply to them shows what hard times she’d had, “Do not call me Naomi (pleasant); call me Mara (bitter), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Now they came back around the time of the beginning of the barley harvest (Ruth 1:18-22).

-*Application* Hard core commitment is a rare thing in our day and age. Sticking to something or someone is not the fashion of the hour. Would that we consider the message here that Ruth presents us. Tough times never last but tough people do. Love and unity overcomes all (Romans 12:21).

Verse to Memorize: Ruth 1:16