Bible Study: Ruth 2

This week, we are having a look at Ruth 2. The study is include below, if you get a chance to have a look at it (though I don't think we'll do all 21 questions!) Looking forward to seeing you there.

For starters...

1. Think of your favourite love story (could be a film, book, play, soap opera, song...).  What do you love about it?  Why do you think love stories are always so popular in cultures around the world?

Turn to Ruth chapter 1.

2. ‘In the days when the judges ruled...’ (v.1). What do you know about the days of the judges?  Share that with each other.

• Optional: Read Judges 2:10-19 for an overview...

Read over Ruth 1:1-7 – as a big group or in 2s and 3s.

3. Why do Elimelech and his family leave the land?
4. Why is Moab a strange place for them to travel to?  (See Deut 23:3-6.)
5. What did Elimelech and his family gain by going to Moab:

• In the short term?
• In the long term?

6. Why does Naomi come back?

Read over Ruth 1:8-21 and compare the speeches of Ruth (vv.16-17) and Naomi (vv.20-21)

7. Do they see God as in control of events?  How do they express this?
8. What is their attitude to this God, given all that has happened?
9. How do they see the future? (Ruth/Naomi(

Read Ruth 2:1-7

10. What impression do we get of Ruth in this passage?
11. In v.1, we learn something about Boaz.  From his first appearance in the harvest field, what else do we learn about him?

[Old Testament background – for the laws on ‘gleaning’, see Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22.]

Read Ruth 2:8-16.

12. In v.10, why is Ruth so puzzled at Boaz’s treatment of her?
13. How does Boaz answer her (vv.11-12)?
14. What indications are there in the passage that not everyone would have treated Ruth so kindly?  (e.g. see 2:9 – 2:15-16 – 2:22)
15. How does Boaz’s treatment of Ruth mirror Ruth’s treatment of Naomi?

Read Ruth 2:17-23.

16. What did Ruth do after all her hard work?
17. What was Naomi’s reaction to Ruth’s news?  What effect does it have on Naomi? (see v.20)
18. What new piece of information do we learn about Boaz?

[A ‘family guardian’ or ‘kinsman-redeemer’ = a relative who would use their resources and influence to help a relative in need.]

Think it through

19. Look over these two chapters again.  How is the character of God reflected in:

• Ruth’s treatment of Naomi?
• Boaz’s treatment of Ruth?

20. What do we learn about the love of God in these chapters?

21. Boaz’s kindness is the kindness of the LORD.  What are some of the ways that God has been kind to you in your life?  Thank him for those together.