(1) The story happened with the time of the Judges as the background. How would you describe this time, especially given the remark at the end of the entire book of the Judges?
(2) Can you remember other times of famine in Genesis and what were the results of the actions of the patriarchs under similar circumstances? (e.g. Gen. 12:10, 26:1 and 42:5)
(3) As Elimelech chooses to leave Bethlehem (the house of bread) for Moab (traditional enemy territory), how difficult a decision was it? What might be the things he had to take into consideration?
(4) Can you identify with their struggle? (If you are an immigrant, what was the reason for your move and what considerations did you have to take into account? Did you seek the will of God in the matter?)
(5) How long did they expect to stay in Moab and how long did they end up being there? What happened during this extended stay in Moab?
(6) While most scholars opine that the meanings of the sons’ names are really unknown, the name of Elimelech is “God is King”, and that of Naomi is “be pleasant and lovely”. Given the emphasis the Jews put in the meaning of their names, how did Naomi feel towards her God considering all the events of vv. 1-5? (See 1:20.) What kinds of questions would she be asking?
(7) What would you do, if you were Naomi?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(7) ¿Qué haría, si fuera Noemí?
(8) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
As lovely as the story of Ruth is, it began with a rather heart-wrenching story of migration with which many of us can identify. I have come across many immigrants who, after their immigration to a foreign land, came across huge challenges, having to adjust to the new environment, adapt to the new culture and face embarrassment or even discrimination. But some also lost their loved ones to sickness or accidents, and some ran into financial ruin, and some saw their marriage end into divorce. Under these circumstances, Christians and non-Christians alike cannot help but ask, “Have we made the wrong decision to immigrate?”
In the case of Naomi, her plight is seldom equaled. She lost not only her husband, but both of her sons. Although, the Bible does not mention that she asked the Lord “Why?”, I am quite sure that she did. After all, she was human. As a devout Jew, she also knew God’s hand was in it, except that she took it that God was against her (at least that is what she thought at the time. See 1:13.). Who can blame her?
Of course, we have the privilege of knowing the end of the story and have come to understand that if it was not for the famine, they would not have moved to Moab; if they had not moved to Moab, Ruth would not have married into their family; if the men in the family had not died, Ruth would not have moved with Naomi back to Bethlehem; and if Ruth had not moved to Bethlehem she would not have married Boaz and bore the child who would become one of the forefathers of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In Naomi’s case, God’s hand was certainly in it, except that whatever God allowed to happen in her life had eventually brought about the accomplishment of His plan — the plan that culminates to the salvation of all mankind.
As the children of God, we can safely believe that all things that happen to us not only serve to work for our good (Rom. 8:28), but that there is also a kingdom’s ramification that perhaps will not be known until we see Christ if we would allow God to work through our tragedy, just as Naomi did.
(1) Read 1:6. It appears that Naomi attributes everything to God, whether good or bad. Is it right for us to attribute everything to God’s doing? Why or why not?
(2) At her age and given her situation, was it right for Naomi to think of returning to Bethlehem?
(3) The three had already embarked on the journey. What caused Naomi to stop and think about her two daughters-in-law?
(4) How did the fact that the two girls had already accompanied Naomi on the journey and that they wept and refused to leave Naomi alone on this long and possibly dangerous journey say about them?
(5) From what Naomi said in vv. 11-13, do you get a sense of how Naomi took her situation and why she decided to urge the two girls to return to Moab?
(6) What does it say about Naomi as a mother-in-law and her relationship with the two daughters-in-law?
(7) Was Orpah wrong in her decision to leave Naomi?
(8) As the story unfolds, do you know of what Orpah had given up, especially as the wife of the older son of Naomi? (With naming Orpah before Ruth in 1:4, it is likely that Orpah married the older son.)
(9) Orpah decided to head back home, while Ruth decided to stick with Naomi. From what Naomi said of Orpah, and also from Ruth’s reply, can you tell what the main difference between Orpah and Ruth was? What do you find the most touching in Ruth’s reply?
(10) The in-law relationship is universally problematic. How can we learn from Ruth and Naomi?
(11) Can you blame Naomi for her reply to the women of the town? Why or why not?
(12) What did the women exclaim when they saw Naomi? What does this imply?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(12) ¿Qué exclamaron las mujeres cuando vieron a Noemí? ¿Qué implica esto?
(13) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
The Book of Ruth is one of the Old Testament books that enters into the Canon with very little dispute. This is indeed a well-liked book of the Bible.
It is about ordinary people. There is no prophet, no king in the story. It is about an ordinary family of four — a husband who needed to make decisions for the family, a wife who supported the decision of her husband and two young adults (perhaps teenagers at the time) who go wherever the family goes, living in a very ordinary town. It is about two very ordinary girls, gentile girls that used to worship idols. It is about harvest, laborers who glean and meals associated with the harvest. Although he is a man of wealth, there really is nothing too unusual about Boaz. We can all identify with at least one of the characters in the story.
This is about challenges in life. The family faces an unexpected famine that interrupts their life. It is about a family that has to make tough decisions to emigrate (likely together with many other people in town). It is about death, despair and loneliness. It is about longing for one’s homeland, especially during one’s old age and loneliness.
It is about faith in the life of God’s people. Naomi, rightly or wrongly, attributes her plight and subsequent delivery to God. It is about two gentile girls who have to make a decision not so much of going to Israel, but of which God they would choose to worship and follow. It is about the unfolding of God’s plan in the lives of those who trust Him, ultimately contributing to the accomplishment of the greater plan of the kingdom.
However, unlike many other books of the Bible, there is an absence of audible voices of God; there is no visions, no miracles. Yet, God is there, God is in control and God is present in both famine and harvest, but most importantly, God is present in their daily life. This is what I really like about the Book of Ruth. We do not have to be prophets, we do not have to be spiritual supermen, and we do not have to have spectacular or mystical encounters with God. In the midst of not understanding the plans of God, we simply have to submit and trust God and His intention, and to extend the love of God to caring first for the well-being of others around us, thinking more of their needs than ours; in the process, we will encounter God and His goodness. More importantly, we will allow God’s greater purpose to be realized through our quiet obedience.
(1) Look up Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22. Why does God set up such provisions? Do you think today’s farmers or crop producers would follow these instructions? Why or why not? Search yourself and see how you might have fallen short of the heart of God in these respects, even though you might not be a farmer.
(2) What kind of a situation did Naomi and Ruth find themselves in after their return to Bethlehem? What does Ruth’s action say about her and her decision to come with Naomi?
(3) How did the foreman refer to Ruth and what insight might it give you into Ruth being a young, foreign woman in a foreign land? How did she face her challenge?
(4) From how Boaz addressed and talked to Ruth in vv. 8-9, what likely was the age of Boaz and what do you learn about this man?
(5) How Jews in general in the OT times treated gentiles can hardly be disputed. How special was Boaz then in his treatment of Ruth?
(6) What do Boaz’s words in vv. 11-12 mean to you?
(7) What have they meant to Ruth?
(8) What has Ruth learned about the God of Israel in this encounter?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
According to the Gezer Calendar, the barley harvest began in late April or early May, the 8th month of the agricultural year. (R. Hubbard, Jr.)
(9) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
Nota:
De acuerdo con el calendario de Gezer, la cosecha de cebada se inició a finales de abril o principios de mayo, el octavo mes del año agrícola. (R. Hubbard, Jr.)
The God of the Widows, the Fatherless and the Foreigners
In my years in the commercial field, there was one saying that we, in management, liked to emphasize at our sales meetings, and that was, “Do not leave any crackers on the table.” It was accepted as the gospel truth in business. Not only did I emphasize it, but I practiced it in business. The maximization of the bottom line, almost at all costs, was seen not only as acceptable, but the only way to do business.
It was many years later, when I studied Christian Ethics in the seminary, that I came across the teachings in Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22. Well, I had read Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the past. I think I taught them in Sunday school as well, but I never really took notice before. You can imagine the shock I had when I “discovered” these teachings in the Bible. It was an even greater shock to read in the Book of Ruth that it was actually being practiced, of all people, by the Israelites, and of all times in history, during the time of the Judges.
Can you imagine it being practiced today by the farmers, growers of crops, especially for big corporations? If I were in management making a suggestion to “leave crackers on the table” for the poor and alien immigrants, I think I would not last long in the company.
As the Lord gives these commandments to the people of Israel, He emphasizes two things:
(1) I am the Lord your God:
(2) Remember that you were slaves in the Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
The first is not really a reason why the people of Israel should leave leftovers in the fields to the widow, the fatherless and the foreigner, but rather that they have no choice, because God says so! Therefore to violate this command of God will invite the same consequence as the violation of other commandments, and that is, they will invite the curse of God which would include famine and poor harvest. (Deut. 28)
The second one is a reason, and the reason is that they were once slaves in Egypt as foreigners, poor and marginalized. Since they have tasted such sufferings, they should have compassion for others who are now less fortunate than they are. To overlook their needs is not only a violation of God’s command, but to act less than someone who is created in God’s image.
I am aware of corporations that donate a small portion of their sales for charity, but some are really doing it for publicity purposes and their mission remains 100% for profit and profit only. But there are a growing number of Christian owners who have written into their mission statement a more biblical approach to doing business. Service Master is one of them. Allow me to quote part of their Mission Statement below:
To Honor God In All We Do
As the foundation of our company, we embrace this objective, believing in an absolute standard for right and wrong. It requires of us unwavering commitment to values and ethics. The objective particularly addresses how we treat people, who have all been created in the image and likeness of God, and it mandates inclusion and respect for all people.To Grow Profitably
We see profit as a measure of our business performance. Profit is not an end, but a means of accomplishing our other objectives. Profitability enables us to fulfill our obligations to our shareholders and provides the means for people to work, to grow and to serve. Our challenge is to use profit wisely for the benefit of our people, our customers and our communities.
While it still does not reflect fully the commands of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, at least it does not put profit as the only mission and it does put honoring God and treating people as people created in God’s image as an important part of their existence.
El Dios de las viudas, los huérfanos y los extranjeros
En mis años en el area comercial, había un dicho que a nosotros, en la administración, nos gustaba enfatizar en nuestras reuniones de ventas, que decía: "No deje ninguna galleta en la mesa". Se aceptó como la verdad del evangelio en los negocios. No solo lo enfaticé, sino que lo practiqué en los negocios. La maximización de la conclusión, casi a toda costa, fue vista no solo como aceptable, sino como la única forma de hacer negocios.(1) Yo soy el Señor tu Dios:La primera no es realmente una razón por la cual el pueblo de Israel debe dejar las sobras en los campos a la viuda, a los huérfanos y al extranjero, sino a que no tienen otra opción, ¡porque Dios lo dice! Por lo tanto, violar este mandato de Dios invitará a la misma consecuencia que la violación de otros mandamientos, es decir, invitará a la maldición de Dios que incluiría el hambre y la mala cosecha (Deuteronomio 28).
(2) “Y acuérdate que fuiste esclavo en la tierra de Egipto” (NVI) (Dt. 5:15). Es por eso que te ordeno que hagas esto.
Honrar a Dios en todo lo que hacemosSi bien aún no refleja plenamente los mandatos de Levítico y Deuteronomio, al menos no tiene fines lucrativos como la única misión y sí honra a Dios y trata a las personas como personas creadas a imagen de Dios como una parte importante de su existencia.
Como la base de nuestra empresa, abrazamos este objetivo, creyendo en un estándar absoluto para el bien y el mal. Nos exige un compromiso inquebrantable con los valores y la ética. El objetivo aborda particularmente cómo tratamos a las personas, que han sido creadas a imagen y semejanza de Dios, y exige la inclusión y el respeto de todas las personas.
Crecer rentablemente
Vemos el beneficio como una medida de nuestro rendimiento empresarial. El beneficio no es un fin, sino un medio para lograr nuestros otros objetivos. La rentabilidad nos permite cumplir con nuestras obligaciones para con nuestros accionistas y proporciona los medios para que las personas trabajen, crezcan y sirvan. Nuestro desafío es usar las ganancias con prudencia para el beneficio de nuestra gente, nuestros clientes y nuestras comunidades.
(1) Read the invitation that Boaz gave Ruth. From the angle of the Redemption motif of this story, how symbolically important is this act of acceptance and inclusion by Boaz of Ruth?
(2) Why did Boaz go out of his way to help Ruth?
(3) The subject of v. 20 has an “impressive consensus” referring to Yahweh (which is my opinion as well). Compare what Naomi said here to what she said at the end of chapter one.
(4) What impact do you think Boaz’s acceptance of Ruth would have on his household servants?
(5) Naomi identifies Boaz as one of their “kinsman-redeemers”. On the many obligations of this person, look up Leviticus 25:25-30, 47-55. From this, what can you understand about “redemption”?
(6) Why did Naomi caution Ruth to stick to the workers of Boaz? What does it tell you about the time of the Judges and Ruth’s decision to glean?
(7) In this portion of narrative, what stands out to you?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Lea la invitación que Booz le hizo a Rut. Desde el ángulo del motivo de Redención de esta historia, ¿cuán simbólicamente importante es este acto de aceptación e inclusión por parte de Booz hacia Rut?
(2) ¿Por qué Booz hizo todo lo posible para ayudar a Rut?
(3) El tema del v.20 tiene un "consenso impresionante" que se refiere a Jehová (que también es mi opinión). Compare lo que Noemí dijo aquí con lo que dijo al final del capítulo uno.
(4) ¿Qué impacto cree que tendría, en los sirvientes del hogar, la aceptación de Booz hacia Rut?
(5) Noemí identifica a Booz como uno de sus "parientes redentores ". De las muchas obligaciones de esta persona, mire Lev. 25:25-30, 47-55. A partir de esto, ¿qué aprende sobre la "redención"?
(6) ¿Por qué Noemí le advirtió a Rut que se quedara cerca de los trabajadores de Booz? ¿Qué le dice esto sobre los tiempos de los jueces y la decisión de Rut de recoger?
(7) En esta parte de la narrativa, ¿qué le llama la atención?
(8) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
Naomi introduces Boaz as one of the kinsman-redeemers of their family to Ruth. While this term does not specify the exact relationship between the families of Boaz and Naomi, it confers upon him certain duties which include:
It is interesting to note that throughout the Old Testament, when God’s deliverance of His people is mentioned, the term redemption is always used. This term naturally assumes two things: (1) a reclaim of ownership, and (2) the payment of a ransom. Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer, is clearly a type of Jesus Christ as he does not only redeem the property of the family, he also marries the widow of the deceased clan member.
Even before the events in chapter four, Boaz has already demonstrated an act of redemption by inviting Ruth to his table. If in the Apostolic time, Jews are not supposed to have any association with Gentiles, how much more so would it be in Boaz’s time. Therefore, Boaz’s invitation of a Moabite woman to feast with him in public carries significant symbolic meaning, in that Christ, our Redeemer, is inviting all peoples, not just the people of Israel, to His banqueting table. Boaz may not be aware of such significance, but his action speaks volumes of what kind of a person he is — a person who embraces all races and genders — which certainly qualifies him to be a type of Christ.
Noemí presenta a Booz como uno de los parientes redentores de su familia a Rut. Si bien este término no especifica la relación exacta entre las familias de Booz y de Noemí, le confiere ciertos deberes que incluyen:
Es interesante notar que en todo el Antiguo Testamento, cuando se menciona la liberación de Dios de su pueblo, siempre se usa el término redención. Este término asume naturalmente dos cosas: (1) una reclamación de propiedad y (2) el pago de un rescate. Booz, como pariente redentor, es claramente un tipo de Jesucristo, ya que no solo redime la propiedad de la familia, sino que también se casa con la viuda del miembro del clan fallecido.
Incluso antes de los eventos del capítulo cuatro, Booz ya demostró un acto de redención al invitar a Rut a su mesa. Si en la época apostólica, se supone que los judíos no deben tener ninguna asociación con los gentiles, cuánto más lo sería en la época de Booz. Por lo tanto, la invitación de Booz a una mujer moabita para que festeje con él en público tiene un significado simbólico significativo en el sentido de que Cristo, nuestro Redentor, está invitando a todos los pueblos, no solo al pueblo de Israel, a Su mesa de banquete. Puede que Booz no sea consciente de tal significado, pero su acción habla mucho de qué tipo de persona es, una persona que abarca todas las razas y géneros, lo que ciertamente lo califica para ser un tipo de Cristo.
(1) If you were an old widow without any means of ongoing support, what would be the things that would worry you the most? According to v.1, what was Naomi’s worry?
(2) Read Naomi’s prayer for Ruth in 1:8-9.
(3) If you were Ruth, would do you what Naomi told you to do in vv. 2-4? Why or why not?
(4) How did Boaz interpret Ruth’s action? Was it one of lewdness or of noble character? Why?
(5) From the way Boaz subsequently dealt with Ruth, what do you think of Boaz and why?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Si fueras una anciana viuda sin ningún medio de apoyo continuo, ¿cuáles serían las cosas que más te preocupan? Según el versículo 1, ¿cuál era la preocupación de Noemí?
(2) Lea la oración de Noemí por Rut en 1:8-9.
(3) Si fueras Rut, harías lo que Noemí te dijo en los vv. 2-4? ¿Por qué o por qué no?
(4) ¿Cómo interpretó Booz la acción de Rut? ¿Fue una lascivia o de carácter noble? ¿Por qué?
(5) De la forma en que Booz trató posteriormente con Rut, ¿qué piensas de Booz y por qué?
(6) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
I am a little troubled by scholars who go to extra length to insinuate that what happened on the threshing floor between Boaz and Ruth was sexual.
First of all, the text (of chapter 3) never mentions anything sexual, not explicitly at least.
If anything sexual did take place, how could Boaz still defer the marrying of Ruth as her kinsman-redeemer to another closer relative? This would certainly not be acceptable whether according to cultural decency or the Law of Moses.
In fact, the deferring of his right both to redeem the property and to marry Ruth shows great integrity on the part of Boaz. It is more than obvious that Boaz greatly esteems Ruth as noble woman, worthy of his marriage. With Ruth taking the initiation, it would be his honor and dream to marry her. But he puts doing the right thing before the satisfaction of his own desire. In a sense, he puts the entire matter into the hands of God. His action reminds me of the famous poem (in fact a prayer) by Khalil Gibran:
O Love, whose lordly hand
has bridled my desire
And raised my hunger and my thirst
To dignity and pride
Let not the strong in me and the Constant
Eat the bread and drink the wine
That tempt my weaker self.
Let me rather starve,
And let my heart parch with thirst
And let me die and perish
Ere I stretch my hand
To a cup you did not fill
Or a bowl you did not bless!
Preface to Ruth 4
(1) It appeared that Boaz took up the matter immediately as Naomi had predicted in 3:18. Why do you think Boaz chose to act upon it so quickly that “he will not rest until the matter is settled today"?
(2) If he was so keen to act upon it, why did he bother to go through the formality of approaching the other kinsman-redeemer, especially since it was the time of the Judges, and Boaz appeared to be wealthy and powerful?
(3) Why did that first-in-line kinsman redeemer appear to agree to the transaction so readily and yet backed off also so quickly? We do not how this “might endanger” his own estate. Can you think of any possible reasons for him to waive his rights (including Ruth’s background)? But more importantly, what was the difference in the motives of redemption between the two kinsmen?
(4) What did the elders think of Ruth and Boaz’s marriage to her?
(5) Consider the blessings pronounced by the elders. How prophetic were they?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(6) ¿Cuál es el mensaje principal para usted hoy, y cómo puede aplicarlo a su vida?
It is true that the first kinsman-redeemer in Ruth 4 had his eyes set on financial gains, i.e. what he could get out of redeeming the property of Elimelech. It was more than a good deal for him, because he could also appear to be fulfilling his duty as kinsman-redeemer. By buying the property from Naomi, the property will go under his name as the closest relative to the Elimelech family, thereby retaining the name of Elimelech “in name”. But he would derive income from the property and would be able to pass it on to his descendants, as there were no one to pass on in Elimelech’s own line.
However, if he had to take the widow as well, “Ruth would become his wife and the property would only be his temporal possession pending the birth of an heir to inherit” (Hubbard Jr.). This would become a “lose-lose” transaction.
The question then is why would Boaz be willing to do what this kinsman-redeemer refused to do? Was it because of love? Well, perhaps love did play a part. But the risk remained the same for both men. We are not told if Boaz already had his own children which would be very likely, but his main motive was to honor his kinsman-redeemer’s duty as he should. The rest was not important, even if it meant passing on the right to the property to the son to be born of Ruth. This son to be born of Ruth would carry Elimelech’s name. To Boaz, name was not important; it was obvious that he would treat this son as his own.
As it turned out, Obed was born of Ruth, and yet God appears to have overridden human traditions and chose Obed to bear the name of Boaz and became the forefather of the Messiah.
(1) Naomi once said, “The Lord has afflicted me” in 1:21. Was she right?
(2) Why does the Bible seem to emphasize that it was the Lord who “enabled” Ruth to conceive?
(3) Now the focus returns to Naomi: Why did the women say that the child was the kinsman-redeemer (or guardian-redeemer)? All in all, what did the birth of this child mean to Naomi, given her present and future?
(4) What can you learn from what Naomi has gone through? Can you come up with at least three things that you have learned from her?
(5) What do you think is the key to such a loving in-law relationship?
(6) How can you define love as exemplified by Ruth and Naomi?
(7) Read the last verses of the chapter carefully. Whose genealogy was it (look at Matt. 1 also)? Any surprises there?
(8) Reflect on the choices that Ruth and Orpah made. What can you learn from it?
(9) Can you sum up the main lessons you have learned from this book and how may you apply them to your life?
As we draw our study of the Book of Ruth to a close, I have come to be reminded of some very basic, yet important lessons. They include: