A short yet powerful Book of the Bible Four chapters Ruth – her life story

A “potted” history Abraham Moses 1500bc David 1000bc End of OT 500bc Jesus Catholic 500 Normans 1000 Reformation 1500 Us 2,000 2,000bc

Timeline of where Ruth’s story fits into the OT characters Note: Who her second husband was, and whose son he was z

Who was Ruth? Born in the land of (East of the Dead Sea) Moab Referred to as a ‘Moabitess’ Moabites worshipped the god Chemosh This time is around the time of what we call the ‘Iron Age’

z If Ruth was born in the same place today, she would have come from Jordan (East of the Dead Sea)

Some Themes of Ruth Loss/Bereavement – Aloneness Women are important Insecurity/Uncertainty Pleasantness v Bitterness Family/Cultural Roots/Belonging Devotion/Loyalty/Togetherness Love Obedience Admiration God’s Provision God’s ultimate plan God’s (Yahweh) way v god’s ways Some Themes of Ruth

Ruth, Naomi and Orpah have no male support z Naomi’s husband has died Ruth’s and Orpah’s husbands now dead ‘This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband’. Ruth 1:5

What feelings/thoughts occur to you about them and their situation? z z What feelings/thoughts occur to you about them and their situation?

They set off for Judah z Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. 11 But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13 Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.” 14 And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15 “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”

Ruth clings to Naomi 6 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

What happens when they arrive in Judah? Ruth Meets Boaz in the Grain Field 2 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

Task – in groups of between 4-6 People 10 mins approx Task – in groups of between 4-6 People 10 mins approx., Read and discuss, then feedback Read Ruth 2 v 5-13, Ruth 2 v 22 to Ruth 3 v 11 and Ruth 4 v 13-17 What else happened to Ruth and Naomi? Are there any additional themes? What, for you, is the main purpose of the story?

Food for thought - Ruth lost a lot – her father in law, husband and brother in law Then she made a sacrifice – she voluntarily gave up her own family to stay with Naomi – she travelled with Naomi to a foreign place She was then obedient and worked hard to do what Naomi told her, to provide food for Naomi and herself – to keep them alive God blessed Ruth, He gave her a new husband, a new son (a new family) Ruth’s son, Obed, (means serving, worshipping) was King David’s grandfather Jesus was later called ‘the son of David’ showing Jesus is Royal