People Of the Old Testament

Ruth Study 1

Read Ruth Chapter 1

1. Who was Ruth, and how did she end up in Bethlehem?

2. What motivated Ruth to stay with Naomi rather than return to Moab?

Read 1 Kings 11:7 and 2 Kings 3:26 and 27

3. What kind of gods did the Moabites worship?

Read Ruth Chapter 2

4. What do we learn about Boaz?

5. What was it about Ruth's character and actions that impressed Boaz?

6. How did God look after Ruth and Naomi?

7. How does God provide for us today?

Ruth Study 2

The story of Ruth hinges on the concept of a "Kinsman Redeemer". Leviticus 25 outlines the laws regarding the redemption of property. The underlying basis for redemption is that the Promised Land belongs to God, and that his people are tenants (v23). Each family has a "God-given" right to their portion of land and even if it is sold they have the right of "redemption", that is the right to repurchase their land. Naomi's husband Elimilech had probably sold his land before travelling to Moab. Naomi and Ruth had the right to buy it back but no money with which to do so.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 outlines how families should continue a brother's line if he dies without a son to inherit. In the case of Ruth: to redeem the land is to inherit a wife, and the first son would take the name and inheritance of the widow's first husband (Mahlon).

Read Ruth 3

1. How did Naomi plan to help Ruth?

2. What bold move did Ruth make? Why?

3. How did Boaz respond to Ruth's actions?

4. What stopped Boaz from proposing marriage to Ruth immediately? What did he promise?

5. Why did the first kinsman decide not to redeem Naomi and Ruth's land?

6. When Boaz declared he would marry Ruth, what was the reaction of the townspeople?

Read Ruth 4:9-17

7. Naomi adopts Ruth's first son Obed as her own. He becomes her kinsman redeemer (verses 14-16) and inherits his grandfather's portion. In just a couple of generations, the prophesies of the people of Bethlehem come true. For what are Boaz, Ruth and Obed now "famous"? (See Matthew 1:5)

Read Galatians 4:4-5 and 1 Peter 1:18-19

8. Who is our kinsman-redeemer? What sacrifice did he make to redeem us?