FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

 – SUMMER 2002 MAY 28/30

THE BOOK OF RUTH: ‘LIFE-STORY : LIFE-VALUES’

(2) RUTH CHAPTER TWO: ADVERSITY – Values that aid survival!

INTRODUCTION: Ruth chapter 2 shows Naomi and her daughter-in-law in utter penury and great adversity. But it tells the story of how the situation is turned around by a lovely coming together of the gracious providence of God with admirable life-qualities of two faithful people. There are some really important ‘life-values’ to be observed in this week’s passage!

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND: To understand the full significance of the comment made in 2.1, and the whole of the rest of the events in the book of Ruth, we need to grasp some important background concerning three gracious laws the Lord had laid down for the care of the needy amongst his people and to ensure that a family did not for ever lose their inheritance.

• FOOD FOR THE POOR: Gleaning law: Leviticus 19.9-10, 23.22
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• A HEIR FOR CHILDLESS: Levirite law, ensuring a family kept their inheritance:

 Deut 25.5-10.

• RIGHT TO BUY BACK AN INHERITANCE A FAMILY HAD BEEN FORCED BY

 POVERTY TO SELL: Redemption Law: Leviticus 25.25-28

Each of these laws comes to play an important part in the life-story of Naomi and Ruth.

• THE STORY: A DAY OF DESTINY

Ruth chapter 2 tells the story of a single day that proved to be the day that the destiny of Ruth and Naomi changed. But just who should take the credit for what happened on that day?

• THE GOODNESS OF RUTH:
• What admirable qualities in Ruth are revealed in her attitude, words and actions recorded in this chapter?

• What is her attitude to adversity?
• What is her attitude to her mother-in-law?
• What is her attitude to work?
• What is her attitude to Boaz?

IN HER POVERTY AND ADVERSITY, WHAT MIGHT HER ATTITUDE TO ALL THESE HAVE BEEN?

• THE GRACE OF BOAZ:

We are introduced to Boaz for the first time.

• What important facts are we told about Boaz in 2.1?

(Why are these important for the story?)

• What is revealed about Boaz in this chapter? What do we learn about him?

• about his faith and relationship to God? (How is this shown?)
• about the way his faith shows itself in his life and work? (2.4)
• In his dealings with Ruth?
• In what ways does Boaz go far beyond the stipulation of God’s law in his dealings with Ruth?
• What made Boaz treat Ruth in the way he did? (Perhaps several factors?)

• Ruth was a foreigner. What picture are we given of the treatment she received amongst God’s people?

(Any lessons for us? Read Leviticus 19.9-10 again. And Deuteronomy 10.18-19. God’s gracious laws again!)

• What hints are there in this chapter that the kindness Ruth received at Boaz’s hands might not be experienced elsewhere? What hints of the danger she might be in?

• THE GUIDANCE OF GOD
• How is God’s providential care and guidance of these two needy widows who are trusting him brought out in this chapter?

‘One of the most important features of belief in God’s providence is that it teaches us that even our ‘accidents’ are within his care’. How is this relevant to this chapter?

• Who is responsible for bringing about the wonderful change in fortune for Naomi and Ruth?

• Is it the Lord? Or is it Ruth? Or……?
• What does it teach us?

• THE GLEE OF NAOMI 2.17-23
• What makes Naomi so glad and excited when Ruth returns? Is it just the grain?
• What does this reveal about the state of her faith now?

• THE VALUES

What ‘life-values’ stand out for you from this week’s passage?

• attitude to work?
• attitude to elders and ‘betters’?
• attitude to needy and stranger?
• attitude to adversity?
• relation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility?
• family relationships?
• relation between faith and life?