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Small Group Bible Study - Leader Guide
Ruth 4
Overview | Boaz chooses to be obedient to the LORD by redeeming Ruth and Naomi and is blessed by God because of it. |
Background | The book of Ruth takes place during the time of the Judges in Israel, Boaz and Ruth are the great grandparents of King David, Israel’s shepherd king and patriarchs in the lineage of the promised Messiah. |
Read | Read the entire chapter. What stands out? Comments? Questions? |
Warm up | Why is it so hard to obey? Our struggle almost never centers on knowing the right thing to do, but rather on simply doing it. Have you ever felt that the LORD was asking you to obey Him in a certain area? What was he asking you to do? Did you hesitate? Did |
Examine | Ruth 4 | Notes |
1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as 2 “I will redeem it,” he said. 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.’ 6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then 7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal 8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. | The guardian-redeemer who acted selfishly and forfeited his responsibility is left unnamed and therefore is recorded in history as being insignificant.
For Boaz, on the other hand, simple obedience brings blessing and honor.
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Discuss | 1. Redeeming Ruth (and Naomi) may not have been an easy decision for Boaz. It placed additional responsibility and financial risk on His shoulders. Yet biblically, he knew it was the right thing to do and God blessed him in his obedience. Share an experience of a difficult obedience that brought blessing in your life. |
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Examine | 11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate | There is power in the spoken word.
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Discuss | 2. The elders in his community spoke a blessing
3. Words are powerful. What spoken blessings have you received and how have they affected your life? | Isaac, Jacob, Esau and many others.
This could include kind or affirming words from family or friends. |
Examine | 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 | Naomi's friends and family were quick to praise God for His faithfulness.
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Discuss | 4. Thanking God for what He has done keeps us focused on His greatness and allows Him to impart to us His peace. What are you thankful for today?
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Examine | God sovereignly orchestrates the events of our lives.
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Discuss | 5. Upon the death of her husband and sons, Naomi could have turned her back on the LORD, but she chose to trust in spite of her circumstances. In the depths of the valley, for those trust in Christ, there is always hope ahead. Name another biblical character who God rescued from a hopeless situation.
6. How have you seen the sovereignty of God at work in your life? | Moses, Joseph, David, Peter and many others. |
Apply | In response to today’s lesson, we can: |
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Notes |
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