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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 you obey? Obedience is rarely easy, but it crucial if we desire to live under God’s blessing. |
Examine | Ruth 4 | Notes |
1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “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 I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.’ 7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) 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 | 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!’ 11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” | There is power in the spoken word.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21) |
Discuss | 2. The elders in his community spoke a blessing over Boaz when he announced that he would redeem Ruth and Naomi. Name other biblical characters who received blessings.
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, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. | 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?
| 1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) |
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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