RUTH (With Insights) FOOD FOR THOUGHT, DEC 6, 2020 PDF VERSION
Food For Thought (WITH INSIGHTS)
For the week of December 6, 2020
(Questions and Scriptures for further study & discussion)
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READ RUTH 2
1. What do these verses tell readers about Boaz’ priorities and character? Who in your life reminds you of Boaz?
(Boaz was a relative from Elimelek’s clan from Judah. He was son of Salmon and great-grandfather of King David. He is in Christ’s genealogy. Boaz was God-fearing, kind and good-hearted. He was cheerful and blessed his workers, and they respected him. He was thoughtful, observant, protective and generous with blessing and provision. He was a God-fearing man and wanted to be part of blessing Ruth. He was impressed with Ruth’s love and care for Naomi, and by how she had come under the ‘refuge’ of God’s ‘wings.’ )
2. How did Boaz and Ruth honor one another’s dignity and break down conventional barriers?
(Boaz spoke directly to Ruth in fort of the harvesters. He showed concern for her safety, placed her among the women in the field as part of their community and promised her protection and provisions of water and food. Boaz showed everyone she, “a foreigner”, was welcome. Ruth showed Boaz honor, gratitude, and publicly thanked him for his concern. She accepted his kindness and continued to follow his instructions. Conventional barriers such as status, nationalism, social class, and prejudices were overcome.)
3. What characteristics of God are revealed in Boaz’ prayer (2:12)? Who could you pray for using Boaz’ prayer this week?
(Characteristics include judge, giver, kind, generous, personal. Yahweh, LORD, sovereign, the God of Israel, protector, accessible, and refuge.)
4. What is a truth that Naomi and Ruth lived out in this passage? When in your life did you learn this truth?
(Ruth brought home to Naomi 30 pounds of barely and leftovers from the midday meal. This food promised fullness and hope for their future. Naomi saw how God had provided for them and blessed the man in whose field Ruth had gleaned. When Naomi learned the extraordinarily generous man was Boaz, she praised and thanked God. God’s unconquerable kindness shaped Boaz’s life. God’s kindness is active and inclusive. Those who know God through faith show God’s kindness to others through obedience to God’s commands. Kindness, ‘hesed’ in Hebrew, is the same word descriptive of unfailing, loyal love that Naomi asked the Lord to show to her daughters-in-law. Now Boaz has extended the same lavish kindness he received from the Lord to Ruth and Naomi.)
5. How did the week’s verses, study or discussion prompt heartfelt questions to God and hope in Him to answer?