8.1. Read Matthew 6:33 and discuss; what do the group think this verse means? Is it true? Have they experienced this? This verse is perhaps the best one-line summary of the book of Ruth, which we’ll discover as we read through it. Hand out ‘Ruth’s Story’.
8.2. Read Ruth 1:1-8, 16-18 and 4:13-22. We see Ruth putting her own needs and desires on hold – but not denying them – as she makes the God of Israel her first priority. All the blessings in her life: her marriage, children and legacy (see Matthew 1:5), result from putting God first. Compare this with Psalm 37:4.
8.3. Read Deuteronomy 23:3 and discuss how Ruth’s pursuit of the Lord meant that she would have to cut off all relations with her people – the Moabites – and their beliefs. Try to imagine how she might expect to be treated by the Israelites because of her past. Read Ruth 2:5-14 and discuss how events actually turn out really differently to any of our expectations: Boaz accepted Ruth despite her past and welcomed her. Reflect on the picture that is painted here of Boaz foreshadowing Christ and Ruth portraying us.
8.4. Staying with this picture of Boaz foreshadowing Christ, read Ruth 3:1-11. When a woman laid at a man’s feet and ask him to cover he with his garment/robe, it was essentially an engagement ritual. Instead of today’s practice of trying to be as inventive and romantic as possible with expensive meals and flashy rings, this was the ancient Hebrew way of proposing. Note that it was the woman who was asking, not the man! When the man covered her, this was how she knew that he accepted. Read Ezekiel 16:8 and see how God shows the Israelites his love for them: He ‘gets engaged’ to His people. That relationship between God and Church still applies today. New Testament writer John gets a vision of Christ as the bridegroom and the church as His bride in Revelation 21:2.
8.5. There are lots of other illustrations of Christ and His love for the church throughout the book of Ruth. Quietly read through Chapter 4 and invite the group to share any of these illustrations that they might come across.
Week 8: Summary
Three characteristics of God this week...
- God wants us to make Him our first priority
- He accepts us despite our past
- He loves us and sees the church as His ‘bride’
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