Lesson Outline for May 28, 2026
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Goal – Understand God’s love story; a story of restoration, redemption and family legacy
- What does restoration look like to you? Are there areas yet to be restored?
- Name a few things we “cling” to for security?
- What is hard for you to leave behind, and why?
- In Ruth we see tragedy, faith, integrity, compromise, love, redemption, restoration
- In Ruth we see God and we see us – we see restoration and redemption
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- Sojourn # H1481 “gur” dwell for a time, temporarily stay, w/o original rights
- Clung # H1692 “dabaq” cleave, stick to, stick with (the context – adhering oneself to…)
- Bethlehem # H1035 “bet’ lehem” house of bread
- Redeemer # H1350 “ga’al” redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman
The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis
Introduction – 1) Author not definitive, thought to be Samuel; 2) Originally Book of Ruth was part of Judges; 3) Ruth is one of five scrolls read during Israel’s feasts, Ruth is read at Feast of Harvest (aka Weeks, First Fruits, Pentecost); 4) Ruth is one of four women named in Jesus’s genealogy (Matt 1:5) and a Moabite; 5) Story takes place ~1130 BC researchers and theologians believe Gideon, Eli and Samuel were alive during the time of Ruth. Gideon’s battles w/ Midianites & Amalekites (est 1208-1184BC)
Chap 1 – Restoration is a choice, and requires trust over bitterness
The Ruth’s choice – “cling” to Naomi; Naomi clung to the LORD
Ruth 1:1-6, 9, 14-17, 21-22 – ESV “1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech (my God is King) and the name of his wife Naomi (my delight, pleasantness), and the names of his two sons were Mahlon (sick) and Chilion (pining, failing). They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fieldsof Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. … 9 The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. … 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” … 21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”
- It’s a dark time in Israel history; Book of Judges – cycle of “doing what’s right in their own eyes”
- Sojourners to Moab – we can’t run from our problems! Thoughts on Elimelech’s leadership?
- Do you see any compromise, if so where / how?
- Naomi “heard,” what was her “posture”
- Marriage is meant to be an environment of “rest”
- Ruth “clung” to Naomi – Naomi clung to the LORD
- Thoughts on Ruth’s trust, what was Naomi and Ruth’s social status?
- Can you see Rom 8:28 and Heb 11:1-2 in this chapter?
Chap 2 – No coincidences with God
Humility, faith, and trust
Ruth 2:1-3, 5-7, 11-12, 14, 20, 22-23 ESV – “1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. … 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” … 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” … 14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. … 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” … 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.”
- Boaz did not leave Israel when the “going got rough.” Apparently, Boaz persevered, stayed the course and became a “mighty man” – the same word used for Gideon “a mighty man of valor”
- Godly men “don’t leave” during hard times
- The story shows Boaz is a God-fearing man
- Be mindful, like Ruth, we too are always being watched – be of good report
- Ruth humbly accepted Boaz’s invitation – where is humility w/ us, or society, culture, etc.
- No other bread satisfies us – labors don’t satisfy us, performance cycles don’t satisfy…
- Gleaning – an Israelite law to help take care for the “disadvantaged” – a portion was left behind, to include rounding the corners during harvest, and leaving bales that fell, etc.
Chap 3 – Meet Jesus on the threshing floor
Lay at His feet, let Him cover you with His garment
Ruth 3:1-3, 5, 8-9, 11-12, 18 ESV – “1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. … 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” … 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” … 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. … 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.””
- Threshing floors – how do they work – any thoughts on the literal and symbolic meaning
- Boaz – present at night to protect the harvest and take advantage of the night winds
- Boaz could be the “kinsman redeemer”
- Kinsman redeemer roles: 1) buy one out of slavery; 2) avenger of blood; 3) buy back family land; 4) carry on family name by marrying a childless widow – safeguard persons, property & posterity
- Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions, much like Mary responded to Gabriel in Luke 1
- What qualities do you see in Boaz thus far?
Chap 4- Jesus is our kinsmen Redeemer
Jesus was and is the only One able to be our Redeemer
Ruth 4:1-2, 4-6, 13-15, 17 ESV – “1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. … 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” … 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” … 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
- Jesus is the Restorer of life
- Jesus’ name is above every other name – His name is world renowned
- Jesus laid down His life after His work was done; He is our redeemer; Jesus “clears the threshing floor”; He gathers us like the wheat; we’re to lay at His feet; Jesus covers us in His garment
- Boaz was honorable – no compromise, met at the gate w/ the elders
- Boaz demonstrated the qualities of a godly husband and leader
- Boaz desired godly legacy; while the “nearer” kinsman sought reputation and worldly legacy
- Boaz’s name was written and perpetuated forever; the other kinsman’s name is forgotten
- Boaz and Ruth were King David’s great grandparents – Jesus Christ’s earthly bloodline
- The choice matters – Naomi & Ruth chose restoration by faith – she couldn’t see it, but believed for it
Last thoughts and considerations
- Jesus Christ – the only Redeemer: who opens our prisons; pays our debt, gains back our lost territory
- We must focus on godly character, not worldly reputation
- Boaz and Ruth are why Mary and Joseph had to return to Bethlehem – choices impact generations
- David likely shepherded in the same area of his great grandad Boaz’s fields
- Boaz’s name was one of two names on Soloman’s Temple porch pillars
- “Cling” to Jesus Christ in the “valleys,” as well as the mountaintops
- Can you see God’s purposes for marriage, and godly examples of husband and wife
- We are the bride of Christ – He is our perfect Husband
- Lay at Jesus Christ’s feet, let Him cover you with His garment
Additional verses for self-study
Matt 3:12 ESV – “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
- Jesus Christ clears the threshing floor and brings in the wheat
Heb 11:1-2 ESV – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.”
