Applying Concepts Learned from Ruth Chapter 2

2. Applying Concepts Learned fromRuth Chapter 2

3. Case Study: Angela, a single parent • Scenario: Angela is a single parent in her mid-thirties raising three children (ages twelve, eight, and six). She works nights as a nurse's aid at a local care facility and has been raising the children by herself since her ex-husband left her four years ago for another woman. Her children have attended Sunday School at Redeemer for about two years, although she seldom comes, due to her "complicated work schedule." • Those were her words to you last Sunday morning when you dropped off her children at their house after church. At that time you noticed that Angela seemed quite overwhelmed with life. A broken mower was sitting in the tall grass of the side yard, the gutters were black with mildew, and a cracked garage door window caught your eye. Before leaving, you invite Angela to join her children next week in church. Her response is polite but to the point, "Thanks, but I don't have room in my life for church. Don't take me wrong. I believe in God, for sure, but it takes every ounce of my energy just to pay the bills and keep life sane for my kids." • As you drove home that day you found yourself thinking about the past few adult Sunday School classes dealing with Ruth 2 and wondered if God hadn't just placed a providential opportunity in your life. A week later you are leading a Vacation Bible School worker's training session and decide to read the account of Ruth 2 and then share about your experience with Angela. Afterwards you ask the following ...

4. Case Study: Angela, a single parent What principles do we find in Ruth 2 that can help us know how to respond to hurting people like Angela? List several. • Principle #1 – Nothing just “happens” in life • The doctrine of providence as seen in the book of Ruth has tremendous implications for our daily lives • There are no “chance” meetings; Ruth didn't just “happen” to end up in a field owned by Boaz, for God was at work • Likewise, when the Lord allows our path to cross the path of a person in need (as in this scenario involving Angela), we need to see the situation for what it is, a divine appointment

5. Case Study: Angela, a single parent What principles do we find in Ruth 2 that can help us know how to respond to hurting people like Angela? List several. • Principle #2 – Real faith shows up in the real world • Boaz demonstrated the reality of God in his life by the way he approached his work (he took God to work with him); even Boaz's employees recognized this • Boaz didn't just tell the people around him that the Lord was important to him …he showed them by his treatment of them, his work ethic, and so on • It's great to invite Angela to church where she can hear about Christ, but in this scenario we have an opportunity to show her Christ. How? • By performing actions that will meet pressing needs in her life (like mowing her grass, cleaning her gutters, and fixing her garage window) • Angela's physical needs provide a present opportunity for us to show the reality of living faith which God may use to open subsequent opportunities to present the object of our faith (the gospel message)

6. Case Study: Angela, a single parent What principles do we find in Ruth 2 that can help us know how to respond to hurting people like Angela? List several. • Principle #3 – Real faith works • The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and not by works (Eph. 2:8-9) • But while our works are not the basis of our salvation, they are the fruit of it (Eph. 2:10) • The Bible does not support the so-called “social gospel” but it does present a gospel that produces social concerns (a salvation that works) • Boaz didn't just call himself a believer in YHWH; his actions demonstrated his profession … he put God's Law into practice in the treatment he gave a Moabite widow • We have a similar opportunity with Angela

7. Case Study: Angela, a single parent What principles do we find in Ruth 2 that can help us know how to respond to hurting people like Angela? List several. • Principle #4 – God is a providing God, and sincewe are His children there ought to be a family resemblance • He provided for our needs (and still does) … we should prepare ourselves to demonstrate the same family trait when our Father places needy people in our lives • Ruth learned about YHWH’s generous nature by experiencing generosity from His follower, Boaz • Likewise, people like Angela are learning what God is like by observing our actions

8. Case Study: Angela, a single parent Angela is one of many single parents in our world. What are some practical things we can do as a church to show the love of Christ to her and others? • We need to heed the preaching of God's Word • Ephesians 4: 11-12 tells us that the pastor's God-given assignment is to "prepare God's people for works of service" • Think of our pastors as player-coaches … yes, they are in the game (as a player) but their primary responsibility is to prepare the rest of the team to play the game (a coach) • As they consistently proclaim God's sufficient Word to the saints, the Spirit of God uses His Word to equip the Body of Christ to function in Christ-like ways in obedience to the Head • Are we taking seriously our call to “do the work of the ministry”?

9. Case Study: Angela, a single parent Angela is one of many single parents in our world. What are some practical things we can do as a church to show the love of Christ to her and others? • There are many “works of service” the Bodycan perform in ministering to single parents • If a woman is raising children alone (as in Angela's case), there may be needs for house and vehicle maintenance, childcare, transportation of children to school events, and so on • She may need parenting counsel and perhaps male role models if she has a son • She needs the encouragement of listening ears and faithful prayer support

10. Case Study: Angela, a single parent Angela is one of many single parents in our world. What are some practical things we can do as a church to show the love of Christ to her and others? • Paul offers a piece of valuable counsel in Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" • We find here a helpful guide when it comes to benevolence; when it comes to good deeds, we're to start with our fellow family members in God's household • Then if we're able, we're to go beyond the church family and do good to all people • In other words, the order is local church first, then community (and beyond)

11. Case Study: Angela, a single parent What does she need from us most? • What Angela needs most of all is what every person needs, and that is to know Jesus Christ • She says she believes in "God" (nearly everyone in our local community would say that), but we realize that belief in a generic "God" can save no one • Jesus clearly asserted that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) • So Angela needs for us to introduce her to the Lord Jesus

12. Case Study: Angela, a single parent But what does Angela need from us first? • Look again at Angela … she is overwhelmed with life; survivalis her mode of operation • We know she needs Christ, but she probably doesn't. All she sees is the immediate. The eternal will have to wait, so she thinks. • What Angela needs from us first is to see Christ • We have an opportunity to make Christ attractive to her by our willingness to get involved in her life (in ways previously suggested) • As Jesus instructed in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"

13. A Big Favor All sorts of emotions are attached to asking for a favor. Recall the biggest favor you ever asked of someone. • What forces prodded you to make the request? • Was it hard to ask? Why? • How did you decide whom to ask? • Were there fears attached to the asking? If so, what were they? • What responses did you envision? • Did the person’s response pleasantly or unpleasantly surprise you? If so, why? • How did you feel about the person after you made your request? • Did you thank the person in some special way? • Now turn all these questions to a time when you asked God for something really big. What insights do you gain about your relationship to God?

14. Ruth Chapter 3

15. Ruth 3:1-5 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? 2Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3Wash 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. 4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

16. Ruth 3:1-2 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? 2Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. • Beginning in chapter 3, the story of Ruth enters a new phase. Naomi and Ruth both knew God’s provision would last through the winter, but the long-term issues of survival were not resolved for them. • After the crises of famine, death, and relocation had passed, and Ruth and Naomi settled into life in Bethlehem, what concern did Naomi express (v. 1)? The word “rest” in verse 1 is manoah in Hebrew and speaks of the security and tranquility that a woman in Israel longed for and expected to find in the home of a loving husband.

17. Finding a Husband Bethlehem Times Widowed Moabitess seeks hardworking man of character for long walks in the barley fields and quiet evenings by the fire. Must like children. • A good man is hard to find; it has always been this way • How can a woman of character, especially an outsider like Ruth, go about the task of finding a husband to support her and take care of her? • Nowadays she might run an ad ….. • It was a tricky task, yet Naomi decided that for Ruth's sake it needed to be undertaken • This thought in itself seems to be a mark of progress in Naomi's thinking • Through most of the first two chapters of the book, Naomi has been preoccupied with three people: me, myself, and I. She had turned inward, consumed by grief and bitterness, cut off from those around her. • Even Ruth's passionate commitment of devotion in chapter 1 seemed unable to touch her heart • While Ruth went out to glean, Naomi stayed at home. Yet now she is starting to think of someone else's needs rather than her own.

18. Ruth 3:1-2 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? 2Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. • One very human element here that is so easy to miss is the fact that Ruth was a mature adult who found herself single again. Try to identify with Ruth as a single woman who must have asked many of the questions and felt much of the inner turmoil that are often part of this experience. • What were some of the struggles that went with being single in Ruth’s time and culture? • What are some of the struggles that singles experience today? • Even a casual reading of the text reveals that Naomi’s attitude toward life had changed significantly since their initial return to Bethlehem. • In what ways does Naomi seem different from the past? • Why was Naomi now more hopeful? • What do you think prompted the change? Where was Boaz going to be on this particular evening? Naomi thought that Boaz might be willing to fulfill the role of kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and herself. If Boaz would be willing to assume this role, both Ruth and Naomi would be rescued from their present dilemma. It is also possible that Naomi was beginning to recognize that the Lord was honoring Ruth’s willingness to live by faith.

19. Ancient threshing floor • The best threshing floors involved rock outcrops on hilltops • The hard surface was needed to keep the grain free of dirt and to facilitate sweeping up the grains at the end of the day • The hilltop location was required to take advantage of the wind that would blow away the chaff when the threshold grain was tossed in the air with a fork, allowing the separated heavier kernels of grain to fall to the floor • In the ancient near east, threshing floors where known places of illicit sexual behavior … realizing that the men would spend the night in the fields next to the piles of grain, prostitutes would go out to them and offer their services

20. Ruth 3:3-5 3Wash 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. 4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” • Let’s address Naomi’s plan/scheme for Ruth: • What three things did Naomi tell Ruth to do? • What was Naomi’s purpose in having Ruth do these three things?

21. 2 Samuel 12:18-20 “On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.” • Here is an analogy of what Naomi is asking of Ruth …. David ceased his mourning for his dead son, washed himself, applied perfumed oil, put on his simla, and went to the temple to worship and then went to his own house; that is, he resumed normal life • It appears that Naomi is herby advising Ruth to end her period of mourning over her widowhood and get on with normal life • Until this time, Ruth had probably worn the garments of widowhood, even when she was working in the field

22. Ruth 3:3-5 3Wash 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. 4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” Why is this plan not the brightest of ideas? What could go wrong? After Ruth has “prepared” herself, what is the rest of Naomi’s plan/scheme entail? Why would she expect Boaz to go to sleep on the threshing floor? What did Ruth say in response to Naomi’s plan? • Naomi put Ruth in real danger because threshing floors lay outside the town and she could have been abducted on the way and never made it to Boaz • Boaz could mock her request for marriage to him – a wealthy and powerful Israelite landowner – as a vain attempt at social climbing for a poor widowed “Moabitess” • Since Ruth is still technically the wife of Mahlon (4:5,10), Boaz could charge her with failing in her family responsibilities, branding her an adulteress • Though a man of standing, Boaz could use the night’s opportunity for his sexual pleasure, bringing on her great humiliation, and then malign her (charging her with entrapment) or even charge her with prostitution • Someone could have awakened and seen Ruth at Boaz’s feet; she could then be branded as a prostitute by others (cf. Hosea 9:1)

23. How We Come to Christ One commentator wrote, “… the book of Ruth is much more that the record of the marriage of a rejected alien to a respectable Jew. It is a picture of how we come to the Great Kinsman-Redeemer Jesus Christ in salvation as we rescue our impoverished souls from spiritual famine. We must cleanse ourselves and put on our royal garments in preparation to meeting Him. He, like Boaz, will tell us what to do?” Do you agree with this interpretation? Why or why not? • The believer does not rescue himself from his spiritual poverty prior to salvation – Christ alone saves (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Eph 2:8-9) • The believer does not cleanse himself in preparation to meeting Christ – Christ cleanses him by the washing of regeneration (1 Tim 3:5-6) • The believer does not put on his royal garments in preparation to meet Christ – he is clothed by God (2 Cor 5:2-4). • This commentator quote is an allegorical method of interpretation; it is a subjective way of trying to understand God’s Word that regularly leads to unwarranted speculations of the meaning of the passage and causes us to miss the main point of the passage

24. Faith: Trust vs Foolishness • It is easy for believers to regard Ruth’s response to Naomi as faith and loyal obedience because we know the story of her life • On the other hand, it would be easy to view Ruth’s willingness to follow Naomi’s plan as foolish innocence or naïveté • What do you think is the difference between the kind of faith that leads Christians to a warranted trust in others and the kind of faith that is dangerously foolish? • Those who exhibits biblical faith continue to place their confidence in God, but those who exercises blind faith continually place their faith in people • Those who live by biblical faith continue to think about scriptural principles, prohibitions, and promises that might govern a specific decision, but those who are naïve allow others to think for them • Those who live by biblical faith recognizes a continuing responsibility to God for the decisions they make; on the other hand, naïve individuals, who blindly follow others, often believe they are absolved of any personal responsibility before God

25. Rated R (or at least PG-13) • The three Hebrew words that make up the sentence in verse 4 (“uncover his feet and lie down”) are capable of more than one meaning … each bears an overtly sexual meaning. • First, “to uncover” (glh) is often used in contexts of “uncovering someone’s nakedness/genitals” for illicit sexual relations (Lev 18:6-19; 20:11, 17-20; Ezek 16:37; 22:10) • Second, the verb “to lie” (sakab) is often used to denote sexual intercourse (Gen 19:32-33; Lev 20:11-13, 18, 20; Deut 22:25; 27:20-23; 35:22). • Third, the noun between these verbs, “feet” (margelot) is often used euphemistically for the genitalia (Ex 4:25; Jud 3:24; 1 Sam 24:3; Isa 7:20; Deut 28:57; Ezek 16:25; Isa 6:2). • Thus, some interpret Naomi’s scheme as delicate and dangerous, charged with sexual overtones • What is one to think of a woman who bathes, puts on perfume, and then in the dark of night goes out to the threshing floor (a known place of sexual immorality) where the man is sleeping and uncovers his feet/legs? Under ordinary circumstances these look like the actions of a prostitute.

26. Ancient threshing floor Have you ever, in effect, found yourself on the threshing floor in the middle of the night? Were you there because of someone else’s actions? Describe a situation in your life when you received advice from another person (parent, employer, pastor, etc.) that seemed unrealistic or even wrong at the time, but later realized that it was wise counsel? What did you learn from this experience?