Day 111 – Ruth Follows Naomi

Readings

  • Ruth 1
  • Deuteronomy 23:3-6
  • Deuteronomy 10:17-19

Prayer

Pray… that you’ll remember the teaching of Ruth you’ve had before, and build on that this week.

Day 111 – Ruth Follows Naomi

Delilah’s nagging, Samson’s foolishness & Samson’s death

 

 

  • Welcome to another new book – the beautiful tale of Ruth. During the turmoil of the ups and downs of the people in the time of the Judges, as we begin to think about moving on from that period of the Israelite history, the Bible is suddenly punctuated by this short, moving love story. We’re going to be enjoying looking through that story in depth for four days.
  • Just as a precursor to the tale, flick back a couple of pages in your Bible and find the very last verse of the book of Judges. We’ve read it before but I want to remind you of it. Think about what the problems that Israel may have been facing at the time, based on this verse. Think too about all the things that they had to do – remember that they had all been given the Law from the time in the wilderness to follow, including the priestly offerings and tithing. Hew faithful do you think the people were likely have been to God’s commands?
  • I’m sure you know this story of Ruth, or at least the basics. What new things hit you on this reading as you enjoyed chapter 1?
  • Should Elimelech have taken his wife and family to Moab in the first place? Why did he?
  • As Naomi prepared to head back to her homeland of Judah (i.e. Israel), she encourages her two widowed daughters-in-law to stay at home. Ruth 1:11 might sound odd, as she encourages the women to find new husbands rather than wait for Naomi herself to have more sons for them to marry. What were the different responses of Roth and Orpah to Naomi’s request?
  • Read what Ruth said to Naomi again in Ruth 1:16. They are powerful. Why did Ruth make the decision she made? What specific things that she said stick out for you?
  • Naomi was a widow without brothers or children. She would have been very vulnerable, as there was very little support she could have called on to survive on. Naomi might have selflessly encouraged Ruth to stay at home, but in her heart, she may have been singing for joy at Ruth’s choice to stand by her mother-in-law.
  • Think whether you are more like Naomi, Orpah or Ruth. Imagine what it would be like to leave all your friends and your family and know you might never come back home again; a challenge that faced all three women at some point in their lives. Do you have the trusting heart that Ruth seems to have?
  • What did Ruth’s people, the Moabites, do to the nation of Israel several years before this story? You might remember a famous story from the wilderness years, or one from the last book we read, Judges. How does this affect the way Ruth may have been perceived as she came home with Naomi?
  • How were the Israelites supposed to treat needy people like widows, orphans and foreigners? Today’s supplementary readings will help you with this.
  • How have you cared for the needy recently? I don’t just mean putting a pound in a collection plate! For example, do you have a loving heart for the people around you, like the outsiders at school?

 

 

Think about the upper/lower story today, such as the ungodly actions that have happened to make this story come about so far, and Naomi’s new name and sadness. God is at work in this story already, even if it might not seem obvious to them yet!

 

Some encouragement for you. The passages we’ll be reading in Ruth are short, easy to read and packed with the gospel. That gives you more time to think over the questions and comments. You may have got into a habit of not reading every day, but doing blocks of catch-up sessions, and that’s a habit I hope you can kick. This week is a great week to get back up to speed! If you’re reading these notes late, get on with tomorrow’s passages straight away and get caught up. The passages this week are clear and accessible, so use this chance!

 

Oh, and despite forgetting to post the video for Judges, I’m going to persevere and include the one for Ruth. Bonus points for anyone who watches it and tells me something interesting you learned from it via WhatsApp!

 


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