by Jen | Oct 15, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again! I can’t believe we’re almost through with another study: they seem to go so quickly these days. I began studying Ruth just five months ago, and two weeks from today we’ll begin the last chapter, which will take us through to the end of the year.
In the meantime, let’s wrap up refining our understanding of Ruth 3.
Last Week’s Work
CROSS-REFERENCES
Remember at the start of this study, the Spirit helped me choose my wow! reaction to verse 13. I couldn’t believe Boaz was willing to let the other potential redeemer have Ruth. I really thought he cared about her, but he seemed to care even more about the letter of the law. That seemed a little backwards to me, but I realized I was applying my own interpretation (based on my Western, twenty-first century culture perspective). And, as God would have it, the first cross-reference (for Ruth 3:10) I encountered sufficiently adjusted my perception. It’s from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the love verses: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (emphasis mine).
I believe Boaz really did love Ruth, but he loved God enough to trust that whatever God’s law brought for them, it would be good. He did not insist on his own way; he rejoiced in the truth, that there remained two eligible men to care for Ruth (and Naomi), even if the closer relative chose to take Ruth away from him. Also, from the Ruth 3:13 cross-references, I discovered this in Jeremiah 4:2, …and if you swear, “as the LORD lives,” in truth, in justice, in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him and in him shall they glory. I couldn’t help but think of Boaz in this description!
OTHER TRANSLATIONS
I compared the ESV, Amplified Bible, New International Version, and Good News Translation for verses 10 through 13. Like last time, I didn’t see much difference among these, though with verse 10, the NIV translation of what Boaz said to Ruth about other suitors rendered them younger men, which follows the comparison I thought might be there.
Also, I liked the verbiage the GNT used in verse 12: it is true that I am a close relative and am responsible for you… though last week I discovered Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (the levirate law) specifically identifies the brother-in-law as redeemer of the widow. But Ruth’s brother-in-law was dead. So, at least technically, it seems Boaz and the other kinsman could have just turned their backs if they didn’t want Ruth. Of course, that clearly wasn’t the case for Boaz: he’d gone over and above his obligation when Ruth first gleaned in his field and the night she went to the threshing floor. He definitely seemed to take responsibility for her there.
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up our study of Chapter 3 and align with what we’ve discovered here. I hope you’ll join me as I
- Read the prayer we created in Step 1.
- ALIGN: Review my study notes and other work, focusing specifically on what I’ve learned.
- ALIGN: Then, considering those “lessons learned,” I’ll give some thought to how the Spirit has convicted me through this study. In other words, where has He shown me misalignment between what I’ve discovered and how I practice my faith?
- ALIGN: Next, I’ll look to God’s Word for guidance to correct that misalignment. This is often—but not always—a verse either from the study text or from one of the cross-references.
- ALIGN: And finally, I’ll reflect on how I can change thinking or behavior to align more closely with the redeeming God I’ve discovered here. To really make this work, I commit to changing something and do my best to act on that commitment every day for at least three weeks.
That may seem like a lot to consider in one week. If you’re working with me, just do what you can when you can. It’s far better to take your time and really soak in what you’ve discovered than to run through it so quickly you don’t even have a chance to remember it a week from now.
I’m looking forward to sharing my findings with you next week!
GO TO WEEK 8 >
by Jen | Oct 22, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t know how the story of Ruth and Boaz turns out, this post contains information about it you may not want to read just yet. Come back after we’ve started Ruth 4 if you want to see it for yourself first…
Hello again! It’s so hard to believe we are already wrapping up this study. I hope your dig into Ruth has been as profitable as mine has. God’s Word is so good!
Last Week’s Work
This time, the Spirit called out the poetry in verse 9, “spread your wings over your servant for you are a redeemer.” I commented about how this might have helped Boaz identify Ruth on the dark threshing floor, since he used similar language in their conversation in Ruth 2:12. I also recall seeing similar words in a few of the Psalms attributed to David, the famous king of Israel who was also Boaz’s and Ruth’s great-grandson.
As I studied the Hebrew word ga’al, translated redeemer, I thought about how often I’ve heard Jesus called the Redeemer. He’s not a redeemer in the sense Boaz was: the kinsman who bought Elimelech’s field and married Ruth to provide a son for her childless, late husband. But, to Christians, Jesus is our brother who also fulfilled at least one of the kinsman’s duties. By his death, he redeemed us from slavery to sin and death (see John 8:31-36, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 1:3-10). I feel the Spirit leading me to dig more deeply into this facet of Jesus’s life—which means our next DISO study text will probably be one of those passages!
CONVICTION
I remain convicted by Boaz’s steadfast commitment to God’s law and his family. He had a humble heart and was very willing to do the right thing, even when the woman who needed rescue was born of people with whom Israel was in conflict.
As I write, I see myself in a similar situation, facing the possible surrender of something I really want, and I believe the Spirit is prompting me to respond as Boaz did: if x happens, good; let it be. But I don’t want x to happen. I want y to happen. So much so that I am catastrophizing any other outcome. That feels like an idol.
CORRECTION
I’m pulled toward two passages in this study: first, a segment of Ruth 3:21, “do not fear,” one of the most repeated commands in God’s Word, I’m told. The second passage is from the cross-references, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is … not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…”
I believe the Spirit is telling me not to fear the outcome of the situation about which I’m so concerned, and to stop insisting on my own way. I know from experience this doesn’t mean I’m going to get what I want, but I can say—also from experience—whatever happens will be for God’s glory and He will work it out for my good, even if that takes a long time.
ACTION PLAN
So, my action plan is to walk with courage toward this crossing, willing to accept how God chooses to resolve the situation. Like Boaz, the result is completely out of my hands. God knows how I want it to go, but He sees beyond my vision. Both Ruth and Boaz have trusted God in this whole series, and I know it turns out for good all the way around. I’ve got to trust that God is working that way in my situation, too.
Our Next Study
I hope you’ll continue to check in with me as I start our examination of the last chapter in Ruth next week. See you then!
CONTINUE TO RUTH 4 STUDY
by Jen | Aug 27, 2024 | 1-23, DISO studies, Ruth 2
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back to the last week of Ruth 2! Full disclosure: I had trouble focusing on the challenges this week. Our home sustained minor damage from strong storms coming through this area a few weeks ago, and furnishings remain scattered about as the last steps of restoration are scheduled for this week. It’s been hard to concentrate on God’s Word, but I definitely needed the solace of His presence.
Last Week’s Work
Through my study notes, the Spirit again impressed upon me the principle of humility. I mentioned this briefly when observing Ruth asked permission to glean in Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:7) even though Mosaic law entitled her to do so. I also saw this trait when she volunteered to provide for Naomi by gleaning in Bethlehem’s barley fields (2:2) soon after arriving there (1:22) and by sharing with Naomi the roasted grain left over from her meal (2:18).
Boaz clearly indicates her assistance to Naomi was a reason he was so kind to Ruth (2:11). Surely, with the whole town being stirred at their arrival (1:19), he knew Naomi had returned with a daughter-in-law after losing her husband and sons. When he found out the woman in his field who worked so hard was that daughter-in-law, it makes sense to me he would care about her.
CONVICTION
I am convicted by the way God blessed Ruth with Boaz’s favor. Pledging to stick with Naomi until she died (1:17) seems pretty risky: what if Bethlehem rejected this stray foreigner who’d followed Naomi home? It’s not like she could hop the next plane back to Moab if it didn’t work out.
And that wasn’t the only thing she’d done. She’d rejected the gods of Moab for Elohim, the God of Israel (1:16). I think Boaz’s beautiful mention of Ruth’s conversion (2:12) indicates his approval of her commitment to his God. She was surely all in on the move to Bethlehem.
CORRECTION
I can’t help but marvel about the unusual way the Spirit presented the correction verse for this study to me. At the beginning of July, I decided to re-establish my daily Bible-reading habit. Not studying it, but just reading a few chapters each morning. I chose a chronological plan in the YouVersion Bible App and listen while I walk in our neighborhood each morning. About a week ago, the narrator announced Leviticus 19, and I knew I’d hear the familiar rule of gleaning in verses 9-10, but I had no idea how verse 2 would resonate with me then and still does now:
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy(Leviticus 19:1-2 ESV emphasis added).
That morning when I returned home, I wrote about the context in which we find the gleaning law: “God wanted His people to be different from those around them, more like Him.” Among other things, He instructed them to care for those who experienced hardship.
I feel the same call to be different. I have already accepted the holiness conveyed by faith in Jesus Christ, and I know with that comes a changed life (i.e., 1 Peter 1:8-16, which quotes Leviticus 19:2!). Ruth knew when she left Moab with Naomi that her life would be different. And it appears my life is about to change as well. In some respects, I’m looking forward to it. In others, I’m already looking backward knowing I will miss aspects of my current situation. I’m sure Ruth did the same. But through it all, as she was, I’m committed to God’s call.
ACTION PLAN
So what does a changed life mean to me these days? We’re still praying about that, and the Lord is still unfolding it. This week my husband and I will be taking a baby step in faith toward what we believe He has ordained for us. I’m looking forward to sharing specifics with you, friends, but it doesn’t feel right to do that just yet.
Our Next Study
Thanks so much for joining me for these studies in Ruth! We’re already half done with the book, and I hope you’ll continue to check in as I start Ruth chapter 3 next week. In more ways than one, we’re on the verge of learning a lot about what God can do with a humble heart!
CONTINUE TO RUTH 3 STUDY
by Jen | Aug 20, 2024 | 1-23, DISO studies, Ruth 2
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back! As I reviewed my previous work, I realized I goofed last week when I wondered if Boaz had quoted King David… I’ve studied Ruth before and should have remembered the genealogy at the end of this book: “…Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David (Ruth 4:21-22).” It’s highly unlikely Boaz would quote David before he even married David’s great grandmother! So, perhaps David was the one borrowing the line instead. After all, he used that imagery I so admired in at least five different Psalms! But that’s just the start of the revelation I received this week!
Last Week’s Work
CROSS-REFERENCES
One of the things I love most about digging around in cross-references is the way Scripture comes full circle. I saw it again this week with the references I studied relative to redeemer (v20).
After examining almost fifty separate instances of redeem/redeemer (almost half in the book of Isaiah alone), I realized I’d discovered one of those “threads” woven through the entire Bible. I found it first in Leviticus (25:47-49), where a poor Israelite who sells himself into slavery can be redeemed by a kinsman. This is important, because the history of Israel is enslavement followed by redemption through God’s intervention. First with Egypt (see Exodus 1:8-14, 6:6, 15:3), then with Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-25:12, Isaiah 48:20). And finally, enslavement to sin and death and redemption through Jesus, which is also available to all of us who believe in Him (Romans 3:21-25).
It was amazing to see, again, God’s consistent love for people who are so easily led astray!
OTHER TRANSLATIONS
I compared the ESV, Amplified Bible, New International Version, and Good News Translation for verses 12 and 20. I didn’t see much difference among these for verse 12, other than the GNT excised that beautiful phrase under whose wings you have come to take refuge, in favor of just the facts. It reads, to whom you have come for protection.
The GNT also rendered Naomi’s statement about Boaz being a redeemer more plainly: one of those responsible for taking care of us. If you’re not familiar with the remaining chapters of Ruth, doesn’t that make you wonder what will happen next?
I know the original writing of Ruth wasn’t divided into chapters, but I applaud whoever put the chapter break there. It’s definitely a cliff-hanger! Will Naomi and Ruth confront Boaz and force his hand? Stay tuned, my friend!
Dig-In Challenges
But first, let’s wrap up our study of Chapter 2 and align with what we’ve discovered here. This week, I hope you’ll join me as I
- Read the prayer we created in Step 1.
- ALIGN: Review my study notes and other work, focusing specifically on what I’ve learned.
- ALIGN: Then, considering those “lessons learned,” I’ll give some thought to how the Spirit has convicted me through this study. In other words, where has He shown me misalignment between what I’ve discovered and how I practice my faith?
- ALIGN: Next, I’ll look to God’s Word for guidance to correct that misalignment. This is often—but not always—a verse either from the study text or from one of the cross-references.
- ALIGN: And finally, I’ll reflect on how I can change thinking or behavior to align more closely with the redeeming God I’ve discovered here. To really make this work, I commit to changing something and do my best to act on that commitment every day for at least three weeks.
That may seem like a lot to consider in one week, but I’ve found the Spirit often leads me through steps 2-5 very quickly (though sometimes I have to pray about it more than a couple of times during the week). If you’re working with me, just do what you can when you can. It’s far better to take your time and really soak in what you’ve discovered than to run through it so quickly you don’t even have a chance to remember it a week from now!
I’m looking forward to sharing my findings with you next week, and turning our attention to Ruth Chapter 3, which we’ll begin September 3. I hope you’ll keep digging into this amazing book with me!
GO TO WEEK 8 >
by Jen | Aug 13, 2024 | 1-23, DISO studies, Ruth 2
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again! Has the Spirit shown you awesome treasure from Ruth 2? If you’re willing to share what you’ve discovered, email me at [email protected], or use my contact form. I’d love to hear about it!
Last Week’s Work
WRITING TYPES
In addition to narrative—the overall type we determined for the Book of Ruth in Ruth 1—I noted indirect references to laws in Chapter 2: gleaning by the poor, foreigners, and widows (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-21); plus several regarding redemption (see specific laws under Interlinear Research below).
I also noticed the line in verse 20 under whose wings you have come to take refuge. What beautiful poetic language! I don’t think Boaz intended to say Ruth was literally hiding under God’s wing. It’s a comparison (I didn’t catch last week, argh!): a metaphor. And I feel like I’ve heard it before in Scripture… more on that below. Remember, writing type is what helps determine whether we understand a passage literally or symbolically. Because it’s narrative, I’m confident most of Ruth should be interpreted literally. Though there’s no way of knowing for sure, the romantic in me thinks Boaz used that metaphor intentionally to impress Ruth.
LITERAL CONTEXT
From our previous study, we know she returned to Bethlehem with Naomi after both their husbands died in Moab. Not having a man in the household meant there was no one to provide for them, so they were forced to rely on gleaning to survive. That’s how Ruth happened to be gleaning in Boaz’s field when he (a “worthy” relative of Naomi’s husband) happened to arrive from Bethlehem. Once Boaz learned who Ruth was, he took special care of her, even though she was a foreigner.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
In the Ruth 1 study, I noted Ruth’s author is unknown, but it’s believed to have been written about 1010 BC. To date the events described in Ruth 2, I checked this Blue Letter Bible timeline of biblical characters’ lives and events. I discovered Boaz’s lifespan is estimated to be from about 1350 to 1250 BC, making him a contemporary of two judges, Othniel and Ehud. You may remember I mentioned Ehud in the Ruth 1 study: in Judges 3:15-3:30, he led a successful revolt against Eglon, the king of Moab.
That means it’s possible Naomi and Ruth returned from Moab to Bethlehem during the conflict, when the Israelites and Moabites were fighting each other, which might have made their journey more difficult and dangerous than it already was.
INTERLINEAR RESEARCH
I reviewed the interlinear text of verses 12 and 20, and these items caught my attention:
- “seek refuge” (v12) – H2620 ḥāsâ. Strong’s indicates the word has been translated trust, seek refuge, and have hope. Here, it appears in the poetic reference Boaz makes when he blesses Ruth. Have hope reminded me of Ruth 1:12, where Naomi tells Ruth and Orpah she doesn’t have hope for more sons who could perform the duty of the levirate with them, though that phrase is rendered from a different Hebrew word, tiqvâ, H8615. I think it still presents an interesting contrast between Naomi in chapter 1 and Ruth in chapter 2.
- “wings” (also in Boaz’s statement to Ruth in v12)– H3671 kānāp̄. Strong’s indicates this use is figurative, referring to God as “protector of his people.” Spoiler alert: it reappears in Ruth 3:9 (only Ruth is saying it to Boaz!).
I also found it used similarly by King David in Psalms 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7 and by another psalmist in 91:4. Makes me wonder if Boaz was actually quoting from those masterpieces of Hebrew poetry.
- “the Lord, the God of Israel” (v12) – H3068 Yᵊhōvâ. This is (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God: Jehovah, the Lord, plus H430 ‘ĕlōhîm Israel’s God. The names people call God in Scripture always fascinate me! Here, Boaz is speaking to Ruth, calling God both the Jewish national name of God and Israel’s God. I checked, and Ruth also referred to Him as ‘ĕlōhîm in Ruth 1:16 when she stated her belief in Israel’s God.
- “one of our redeemers” (v20) – H1350 gā’al. This is the only term that stood out to me in verse 20. It’s how Naomi described Boaz after she learned how he’d cared for Ruth that day in the field. The connotation is someone who fulfills obligations of next of kin under Hebrew law, which duties included:
- Marrying a widow and having at least one son by her who would bear the deceased relative’s name and perpetuate his lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)
- Buying back a poor relative who sold himself into slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49)
- Buying back the field of a poor relative sold to raise money (Leviticus 25:25)
- Avenging the murder of a dead relative (Numbers 35:16-19).
I love learning about Scripture this way. I hope you’re learning a lot in your study, too!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, we’re going to wrap up the second half of our Refine step by examining cross-references and other translations.
- Don’t forget to begin with your prayer from Step 1.
- REFINE: Then consult a concordance or online cross-reference study tool (for v12, I’ll start at this blb.org page) to find and read through the available cross-references for the verses you’re most interested in and log what the Spirit shows you.
NOTE: if you’re interested in verses other than 12, follow the above link, then point to the TOOLS button to the left of a verse, and choose Cross-Refs from the menu.
- REFINE: Finally, compare at least a few other translations’ version of the same verses and write about what you find in your study journal. I’ll be comparing ESV, AMP, NIV, and GNT using this biblehub.com page. You can compare your own verses from that link by entering them in the Enter Reference or Keyword box at the top of the page and clicking the spyglass icon there.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost through Chapter 2, my friend: just two more weeks! I hope the Lord has used it for His glory and your good! See you next week!
GO TO WEEK 7 >
