by Jen | Sep 3, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Introduction, Ruth 3
Hello! Thanks for joining me in this study of the third chapter of Ruth. We’ll be using the 5-step do-it-ourselves study process I’ve developed over more than a decade leading youth and women’s Bible studies.
Let’s Study Ruth 3!
Now that I’ve worked through chapter 1 and chapter 2, I’m ready to see what the Holy Spirit has for me in the third chapter of Ruth. So, this week, I’ll begin by praying and surveying Ruth 3. If you want to work along with me, here’s what I recommend you have ready:
- A copy of Ruth 3, plus access to the entire book of Ruth.
I copy the text from https://www.blueletterbible.org, paste it in a word processing program (Google docs or MS Word), change the formatting to suit my preferences, and print it out. If you want to use the ESV translation, here’s a copy I created with lots of room for doodles and notes.
- A study journal.
To finish Step 5 of this study, we’ll need to review what we’ve learned, so plan to record at least some highlights from your work in Steps 1-4. I’m old-school and like the pen/pencil-and-paper method for journaling my studies, but it’s okay if that doesn’t work for you. If you don’t have time to physically write or type your notes, consider dictating them into a notes app, or recording audio files, instead.
Or, if you don’t have time to study right now, no problem. You’re welcome to just read the posts I publish here. They’ll help you become more familiar with the process and show you how the Spirit speaks to my situation. I’m praying there will be enough similarities between my life and yours that you’ll find it worth your while to keep checking in with me, even if you can’t dig in yourself this time.
Dig-In Challenges
So here’s how I’ll be studying this week:
- PRAY: I’ll be creating a prayer that I can pray every time I study Ruth 3. I’m going to write it in my study journal, so I’ll have it handy each time I study.
- SURVEY: And then I’ll read Ruth 3, noting anything that makes me say, “huh?” (as in, “I wonder what that means?”) or “wow” (as in, “that is so awesome!”). I’ll record these and ask the Spirit to reveal which one He would have me dig more deeply into right now.
I’m looking forward to sharing what I discover in this process with you—I hope you’ll keep checking in with me each week!
GO TO WEEK 2 >
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 >
by Jen | Aug 6, 2024 | 1-23, DISO studies, Ruth 2
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again: here’s another week of awesome revelation from God’s Word!
Last Week’s Work
COMPARISONS
I noticed just one comparison in verse 13, where Ruth distinguishes herself from Boaz’s servants. The wording is awkward, I think, first calling herself your servant, but then saying … I am not one of your servants. My NASB95 Bible is a little clearer about the contrast, though. It reads: … I am not like one of your maidservants (emphasis mine). Perhaps because Ruth was Moabite?
CAUSES/MOTIVATIONS
I found these action – connector – explanation patterns relevant to the treatment Ruth received that first day in the field:
- explanation: She [Ruth] said, “Please let me glean…”
So
action: she came, and she has continued from early morning until now… (v7).
Here, the servant didn’t expressly say he’d given Ruth permission. I’m guessing the original audience for Ruth would already know she was entitled to do so under Mosaic law (as discussed last week).
- action: [Ruth] found favor in [Boaz’s] eyes… [even though she was] a foreigner (v10).
[because]
explanation: all she’d done for her mother-in-law… [leaving her] father and mother… [leaving her] native land and [coming] to a people [she] did not know before. (v11)
This is Boaz’s explanation when Ruth asked him why he was so kind to her. I wonder if the question indicates she didn’t know the gleaning law included foreigners. Boaz’s response shows he knew all about her, including her treatment of Naomi, that she was widowed, and she’d left family and country to live among Jews.
- action: [Ruth] found favor in [Boaz’s] eyes…
for
explanation: [Boaz] comforted [her] and spoke kindly to [her]. (v13)
- explanation: Boaz invited her to eat with him and his workers
So
action: she sat beside the reapers, … he passed her roasted grain, … she ate till she was satisfied (v14)
I’ve mentioned before this seems like over-the-top favor: the law says nothing about feeding gleaners as they worked, let alone inviting them to sit with the master and share his wine.
- explanation: After the meal, Boaz told his young men to let her glean even among the sheaves, don’t verbally harass her, and even help her (vv15-16).
So
action: she gleaned until evening (v17).
CONDITIONS/METHODS
As I read through this chapter. I noticed how Boaz didn’t initially seem to know who Ruth was (v5), but by v14, he’s inviting her to eat and share wine with them. As I considered this, the Spirit reminded me of a phrase in Ruth 1:19 I don’t think I even mentioned in our study of Ruth 1: when [Naomi and Ruth] came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. Boaz came from Bethlehem to the field (v4). If the whole town was stirred, he must have known about their arrival. I see him having least two responsibilities here: as an Israelite, to allow Ruth to glean; and as a member of Elimelech’s clan (v1), to be their redeemer per Naomi (v20). I really feel the Spirit moving me to learn more about redemption right now. Not only does it appear here in Ruth, but it also came up in my daily Bible reading this past week! Talk about a Wow! moment!
I also took note of how Boaz treated Ruth. He:
- Told her to glean in his fields exclusively (v8)
- Told his young men to leave her alone, and
- Told her to get water from their vessels when she was thirsty (v9)
- Blessed her.
Don’t you love how he describes her relocation as taking refuge under the wings of the Lord, the God of Israel (v12)?!
- Invited her to eat with them (v14)
- Instructed the young men not to harass her; but to help her (v16).
All this makes me expect good things to come between these two in future chapters!
Dig-In Challenges
Now that we’ve collected all these facts, we need to make sure we’re viewing them the same way Ruth’s author and his audience would have interpreted this story.
Here’s how I’ll be working toward that this week:
- PRAY. Of course!
- REFINE: First, let’s reread Chapter 2. We know the overall writing type from Ruth 1 is narrative, so now we’re just looking for instances of instruction, law, letter, poetry, and/or prophecy.
- REFINE: Next, I remember this book is set in the days when the judges ruled, and everyone basically did what they wanted to do. We also know no author is named for this book, but the mention of King David in Chapter 4 indicates it was written after 1010BC. Assuming a Jewish audience (Ruth is part in the Hebrew Tanakh), and considering what the Spirit seems to be pointing me toward, I want to understand what they would have known about gleaning, levirate, and redemption law, so I’ll be digging in Leviticus and Deuteronomy for that information.
REMEMBER: if you decide to research historical context about different topics or verse, stick with factual, historical resources and avoid commentary.
- REFINE: Finally, let’s examine key words and/or phrases (I’ll look at verses 12 and 20, plus anything the Spirit flags from the law) using an interlinear Bible, and note what the Spirit reveals. These Bibles are available on several study websites (I’ll be using the Blue Letter Bible Interlinear tool), and show a verse in the original Hebrew or Greek providing details about each word, including its meaning in context. As usual, I encourage you to log anything the Spirit illuminates from this exercise.
This “refining” step is more involved than the “mining” we did earlier, but I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!
GO TO WEEK 6 >
