Ladies! Hen House Study is tonight at my house at 7:00 p.m.
Wendy Jepsen will be singing the roof off for us. I'm really excited!!
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| "...how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings..." Matthew 23:37 |
Ruth 3:7-18
“Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out.” Ruth 3:18
Let’s do this! Read Ruth chapter three with me.
1. Ruth 3:7,8: “When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.” (NASB)
· Ruth came softly, that is secretly, at night so that no one would see her. Why?
There was another woman we have talked about before who also came to the feet of the Lord. Read Matthew 26:6-13 and then we’ll talk.
Ruth the Moabitess & Mary Magdalene
2. Ruth 3:8,9 and Matthew 26:7. What was the attitude of both women in their desperate circumstances? What could have their behavior been instead?
3. Ruth 3:10,11 and Matthew 26:10,11. What was the response each woman received?
· Boaz’s Response/Reaction to Ruth:
· Jesus’ Response/Reaction to Mary Magdalene:
4. In Ruth 3:11, what did Boaz call Ruth?
5. In Matthew 26:13, what did Jesus say would be the repercussion of Mary’s devotion?
6. Go Deep~the Hebrew word for Devotion is Siyach which means: communion, contemplation, meditation, prayer, talk, reflection and my favorite, to be an extension. [i] · Deuteronomy 11:18-21
· 2 Corinthians 4:1-7. What is an earthen vessel?
o Greek: ostrakinow skeuos. This Greek phrase means _______________ ______________. In ancient times it was a common practice to bury treasures inside clay jars. Two recent discoveries of biblical manuscripts—the Chester Beatty Papyrus and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls—reveal that these manuscripts were hidden away in jars for nearly two thousand years. As these treasures were enclosed in earthen vessels, so the indwelling Christ lives within our earthly bodies.[ii]
7. Looking over your notes, what can we learn about the Lord’s response to us when we lay all of ourselves at his feet—completely devoted (Siyach) to Him?
8. Onto Ruth 3:12! “Houston, we have a problem.” Name that movie. Boaz said to Ruth: “Now it is true I am a close relative; HOWEVER, there is a relative closer than I. Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.” (Ruth 3:12,13 NASB)
Jiminy Crickets! How well might YOU have slept than night? Personally, my first thoughts would be: “Who is that guy?”, “Is he ugly?”, “How old is he?” Has something you needed seemed easy enough but there’s that ONE little meazly snag in the way? Can you think of a time your devotion to God helped you stand?
9. Verse 13: Boaz said, “as the Lord lives”.
· What does this reinforce?
· What does the law say about the marriage duty of the surviving brother in Deuteronomy 25:5-10?
· Who and/or what is Boaz clearly devoted to?
10. Ruth 3:14 Part A: “So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized…” (NIV)
· Did you catch that? Where was Ruth before the break of day?
· The best place for us to be is at the feet of the Lord before we start our day.
11. Ruth 3:14 Part B: “….and he said, ‘Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
· Why did Boaz desire no one knew about Ruth coming to him at the threshing floor that night? Use Judges 21:25, Romans 14:16, and 2 Corinthians 8:21 to help you answer this question.
12. Ruth 3:15: “And he told Ruth, ‘Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the city.” (HCSB) Why did Boaz give Ruth six measures of barley? Keep a couple of things in mind as we finish up:
· How many days did God work in creation? (Genesis)
· When did God rest when His work was finally completed?
Did you get my message?
Perhaps Boaz was sending a message through Ruth to Naomi. A message which went right over the head of a young convert like Ruth. Naomi, a seasoned woman in God’s Word would understand the significance of Boaz’s actions.
Ruth 3:16-18: “And when she came to her mother-in-law she said: ‘How did you fare, my daughter?’ Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, ‘These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ 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.” (ESV)
· “The man will not rest.” Naomi understood Boaz’s message. Perhaps Boaz’s message to Naomi was “I’m going to work and not rest until my work is complete—until Ruth is my wife.” “Sit still, Ruth. Rest, and watch, and see what he’ll do.”[iii] Have you been in an antsy waiting room before? Ruth had to wait. Sometimes we have to wait. I hate waiting but I know God is devotedly working in my circumstances. Naomi told Ruth to “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out.” · Psalm 121:4 says, “He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.”
o The psalmist tells us a truth full of comfort to us. God, our greatest guardian never sleeps so that we can confidently look for His protecting care. God is never exhausted, or weary or inattentive.
13. Go to Psalm 62.
· Psalm 62:1: In what is the one and only place our souls can find rest?
· Psalm 62:2: This verse gives three descriptions of who God is. What are they?
· What is the result of those listed qualities in this verse?
· Psalm 62:5: Who is the Psalmist speaking to?
· Psalm 62:7: Who does our salvation and honor depend on?
· Psalm 62:8: What are we encouraged to do?
In closing, read Psalm 146.
[i] Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon Search Results: http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=7879 [ii] Strongs Concordance, #3749; 4632. [iii] Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament, Volume 1: Genesis-Job, Copyright 2005.
Clipart courtesy FCIT
