Enter Boaz
Read Ruth 2:1-12
Let’s Glean! 2:1 What do we know about Boaz?
· His name means “Swift Strength” or “Standing in Strength”
· Wealthy Landowner, man of substance in Bethlehem in Judah
· Impeccable reputation
· His pedigree shows he is from the tribe of Judah. From Boaz came David, Israel’s great King before the reign of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.
· Read 1 Kings 7:21. David’s son, Solomon, was so struck by his great-great grandfather Boaz, that he named one of the two main pillars of the temple after him. Their names, Jachin (“He Establishes”) and Boaz, (“In Him is Strength”), may show Solomon’s humble dependence upon God.
· Boaz is a picture of our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus.
Refresher Boaz lived in the time of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”[i] The country was crooked, unfaithful and impoverished. We talked about chaos last time. This land is chaotic, confused, beaten, why?
Go Deep The word “Kinsman” is translated goel in Hebrew. Goel means EEMDRREE (unscramble the word and write it BIG inside the box):
Numbers and Leviticus outlines God’s plan to prevent the economic system from getting out of control. Read Leviticus 25:23-28 about redeeming the land.
· To the ancient Israelite, if one had to sell his land, his situation was pressing and critical. Both food and income came from the profits of their land. Sickness, a crops failure to thrive or other hard times could make an Israelite go into debt so much that they would have to sell their precious land. But there was hope!….
· A relative could buy the land (Lev. 25:25) and pay off creditors. This way, the land remained in the extended family; the unfortunate family stayed on their land; and in time the redeemer was repaid.
· The redeemer was the nearest male relative. The closest kinsman had the right at anytime to buy back property lost through bankruptcy, poor business choices or wrong doing. That is why the word goel is translated as both “kinsman” and “redeemer”.
· Jesus is our Goel. We are bankrupt. We are a mess. We have nothing. We are foreigners. We are orphans. The law of redemption and the law of the Jubilee year are perfect examples of what Jesus did on the cross for everyone. Everything lost in the Garden by our first parents can’t be recovered in any way. We cannot go back to the place, Eden. However, Jesus, redeemed it for us. We have been ousted from our inheritance, but we are granted return in the Year of Jubilee. We will live with Jesus in Paradise. [ii]
1. Describe another merciful law in Deut 24:18-20 (underline every word that says “stranger”, “fatherless” and “widow”):
2. In times of trouble, why would a widow’s situation be intolerable?
3. According to the Law of Moses, as a relative, what is Boaz able to do for these two women?
4. Read Ruth 2:3 carefully. Did Ruth intentionally go to the field of Boaz?
· Ruth made her home in a foreign land. Instead of depending on Naomi or waiting for good fortune to happen, she took the initiative. She went to work. She was not afraid of admitting her need or working hard to supply it. She made use of gifts and opportunities God had already given, like health and energy. When Ruth went out to the fields, God provided for her..[iii]
5. Read verse 4~I LOVE THIS!!
· Boaz walked among his reapers.
· Look up Matthew 1:22-23. What is our Boaz called? What is the translation of that name?
· God has always chosen to walk among us…..
o Genesis 3:8
o Deut 23:14
o John 1:10-14
6. The Unnamed Servant Read verse 5. Who is Boaz talking to? Who is he?
7. What was the unnamed servant’s job? (verses 6 & 7)
8. How did Boaz’s servant recount the conversation between him and Ruth? What did she say to the servant?
· Read Titus 3:1 & 2
· James 3:17
· Galatians 5:22, 23
9. In gentleness, Ruth asked for a favor that she may have claimed as an entitlement. As a foreigner, why might that be a problem?
10. Definition In verse 7, Ruth asked Boaz’s servant if she may glean. What does this word mean?
· “To ________________________together” or "to _______________ ________". [iv]
11. “What the heck are reapers?” (verse 7)
12. “What the heck are sheaves?” (verse 7)
13. In verse 8, what specific instructions did Boaz give Ruth?
14. Where are WE to stay? Read Galatians 1:6-10, 4:3-7, Luke 10:38-42…..“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming”.…(name that movie).
15. Gleaning Verse 9: “Let thine eyes be on the field that they do not reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee?”
· How might this verse compare with Mark 14:6?
16. Read verse 10
Not only was Ruth a “stranger”, she was a MOABITESS! Read Deut 23:3-6
Refresher God cursed the Moabites and banned them from the tabernacle for how long?
· If your great- great- great- great- great- great- great- great grandmother had Moabite blood in her, could you go into the Sanctuary even if you were an Israelite?
17. Ruth said to Boaz: “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should notice me, when I am a foreigner?” [v] Let’s put our 3D glasses on as we watch this scene. Try to describe Ruth’s emotion/thoughts from what she said (see handout).
18. How could it be that YOU have found grace in God’s sight? Read Ephesians 2:4-10
[ii] Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1: Genesis – Job, Copyright 2005 [iii] The Handbook of Bible Application, Second Edition, Copyright 2000, p. 423 [iv] The Nelson Study Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1997, Word Focus p. 444 [v] Ruth 2:10 Amplified Bible Clipart courtesy FCIT
