Thursday Bible Study

 There is a truth that we all know... The kind of boss we have affects our work attitude. How do we see the example of God's timing in Ruth 2:4? It appears that Boaz gets to meet Ruth "by chance". Do you believe in coincidence? Why or why not? Looking back over your own life, how can you discern God's hand in those events? Boaz does something very unusual for landowners of that culture and time. Boaz greets the workers first .  What does this tell us about the character of Boaz? How do the workers respond to Boaz's greeting and treatment of them? Boaz also does something else unusual, in this scene... He pays attention to who else in in his field. He takes notice of the strangers and the poor. What else can we 'glean' from the information we're given about Boaz in 2:5? What is emphasised in Ruth 2:6? Why does this seem to be important to the author? Although Jewish Law gives her the right to glean in the fields, Ruth doesn't presume to. What does ...

 Most civilised societies have their own versions of welfare programmes to help feed the poorest members of their society... Judaism was no exception. Check out Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22, and Deuteronomy 24:19-22. What was the reasons behind leaving the edges and 'left-overs' of their fields? God's solution to hungry stomachs involves the generous hearts and open hands of God's people. We're told that 'in the days when the judges ruled' (Ruth 1:1) and when 'everyone did as they saw fit' (Judges 17:6)... what implications could this have on the poor? How can Christians today apply this law to help the poor in our midst? In verse 2, Ruth hopes to go to the fields and pick up the left-over grain. How does Ruth know that this is even a Mosaic provision? Why does Naomi not go and glean in the fields? How do we see Ruth trusting in Yahweh to protect and provide for her and her mother-in-law? Who's field does Ruth find herself in and how is this signific...

 Age-progression technology helps investigators solve crimes and find missing persons. This innovative software has also been used to predict what individuals will look like in the future, modelling the effects of lifestyle habits such as drinking, smoking, diet, exercise and stress.  If this was applied to Naomi, this software would show that the painful trials of her life have taken their toll on her, making her look older than she really is...  In Ruth 1:19, what do the people in Bethlehem ask and why? There are many examples of people being renamed in the bible. This change of name tends to mark out an extreme change in circumstances. What does the name 'Naomi' mean? What does the name 'Mara' mean? What was the meaning of Naomi's wish to change her name? In verses 20-21, is Naomi wrong to accuse God like that? Does she sin in this moment? Why or why not? Why would you agree or disagree that God invites us to direct our frustrations in life towards Him?  [Activit...

 In verse 15, how do the two daughters-in-law respond to Naomi? What can we learn about the character of the three women from this section of the story? Where can you recognise yourself in this scene? What does that teach you about your character? What does Naomi plead with Ruth? Between Naomi (the Israelite) and Ruth (Moabite) who seems to have more faith? Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9. How could this verse in Paul's letter to the church in Thessaloniki describe what has happened to Ruth? Ruth 1:16 has become this famous and often-quoted verses. How do you see both devotion and loyalty in this verse? Why is this both a dangerous statement and a dangerous choice? How, in your own life, have you seen ways that you have made the same choice as Ruth? In verses 16-17, how can we be sure that Ruth believes in Yahweh? [Activity] Read Genesis 19:36-37. Abraham's nephew, Lot, the ancestor of the Moabites (and therefor, Ruth) chooses to live outside of the Promised Land. How does Ruth revers...