Thursday Bible Study

Marriage is personal, a sacred union between two individuals. But marriage is never private, a marriage involves community. On the wedding day, a couple looks to the blessing of God and their community as their marriage begins… In what way(s) is marriage a community event? What roles can the church family play in marital life?   [Read Ruth 4:11-12]   Boaz asks the elders and townspeople to be witnesses in verses 9-10,  but what else do they do in verses 11-12?   During these public prayers the people pray for three things… Firstly, they pray for Ruth _ “May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel.” (4:11) What connections can be made between life of Ruth and the lives of Rachel and Leah?   From this point on, she will no longer be called “Ruth the Moabitess”. What does this tell us about this community?   Secondly, they pray for Boaz _ That he woul...

  Curiously, the name of the other relative is never actually mentioned in the story. Boaz would have known his name and would have called him by his name. This nearer relative’s name would have been required for the transaction to be legal. But, in the telling of this story, the author intentionally avoids naming him or providing any important details about him… Why do you think this is the case?     [Read Ruth 4:7-10]     The Hebrew used to describe how Boaz refers to this relative as “my friend” is peloni almoni which literally means “so-and-so”. This is the equivalent of calling him “what’s-his-name” or “John Smith”. Some bible scholars think that this was the narrator protecting him from embarrassment. Why might there be embarrassment?     Other Rabbinic traditions say that this is poetic justice. Why could this be understood this way?     Read Proverbs 22:1… what does this Proverb say about the importance...

  Whenever we’re asked to make a commitment involving our time, effort, or resources, we usually ask (or at least think) “What’s in it for me?” This question, whether we like it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, is a kind of mantra that drives and directs most of the decisions that we make. Think about this and discuss… When was the last time you asked (or thought) “What’s in it for me?”     [Read Ruth 4:5-6]     As we looked at las time, the closer relative agrees to redeem Naomi’s land. Why? What are the benefits of this business deal?   What does the fact that Naomi has no sons mean for this ‘kinsman redeemer’ and this deal?     What else could redeeming Naomi’s land mean for this guy?     However, straight after part 1 of the deal, Boaz mentions part 2. What do we read in verse 5 and how does this change things for this nearer relative?     If this ‘kinsman redeemer’ does ...

  Attending weddings has to be one of the most joyful things we can do. Celebrating with a couple. Getting dressed up. Celebrating love. Spending time with family and friends. Having a boogie and a buffet! But even more enjoyable than the wedding day is getting to share in the marriage. Reflecting on that couple’s unique story of how they met and fell in love… even how they overcame odds to be together…   The story of Ruth and Boaz has reached tipping point. Whether they will marry (and live happily ever after) or not depends on the decision of a third person… the nearer relative… the closest ‘kinsman redeemer’. Boaz and Ruth aren’t in control over the outcome. [Read Ruth 4:1-4] Straight after the ‘threshing floor’ scene of the night before, we see that Boaz is on a mission… What does this tell us about Boaz and his character? Read Deuteronomy 21:19, 22:15, 25:7, and Proverbs 31:23, 31. Along with what we read in Ruth 4, what do we learn about “the town ga...

 [Read Ruth 3:14-15] Over recent months, it has been very sad (and disappointing) to hear the news about prominent Christian teachers and leaders... people like Ravi Zacharias and Carl Lentz. Where it has come to light about their fallen morality in the public eye... Boaz has woke up from a night of partying and drinking, to find himself in a potentially damaging situation... a situation that is ideal for gossip and scandal. It wasn't safe for Boaz to send Ruth back home alone and he himself couldn't escort her home without inviting all kinds of questions. What do we learn about Boaz's character in Ruth 3:14? If Ruth and Boaz were found together, who would likely get the blame? Naomi, Ruth or Boaz? Why? Naomi's plan to get Boaz and Ruth together, out them both in a compromising situation. As Romans 12:17 puts it, Naomi wasn't "careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone." and she failed to "abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessal...

 Everyone has a different love-story to tell.  All love-stories are unique and truly amazing. But the same question in each unique story is "Who should you marry?" And the answer to that question is usually the person we're madly in love with. And we usually find that special someone who fulfils the qualities that we believe our life partner should have... In Ruth 3:11, what attracts Boaz to Ruth the most? What does this tell us about Ruth's reputation? Why are we, as humans, more attracted to physical beauty than inner character? How can we learn to value inner beauty more than external appearance? Boaz calls Ruth a hah-yil woman. This Hebrew word speaks of moral strength, good quality, integrity, virtue, comprehensive excellence. What has Ruth done to earn this name / description? This same Hebrew word is used in Ruth 2:1 to describe Boaz. What can this little detail tell us about their match-up? [Activity] The only other two times hah-yil is all the Hebrew Bible, i...

 In the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream the two young lovers lament about how true love will always face great obstacles, especially when those involved come from very different ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds. The love of Ruth and Boaz is all these and more... If Boaz was willing to marry Ruth (Ruth 3:11) why didn't he propose to Ruth first? What kind of things could be stopping him? Another obstacle to Boaz proposing to Ruth is there is someone else, who is a closer relative, with the first right to marry Ruth in this levirate marriage custom (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Why has Boaz been waiting for this other 'guardian redeemer'? What might this show us about Boaz's character? In Ruth 3:13, we see Boaz is willing to be the 'kinsman redeemer' even though he's not obligated to do so. What does this show us? Ironically, in handling their relationship the proper way, Boaz and Ruth might have ended up losing everything... if the nearer relat...