Sunday School Lesson

1. Ruth 3 & 4
Ruth
“Redeemed and Secure”
February 26, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
February Memory Verse
Matthew 11:28 ESV
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. References
• MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Nelson
Publishing, 1997).
• The ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway,
2008).
Introduction to Ruth 3 & 4
• Naomi and Elimelech leave Bethlehem in Judah and move to Moab
because of a famine.
• Their sons marry Moabite women.
• Mahlon marries Ruth, and Chilion marries Orpah.
• Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion die leaving 3 widows.
• Naomi returns to Bethlehem and Ruth goes with her.
• Ruth gleans in the grain fields for food and is spotted by Boaz.
• Boaz is a relative of Elimelech (Ruth’s father-in-law).
• Boaz treats Ruth and Naomi kindly.
• Boaz is identified as the kinsman redeemer for Ruth.
Kinsman Redeemer (Hebrew goel)
Leviticus 25:25 ESV
25 If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest
redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.
• Elimelech probably sold the land during the famine before moving to
Moab.
Levirate Marriage
Deuteronomy 25:5 ESV
5 "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the
dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's
brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a
husband's brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the
name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.
Kinsman Redeemer

3. Ruth 3:1-18 ESV
1 Then Naomi her mother- in- law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest
for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young
women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the
threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished
eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies.
Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do."
5 And she replied, "All that you say I will do."
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother- in- law had
commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was
merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly
and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and
turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, "Who are you?" And
she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for
you are a redeemer." 10 And he said, "May you be blessed by the Lord, my
daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you
have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter,
do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know
that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet
there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will
redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as
the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning."
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize
another. And he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing
floor." 15 And he said, "Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out." So she
held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she
went into the city. 16 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,
17 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. '" 18 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."
Ruth 4:1-3 ESV
1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the
redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside,
friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men
of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down. 3 Then he
said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is
selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.

4. Ruth 4:4-12 Summary
• Boaz presents the option to redeem Elimelech’s property to the nearest
relative.
• The relative does not want to redeem it because of the obligation to marry
Ruth.
• Boaz is given the blessing to redeem the land and marry Ruth.
Ruth 4:13-22 ESV
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the
Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to
Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer,
and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life
and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter- in- law who loves you, who is
more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." 16 Then Naomi took the
child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the
neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They
named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron
fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
What are the lessons for us in Ruth?
1. Ruth: an example of a Proverbs 31 woman.
2. Why is the genealogy of Ruth and Boaz important?
3. How is Boaz as a “type of Christ” in the OT?
4. What can we learn from the shattered dreams that Naomi experienced
during her life?
Ruth as a Proverbs 31 woman
Ruth 3:11 ESV
11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my
fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy (virtuous) woman.
Proverbs 31:10 ESV
10 An excellent (virtuous) wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
• Hebrew – (chayil) strong, mighty, moral, upright.
• Ruth is the only woman called virtuous by name in the Bible.

5. Characteristics of Ruth & Proverbs 31 Woman
1. Devoted to her family – Ruth 1:15-18; Prov. 31:10-12, 23
2. Delighting in her work – Ruth 2:2; Prov. 31:13
3. Diligent in her labor – Ruth 2:7, 17, 23; Prov. 31:14-18
4. Dedicated to godly speech – Ruth 2:10, 13; Prov. 31:16
5. Dependent on God – Ruth 2:12; Prov. 31:25, 30
6. Dressed with care – Ruth 3:3; Prov. 31:22, 25a
7. Discreet with men – Ruth 3:6-13; Prov. 31:11, 12, 23
8. Delivering blessings – Ruth 4:14, 15; Prov. 31:28, 29, 31
Why is the genealogy of Boaz & Ruth important?
Matthew 1:1-6, 16 ESV
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of
Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and
Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab,
and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse
the father of David the king. …
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born,
who is called Christ.

6. Why is the genealogy of Boaz & Ruth important? Prophecy Fulfilled
Isaiah 11:10 ESV
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of
him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Romans 15:12 ESV
12 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule
the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."
Jesus’ Genealogy as a Title
Revelation 5:4-5 ESV
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the
scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more;
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that
he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
Revelation 22:16 ESV
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the
churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
How is Boaz a “type for Christ”? (Redeemer)
Ruth 2:20 ESV
20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord,
whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her,
"The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers."
Ruth 3:12, 13b ESV
12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
13b But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you.
What is a redeemer?
One who redeems.
• Redeem – Definition.
• to compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something, to save or
to vindicate.
• to gain or regain something in exchange for payment, to reclaim, to
repossess.
• Boaz redeemed Naomi by buying back her land and Ruth by marrying
her and fathering a son to carry on Elimelech’s and Mahlon’s lineage.

7. Why does man need to be redeemed or receive redemption?
Romans 3:22b-24 ESV
22b For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus,
• Sin causes a break in our relationship to God and we need to be
redeemed (to compensate for our faults and to regain our relationship by
payment).
How is Jesus our kinsman-redeemer?
Galatians 3:13-14 ESV
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for
it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— 14 so that in Christ
Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might
receive the promised Spirit through faith.
• Jesus, as God’s Son, became a human and paid the price to redeem us to
God.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-
controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed
hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who
gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a
people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his
purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite
all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
What can we learn from the shattered dreams of Naomi and Ruth?
Ruth 1:20-21 ESV
20 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi (pleasant); call me Mara (bitter), for
the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has
brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified
against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?"
• God had a reason and plan to bring them back to Bethlehem as widows.

8. Why did they need to return to Bethlehem?
Ruth 4:17 ESV
17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has
been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the
father of David.
Luke 2:11 ESV
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord.
• A baby needed to be born in Bethlehem.
Lessons from Ruth and Naomi’s Shattered Dreams.
• Is there a reason that life is not working according to our plans?
• Is God in everything, even our shattered dreams?
Reference
SHATTERED DREAMS
God’s Unexpected Pathway to Joy
By
Larry Crabb
Waterbrook Press 2001
Three basic truths in the book
1. God wants to bless you.
2. The deepest pleasure we’re capable of experiencing is a direct encounter
with God.
3. The Holy Spirit uses the pain of shattered dreams to help us discover our
desire for God.
Two Contrasting Approaches to Life
1. Buddha – The pain of life must be deadened by not having hope or joy.
2. Jesus – John 14:27 ESV
27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.”
John 16:33 ESV
33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.”

9. The Four Noble Truths for a Buddhist
1. Life is suffering. (The gap between desire & reality)
2. The cause of all suffering is desire.
3. The way to end suffering is to end desire.
4. Spend your life learning to eliminate desire.
Jesus’ Truths for Christians
1. Life includes suffering, but life is good.
2. Suffering results from living in a fallen world.
3. The way to handle suffering is to discover your desire for God. (Both good
& bad things move you toward God.)
4. The new life provided through Jesus must be accepted as a gift of love.
Three Lessons of Brokenness & Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb
1. The good news of the gospel is not that God will provide a way to make
life easier. The good news of the gospel, for this life, is that He will make
our lives better. We will be empowered to draw close to God and to love
others well and to do both for one central purpose, to glorify God, to make
Him look good to any who watch us live.
2. When God seems most absent from us, He is doing His most important
work in us.
• During our time of brokenness, a space is created in our hearts that
only God can fill.
• The Holy Spirit lead us to fill this space to desire an encounter with
God.
3. It isn’t always good to be blessed with the good things of life. Bad times
provide an opportunity to know God that blessings can never provide.
• The goal is not a happier life, but a better life.
• Feeling good is not the goal of life.
• It is not a good thing to have an easy life – we develop an attitude
of “blessings entitlement”.
The Final Scene in Ruth
Ruth 4:16 ESV
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her
lap and became his nurse.
• Naomi was blessed at the end of her life’s
journey, but she still did not know the
impact of the grandchild she was holding!

10. Next Sunday
Matthew 16:13-28
Who is Jesus?
March 5, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
 Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
 Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
 The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.

11. Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
 Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/