Aug. 26 Sunday School lesson, finishing up Ruth. When dealing with Boaz, Ruth didn't just travel to the 'outlet mall' for some bargain basement clearance caliber of husband! Because she was busy serving God, loving people, and oh by the way allowing God to prepare His will in this 'department', you see what happened in her life, the many "great values" that she found! Pardon the shopping analogies, but this little book has some great godly characters who grew in caring about others, and left a tremendous legacy (read the surprise ending). This book has a lot to do with how God eternally loves, waits on and serves us -- look for Jesus! God Bless!!

1. Embracing Responsibilities
Lesson Passages:
Ruth 3: 10-13a; Ruth 4: 1-4a, 9-10,13,17
Background:
Ruth 3 – 4 (end)

2. Outline & purposes of the Book of Ruth (Nelson’s Old Testament Survey)
• I. The Moabite Sojourn (chapter 1)
• II. Ruth’s Encounter with Boaz (chapter 2)
• III. Ruth’s Proposal to Boaz (chapter 3)
• IV. Ruth’s Marriage to Boaz (4:1–17)
The book of Ruth was written down and preserved, mainly:
1. To show that King David’s ancestry was noble spiritually – even
though ‘stained’ by ‘inferior’ human ancestry (his Great Grandmother
Ruth was Moabite).
2. To show that, even in a time of great corruption (Judges), God’s
remnant (living for Him) ‘rules’ by His grace, while He prepares to
spread His Kingdom through them

3. Review of Ruth 1-2
Ruth 1: 1 IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the
land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the
country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.
•Famine – one of God’s promised judgments for Israel’s disobedience
•Elimelech should not have settled in Moab. (Deut. 23:3–6 says
Moabites were not allowed in God’s congregation, to the 10th gen.). He
could have settled with Jewish brothers east of the Jordan.
•More judgment: Deaths & barrenness occurred: neither Mahlon
[invalid] nor Chilion [pining] fathered children.
•Naomi, bankrupt, sold her dead husband’s property to survive
•Only a wealthy relative could get it back, thru a Kinsman-Redeeming
marriage to re-purchase ‘lost’ property and have children (posterity)
•Ruth, working & hoping for a husband, “by chance” came to the fields
of Boaz, a prominent citizen who, when he saw her, inquired of her
background (Ruth 2:3–7). Impressed with her care for Naomi, he urged
Ruth to remain on his property & showed special favor (2:8-16.
•Naomi hoped Ruth could marry somehow, and for a Redemption
(a.k.a. ‘Levirate’) marriage to supply all needs of her and Ruth.

9. Accepting Responsibility (Ruth 3:10 - 13a)
10
And he said, “Blessed be you of the Lord, my daughter. For you
have made this last loving-kindness greater than the former, for you
have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my
daughter, fear not. I will do for you all you require, for all my people in
the city know that you are a woman of strength (worth, bravery,
capability). 12 It is true that I am your near kinsman; however, there is a
kinsman nearer than I. 13 Stay tonight, and in the morning if he will
perform for you the part of a kinsman, good; let him do it. But if he will
not do the part of a kinsman for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will do the
part of a kinsman for you…”
●3:1-9 Ruth obeyed Naomi’s plan: asked Boaz for Redeeming-marriage
•Boaz, perhaps surprised, accepted her (/ their) proposal
How were his attitudes & actions respectable (loving truth & honor)?
What were special character qualities of Ruth did he praise?
Their relationship (chapters 1 & 2) grew – gentle, humble, respectful,
valuing, serving, helping -- the progression of God-blessed, promised,
planned Love (James 1:17, 2 Tim. 3:3)
Miraculously, this crafted by God would solve great /many problems!

10. Acting with Integrity (Ruth 4: 1 - 4a)
1
Then Boaz went up to the city’s gate and sat down there, and behold, the
kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by. He said to him, “Ho! Turn
aside and sit down here.” So he turned aside and sat down. 2 And Boaz
took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” And they
sat down. 3 And he said to the kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the
country of Moab, has sold the parcel of land which belonged to our brother
Elimelech. 4 And I thought to let you hear of it, saying, ‘Buy it in the
presence of those sitting here and before the elders of my people. If you will
redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then say so, that I may
know; for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am [next of kin]
after you.”
•This passage shows how business was transacted in those days…
•What are issues Boaz might have? How did love (concern++) drive
him to act in faith?
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1
Jn. 5:8
Is God “trying” to work out a Love Story in your life (and family’s), with
your cooperation? This is “working out your salvation”.

11. Do you have “Work Out” plans with God as your Trainer?
(Philippians 2:12–15) (HCSB)
•12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not
only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God
who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work
out His good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and
arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of
God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation,
among whom you shine like stars in the world.

12. Embrace a Secure Future (Ruth 4: 9-10,13,17)
9
And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses
this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s and all that was
Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi. 10 Also Ruth the
Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife to restore
the name of the dead to his inheritance, that the name of the dead
may not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his
birthplace. You are witnesses this day.” … 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she
became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord caused her to
conceive, and she bore a son … 17 And her neighbor women gave him a
name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He
was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
•God’s Ways are mysterious, full of grace (Love)…
Ruth didn’t know that her embracing Naomi and especially
GOD, making this personal / sacrificial, would lead to Jesus’
birth!
•Obed means “One who serves”. Jesus said “I am among you as one
who serves”, and ‘the greatest among you will be as one serving you’
•By God’s plans, Ruth’s lineage of serving continued for eternity!

13. Ruth’s family tree

14. Beyond our Wildest Dreams:
God’s GREAT Future Plans for us (Eph. 3:20-21)
The choices we make – when prompted by God’s Spirit – lead to
His plans for good, beyond our wildest dreams!
•20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His]
power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose
and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask
or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts,
hopes, or dreams]— 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be
it).

15. Foreshadows of Christ -- THE Kinsman-Redeemer of Israel
• Israel had/has chosen other than God for their ‘security’ in judgment
• They now suffer judgment, are bitter, perplexed, seek Redemption
• Naomi was content to let her daughter in law Orpah return to her
people & false gods
• BUT Ruth bonded in love to her mother-in-law, embracing the true
God – This, even though Ruth was a foreigner!
• The Redemption-marriage produced a son, David’s ancestor, who
Naomi nursed and loved with great joy.
• Boaz is the offspring of Rahab (see Matthew 1:5)
• 4:12 The house of Perez, birthed incestuously by Tamar (mom) and
her father-in-law (Juday) = the most notorious incident of seeking to
keep descendancy (see in Genesis 38). Tamar acted the role of a
prostitute to keep descendants, since she had been wickedly denied
such by Judah’s sons (who God slayed). This 'foreshadows' the New
Testament gentile nature of outcry to God (which He hears) for
spiritual ‘survival’ in the sense of inheriting the kingdom of God.
• There is and will be great love, joy and unity from God, for the people
He is preserving!

16. (Backups)

17. Embracing a Secure Future (Ruth 4: 9-10,13,17)
9
And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, You are witnesses this day that I
have bought all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the
hand of Naomi. 10 Also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my
wife to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance, that the name of the dead may
not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his birthplace. You are
witnesses this day. … 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And he went in to
her, and the Lord caused her to conceive, and she bore a son …. 17 And her neighbor
women gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He
was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
God’s Ways are mysterious, full of grace & Love: Little did Ruth know that her deciding
to embrace Naomi’s God personally and sacrificially would lead, many years later, to
Jesus’ birth! The choices we make when prompted by God’s spirit lead to His plans for
good, beyond our wildest dreams.
Obed means in Hebrew, “One who serves”. Jesus said “I am among you as one who
serves”, and that “the greatest among you will be as one serving you.”
Ruth left a lineage of serving that carried on. Really she was inducted into God’s plan of
giving grace to others, through Christ. All women desire to have children and make a
home, a great subjected form of service. The greatest purpose in this is, as Paul stated
to Timothy in 1Tim.2:12-15, where Paul forbade women to teach over men, from the
order of creation AND because Eve sinned first, yet:
15
Nevertheless [the sentence put upon women…] will be saved [eternally] if they continue
in faith and love and holiness with self-control, [saved indeed] through the Childbearing
or by the birth of the divine Child.

18. Ref. to Perez (Ruth 4:12)
Boaz was God-oriented (:3-4).
Generous
Protective
Spiritually discerning of Ruth’s character
Blessed her
Ruth was open to God’s will
One can leave the possibility open of marriage, without coercing
Respect begets respect: valuing others – the foundation of Love
Ruth & Boaz’s relationship was godly, respectful, leaving room for God’s grace
and providence

19. Ref. to Perez (Ruth 4:12)
The same Perez as Tamar's son in Gen. 38. There is symbolism, a ‘sign’ /
foreshadowing, about Israel and Christianity, in that story. The "breaking
forth" (Perez) one of twins in the womb, the one who ended up considered
firstborn, was Perez. This also resembles Jacob & Esau. NIBC has
excellently: "One more woman had an experience strikingly similar to Ruth’s:
That woman was Rahab, the mother of Boaz (Matt. 1:5). Like Ruth, Rahab was
a Gentile woman. Yet God extended His loyal love to Rahab because of her
faith in Him and included her in the messianic line.“
Respectful faith, expressed in loving service, is rewarded by everlasting
inheritance & blessing.
•Matthew 1:5–6 (AMP)
•5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of
Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 Jesse the father of
King David, King David the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the
wife of Uriah,