Ruth 4:13-22

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Son is Born to Ruth and Boaz

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Children are a gift from the Lord.

  2. God can turn mourning to joy.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Your link to Christ is more important than living happily ever after on earth.

  2. You, too, can be a happy grandparent.

QUESTIONS

  1. Which books of the Bible are named after women? What is the overall theme?

  2. How is God’s providence at work seen in the Book of Ruth?

  3. What high compliment was given to Ruth by Naomi’s friends?

  4. Read Psalm 127:3. Discuss.

  5. What does Obed’s name mean?

  6. How did the Lord turn Naomi’s mourning into joy?

  7. Which is more important, your link to Christ or living happily ever after on earth?

ANSWERS

  1. Ruth and Esther. God’s providence at work. That is, the hand of God works behind the scenes and accomplishes His purposes through human history. In both books we see God guiding human history through natural events.

  2. God brought Ruth, the Gentile from Moab, into the land of Israel and to the God of Israel through her mother-in law, Naomi. God gave Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz, the kind relative who was both able and willing to fulfill his responsibilities as kinsman redeemer. God opened the door for Boaz to marry. God enabled Ruth to conceive and bare a son who would become the grandfather of King David, and thus she became a vital link in the lineage of Christ.

  3. That she was better than seven sons. Seven sons would be the supreme blessing to a Hebrew family.

  4. Children are a gift from the Lord, because He is in control of all the factors and variables in conception. See Ruth 4:13, and also recall the story of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 1).

  5. Servant

  6. Note the difference between the Naomi of chapter 1 and chapter 4.

  7. Your link to Christ, of course. You not only have a right relationship with Christ when He becomes your personal Savior, but you will live happily ever after with Him in heaven.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Do you consider your children a gift from the Lord? Re-read the biblical accounts of Ruth and Hannah.

  2. Has God given you experiences where mourning was turned into joy?

  3. If you are a grandparent, consider some of the ways that you can nourish your grandchildren in the faith.

CHALLENGE

  1. See Ruth 4:15a. Do you know someone who needs this encouragement?

KEY VERSES

  • “The Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.” Ruth 4:13

  • “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative…may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age.” Ruth 4:14-15

  • “They called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:17

Ruth, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidRUTH 4:13-22