1.

Verse 1 sets forth the background of the book entitled “Ruth”. What was the life like in the days when the judges ruled? (Judges 17:6; 17:1; 19:1; 21:25) 

** They lived as each of them saw fit. It was because they rejected the rule of their true king, God the Father, who alone can make our life truly satisfying and prosperous.

2.

Verses 1-2 describe a man named Elimelech relocating himself from Bethlehem of Judah to the country of Moab. What is the significance of Bethlehem of Judah in God’s history of redemption? (Genesis 35:19; 48:7; 1Sa 16:1; 17:12,15; Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4,11,15; John 7:42) Yet verse 1 says that it was famine that caused Elimelech to drift away to a heathen land. What does this suggest about Elimelech? 

** It is the place where the Lord God promised to send the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the birth place of the Savior. 

** This indicates that Elimelech was not acting in faith in the Lord God who is the Spirit. Rather he acted by trusting in money. He lived according to the situation, rather than according to the promise of God to bless those who put trust in Him, even through difficulties such as famine.

Note: Elimelech means “To me shall kingship come.” But he did not live up to what his name really meant. 

3. 

How did they do in the country of Moab? (3-5) Why do you think this happened to them? (Genesis 12:1-5; 26:3; 28:15)

** They did not do good. They ended up  losing their lives. 

** This is because they deserted faith in God the Father who alone is the source of true life.

4.

Read verses 6-18. The expression “return home” is repeated twice, referring to the home in Bethlehem and the one in the country of Moab. Ruth picked the former, but Orpah the latter. What made the difference? 

** Orpah resorted to what is materialistic, that is, she did not live by faith in God the Father, whereas Ruth lived by faith in God the Father in whom there is true hope for eternal life.

Orpah then represents unbelief, whereas Ruth faith. 

5.

Verse 19a reads, “So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.” Put yourself in the shoes of the two women. In what respect was it not an easy journey for each of them to complete?

** Naomi: it might have been difficult for she had to face the shame of returning home empty handed. 

Ruth: it might have been particularly difficult, for she was going to a land which is totally foreign to her.

6.

Verses 19b-21 describe Naomi’s homecoming. What does “Naomi” mean? What does “Mara” mean? Naomi made a speech saying, “I went away full but the Lord has brought me back empty.” What can we learn from her statement? 

** Naomi – pleasant

Mara – bitter

** It is only in the Lord that we can enjoy our life to the full.

7. 

Verse 22 states, “[T]he barley harvest was beginning.” Compare this statement with verse 6 which says, “[T]he Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them.” What does the Bible say about real food? (John 6:35,48) 

** All Scripture is God-breathed. 2Ti 3:16. Viewed this way, it is not difficult to see that these expressions have meanings that are more than physical. For example, by   “aid” or “food”, the Lord means not just physical aid but spiritual aid, not just physical food but spiritual food, not just physical harvest but spiritual harvest, that is, the harvest of a soul. This indicates that it is when we come back home in Jesus Christ, the true bread of life, that we can get true help, for true life. Speaking of the same truth, the word “Bethlehem” also means “the house of bread.” 

** Jesus is the real bread for life.

The end