Ruth…
A Woman of Virtue
Lesson 5
Written by June Hesterly
Introduction
Every woman loves a love story and we all love it when the guy gets the girl and the girl gets the
guy. Some years ago I attended a large church and on Sunday mornings my mind would often
wander to many of the single men and women in the congregation. I imagined how lovely it would
be if I could arrange a meeting between a couple, could see them fall for one another, become
engaged, and eventually walk down the aisle together. Unfortunately, my plans never came to
fruition.
The story of Ruth is attractive to us because it is a love story about two people and also about the
wonderful love God has for each of us. This story gives us a deeper understanding of God’s
amazing plan of redemption for you and I. It is a story within a story.
As we look at the Book of Ruth we begin to view the significance of the little town of Bethlehem,
the birthplace of the Messiah. We also see a picture of the church as the “Bride of the Lamb” and
how our “Kinsman Redeemer” was willing to pay the redemption price for us.
The events take place in the time of the Judges, a time of great moral decline in the nation of Israel.
The key to this time period is found in Judges 21:25 and is a sad commentary of the nation God
called His “chosen.”
Study and Personal Questions
This book has only four small chapters and is best read through as a whole.
1. Read through the Book of Ruth and carefully record your thoughts and impressions
concerning:
Elimelech
Naomi
Ruth
Orpah
2. Consider the events that took place and their significance. What do they tell us about:
Choices
Trials
Relationships
Bitterness
Chapter 1 begins with a famine, death, and desertion but ends with devotion, faith, and friendship
that is deepened through shared adversity.
“When trouble comes into our lives, we can do one of three things; endure it, escape it, or enlist it.
If we only endure our trials, then trials become our master and we have a tendency to become hard
and bitter. If we try to escape our trials, then we will probably miss the purposes God wants to
achieve in our lives, but if we learn to enlist our trials, they will become our servants instead of
our masters and work for us, and God will work all things together for our good and His glory,”
Romans 8:28, Warren Wiersbe1 (15).
The crisis these women faced brought out the true character and revealed the subtle differences
between them. Orpah couldn’t take the unknown and turned back. Ruth, however, clung to her
mother-in-law and made a beautiful confession of faith. They each had the same choices but Orpah
chose the world and Ruth chose the God of Israel.
3. Record Ruth’s profession of love for Naomi and the God of Israel. (See Ruth 1:16-17)
4. Naomi and Ruth journeyed to Bethlehem, about a three-day trek through the wilderness. How
did Naomi describe herself upon meeting the townspeople?
5. Chapter 2 introduces Boaz into the story. According to verses 1-4 how is he described?
6. How did God provide for and care for Naomi and Ruth? How does this speak of God’s care
for us?
7. What do we learn about Ruth from her decision to glean in the fields?
1
Wiersbe, Warren. Be Committed. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2008.
2
Long before Naomi and Ruth made their decision to return to Bethlehem, God had given His
chosen people specific laws that were meant to be a form of welfare for the poor. They were to be
allowed to go into the fields and glean the ears of grain left by the reapers during the harvest
process. God was guiding Ruth that day by His purpose and plan. She had gone out empty but
returned to Naomi with a bountiful supply.
8. Read Ephesians 3:20 and comment.
9. How did Boaz react to Ruth’s appearance in the field that day? (See Ruth 2:8-9)
10. Describe Ruth’s response to his kindness.
11. What blessing did Boaz pronounce on Ruth? (See verses 11-12)
12. Boaz spoke of the wings of the Lord. How can we take refuge under His “wings”?
13. Read verses 18-23 and describe the kindness and consideration Ruth displayed to her motherin-law.
14. Compare her attitude and actions with Philippians 2:3-4.
In chapter 3 Naomi begins to take the position of matchmaker as she sensed there was a blossoming
love affair between Ruth and Boaz. She began to give counsel to her daughter-in-law out of a
worthy motive: she desired “rest” (security) for the one who had sacrificed so much and shown
such deep devotion.
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15. What instructions did Naomi give Ruth (verses 1-6)?
16. What does Ruth’s response tell us about her?
17. Claim the promise given us in John 14:23.
“Let the ground of all religious actions be obedience; examine not why it is commanded, but
observe it because it is commanded. True obedience neither procrastinates nor questions.”
Frances Quarles
According to the law given in Deuteronomy 25:5, 7-10, Ruth was given the right to offer a
marriage proposal to Boaz. Because she was a widow she was protected under the Mosaic law.
Boaz had fallen for Ruth. All the signs were there. It was now time for Ruth to make her approach.
She was doing what was perfectly permissible to go to the threshing floor that night as a sign she
was coming under the “wings” or the covering of Boaz as her husband.
18. How did Boaz respond to her?
19. How did she describe herself? In what ways can we be God’s “maidservants”?
20. In verse 11 Boaz called Ruth a woman of virtue. List a few of the qualities of the virtuous
woman given in Proverbs 31:10-31.
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Boaz’s heart must have been pounding in anticipation as he ran to the city gate to take care of the
matter. He knew that someone else had the position of near-kinsman before him. His hope was to
meet with him and make his own proposition to redeem not only the property of Elimelech, but
also to redeem Ruth and take her as his bride.
Boaz is a picture of our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He paid the full price in order to redeem
us. The word “redeem” means to “buy back or to pay a ransom.” Jesus publicly paid the price for
our redemption because of His great love for us.
21. How does 1 Peter 1:18-19 verify this?
22. How did Christ meet the full requirements of a “kinsman-redeemer” according to Leviticus
25:25 and Hebrews 2:14-15?
“I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.
I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
he the ransom freely gave.”
P.P. Bliss
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Discovering Jesus in the Story
The entire Old Testament points toward Jesus as Savior. If we miss that we miss the entire point
of the Scriptures.
1. According to the Bible verses we’ve studied this week, what promise or revelation points to
the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ?
Reflection
2. Write a short paragraph explaining how the life of Ruth has impacted your life, challenged
you or corrected you concerning your choices.
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A Hero’s Vignette
Kay Smith
Kay Smith was left as an infant in the care of a registered nurse, Mrs. Johnson, who lived in Los
Angeles. The woman who left her there said her name was Helen Wood and the tiny baby was
named Catherine Wood.
Helen Wood never returned to take her baby girl but often sent money and beautiful clothes for
her. The Johnson family soon realized that God had given them this little one to raise and nurture
as their own. They soon renamed her Catheryn Louise Johnson but kept the fact of her adoption
from her.
Catheryn and her family attended Angeles Temple in Los Angeles where the pastor was Amy
Simple MacPherson. Catheryn began to go by the nickname of Kay which seemed more
sophisticated to her.
Unfortunately, as Kay grew she watched her parents begin to grow spiritually cold. It was about
this time that a relative revealed to Kay that she had been adopted. As she began college she entered
a season of unwise choices as she responded to all this confusion in her life. Her older sister,
Louise, discerned the danger Kay was in and talked her into attending a church camp where she
gave her heart back to the Lord.
She soon enrolled at Life Bible College where she met a young man bound for the ministry. They
were soon married and had four children.
As her children grew she became curious about the hippies and she and her husband, Chuck, would
often sit by the beach praying for them. Not long after this she met and became friends with one
of the young hippies who was sold out for Jesus and was sharing his faith, bringing them to their
church.
The church, Calvary Chapel, began to grow with Kay seeing the need to disciple the young women
in God’s Word and ways. She began a Bible study that has continued for 50 years: Joyful Life
Studies. Through her devotion to the Lord she has influenced thousands of women worldwide to
be women who seek to please Him in all they do.
If Kay were to speak to us today she would say, “Love the Lord, love your husband, and love your
family.” Her influence has continued and will continue for generations to come.
1. How does Kay's life encourage you, challenge you?
Challenge Question:
2. Are there any Bible verses that come to mind after reading about her life?
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