Ruth 3:1-18 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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She Lay at His Feet
Comments for Study 3

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Memory Verse: 3:4
Questions
Outline
A MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
ISRAEL'S HISTORY

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I. Naomi Instructs Ruth (3:1-6)

>1. What does "one day" say about the timing? (1)

* Ruth 3:1 "One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?"

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>In spite of what Naomi said on the road back to Bethlehem, what concerned her?

* "should I not try to find a home for you"

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>In those days what would be true of a young women without a home and a husband?

* "where you will be well provided for"

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>2. What kind of person had servant girls? (2)

* Ruth 3:2 "Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor."

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>How would men winnow barley in those days?

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* "winnowing barley on the threshing floor"

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>3. What advice did Naomi give Ruth? (3-4)

* Ruth 3:3-4 "Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."

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>What risks did this advice have? (14)

* Ruth 3:14 "So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."

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>What does it mean to lie at a man's feet in those days?

* Deuteronomy 33:3 "Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,"

* 1 Samuel 25:24 "She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say."

* Esther 8:3-4 "Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him."

* Job 9:13 "God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet."

* Psalm 110:1 "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

* Isaiah 49:23 "Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."

* Joshua 10:24 "When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks."

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>What does Ruth's response tell us about her? (5-6)

* Ruth 3:5-6 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do."

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II. Boaz Pledges to Secure Redemption (3:7-15)

>4. What kind of days was threshing time to a farming economy? (7)

* Ruth 3:7 "When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down."

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>What was Ruth careful to do?

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>What could have been her concern?

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>5. How did the way Boaz awoke show the hand of God in this? (8)

* Ruth 3:8 "In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet."

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>What did Ruth call herself? (9)

* Ruth 3:9 "Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

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>6. Why did she tell his to spread only the corner of his cloak over her?

* "Spread the corner of your garment over me"

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>Why was she sure to call him a kinsman-redeemer?

* "kinsman-redeemer"

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>Why was it important for her to personal identify him as a kindsman-redeemer? (1:4-5)

* Ruth 1:4-5 "They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband."

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>How are Gentiles' relationship to Jesus similar to Ruth's relationship to Jesus? (Rom. 11:17; Mark 7:26-30)

* Romans 11:17 "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root"

* Mark 7:26-30 "The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone."

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>7. What did Boaz see in Ruth's faith? (10-11)

* Ruth 3:10-11 "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. "

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>What did Boaz reveal to Ruth and how might he have known that so quickly? (12-13)

* Ruth 3:12-13 "Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

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>8. What two things did he assure happen before she left? (14-15)

* Ruth 3:14-15 "So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor." He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town."

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III. Ruth Returns to Naomi (2:16-18)

>9. What does Naomi's question reveal? (16)

* Ruth 3:16 "When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her"

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>What did Ruth tell her?

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>Who was the barley for and what does it say about Boaz? (17)

* Ruth 3:17 "and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"

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>10. After acting in faith what did Ruth have to do now? (18)

* Ruth 3:18 "Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

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