Studying the Bible for yourself is so important to grow as a Christian in your relationship and knowledge of God.  This Bible study on Ruth will give you 4 characteristics that I learned while studying Ruth in the Bible, using the SOAP method of Bible study.  I will give the scripture and observation for Ruth chapters 1-4 individually, then at the end, I will give you the application and prayer based on all 4 chapters.

Let’s begin this Bible study on Ruth using the SOAP Bible study method. 

Before I begin my Bible study, I always say a prayer based on Colossians 1:9-10, I say Heavenly Father, fill me with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you Lord and please you in every way bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of You in Jesus’ name Amen.

Summary On Ruth Chapter 1

Elimelech was Naomi’s husband and they moved to Moab with their 2 sons because there was a severe famine in Israel.  Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her 2 sons who married Moabite women, Orpah, and Ruth. 

About 10 years later both sons died and it was just Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth.  The 3 women set off to return to Naomi’s homeland in Bethlehem because they heard that they were blessed by God and they had good crops again.

Naomi told her daughters-in-law to go back to their original homes and be blessed and start a new life, but they both agreed they wanted to stay with Naomi.  She must have been good to them. Naomi insisted and Orpah decided to leave, but Ruth said she would not, so they both went to Bethlehem.

Scripture

Ruth 1:16-18

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 

17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

Observation

• Naomi was kind and not selfish

• She wanted her daughters-in-law to go so that they could be happy

• They wept because they had been together for around 10 years

• Naomi put their well-being over her own

• Orpah decided to go, but that didn’t make her a bad person, she just had other dreams

• Ruth’s love for Naomi was so deep

• Ruth had an unfailing devotion to Naomi

• Naomi must have been a good example to her

• Naomi backed off once she realized that she could not convince Ruth to leave

• Naomi said don’t call me Naomi call me Mara – for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me

• Naomi was feeling sorry for herself

• She left married and secure and returned widowed and poor

Their love for each other reminds me of the love we should have for the Lord hold on to Him never let go, be completely sold out for Him, and obedient.  In this Ruth 1 Bible study, we have already learned so much about being selfless and caring for the well-being of others over ourselves.

Summary On Ruth Chapter 2

Naomi’s late husband Elimelech had a wealthy relative in Bethlehem named Boaz.  One day Ruth asked Naomi if she could go out into the harvest fields and pick up the stalks of grain that are left behind. 

Naomi gave her the go-ahead and Ruth went out to gather.  What Naomi was doing is called “gleaning” that when the harvesters would drop any grain it would be left for the poor who would pick it up and use it for food.  Ok so here is the best part, where does Ruth end up?  In the field that is owned by Boaz. 

You have to see God’s handy work in this plan.  While she was there guess who shows up…Boaz and he asked who she was.  They explained that she had come from Moab with Naomi.  They also told Boaz that she was a hard worker only stopping to take a few minutes of rest.  God gave her favor with Boaz because of her faithfulness to Naomi. 

When Ruth returned home, she told Naomi that she worked for Boaz and how kind he was to her and told her to come back and stay with the harvesters.  He even told them to make sure that they pull out the barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her.  We receive favor when we are walking in the will of God.

Scripture

Ruth 2:4-11

4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said.  “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.

5 Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?”

6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 

7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”

8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 

9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”

10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”

11 “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.

Observation

• Ruth asked Naomi if she could go out and pick up the stalks of grain

• Ruth respected Naomi

• Hard worker

• She took initiative to find work

• She was faithful in her work although it may have been considered degrading

• God gave her favor with Boaz

• Boaz was kind to her and out of his abundance he provided for someone in need

• Naomi was feeling sad and bitter, but she still put her trust in God and praised Him for providing for them

God gave Ruth favor because of the sacrifice that she made by not leaving Naomi.  You can see the true qualities of Ruth in the Bible based on her work ethics and the fact that she was willing to take a job that others considered degrading.

Summary On Ruth Chapter 3

Naomi decides that it was time that she found a permanent home for Ruth so that she would be provided for.  She came up with a plan for Ruth to go to Boaz after he was finished eating and drinking then to go to him and uncover his feet and lie there. 

I did a little research to find out what that meant.  Naomi’s advice to Ruth wasn’t seductive, it was a common custom for a servant to lie at the feet of their master.  By Ruth following this custom, she would inform Boaz that he could be her family redeemer by marrying her or finding someone that would.

Scripture

Ruth 3:1-5

1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 

2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women.  Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 

3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 

4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied.

Observation

• Ruth was obedient to Naomi

• Although she probably had no idea what she was doing she trusted Naomi’s judgment

If we were to do a Ruth character study, you would see that she was respectful.  She loved and respected Naomi on a level that we don’t see much in these times.  She followed every instruction that Naomi gave to her without question.

She trusted her, that is the same type of trust that we should put in God and His Word.  If I could sum up the moral of the story of Ruth in the Bible, it would be that the qualities of Ruth in the Bible that she portrayed in her relationship with Naomi are the same qualities that we should have in our relationship with God.

Summary On Ruth Chapter 4

Let me explain what a family redeemer is just in case there is someone that doesn’t know what it means.  This is the definition from the NLT Study Bible - The family redeemer had an obligation “to buy an object or person from indenture, slavery, or otherwise harsh circumstances.”

We know that Ruth and Naomi were in harsh circumstances. Naomi recognized that Boaz's kindness fit with his status as a family redeemer. 

There was another family redeemer and Boaz had to give him the opportunity before he could go ahead and do it.  Boaz went to him and told him the situation about Ruth and Naomi and advised that he could buy back their land and the man agreed that he would do it. 

Boaz mentioned that he would also be required to marry Ruth, then that family member backed down.  Boaz could go ahead and become the family redeemer.  He did all this in front of witnesses, and they agreed that they witnessed the event.  Boaz and Ruth got married.

Scripture

Ruth 4:13-16

13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 

14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel.

15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

Observation

• Great blessings from tragedy

• Throughout tough times, Naomi still trusted God

• Her blessing was greater than seven sons

• God used Ruth because of her faithfulness and obedience

• This was all part of God’s plan

• God will use you if you are willing and obedient

God is with you even in hard times, this Ruth and Naomi Bible study shows that even when it seems like there is no way out, we should always turn to God.

Application-based on Ruth 1-4

• Be faithful to God

• Be obedient because He has a plan and we can’t see the big picture

• Don’t be selfish

• Look out for others

• Be hardworking because it pays off God will give you favor

• Take the step of faith as God is waiting on me to step out…if Ruth didn’t take the initiative to go and start working how would she have met Boaz…but God directed her to the right place at the right time

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me to be faithful to you and the plan that you have for my life.  Give me the courage and strength that I need to take that step of faith and you will help me along the way.  Teach me to be loving and kind and to demonstrate that love to others in Jesus' name amen.

What Is The Main Message Of The Book Of Ruth

The book of Ruth was written to show how they remained strong in character and true to God even when everything around them was collapsing.

Their situation resonates with me, when I think about what we have all been dealing with over the past year, it may seem like everything in the world is collapsing, but we need to continue to hold on to God and be strong no matter what is happening around us.

We cannot allow anything to sway us from believing and trusting that God will take care of us through it all.

What Can I Learn From Ruth In The Bible?

Many lessons can be learned from the book of Ruth Bible study like the characteristics that Ruth portrayed.

Characteristics Of Ruth In The Bible

The characteristics that brought Ruth to a place of joy, blessing, and prosperity was her compassion, her kindness, her faithfulness and ability to work hard.

She was compassionate, kind, and faithful to Naomi and she showed this by staying with her even when she had her blessing to leave.  She could have gone and started a new life, found a husband, and moved on. 

She didn’t know what her life was going to be like following Naomi to a strange land, but she loved her so much that she was willing to put Naomi's feelings above her own.

She was also hardworking and willing to do what she needed to do to survive.

This Ruth Bible study is truly a picture of the type of love that we need to have for our heavenly Father and others around us.  We should always be willing to help and sacrifice for others, God sees the sacrifices that we make for Him as well as for the people we come into contact with and it will be rewarded, the same way that God rewarded Ruth.

When you start to study the Bible for yourself, the Holy Spirit will reveal things that need to be changed in your life as well as give you direction for your life.

What did you learn from this Bible Study?  Which characteristic is most important to you and the one that you will be applying to your life?