Bible Study Ruth 1:1-22

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A Life in a Foreign Land

Ruth 1:1-22

Group Discussion. What is the reason that motivates you to move to work to other country? Share about about the issues that you face in a new place. What are the effects of your decision to move for your family life and personal life? Share in your group!

Personal Reflection. On this Bible Study we look closer about a struggle of a family in a foreign land, how some one loose her family member, being left alone and go back to her homeland with emptiness. Have you ever experienced of loosing your family member? How could you overcome the sorrow that caused by the loss?

Please read Rut 1:1-22

BACKGROUND:

In the times of Judges, after entering the land of Canaan, Israel fails to drive out all the enemy nations within their borders. Moreover they forsake God and worship various gods of the nations around them. God give them into the hands of their enemies. In His grace, God raises up judges to deliver them from their enemies, but Israel still quickly turn from the way of obedience to LORD's commands.

In this times also there is religious decay in their worship of God. There are immorality and lawlessness of the tribes of Israel. The anarchy conditions are described in the book: the worship of Micah's idol, they get their own priest for themselves, Gibeah's people rape a Levite's concubine, fight among the tribe, a threat of missing one tribe, etc. The conclusion of this book conclude the real condition of this darkness era: In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25)

The story of Ruth occurs in the times of Judges. In the book of Ruth we can find a contrast life in the period of Judges. In the midst of the dark picture of that era, God chooses an ordinary family of Israel and an ordinary woman of Moab to glimpse out the light of God's message of hope to His people.

STUDY DISCUSSION

A. Famine in the Land of Bethlehem (1:1-2)

Bethlehem, in its original meaning, means “House of Bread”. It describes of the fertility of the land. But in the book of Ruth, there is a condition of famine in Bethlehem which points to unusual famine in the land. (famine is related to God punishment of sin during the judges' periode).

Think about the condition in the days of Judges and the famine. Was the famine part of God's judgement (Deu 28)? What do you think the reason behind Elimelek’s decision to sojourn from Israel to Moab? How far is their journey (see the map)? Who are sojourn with Elimelek?

Take a note at the meaning of their names, what do you think of their characters? Elimelech :“My God is King”, Naomi : “pleasant or sweetness”, Mahlon: “sickness”, Kilion: “failing, pining”.

B. The death of family members (1:3-5)

We find that Naomi fronts unexpected ‘calamity’ of her family life in the foreign land. Her husband died and ten years later her two sons also died. Naomi is bereft so early in her life of the death of her husband and the two sons.
Why her two sons married the Moabite girls after Elimelech's death?

The meaning of the names: Ruth : “friendship”, and Orpah : “neck” (or stubborness)

C. The Lord has visited His people (1:6-7)

There is a glimpse of hope comes to the life in the midst of Naomi's affliction. She heard that “The LORD has visited His people and given them food”.

Why does she decide to return to Bethlehem?

D. Returning to home (1:8-14)

What is Naomi's prayer for her daughters in law (8-9)? Why are they weeping? How is Naomi's statement picture out their relation?

E. Ruth clings to Naomi (1:15-18)

What is the difference between Ruth and Orpah?

What kind of relationship between Naomi and Ruth describe on verse 16-17? What does it teach us about the qualities of Ruth's character? Explain five aspects of faith in Ruth's confession?

F. Arrive in Bethlehem (1:19-22)

What will you feel when you see Naomi and Ruth on their entrance to Bethlehem? What is Naomi’s view of of God about the “bitterness” in her life? What do you learn about God from this story?

REFLECTION AND ACTION

In Christ, God Himself enters into and shares into the depth of the world suffering. God knows our deepest emotional need. He knows our feeling when we ask question “Why God….” In God’s grace, we have to keep our faith and hope in God in the midst of troubles and darkness of our life. We can loose everything, but one thing we can not loose is our relationship with Jesus. That is the most essential treasure in our life.

1. How can we trust in God’s hand and keep our hope in our hard times?
2. How can we express our feeling of suffering and bitterness honestly to God and to people?
3. Think about five aspect in Ruth's confession. Think about your relationship with Jesus. Do you have a faithful relation to Jesus, even in the times of troubles and difficulties?

Share your burden, feeling, struggles,difficult conditions that you face recently. Pray in your group about every member's condition. Make a commitment of caring and nurturing each other in the group member.