Ruth: Surprising Faithfulness

Structure of Ruth

• Intro: Ruth 1:1-5
• Act I: Grief & Loyalty
• Act II: Surprising Kindness
• Act III: A Marriage Proposal
• Act IV: Blessing and faithfulness

Setting: Deuteronomy 30 & Judges

• Covenant faithfulness leading to life and prosperity…
  • “...then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess” (Deuteronomy 30:16).
• ...Or, unfaithfulness and disobedience leading to death and destruction:
  • “You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess” (Deuteronomy 30:18).
• National Chaos and Disobedience:
  • “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Big Themes in Ruth

• Where is God in the challenges and tragedies of ordinary life?
  • His faithfulness finds expression through the faithfulness of his people.
• How does God accomplish his purposes when nothing is as it should be?
  • God accomplishes extraordinary things through the everyday faithfulness of ordinary people.

Discussion Questions

• Why are the covenant agreement and the events of Judges important for understanding the message of Ruth?
• How might the book of Ruth offer encouragement for those living through either personal tragedy or national chaos today?