Marriage and the Bible

1
Marriage and the Bible
Based on the Living in Love Series by Richard L.
Strauss, Biblical Studies Foundation - 1998
2
What You Bring to the Marriage

• Chapter 5 Boaz and Ruth

3
Ground Rules

• Do we have them down by now?

4
Good Husbands and Wives

• What makes for a good prospective husband? What
  qualities would you look for?
• What makes for a good prospective wife? What
  qualities would you look for?
• I suspect societys list would not be far
  different from ours. The main difference, is
  perhaps the order in which they appear.

5
Setting Up the Story

• The story of Boaz and Ruth takes place 500 years
  after we left off with Jacob and Rachel.
• Israel has experienced Egypt, the exodus,
  wandering in the wilderness, possession of the
  promised land, and establishment as a nation.
• We are now in the midst of the cycle of sin,
  servitude, and salvation inherent to Judges.

6
Setting Up the Story

• Naomis family flees to Moab to escape famine.
• While there, Naomis husband dies, followed by
  her two sons.
• She is left with two Moabite daughters-in-law,
  whom she urges to return to their families (and
  their culture) as she sets off to return to
  Israel.

7
Who is Ruth?

• Where does Ruth stand as a Moabitess?
• Genesis 1936-37
• Numbers 251-3
• Deuteronomy 233-4
• Judges 328-30
• Ruth experiences the God of Israel through 10
  years of marriage in Naomis family. She clearly
  knows and reveres The LORD.
• Ruth 116b-17

8
Who is Ruth?

• Upon the foundation of her relationship to God,
  Ruth shows a compassionate regard for her
  mother-in-law, vowing to stay with her and
  provide for her.
• This was not the safe play!
• There is no direct mention of Ruths physical
  appearance. Her inner beauty is apparent in the
  story, though.

9
Inner Beauty

• In the course of the story, Ruth demonstrates a
  quiet spirit and a genuine sense of humility.
• Why does this make her beautiful and appealing as
  a prospective wife?
• 1 Peter 31-4

10
Who is Boaz?

• Relative of Naomis husband. Name denotes
  strength.
• Boaz clearly has a close relationship with God,
  such that it permeates his dialogue spoken in
  this story.
• Ruth 24, 310, 313
• It is implied that Boaz is a fair amount older
  than Ruth.

11
Generous Spirit

• By the end of the story, Boaz is shown to be
  kind, thoughtful, considerate, gentle, and
  modest.
• Ruth first encounters Boaz gleaning barley from
  his fields.
• Gods law provides for the corners of the fields
  and grain dropped by the harvesters to be devoted
  to the poor, widows, and foreigners.
• Ruth qualified on all three categories!

12
Generous Spirit

• Boaz shows special consideration when he learns
  who Ruth is
• Encourages her to remain at his field.
• Offers protection from men touching her.
• Offers the water allotted to his workers.
• Invites her to eat her fill with his workers.
• Encourages his workers to deliberately leave
  excess grain for Ruth to pick up.

13
Kinsman Redeemer

• Ruth 31-4 sounds more like a dare than anything
  else!
• Gods laws include the redemption of widows
  through brothers in a familyextending outward if
  none are alive.
• Naomi encourages Ruth to seek Boaz as her goel
  or redeemer.

14
Modesty Abounds

• The event that night was absolutely modest.
  There is no language to suggest that anything
  happened between the lines.
• Boaz shows his modesty through his surprise that
  Ruth would have chosen him, and confesses that a
  closer relative may have the right to redeem her
  himself.

15
The Fruits of this Relationship

• Boaz and Ruth marry.
• Unlike previous stories, she is unhindered in
  conceiving and giving birth to a son.
• That son is generously regarded as Naomis own.
• That sons name is Obed. Significance?

16
Practical Applications

• Ruth and Boaz bring into the relationship
  preexisting devotion to God.
• Did you, or someone you know enter marriage
  before knowing God on a personal level?
• Why do some relationships appear to thrive apart
  from devotion to God? Can they thrive? What are
  they missing?

17
Love Even your Mother-in-Law!

• Our society assumes a tense relationship with the
  in-laws unless told otherwise.
• Ruth showed selfless regard for Naomi, even when
  unbound to do so.
• Your relationship with Christ enables you to do
  likewise. Do you have a relationship that does
  not show the openness and generosity shown
  between Ruth and Naomi?

18
Modesty and Self-Control

• The episode at the threshing floor shows
  exemplary self-control. (A lesser man and a
  former pagan could have clearly led to
  something!)
• Society today values trial marriages through
  living together.
• What obstacles do these marriages have to
  overcome?

19
The Model in Your Home

• Do your children see the kind of selfless and
  genuine love shown in this story?
• What will your children take with them to their
  own relationships based on what theyve
  experienced in your home?
• If this is a rocky area for you, do you feel the
  conviction to address this?

20
Challenge

• You brought your own attributes to your marriage?
  How have they changed over the years? For the
  better?
• Wives Do you have a meek and quiet spirit?
• Husbands Are you kind and gentle toward your
  wife? Are you protective and generous?

21
Additional Discussion

• What is your evaluation of Naomis attitude upon
  her initial return to Israel?
• Ruth challenges the contemporary view of
  foreigners within Israel. What about this story
  challenges the contemporary views we have today?
• How are Ruths actions and circumstances
  amplified by God? - Luke 1610

22
Additional Discussion

• The story of Ruth takes place during a dark and
  tumultuous time for Israel. Ruth is a ray of
  light and hope, underscoring the power of
  Israels ultimate Judge and Deliverer.
• Ultimately, the answer to all of our questions
  and problems lead to the same word.
• GOD