Ruth 1:1-22

Theme

Living faithfulness and commitment

Questions
  • Who are the people in your life that you would say are committed to you? Who are the people you would say are committed God and to God’s people?
  • Read Ruth’s words of commitment to Naomi in v.16-17. What words or phrases stand out for you? Why?
  • “Where you go, I will go” Ruth says to Naomi. Compare her words to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
    • How important would you say it is to support and commit to other people?
    • How difficult is it to make and carry out this kind of commitment?
    • How is this commitment to one another worked out practically in your life? What about in the life of the EM community?
  • Ruth commits herself to Naomi’s people, the people of God.
    • What do you think it means to be committed to God’s people (think about Jesus’ words in John 13:34-35)?
    • Do you think people (both inside and outside of the church) see your love for God’s people and commitment to his community? Are there things you need to do differently?
  • In v.22, and from then on in the story, very often Ruth is called “Ruth the Moabite”
    • Why do you think the writer of Ruth highlights the fact she is not one of God’s people?
    • At the end of Ruth (chapter 4:18-22) we discover that Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David, and in Matthew 1:1-16, Ruth is one of five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Do you think it is significant that someone from outside the people of God in mentioned in the family of both King David and Jesus?
  • Naomi is struggling with her faith – she describes herself as without hope (v.12), that God’s hand has turned against her (v.13), and that she should be called Mara meaning ‘bitter’ (v.20).
    • In spite of Naomi’s circumstances, Ruth still commits herself to Naomi’s God. What do you think Ruth saw in Naomi’s faith?
    • Is there someone whose faith you admire despite their struggles – what is so special about their faith?

  • To commit completely to God, for Ruth, is to leave her gods from Moab behind (for example see Exodus 20:1-3). Are there things we hold on to from our past which prevent us from fully committing to God? Are there things now where we tend to put our trust, rather than trusting in God?

  • If you could ask Ruth one question, what would it be? (what do you think her answer would be?)