As you embark on Ruth Bible Study Week 5, really take the time to realize all of the applications that the book of Ruth could have on your life. Be receptive to any changes that the Lord reveals to you. If you missed Ruth Bible study week 4, please go check it out first.
This week, we will look at Ruth’s reputation, actions, dedication, hard work, the love she had for her mother-in-law, and her trust in God and His plan for her life. There truly were few like her in that day.
She appears in Chapter 2 to have a bad reputation. This is no surprise since she was a Moabite (an enemy nation that you learned about on Day 3 of Week 1). While we might let a bad reputation “get” to us, she showed great humility and love despite it.
As you will learn and hopefully implement in your life, Ruth was a woman of good character. She was one-of-a-kind. Can you picture this widow working hard with such dedication in a world of unknowns?
What’s beautiful about the story is that she did not complain. She trusted God’s purpose for her.
What about you? How often are you trusting God over other things in this world?
Turn to God today and reveal any sin on your heart – any instance when you did not trust Him as you should have.
God loves His children, and He always listens!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
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Day 21 – Having a Bad Reputation
Ruth was a Moabite. This was not a popular reputation amongst the Israelites. Ruth had a lot to overcome to win the favor of the people of Judah.
Would she be able to do it? Did she even care what others thought of her? Probably not!
Read Ruth 2:5-14. I love how Ruth and Boaz speak to one another. They talk with respect and humility. As Christians, we want to be honorable and loving to others like this. We should reflect the character of Christ and be a shining example to others.
As C. S. Lewis put it, Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.
Ruth did have a glowing reputation among the Israelites. She did shine!
Read Matthew 5:14-16. How are we to appear before others? What is the purpose of living in this manner?
To achieve this, we must have an eternal purpose over a worldly one. See Matthew 6:19-34. When we think eternally, our focus is on Him, and others can see how we shine His light.
Ruth truly had an impact on the opinion of others. You can also shine to show others God’s glory! Just live out the truths you learn from the Bible.
The Bible gives us many examples of ways we can put off the old nature and put on the new one. Read Ephesians 4:17-32.
Here, we learn that we should not act out of anger, resentment, or spite. Rather, our actions should reflect the love God has for us (1 John 4:15-19).
Related: How to Show Love to Others Through Volunteer Work
Embrace His love, and you will shine like the beauty that He created you to be.
Day 22 – An Act of Humility
In the first chapter of Ruth, we got a chance to get to know Ruth a bit. We were able to quickly tell that she was a self-sacrificing individual who showed real loyalty, devotion, and care when push came to shove. I would definitely want to have her on my side as a sister-in-arms!
Read Ruth 2:1-17. How would you describe Ruth if you had to pick one term? My first inclination is to call her humble. However, I’m not as crazy about one definition of humility – being of lesser importance or estimating your worth as less important than others.
As the ancestor of King David (and our Lord Jesus Christ), she is certainly not lacking in importance! The people of Bethlehem did not view her that way, either. In my mind, they saw her as someone with character, an individual who stood out and persevered in trials.
Most commentaries agree that Ruth was humble because, in Ruth 2:13, she places herself on a lower social scale than Boaz by indicating her status as not even equal to his workers.
From a purely financial or socioeconomic perspective, Ruth was poor. She was afflicted. After all, she had to provide for her mother-in-law and herself. But don’t you love her gentle nature and kind spirit? She went above and beyond for someone she cared about deeply.
In the Bible, humility does not mean a person is not as valuable in God’s eyes as another person is. It doesn’t even mean her life was not as full as the next person’s.
All that the word humble means (in my opinion) is that she had less worldly value but could shine like the best of them spiritually.
In what ways are you humble?
Related: How to Be Humble in Recovery
Spiritually shine like the best of them! Show your humility in a way unlike anything common in the world today!
Day 23 – A Lot of Dedication and Hard Work
Ruth truly was one of a kind. Her gracious, loving, and humble spirit became well known, which led to her receiving kind treatment from the wealthy Boaz.
As you read in Ruth 2, Ruth meets Boaz. This “happened” (Ruth 2:3) to be the field of Boaz – someone else in this book who was well-respected, honorable, and kind. This happened from divine intervention by the One and Only God of Israel.
God had a plan for Ruth – a calling that she could fulfill. However, she was not tasked with easy labor to get this done. Working outside, gleaning in a field, is no easy feat, but she chose it because it was a way the Lord would provide for her and her mother-in-law.
She could’ve taken what we can assume to be the easy road with Orpah, gone back to her family in Moab, and probably lived in a more accepting community, as she was a Moabite. However, she pushed forward, challenged herself, and did the hard work needed.
When you face a challenge, have a new opportunity in your life, or feel a tug on your will that could only be brought on by the enemy, how do you respond? Do you pray and allow God to work through you, or do you get tempted by the enemy to go in a different direction?
God wants us to work hard (Colossians 3:23-24) as Ruth did. He’s given us the skills and abilities to succeed in the areas of our lives that He deems important for us.
When was the last time you turned to prayer to motivate yourself to work harder?
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Know How to Pray
God always has a bigger plan. Don’t take the easy road just because it’s easy.
Day 24 – The Love of a Blessed Daughter-In-Law
If you haven’t already finished reading Ruth 2, go ahead and do it now. As you come across the relationship between Naomi and Ruth, note how they treat one another. It’s especially important to recognize the love that Ruth showed Naomi. It was quite sacrificial.
You’ve probably heard the term love language. In Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages, he lists five distinct types of love that people need or show to others. It’s all about what works for you or what you need in order to feel satisfied with the love you get in life.
Do you already know your love language? Did you know that Ruth displayed all five love languages?
Here are the 5 love languages:
- Quality Time
- Acts of Service
- Verbal Affection
- Gifts
- Touch
Review the first two chapters of Ruth and list out the ways that Ruth has shown love in each of those ways. Take note of what you learn about each instance. How did Ruth show love in each of those ways?
Did you notice that each type of love requires us to sacrifice something? What did God sacrifice for us? Read Romans 5:8 and John 3:16.
Spoiler Alert: Ruth is a story about sacrifice, love, and redemption. Once we finish this study, you will see that all the pieces fit together perfectly, just as God planned. God loves us so much that we cannot even comprehend this feeling.
My friends, we have been given a gift that is beyond our understanding. It is that beautiful. Doesn’t that fill your heart with peace? Take a moment to breathe, look to Heaven, and connect with God’s love.
He is with you!
Related: Build Your Friendships with Love
God fits everything together perfectly. He has it all planned, so stop worrying and enjoy the peace that He brings!
Day 25 – Trusting Your Purpose
One thing I love about Ruth is her ability to just go and do what she was called to do without questioning it. As we walk through her story, we can feel her trials. We can see how hard times were for her. She likely didn’t feel much peace during the painful moments.
If you look back on your life, do you feel the pain you once experienced? Have you been in trials where you did not think you would survive them? Have you had moments when you were unsure if God was there? Maybe you’ve questioned your purpose at times.
We do not know for sure what Ruth was feeling, but the Bible is alive. We can feel and experience the same feelings and emotions as those in the Bible did.
Ruth worked for more than one season. So, she would have to have had some peace of mind that things would turn out as God planned. She also surely had a great deal of patience to glean for such a long time (Ruth 2:23).
Ruth went through it all, not knowing how things would turn out. Isn’t that the opposite of the way of the world? We want to know what the outcome will be; we long to predict what will happen one day; we crave meaning and purpose.
That’s why Ruth’s life is so incredible. We can see the big picture, but she was unaware of these things.
Read Genesis 22:1-19. When Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac because the Lord told him to, he did not know that a ram would appear and save Isaac from having to be the sacrifice. He truly trusted God would provide, but he couldn’t predict how it would all turn out.
Related: How to Embrace Your Spiritual Purpose
Show that you have real trust and believe that God will provide for your every need.
Ruth Bible Study Week 5: Biblework for Days 21-25
For Ruth Bible study week 5, in the given Biblework, read the verses given for that day. The additional reading in the Bible is something extra that you should try your best to do. It will serve you well to study both sets of verses, as questions might come from either place.
Day 21 – Biblework
Today’s Verses: Ruth 2:5-14; Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 6:19-34; Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 John 4:15-19
Read the following additional verse(s): Lamentations 3:19-23; Romans 6:1-7; Romans 13:12-14; Galatians 3:26-29; Colossians 3:1-17; Hebrews 12:2
Answer these questions:
- What do we learn from the chapter about Ruth’s character and attitude?
- Do you think Boaz would have given Ruth this special treatment if she didn’t have such a good reputation for caring for her mother-in-law? Explain.
- What kind of “reputation” do you have in the world? What do you think fellow believers think about you?
- According to Ephesians 4:29, how are we to encourage others?
- How could you give off a better impression and be a better example to others? How can you truly shine in the purpose that God created for you?
Day 22 – Biblework
Today’s Verses: Ruth 2:1-17
Read the following additional verse(s): 1 Samuel 25:23; 2 Samuel 22:26-30; Psalm 34:2-7; Psalm 86; Proverbs 15:33; Zephaniah 3:12-15; Matthew 23:11-12
Answer these questions:
- What word would you use to describe what you’ve learned about Ruth so far? Explain.
- In Psalm 86, what are some things that David asks of the Lord?
- Describe someone you know who is humble in nature.
- In what ways have you failed to be humble in your life?
- How have you been humble in the past or plan to be in the future?
Day 23 – Biblework
Today’s Verses: Ruth 2, Colossians 3:23-24
Read the following additional verse(s): Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 22:29; Ecclesiastes 9:10
Answer these questions:
- How was Ruth a hard worker?
- How did the foreman describe Ruth’s work?
- What inspired Boaz to be so generous and gracious to Ruth?
- What did you learn from Colossians regarding work?
- Are you a hard worker? Explain.
Day 24 – Biblework
Today’s Verses: Ruth 1-2; John 3:16; Romans 5:8
Read the following additional verse(s): Romans 8:35; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 4:16
Answer these questions:
- Why is God’s love so phenomenal, as mentioned in Romans 5:8?
- How did Ruth express the 5 love languages?
- Which love language do you think you receive the best?
- Which love language do you express the easiest or the most?
- How can you thank God for the love He has shown us?
Day 25 – Biblework
Today’s Verses: Genesis 22:1-19; Ruth 2:23
Read the following additional verse(s): Psalm 37:3-5; Proverbs 3:1-7; Proverbs 22:17-19; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Romans 8:28
Answer these questions:
- In Genesis 22, why was Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac?
- Why was Isaac so important, according to Genesis 21:1-7?
- What does God promise in Jeremiah 29:11-14?
- How do you know God has a plan for your life?
- As we see in Ruth, sometimes, the big picture reveals purpose. When has this happened in your life?
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Ruth Bible Study Week 5: Digging Deeper Days 21-25
In the Digging Deeper section, you will be given a bonus activity so that you can take a closer look at the lesson. While optional, try to do them. It is more beneficial for you to put forth the extra effort than to breeze through without doing it.
Day 21 – Digging Deeper
Ruth’s character is most revealed in her actions, starting with Ruth 1:14. Do a word study on the word clung. What do you learn about this word? Read a few cross-reference Scriptures to aid in this description. Try Psalm 63:8 and Psalm 119:31. Do these verses bring new light?
Day 22 – Digging Deeper
In the New Testament, the word humble takes on a new meaning. Look up the following passages that reference humility (and any others that you are familiar with), and explain what will happen to the humble in the future: Luke 14:11, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:6.
Day 23 – Digging Deeper
Most of us live in completely different circumstances than Ruth. We often have a different problem – busyness. Do a topical study on this term. You can start with Luke 10:38-42. Once you observe and interpret the verses you find, determine how you can apply them.
Day 24 – Digging Deeper
Do a word study of the word love. Compare the love God has for us in John 3:16 to the human love expressed in Proverbs 20:13. The love expressed in Proverbs is the love we feel toward things or people on Earth. This is very different from God’s love. Note how.
Day 25 – Digging Deeper
In Ruth 2:23, we learn Ruth gleaned from one season to another. The Moody Bible Commentary explains that gleaning was a way for people to share the “law of love” with the less fortunate. Take notes from Matthew 22:37-40 and Romans 13:8-10 to see this in action.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. – Matthew 22:37
Additional Resources for the Ruth Bible Study Week 5
Additional Bible Study resources might give you further assistance. For even more help during your quiet time with God, see the Bible study category of our Spiritual Growth section.
My best Bible study tip is for you to always pray before any Bible study. Ask God to bless His Word so that you might be able to apply it well!
More Sharing Life and Love Bible Studies
How to Build a Quiet Time with God – In this 8-week Bible study, read through Psalms, as you create a valuable quiet time with God.
How to Discover Your Spiritual Calling – This 6-week Bible study walks you through learning what God has called you to do – a spiritual purpose.
Create Your Own God-Focused Goals – In this 5-day mini-Bible study, learn how to create faith-centered goals.
Join the Community!
In our Facebook community, we walk through many different Bible studies. Our community is for ladies only currently and is called the Sharing Life and Love Sisters Bible Study Group.
Ruth Bible Study Week 5 Conclusion
In Ruth Bible study week 5, you learned about the character of Ruth – who she was as a person. As we go forward in this Bible study, we’ll discover even more about how exceptional she truly was and how the whole story is about something even larger!
How will you allow this week’s lesson to shape you? What key takeaways are you going to apply to your everyday life?
The Bible is alive. We can feel and experience the same feelings and emotions as those in the Bible did.
