Ruth Week 4

Protection

Scripture Reading: Ruth 3

Opening Question

What are the qualities of a good “Protector?”

Core Question

1

While God isn’t explicitly mentioned much in the book of Ruth, His divine fingerprints are all over this story.  How do God’s laws provide protection to the vulnerable in the Jewish community? (Deuteronomy 14:29, Deuteronomy 15, Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 25:8-55)

Core Question

2

How has Ruth made herself vulnerable to Boaz up until this point of the story?  How does Ruth make herself physically and emotionally vulnerable now?

Core Question

3

What evidence do we see of Boaz’s honorable character and ability to be a good protector?

Core Question

4

Timothy Keller explains God’s great compassion for the “Quartet of the Vulnerable” (From Generous Justice):

The mishpat, or justice of a society, according to the Bible, is evaluated by how it treats these groups [the widow, orphan, refugee, and poor].  Any neglect shown to the needs of the members of this quartet is not called merely a lack of mercy or charity, but a violation of justice, or mishpat.  God loves and defends those with the least economic and social power, and so should we.

Reactions?

Closing Question

How can we, as the church, act as protectors for the vulnerable in our communities (both inside and outside the church body)?