Participants 88
Discussion Questions
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In what ways do we see God’s Spirit at work in the books of Judges and Ruth?
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We see God’s Spirit at work in both Judges and Ruth as he works behind the scenes. He raises up different judges to lead part of Israel and gives them wisdom. He continues to hear the cries of his people after they turn away from him and face the consequences. He takes them back and shows them mercy again and again. In Ruth, he shows himself to Ruth through Naomi’s faith and his shows them his faithfulness when they return to Judah. He makes Boaz favorable to Ruth and orchestrates their marriage in David’s line.
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God’s Spirit was definitely in action again and again in the time of Judges and in the book of Ruth. The Israelites were being taken care of by God, through the work of His Spirit in guiding the judges to do what is required for temporary deliverance, and in Ruth, we see how the two women, Naomi and Ruth are led to make the decision to return to Bethlehem. There, Ruth is “found” by Boaz, and their marriage leads to the lineage of David and then eventually Christ is continued.
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During the time of the Judges, God responded to the cries of the Israelites raising Judges to lead them, but the people would then eventually revert back to worshiping other gods and destructive behavior. But God tried to get their attention…In the Book of Ruth, He was working on His Plan, bringing about the pairing of Boaz and Ruth to bring about the line to King David and eventually Jesus Christ.
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God’s spirit is at work in the book of Judges as he raises up a judge, one who is certainly not perfect morally, to help deliver the Israelites from their enemies. His spirit is at work in the book of Ruth as he led Ruth to Boaz’s field where they meet and eventually get married. Now both Ruth and Naomi have a home and Naomi has a new family.
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In Judges, we are told when God’s Spirit is upon a person. We read in Judges 2:18 that whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge. We know that His spirit was at work with each judge that was chosen. Judges 3:10 shows us that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Othniel as he judged, and upon Gideon in Judges 6:34. God clearly gave Gideon plans before battle that ensures a military victory for him. In the cycle, the people do eventually turn back to God and cry out for help, and this is God’s spirit bringing them back to Him. In Ruth, Naomi remained a follower of God and she sees that He is at work, providing food again which prompts them to return to Judah. When Ruth “happened to be in Boaz’s field” we know this was the Spirit of God that led her there, even though she may have been unaware of His leading. God’s Spirit led Ruth to convert to follow Him and brought great blessing in her life.
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Just as the book of Ruth serves as a positive example, how have you observed an exception to the Deuteronomic Cycle?
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In the book of Ruth, we see Ruth, a Moabite, turn to the God of Israel as her God. She abandons the religion of her people to become a servant of God. I have seen this in present day when an individual turns away from the “gods” of this world in order to choose a life in service of Jesus Christ.
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At this point, the people of Israel seem to have come pretty close to rock-bottom. With Samson being the last Judge, even though he ended his life in victory, the people needed better secular leadership. They were asking for a king such as all the nations around them had. Even though a monarchy is not always the most perfect answer to government, God is so He did prepare them for having a king but He also provided a spiritual leader in Samuel, a great prophet, teacher and advocate for his God.
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The Deuteronomic Cycle consists of Israel sinning which leads to the oppression of Israel. Then Israel cries out to God and God sends a deliverer in the form of a judge. Following this, Israel is faithful for a short while and then the cycle repeats. In the book of Ruth, Ruth chooses to be faithful to God and so a path of sin leading to oppression doesn’t happen. God is always faithful to Ruth, and she is blessed with the kinsman-redeemer Boaz who marries her, provides for her, and blesses her with a son, Obed.
In my life like in the story of Ruth, I have observed some people who have always been faithful, and God has always provided for these people. Their lives have not always been easy, but their needs were always met.
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It is clear from the text that the family of Elimilech and Boaz are faithful to the God of Israel. Ruth is a Moabite, a nation that worships Chemosh, and is an enemy of Israel. However instead of the family of Elimilech and Boaz adopting Moabite ways, the opposite takes place. Ruth adopts the religion of Israel and is blessed by God.
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The main thing in the book of Ruth is conversion. Ruth converts from her Moabites ways to being a woman following God. While Judges is a people being unfaithful and falling into the hands of their enemies and leaving God; Ruth goes to God in faithfulness and willingness to leave everything for God.
