Introduction
Have you ever seen a chicken gather all of her chicks under her wings to protect them from some danger? She clucks until all her little ones scamper over to her. One by one they disappear under her wings which she shuffles and adjusts until everyone is comfortable and sheltered. This completely unselfishness on the part of the mother hen is well illustrated by a moving story. After a forest fire sometime in the last century, a man was reviewing the damage done. He came upon a little mound at the base of a tree which he identified as the charred remains of a mother bird. When this stirring scene was disturbed, three little chicks came scurrying out from their hiding place, unharmed. God compares His protection of His people to a mother bird protecting her chicks at cost to herself. Learn more about this beautiful image as you study Ruth 2:8-13.
Observation
Pray
Before studying this passage, ask God to use it in your life to show you what you need to know, change, and believe from it.
Read Focus Verses
Read Ruth 2:8-13 noticing who is talked about and what is going on.
Read in Context
Read Ruth 2:1-7 also to give you a little context so you can better understand what is taking place.
Speaker 1
Who is the first person speaking in verses 8-13? Who is he?
Speaker 2
Who is the second person speaking in this passage? Who is she?
Do Not
What does Boaz tell Ruth not to do in verse 8?
Do This
What does Boaz tell Ruth to do in verse 9?
Provisions
What provisions does Boaz tell Ruth he has made so that she will be able to continue in his fields as he says to do?
Response
What is Ruth’s response to Boaz’s kindness?
Ruth’s Question
What is Ruth’s question in verse 10?
Boaz’s Reply
What is Boaz’s answer in verse 11?
Benediction
What blessing does Boaz wish for Ruth in verse 12?
Ruth’s Position
In verse 12, how does Boaz describe Ruth’s position?
Thankful Heart
What is the spirit of Ruth’s reply in verse 13?
Interpretation
Tone
Based on what Boaz is saying, how would you describe what you imagine his tone of voice might have sounded like?
Blessings
Why were the provisions Boaz made for Ruth in verse 9 so important?
Humility
Do you think Ruth’s humility was part of the reason she was blessed? Why?
Exalted
Notice what 1 Peter 5:6-7 says about humility and blessing.
Strangers
See what God said in Leviticus 19:33-34 about how He wanted His people to treat strangers.
Two Reasons
What two reasons does God give in Leviticus 19:33-34 for why His people should treat strangers kindly?
Leaving What is Known
In Genesis 12:1-4 we see someone else who left family and land to go to a place he didn’t know because He was God’s just like Ruth has done.
Who?
Whose example was Ruth unknowingly following when she left family and land to follow God?
Trusting
Notice how Psalm 91:1-4 expands on Boaz’s analogy of Ruth trusting God under His wings.
Under His Wings
Listen to this hymn which reflects on the safety of God’s people as they rest in Him using this biblical analogy of resting under His wings.
Reward
Boaz’s blessing asked the Lord to reward Ruth for her faithful service and faith. Hebrews 11:6 talks about this.
Rewarder
Whom does God reward?
A Stranger?
Did God consider Ruth a stranger anymore now that she had believed in Him and chosen to be one of His people? See what Isaiah 56:6-8 says.
Applied Today
In light of the story of Ruth and Isaiah 56:6-8, when someone has truly turned from their sin and believed in Jesus Christ so becoming part of His church, should their background influence whether or not other Christians accept them? Why or why not?
Comforter
Notice the similarities between Ruth 2:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
Like Whom?
When you compared these verses, who did you see Boaz was acting like when he comforted Ruth?
Under His Wings
How does God want you to trust under His wings today?
Application
Rewards
In what ways can you prepare yourself today for God’s rewards by diligently seeking Him?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you understand more about what it means to trust in God.
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