Ruth and Esther

Lesson 1– Ruth Overview/Chapter 1 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Pray for the Spirit to teach you as you study God’s Word.

1) Do a quick read through of Ruth as if you were reading a short story. Write down

anything that strikes you: observations, questions, themes, repetitive words, etc.

2) When did the story of Ruth occur? See Ruth 1:1.

3) What were those days like? See Judges 1:1, 2:6-23, and 21:25.

Day 2

4) What characters are we introduced to in the first five verses? How are they related?

5) Why had Elimelech taken his family to Moab? According to verse 4, how long had

they been there?

6) Do you think Elimelech was “doing what was right in his own eyes?” Explain your

answer.

7) Why did Naomi decide to leave Moab and where was she planning to go?

8) As Orpah and Ruth leave with Naomi for Judah, what does Naomi say to them?

What is the cry of her heart?

9) How is God phrased in your Bibles as Naomi speaks to Ruth and Orpah about Him?

Day 3

10) Describe what you learn from the text about the relationships Orpah and Ruth have

with their mother-in-law.

11) What do you see being the consequence for Orpah and Ruth should they return to

Moab?

12) Notice the words “kindness” and “rest” in verses 8 and 9. Define them.

13) Count how many times the words “turn back, go back, return” are used in this

chapter.

14) Orpah turns back. What does Naomi say to Ruth? What strikes you about her

response?

15) What does Ruth decide concerning her relationship to Naomi and to God?

16) How much do you think Ruth gave up to go with Naomi?

17) What are you willing or unwilling to give up to follow the Lord and be close to God’s

people?

Day 4

18) How does Naomi perceive her own lot in life? What are her thoughts about God?

19) How have you allowed your circumstances to define God rather than God define

your circumstances?

20) Orpah, Ruth, and Naomi were at different places in their spiritual lives. To which of

these women do you most closely relate and why?

Day 5

21) To what city in Judah did they return and what time of year was it?

22) According to verse 19, who is aware of Naomi’s return to Bethlehem and what is

their reaction to her?

23) If you were introduced to people from your past, how would they see you and your

relationship to God? How would you wish them to see you and your relationship to

God?

24) Do you see signs of hope in this dismal chapter?

25) Orpah “turns back” while Naomi and Ruth “return.” Why is this return important? How

would you express what Naomi and Ruth are returning to? (Joshua 1:1-6)

26) God provides for His people according to his promises. In what ways do we begin

to see this in chapter 1 of Ruth?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 2– Ruth 2 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Thank God for His Word. Pray that the Spirit will help you see Jesus in your study of Ruth.

1) Chapter 1 ends with an important fact and chapter 2 ends with one. What two

things do we learn?

2) Consider the ways Boaz is introduced to us in Ruth 2:1-9. What things do you learn

about him directly and indirectly?

3) What does Ruth set out to do and where does she end up?

4) What phrase in verse 3 give us a sense of anticipation?

5) Read Leviticus 19:-10; 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:17-22. What was God’s ordinance

regarding “gleaning?” Notice how it provides for the foreigner, fatherless and widow.

Day 2

6) How is Boaz introduced to Ruth?

7) What does Boaz call Ruth as he personally addresses her?

8) Detail the instructions Boaz gives to Ruth. (verses 8-9)

9) How does Ruth respond, and what does she ask Boaz?

10) How does Boaz answer Ruth’s question in verse 10? What does he long for in her

life?

11) What is Ruth’s demeanor in response to Boaz’s kind words? What do her words and

actions in verses 10 and 13 show about her heart?

12) How does the phrase about God’s wings explain everything Ruth has done? Read

also Exodus 19:4; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 57:1 and Matthew 23:27.

Day 3

13) What details of Boaz’s abundant kindness do you notice in Ruth 2:8-9, 14-16?

14) Boaz is a picture of Christ while Ruth represents us. What things do you learn from

this encounter about your relationship to Christ?

15) What kind of worker is Ruth and what does this reveal about her character?

16) What are the circumstances of your life? What kind of work is required of you?

17) As you complete the daily tasks God has called you to, what kind of worker are you

and what does it reveal about your character?

Day 4

18) What does Naomi do when Ruth returns? (verse 19)

19) Notice what Naomi references about Boaz in verse 20. Where else in your reading,

thus far, has “kindness” been used?

20) What kindness do you think Naomi is referring to?

21) What do we learn about the character of God that can encourage us and others in

the midst of “bitter” and “empty” circumstances?

22) At the end of verse 20, what does Naomi inform Ruth about Boaz? (The plot

thickens!)

Day 5

23) What is the potential danger to Ruth if she moved away from gleaning with Boaz’s

maids?

24) For what period of time did Ruth glean in the fields? What else do we learn about

her life in verse 23? (Note chapter 3 does not happen the next day.)

25) Ruth committed her way and her life to Naomi and to Naomi’s God; yet, it was not an

easy life. In your commitment to God, do you have unwritten expectations of the

course your life should take?

26) Do you consider your life empty or full? Explain.

27) In chapter 2, we begin to see God’s abundant provision and protection for Naomi

and Ruth who came “empty” to Bethlehem. What are some ways you see His provision

and protection in their lives?

28) How have you experienced God’s kind and gracious provision and protection in

your own life?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 3– Ruth 3 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to you as you study His Word.

1) Read all of Ruth 3. What is Naomi’s plan according to Ruth 3:1-5?

2) How long has Naomi had to devise this plan? (Ruth 1:22 and 2:23)

3) What is your reaction to these words of Naomi?

4) Read Ruth 1:9 and 3:1. How does this help us understand Ruth 3?

5) Read Deuteronomy 25:5-10 to better understand the idea of kinsman redeemer. What

was the purpose of this law?

Day 2

6) Who had lost a husband? Of whose family is Boaz? Who was the widow to be

protected?

7) How does Naomi wish Ruth to present herself? Why?

8) What was Ruth’s response to Naomi’s instructions? Do you think this is hard for her?

9) In what way did Ruth come to the threshing floor?

Day 3

10) Picture the scene. What is Boaz’s response when he is awakened by Ruth’s presence

at his feet?

11) How does Ruth answer Boaz’s question?

12) What does she ask him to do at the end of verse 9? Rephrase this request in

contemporary language.

13) Does Ruth’s request remind you of anything you have read earlier in the book of

Ruth? (See Ruth 2:12.)

14) This same picture is given in Ezekiel 16:8 where God speaks as the husband of his

unfaithful people. Comment on this verse.

15) How does Boaz respond to Ruth’s request?

Day 4

16) What does Boaz reveal about himself in his compliment to Ruth in verse 10?

17) How does he justify her radical actions and request?

18) What does he reveal to her in verse 12 and 13 that escalates the surprise?

19) If you were Ruth, what would be going through your mind at this point?

20) How does Boaz send Ruth back to Naomi? Why?

21) How does Boaz exhibit godliness?

.

Day 5

22) Describe Naomi’s thoughts and emotions as Ruth returns with an abundance of food.

23) How does Naomi counsel Ruth at the end of chapter 3?

24) How hard is it to be still and wait?

25) What does “be still, my daughter” look like in your relationship with the Lord?

26) In what ways are the actions and responses of Boaz and Ruth in this chapter

shaped not only by their own character but also by their knowledge of the other’s

character?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 4– Ruth 4 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Thank God for His Word. Pray that you would be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

1) Where does Boaz go to do business? Whom does Boaz assemble for the meeting

and why?

2) What is Boaz’s proposition to the “nearer” kinsman-redeemer?

3) How did the kinsman–redeemer respond?

4) Read Leviticus 25:23-25. What is God’s ordinance regarding care of a relative’s

land?

Day 2

5) In verse 5, what does Boaz make sure the kinsman-redeemer understands?

6) The closer kinsman-redeemer (whose name is not recorded or remembered) quickly

changes his yes to a no! Why? What does he fear? In light of the rest of the chapter,

what is the irony here?

7) After exchanging the sandal, verses 7-8, how do Boaz’s words show that he

understands the purpose of the law he is fulfilling?

8) In what ways is it important that this is not a private but a public resolution?

9) Who do the elders refer to in the blessing they give to Boaz?

10) Read Genesis 29-30, Genesis 38, and Matthew 1:1-6. What elements of this history

stand out in relation to this story?

Day 3

11) List the events in Ruth 4:13-22.

12) What individuals are the focus of the story?

13) How did the women refer to Naomi’s relationship to Obed?

14) What occurred in the course of God’s plan as a result of the life of the Moabitess,

Ruth?

15) If God was building a pure and holy nation for Himself, why would a Moabitess be

the grandmother of the loved Israelite king?

Day 4

16) As you read the blessing in verses 11-12, how do the words and phrases echo even

more loudly than the people could know at the time?

17) How is the view of God expressed in Ruth 4:13-17 both similar and different from the

view expressed by Naomi in chapter 1?

18) How has Naomi’s heart and life been transformed?

19) Read Genesis 49:8-10; Isaiah 11:1-3,10; Matthew 1:1-17; and Revelation 5:1-5.

Why end Ruth (set in the time of the judges) twice with the name of David (verses 17

and 21)?

Day 5

20) God provides for His people according to his promises. How does the book of Ruth

show this truth?

21) How has God provided for you according to his promises?

22) From your study of Ruth, what have you learned about God’s faithful love to you?

How has he restored you both physically and spiritually?

23) Can you trust the Lord in His wisdom to perform what is best for you? Why?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 1– Esther Overview/Chapter 1 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Pray for God to teach you as we study the book of Esther.

1) Read through the book of Esther in one sitting if possible. (It will take about 20

minutes.) Write down any notes, thoughts, questions, etc.

Day 2

2) Geographically describe Xerxes’ (Ahasuerus’) kingdom.

3) What did he do in the third year of his reign? Who was invited?

4) What seems to be the implied purpose behind the banquet? See verse 4.

5) Then what did he do after 180 days? Who was invited?

6) Describe what this banquet was like.

7) Whom did the queen entertain?

Day 3

8) What do you learn about King Xerxes in verses 1-9?

9) What was the whim of the king?

10) Explain Vashti’s response.

11) How does the king react? Does anything seem odd in verses 13-15?

12) What is the effect of this series of events on:

a) Queen Vashti?

b) The people?

c) The king? (Read also Esther 2:1.)

Day 4

13) What do we learn about a royal decree in verse 9?

14) How does the king come across in verses 10-22?

15) Read the following verses: Deuteronomy 17:14-20, II Samuel 23:3-4, Psalm 2:10-11,

Proverbs 16:12, Proverbs 20:28, Proverbs 29:4, and Proverbs 29:14. From these verses

or other places in Scripture, what is the role of the king in God’s eyes?

16) Esther opens in a world seemingly without God. How does it display the lostness of

lives without God?

Day 5

17) Clearly this king and kingdom treated women abominably. Why is this background

story of Queen Vashti important to the flow of the whole book?

18) Contrast this picture of marriage with what God tells us in Ephesians 5:22-33.

19) The book of Esther never mentions God but we learn as we study that God is at

work. Are there places or circumstances in your life where God seems absent? Write

them in the space below. Ask the Lord to give you glimpses of His work in you, through

you, and around you. Pray the same for your sisters in Christ.

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 6 - Esther 2 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Read all of Esther 2. Pray for God’s Spirit to teach you.

1) What is the king working through as chapter two opens?

2) How does the king begin the process for selecting a new queen?

3) Who is Mordecai?

4) What does this passage tell you about Esther’s background, personal appearance,

and character?

Day 2

5) What effect does Esther have on others, including the king? (2:9,15,17)

6) Describe or define “finding favor”.

7) Can you think of others in Scripture who found favor? (Genesis 39:21-23, Daniel 1:8-

9, Ruth 1-2) What similarities do you see in their circumstances?

Day 3

8) What key fact do we learn in verse 10?

9) How does Mordecai care for Esther?

10) How were the young virgins prepared for presentation to the king?

11) What happened to the young women after the king had spent the night with them?

12) What happened when Esther’s turn came?

Day 4

13) Does the banquet in verse 18 seem different from the banquet in chapter 1? How?

14) What fact are we reminded of in verse 20? What else do we learn about Esther?

15) This is the second time Mordecai asked Esther not to reveal her Jewish heritage. Why

do you think he gave her this instruction?

16) What are some other things you learn about Mordecai in chapter 2?

Day 5

17) Relate what Mordecai overheard as he sat in the king’s gate?

18) What did Mordecai do with this information? What followed from there?

19) What details in chapter 2 reveal the true nature of the world in which Esther finds

herself?

20) In all the events so far, God has not been mentioned, but His hand of providence is

clearly at work. Record all the things that have happened just so, so far.

21) How have you seen God’s hand of providence at work in your own life?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 7 - Esther 3 & 4 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Read Esther 3 & 4. Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to you in His Word.

1) After the final section of chapter 2, whom would you expect to be promoted by King

Ahaseurus? Who was promoted instead?

2) How is Haman identified in 3:1 and 3:10?

3) What does this passage reveal about Haman’s personality and character?

4) What does Mordecai do that angers Haman? Why do you think Mordecai did this?

5) Read I Samuel 15, Exodus 17:8-16, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, and I Chronicles 4:43.

How does this historical context give perspective to the conflict between Mordecai

and Haman as well as Haman’s attitude toward the Jews?

6) After Mordecai offends Haman, what does Haman scheme to do?

7) In making his appeal to the king, what approach does Haman take?

8) How was the timing determined for when the Jews would be destroyed?

9) Compare 3:12 with Exodus 12:1-2 and Leviticus 23:5. What is the significance of the

timing of Haman’s edict?

10) Compare 3:7 and 3:12. How many months after the edict is given is it to be carried

out?

11) Read Proverbs 16:33. What do you learn about the cast lot?

12) In verses 12-14, note how often the words, all and every, appear. How many Jews

would remain in the kingdom if Haman’s order were carried out exactly as prescribed?

13) How do Haman and the king respond after the decree is issued? How does the city

of Susa respond?

14) What details of the narrative in Esther 4:1-9 show the dramatic response of the Jews

– and Esther’s distance from the Jews at this point?

15) What explanation and command di Mordecai give to Esther through Hathach when

she sent him to learn about Mordecai’s distress?

16) How do you interpret Esther’s initial reaction to Mordecai’s command?

17) Consider what happened to Vashti when she challenged the king in chapter one. Do

you think Esther’s reluctance was justified? Why or why not?

18) Verse 10 of chapter 4 is a turning point in the narrative presentation of Esther. What

things do we for the very first time see Esther doing in the second half of this chapter?

19) Consider Mordecai’s response in verses 13-14. What arguments does he lay out

against her keeping silent? In your opinion, what part of his argument is most

persuasive?

20) The last sentence in verse 14 is a famous statement. Copy it here.

21) Think of the positions God has placed you in? Why might He have placed you there

for such a time as this? How can you advance His kingdom where you are? Pray for

the Lord to show you these things.

22) After agreeing to Mordecai’s command, Esther gives Mordecai a command of her

own. What does she tell him to do?

23) Esther points out to Mordecai that his request is against the law and her life is at

stake. Nevertheless, she agrees to do it. What does her decision say about her faith?

24) How confident are you in the promises of God?

25) Summarize the ways in which we see God’s divine direction at this point in the story.

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 8 - Esther 5 & 6 Provision and Protection

Day 1

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful in your life. Pray that God will use the Scriptures

to encourage and equip you by His Spirit.

1) Walk through the steps of the queen as she approaches the king.

2) What is the attitude of the queen?

3) As the king probes her concerns, what promises does he make to her?

4) Why was approaching the king as Esther did risky? Why do you suppose the king

received Esther with such favor?

5) Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Contrast the likelihood of Esther gaining an audience with

the king to the likelihood we have of gaining an audience with the King of kings. How

and why are the two situations different? How do these differences affect your desire

to approach God with your needs?

6) What are possible reasons Esther may have chosen to delay revealing her request by

an additional day?

7) What was Haman’s mood as he left Esther’s feast?

8) What triggered a change of attitude for him?

9) What did Haman brag about to his friends and his wife later that day? What kept him

from enjoying all these “successes”?

10) What did Haman’s wife suggest Haman do?

11) What problem did the king experience the night following Esther’s first banquet?

12) What remedy did he turn to, and what surprising turn of events resulted?

13) How do you see God working behind the scenes in these events?

14) Read Esther 6:3. What does the king ask his servants and what response do they

give him?

15) Who is in the king’s court?

16) Relate the interchange between Haman and the king.

17) In Esther 6:10-11, what does the narrator not tell us – and what is the effect of this

brief telling?

18) How is Haman humbled?

19) What does this teach us about our bent on self-exaltation? Read also Psalm 138:6,

Proverbs 3:34-35, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 25:6-7, Matthew 23:12, and James 4:6.

20) How does this scene reflect the Gospel?

21) Comment on those final words spoken in Haman’s house at this hinge point in the

story (verse 13).

22) What phrase is repeated in verses 6, 7, 9, and 11 of chapter 3? What might this

phrase be saying to us?

23) Mordecai’s Jewishness is mentioned in 5:13, 6:10 and 6:13. It reminds us of the point

of God’s providence in this story: It is to protect God’s people. Read God’s promises

in Genesis 12:1-3 and II Samuel 7:12-17. What did God promise to do through His

chosen people?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 9 - Esther 7 & 8 Provision and Protection

Day 1

Read Esther 7 and 8. Pray for God to continue to teach you by His Spirit through the

renewing of your mind. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you.

1) Read Esther 6:13. Why do Haman’s friends and wife warn him in this way? (See Joshua

2:8-11 for additional insight.)

2) Esther finally tells the king her request. What is it and what reasoning does she use?

3) Observe and record everything you can about Esther’s plea. How passionate is she

to save her people?

4) How does Esther name the Jewish people in her plea? What is significant about this?

Day 2

5) Summarize the events in Esther 7:5-10.

6) What ironic words and events stand out to you as this chapter recounts the final

moments of Haman’s demise?

7) Haman is dead but the Jews’ troubles are not over. Why not?

8) What fortune befalls Mordecai? Why?

Day 3

9) What does Esther request of the king this time, verses 8:3-6? How passionate is this

plea?

10) How is her request problematic for the king? (See Esther 1:19; 3:12; 8:8; Daniel

6:8,12)

11) How is the problem resolved?

Day 4

12) How do the details of the second edict dramatically undo the first edict?

13) How is the timing originally indicated by the casting of lots crucial to the unfolding

story? (God’s unmentioned hand of providence.)

14) What does the king do that suggests Mordecai now holds the place of honor

Haman previously held? (Esther 8:15)

15) How did the Jews in every province and city respond when they heard the second

decree?

Day 5

16) Contrast Esther 2:10 with the second part of 8:17. How would you explain the

differences you observe?

17) Read Genesis 12:3. Consider how the final statement of chapter 8 might relate to

the final promise to Abraham.

18) What is at least one thing you are learning about God in your study of Esther and

how does it impact your daily life.

19) Think about your life. Where might God be calling you “for such a time as this”? What

is your passionate plea?

Ruth and Esther

Lesson 10 – Esther 9 and 10 Provision and Protection

Day 1 Read Esther 9 and 10. Pray that the Lord will teach you as you study.

1) Summarize Esther 9:1. How do the first four verses of chapter 9 dramatically reveal the

reversal that has occurred?

2) Review the king’s edict to the Jews in 8:11. What are the Jews now free to do?

3) What part of the edict do they refuse to carry out? (Esther 9:10,15-16) Why? Refer to

Genesis 14:21-23 and I Samuel 15:17-23 for insight.

Day 2

4) The promised Christ has come through the seed of Abraham and the line of David. He

has accomplished our salvation and through faith we are spiritual descendants of

Abraham (Galatians 3:29). We no longer fight physical battles as a physical nation.

According to Ephesians 6:10-12, what kinds of battles do we fight now, as God’s

people in Christ?

5) What is our weapon of warfare? See Ephesians 6:17-18.

6) What is our Christian responsibility or duty towards others, believers and non-

believers? Read Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:43-48, and Luke 6:27-37.

Day 3

7) Read Esther 9:5-16 and II Thessalonians 1:5-10. How might Paul’s words in

Thessalonians help us see what Esther is showing us about God?

8) What should be our response to the huge reality of God’s wrath and eternal

punishment coming for those who have not by faith in Christ become part of God’s

people? Reflect of Matthew 28:18-20.

9) What position does Mordecai hold in the Persian Empire?

10) What does Mordecai institute and for what period?

Day 4

11) The celebration of Purim was established to occur annually on what date?

12) Summarize the explanation for the Feast of Purim. How is it similar to the themes in

Hannah’s song, I Samuel 2:1-10, and Mary’s song, Luke 1:46-55?

13) What is the Christian celebration of deliverance from evil?

14) Has our enemy been defeated? How?

Day 5

15) What do we learn about Mordecai in Esther 10:3? How can we work for the good

and welfare of God’s people?

16) What are specific qualities of God that cause your heart to swell with joy as you are

living your particular life?

17) What victories has God won for you or your family? How could you commemorate

and celebrate these acts of deliverance?