Ruth – A Woman of Virtue

by Ross Ward

Text: Ruth 3:11

1. Defining
   1. Virtuous
      1. Brown Driver & Briggs – strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
      2. Strong’s – probably a force; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
      3. Army 56x
      4. Man of valor 37x
      5. Host 29x
      6. Forces 14x
      7. Valiant 13x
      8. Strength 12x
      9. Riches 11x
      10. Wealth 10x
      11. Power 9x
      12. Substance 8x
      13. Might 6x
      14. Strong 5x
      15. Virtuous 4x
      16. Misc 33x
2. Strength
   1. Ruth 2:1 – Boaz was a man of “wealth”
      1. Same word – “virtue”
   2. Ruth 2:17-18 – about 1 ephah
      1. Could be 30-45lbs
   3. Ruth 3:14-18 – 6 “measures” of barley
      1. Ephah or seahs?
      2. Could be 2x or 6x that of Ruth 2:17-18
      3. Showing generosity of Boaz
   4. Husband – wife relationship
      1. I Peter 3:1-7 – “weaker vessel”
         1. A relative term not absolute
3. Industrious hard worker
   1. Looked for work
      1. Ruth 2:2-3 – let me now go to the field
   2. Daylight till dark
      1. Ruth 2:6-7, 15-17
   3. Provided for her household
      1. Ruth 2:18, 3:14-18
   4. Entire harvest season
      1. Ruth 2:23
4. Women of strength
   1. Proverbs 31:10-31
      1. Vs. 10 – who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies
      2. Vs. 17 – she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (ESV)
      3. Vs. 25 – strength and honor are her clothing
      4. Vs. 1 – a mother to her son
5. Women of strength (misused)
   1. Lacking meekness
      1. Genesis 24,27 – Rebekah
      2. Judges 16 – Delilah
      3. I Kings 18-21 – Jezebel
      4. II Kings 11:1-16 – Athaliah King (Queen)
6. Loyalty
   1. To Naomi
      1. Ruth 1:6-18
      2. Ruth 2:11
      3. Ruth 3:1-5 – instructions about Boaz
   2. To Boaz
      1. Ruth 2:8-10 – to stay with his maidens
      2. Ruth 2:14 – eat with his servants at mealtime
7. Loving-kindness
   1. To Naomi
      1. Ruth 1:16-18 – desired to stay with Naomi
      2. Ruth 2:18 – stored up food
      3. Ruth 3:10-11 – showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning
      4. Ruth 4:15 – better than 7 sons
8. Humble/Meek
   1. Toward Naomi
      1. Ruth 1:6-18 – leaving Moab
   2. Toward Boaz
      1. Ruth 2:10-13 – in light of his benevolence toward her and Naomi
9. Lessons
   1. Society’s portrayal of women
      1. Previous generations
         1. Feeble, weak, and helpless
         2. Frontier women
      2. Current
         1. Extreme – “liberation” movement
   2. Women of the kingdom
      1. John 4 – Samaritan woman evangelizing
      2. Acts 18, Rom. 16:3, 1 Cor. 16:19, 2 Tim. 4:19 – Priscilla and Aquilla
      3. Acts 9:36 – Tabitha (Dorcas)
      4. John 12:2-3 – Martha and Mary served
      5. Acts 21:8-9 – Phillip had 7 daughters that prophesied
   3. Ruth a “virtuous” woman
      1. Godly example
         1. To be admired and followed
         2. Context: strong and mighty in many ways
         3. Industrious and hard worker
         4. Loyal
         5. Loving-kindness
         6. Meek and humble
      2. Not a Rebekah, Delilah, Jezebel, nor Athaliah
10. A portrait of redemption
    1. Boaz redeemed Ruth
    2. God’s grace offered to us
       1. For any who would trust and obey him
       2. A Boaz