Sermon Recap: Ruth 2:1-23

From Bitterness to Abundance

Ruth 2:1-23

This Sunday, we walked through Ruth 2 in our message “From Bitterness to Abundance,” where we explored how God moves toward His people in quiet, hidden, often surprising ways—long before they ever recognize His hand.

Ruth’s story reminds us that God’s providence isn’t loud. It’s steady. Her “chance” arrival in Boaz’s field wasn’t chance at all, and neither are the threads God is weaving in our own lives. In Ruth 2, we learned that God’s grace meets us in ordinary steps of obedience, shelters us under His wings, and continues His steadfast love even in seasons of pain.

God is graciously at work to accomplish His redemptive purposes—even when we can’t see Him.

Here’s how Ruth 2 guided us:

1. God Directs Our Steps to Accomplish His Purposes (vv. 1–3)

• Ruth’s choice to glean looks simple, almost mundane—but behind it is a sovereign God guiding her feet.

• What looks like coincidence is actually care. God places her in Boaz’s field, arranging provision long before she knows what He’s doing.

• Our small, faithful steps often become the very means God uses to pull us into His larger story.

2. God Pours Out Abundant Grace on Those Who Take Refuge in Him (vv. 4–17)

• Boaz models the heart of God—seeing, protecting, and providing generously.

• Ruth comes seeking scraps; she receives abundance.

• When we take refuge under the Lord’s wings, He gives more than survival—He gives blessing, dignity, and rest.

3. God’s Steadfast Love Does Not Forsake Us, Even in Our Suffering (vv. 18–23)

• Naomi, who has been sitting in bitter grief, begins to see a flicker of hope: “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”

• God’s covenant love hasn’t left Naomi or Ruth—not in Moab, not in loss, not in confusion.

• Their story is still unfolding, and the same is true for us. God’s steadfast love is already working ahead of us, even in the dark.

Listen to the Sermon:

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Reflection Questions:

1. Where have you recently seen “coincidence” that might actually be God’s quiet guidance?

2. In what area of your life do you need to take a small step of obedience, trusting God to work through it?

3. How might God be extending His protection and generosity to you—even if you feel like you’re coming with empty hands?

4. Where do you need to remember His steadfast love in a season that feels uncertain or painful?

Resources:

• Book: Ruth for You: Revealing God's Kindness and Care (Tony Merida)

• Book: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God: Sweet and Bitter Providence in the Book of Ruth (John Piper)

• Book: Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense (Paul David Tripp)

Songs from Sunday:

• Emmanuel God With Us

• Holy Forever (Christmas)

• O Come All Ye Faithful (His Name Shall Be)

• Away in a Manger

Find these and all the songs we sing for corporate worship during Advent on our OTC Christmas playlist.