THE BOOK OF RUTH

INTRODUCTION:

1.The Book of JUDGES shows us the ugly “Dark Ages of Israel,” but there were some good people and good times -- hopefully more than we might think.

2.RUTH is an oasis of beauty in the arid desert of the time; The Book is a literary masterpiece -- A classic love story; It is about the precious woman of Moab who left her homeland to serve the true and living God.

3.AUTHOR: It is not known who authored The Book of RUTH.

4.DATE: We do not know an exact date but it may have been written about 1000 BC, during the reign of David.

a.Ruth lived in the time of the Judges; The First Verse of the Book may indicate it was written sometime after the days of the Judges.

b.The explanation of 4:7 also indicates a somewhat later date.

c.The genealogy of 4:17-22 stops at David, suggesting that it had been brought down to that present time.

d.David was a man of letters, and reigned during a literary time; This beautiful story fits into that pattern.

5.TIME: The Book of RUTH covers the period from about 1150 - 1120 BC (30 years).

6.THEMES: (a) Redemption; (b) Reward for faithfulness.

7.This is a simple and beautiful story with a rural background during the time of the Judges; Its value and significance is seen in that it deals with the genealogy of the Royal Family.  Ruth, the central character, was an ancestor of our Lord and Savior, as she was the great-grandmother of King David.

a.Three other women are named in the Bible who were in Christ’s ancestry -- Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba; All three of them were involved in some unworthy conduct.

b.RUTH stands out as the beacon of purity and virtue.

8.A striking feature of the Book is that it reaches beyond strong Jewish prejudice to show that God accepts pure, unselfish love from ANYONE, regardless of race.

a.The fact that RUTH was a Gentile brought the hope of a coming Messiah to ALL people of ALL nations.

b.It shows Ac 10:34-35 to have been true all through the ages.

             What star of Messianic truth

             More beautiful than Gentile Ruth?

             In her the Gentiles find a place

             To share the hope of Judah’s race;

             Now see from royal David’s line

             One hope for Jew and Gentile shine!

9.The story of RUTH “may” be better understood and its beauty seen more clearly by reading it in the NEW KING JAMES VERSION.

1.RUTH AND NAOMI -- CHAPTERS 1-2: RUTH’S LOVE DEMONSTRATED..

A.LOVE’S CHOICE -- CHAPTER 1: This Chapter pictures RUTH THE FAITHFUL DAUGHTER, cleaving to Naomi in her sorrow.

1.Verse 1,

a.FAMINE: This was a sign of disobedience and apostasy - Lev 26; Deu 28-29.

b.It was a time of apostasy, war, violence, moral decay, and social chaos.

c.However, not all the people were corrupt; At this point in the Book we have a quite different scene.

2.Verse 2,

a.This seems to have been a godly family, but they should have stayed in the covenant land with the elect people.

b.MOAB: These were the descendants of Lot (Gen 19:36-37); They were idolaters whose god Chemosh was worshipped by the offering of child sacrifice.

3.Verses 3-5,

a.Three men sought life in Moab, but found death.

b.Marriage to foreign women was forbidden to Jews - Deu 7:3-4.

4.Verses 6-7,

a.Some time had now passed; Naomi heard of better times at home, and determined within herself to return.

b.The Moabite girls apparently had been converted to Jehovah; They were now devoted to Naomi and shared her religious convictions.

5.Verses 8-15,

a.Naomi urged them to find a husband, and therefore security in his house.

b.They were not likely to have that prospect in Israel.

6.Verses 16-18,

a.Ruth’s beautiful speech showed great love and devotion of a daughter-in-law for her mother-in-law.

b.Ruth is a shining example of one who was willing to forsake culture, people, home, and the religion of youth and parents in order to PUT GOD FIRST - cf Mt 10:37.

7.Verses 19-21,

a.NAOMI, who’s name meant “Pleasant,” was not as exemplary as Ruth.  She said “Call me MARA.” which means “Bitter;” This was her own assessment.

b.Naomi’s misfortune led her to think that God was her enemy, but He had plans she did not know about (Let us be aware the same could be true in our lives!)

8.Verse 22, The stage was now set for the sweet love story to follow.

B.LOVE’S DEVOTION -- CHAPTER 2: This Chapter pictures RUTH THE MOABITESS GLEANER, responding to Naomi’s great need.

1.Verses 1-3,

a.Ruth was industrious - cf Eph 4:28; 2Th 3:10.

b.The word “GLEAN” -- The corners of the fields were left for the poor to reap; It seems Naomi was poverty-stricken or she never would have allowed Ruth to do this gleaning.

c.It must have been GOD’S PROVIDENCE which brought Ruth to this field.

2.Verse 4,

a.This verse shows a proper relation between Boaz and his laborers - cf Col 3:22; 4:1.

b.Everything he said showed his manliness and kindness.

3.Verses 5-8,

a.Ruth met Boaz, the wealthy kinsman of Naomi.

b.Not only was Boaz kind to his workers; He also showed special kindness to this beautiful young woman -- Love was already blooming!

4.Verses 9-12,

a.Being impressed with her charm and modesty, he was glad to protect her, provide her needs, and give her freedom to work.

b.Boaz used beautiful words when he asked a blessing upon Ruth - Verse 12.

5.Verses 13-17,

a.We begin to see displayed here Ancient Israel’s simple customs of courtship and marriage.

b.In these scenes a great man fell in love with a great woman.

6.Verses 18-21,

a.Ruth was generous -- She loved Naomi and cared for her needs.

b.Naomi saw The Hand of God in these events.

7.Verses 22-23, If we are to benefit through Christ, we must stay close to Him, to His fields, and to His servants - Mt 6:33; Lk 9:23.

2.RUTH AND BOAZ -- CHAPTERS 3-4: RUTH’S LOVE REWARDED.

A.LOVE’S REQUEST -- CHAPTER 3: This Chapter pictures RUTH THE VIRTUOUS CLAIMANT, appealing to the chivalrous kinsman, Boaz.

1.Verses 1-2,

a.An unmarried woman at that time was surely without proper SECURITY.

b.In these verses we can observe an interesting provision of the Law of Moses - Deu 25:5-10.

c.This was an instance of the application of that law.

2.Verses 3-5, Naomi’s instructions regarding the Law, and the responsibility of Boaz to Ruth.

3.Verses 6-9,

a.Ruth’s proposal of marriage to Boaz.

b.There is no suggestion of immorality; Ruth was pure and virtuous, so was Boaz; She was simply asking him to follow the Law.

c.What she was asking in Verse 9 was that he spread over her his cloak of protection and security in marriage.

1)It must have been obvious that he loved her.

2)This was her response, demonstrating her willingness to become his wife.

4.Verses 10-11,

a.Boaz showed his understanding of the Law, and his joy at the prospect of having this lovely woman as his bride.

b.YOUNG MEN: These words may suggest that Boaz was several years older than Ruth.

c.FEAR NOT; I WILL DO: He was desirous of marrying her.

d.VIRTUOUS: Ruth lived above the rebellion and immorality of the time; See it in her goodness and love to Naomi and Boaz - cf Prov 31:10.

5.Verses 12-13,

a.Boaz wanted Ruth -- He now explains his hesitancy.

b.First he had to comply with the Moabite customs of the day and the legal requirements concerning the next-of-kin.

6.Verses 14-18,

a.He had her to leave before the break of day; Though all was proper, tongues would wag (we must “care what others think” - Rom 12:17b).

b.The “six measures of barley” Ruth brought home showed Naomi that Boaz would take the appropriate steps to marry Ruth.

B.LOVE’S REWARD -- CHAPTER 4: This Chapter pictures RUTH THE BELOVED WIFE AND MOTHER, in a joyful and blissful marriage.

1.Verses 1-6,

a.Boaz was not the nearest of kin, so these legal matters had to be observed; It was done publicly -- So, there was no future question.

b.The kinsman apparently did not want to have the misfortunes which marrying a Moabitess might bring him.

2.Verses 7-12,

a.Planting the foot (or shoe) on land signified possession; The man thus transferred to Boaz his right to marry Ruth.

b.Everyone acted fair and square in this business contract.

c.Everything was now clear for this marriage to take place.

3.Verses 13-17,

a.This beautiful love story brought the birth of one who would be King David’s grandfather.

b.So the story which began with famine, death, and mourning, ended with fullness, new life, and rejoicing.

4.Verses 18-22, From that time forward, Old Testament thought centers in the Coming Universal King Who would be born in David’s Royal Line.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF RUTH TO THE BIBLE:

1.LITERARY:

a.A simple but profound example of pure love and devotion.

            When the last day is ended,

            And the nights are through;

            When the last sun is buried

            In its grave of blue;

            When the stars are quenched as candles,

            And the seas no longer fret;

            When the winds unlearn their cunning,

            And the storms forget;

            When the last lip is palsied,

            And the last prayer said,

            Love shall reign immortal

            While the worlds lie dead.

b.This is one of only two Bible Books named after a woman:

1)RUTH: A Gentile woman who lived among the Jews; Married a Jew in the royal line of David -- A story of faith and blessing.

2)ESTHER: A Jewish woman who lived among the Gentiles; Married a Gentile who ruled an empire -- A story of faith and blessing.

c.RUTH is the only Book devoted entirely to a woman.

2.MORAL:

a.It teaches high ideals in all relationships, and it shows  the treasure of a pure marriage.

b.Note a great contrast between RUTH and the Book of JUDGES:

                     JUDGES                                            RUTH

              Infidelity and Immorality                     Fidelity and Purity

              Disobedience Leads To Sorrow       Obedience Leads To Blessing

              Disloyalty                                             Devotion

              Lust                                                      Love

              War                                                      Peace

              Cruelty                                                 Kindness

              Spiritual Darkness                              Spiritual Light

3.HISTORICAL:

a.The Book of RUTH is the bridge between The Judges and The Monarchy (the last word in the Book is “DAVID”).

b.The Book establishes within the Tribe of Judah the family of David, and the lineage of Christ.

4.DOCTRINAL: It demonstrates the fact that Gentiles are NOT outside the scope of redemption - cf Rom 1:16.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF RUTH:

1.Boaz who bought the right of the “Kinsman-Redeemer” pictures Christ, our Redeemer - Eph 1:7.

a.The Redeemer had to have the RIGHT to redeem by being related to the redeemed - Deu 25:5,7-10; Ruth 2:1; Heb 2:14-15.

b.And He had to have the POWER to redeem by being able to pay the price of redemption - Ruth 2:1; 1Pe 1:18-19.

c.He also had to have the WILL to redeem - Ruth 3:11; Mt 20:28.

2.The Moabitess RUTH (A Gentile), shut out by the Law, was included by the Grace of the Redeemer - Jn 10:16; Mk 16:15.

**RUTH IN SIX WORDS:

Ruth And Naomi; Ruth And Boaz.

**RUTH IN SIX WORDS:

Ruth’s Love Demonstrated; Ruth’s Love Rewarded.

**RUTH IN FOUR WORDS:

Choice - Devotion - Request - Reward.