The Book of Ruth Overview

This book written in excellent Hebrew…you could almost label it poetic narrative. It’s not written as a poem, but it is well-crafted and purposeful (think of it as being a literary classic for Hebrew education).

It occurs late in the period of the Judges, likely somewhere around 1140 BC, given that David’s birth is typically slated around 1040 BC, and Ruth deals with the story of David’s great-grandparents.

Chapter 1

We know that this is during the time of the Judges:

SIN causes the Israelites to become...

SLAVES, and their slavery leads to...

SUPPLICATION, a cry to God to deliver them, which results in

SALVATION, God restoring His people and them enjoying a period of peace.

Certainly the time of the Judges is largely a dark time, so much so that Elimelech’s family decides to head to Moab.

Moabites were the descendants of Lot.

The inhabited the land just East of the Dead Sea.

And, Israel and Moab shared a mixed history, though they often found themselves at odds and in conflict with one another.

Key Fact: Ruth is a Moabitess. She marries one of Elimelech’s and Naomi’s sons.

The story begins with tragedy and death as Naomi ends up widowed and without sons. Orpah, one of her daughter-in-laws, decides to return to her people. Ruth cannot be convinced to leave Naomi’s side. As a matter of fact, she makes this stunning commitment of LOYALTY: Ruth 1:16-17 “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”” (P.S. — I know it’s a popular Chris Tomlin song, but he uses it out of context!)

In all of this, Naomi changes her name to Mara, meaning bitter, noting that “the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Further, Ruth 1:21 “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?””

So, they head back to Bethlehem…the same Bethlehem that is David’s land, the same Bethlehem where Christ was born. As they return, their company is sorrow and heartache and pain.

But, there is this flickering hope because of Ruth’s loyalty.

Chapter 2

We need food! So, Naomi and Ruth come up with a plan to secure some food, grain from a relative of Elimelech. We find out his name is Boaz, he plays an important role in the book, both literally and theologically.

Boaz’s attributes include:

He is a man of character (Ruth 2:1 “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.”)

He follows the Torah (Ruth 2:3 “So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.”)

He prays to God (Ruth 2:12 “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”)

He is generous (Ruth 2:14 “And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.”)

After all of this, Ruth returns to Naomi and says she’s met Boaz. This causes Naomi to rejoice because Boaz is “a close relative…one of our redeemers.” Key fact: the go’el played an important role in Hebrew society, and the Book of Ruth gives the clearest picture of the redeemer role of the kinsman.

When a husband would die, the redeemer would marry the widow.

This marriage would secure the land, keeping it in the family as an inheritance.

The marriage and land would protect and provide for the family.

Chapter 3

Begins with plans from Naomi and Ruth in hopes that Boaz will take Ruth to be his wife…to redeem the family.

Ruth’s character:

She calls herself a servant.

Boaz names her a Prov.31 woman (Ruth 3:11 “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.”)

There is this strange request that mimics Boaz’s prayer and picks up on a unique them that reappears in Scripture — “spread your wings” (Ruth 2:12 “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”” and Ruth 3:9 “He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.””)

This idea is picked up on in Mal.4:2.

I believe the gospel writers pick up on this idea in Mark 5 and Luke 8.

Impressed by Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz agrees, but there is hurdle that first must be cleared — there is another kinsman closer in relation. Ruth returns to Naomi with the news — He said yes! — and there is again rejoicing.

Chapter 4

The chapter begins with an account of Boaz’s loyalty. His true character is seen when:

He stays in line with what is right, offering the role of kinsman to another relative of closer relation to Elimelech.

The closer redeemer first agreed to purchase the land, but then backed out when Boaz mentioned marrying the Moabitess Ruth.

Boaz completes all that is necessary to redeem Elimelech’s land, his sons land, and to take Ruth to be his wife.

As the chapter draws to a close, the story ends with joy and birth as Boaz and Ruth have a son named Obed.

As the chapter closes, ten generations are listed. The Hebrews are big on numbers, and the number ten = divine order, a completed cycle, measure or group (congregation). The tenth generation is David…as if the messianic overtones of the book weren’t overt enough!

Curious Fact: God is rarely mentioned in Ruth, and He is only mentioned by the characters. Is it odd that the narrator never inserts commentary on the activity of God? Sometimes, divinely inspired biblical authors will suppose biblical literacy on the part of the reader. Instead, what we see is God as a character in the narrative who divinely orchestrates the events, but uses the unique character traits of the humans to bring about His purposes.

Christ in Ruth: Boaz as the Go’el, preservation of “the seed” through Boaz and Ruth’s line. Seeking refuge/provision under the wings prefigures messianic imagery (Mal.4:2 “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” and Luke 8:44 “She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.”)

Ruth in the Canon: a contrast of faithfulness with the lack of faith generally displayed in the time of the Judges.

God’s Sovereignty: Even in the lows, God is in control working things toward their intended end. Ultimately, the line of Christ will come from the story of Ruth.

Salvation in Ruth: Ruth is bankrupt and completely at the mercy/grace of Boaz. Boaz is devoted to God, a man of character who pays the necessary price to bring Ruth under his care and provision, providing refuge.

Major Messages in Ruth:

God sovereignly orchestrates the events of human history to ensure His promises come to fruition.

The Go’el role played by Boaz is a reminder of how YHWH continues to redeem and bless His people.

The chesed (faithful covenantal love of God) is seen in Ruth on both the human and divine levels.

Ruth’s needs in the created world are provided for by Boaz, the “type” of Messiah in the book.

God’s love is shown in the preservation of His promise to provide a Savior who crushes the head of the serpent.