"OVERVIEW OF RUTH"

Background info –

Author – Unknown Date – Roughly 1000 BC

Theme – “Kinsmen Redeemer” – What is a kinsmen?

“The story teaches that God rewards the faithfulness of His people. God accomplished this by using Boaz as the family’s “kinsman-redeemer” (2:20; 3:12–13; 4:1–10). Kinsman-redeemer refers to a relative who helped a troubled family member so that the family was not dispossessed of land or left without an heir (Lev 25:25–34; Deut 25:5–10).[i]” Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. (1992). Holman Bible Handbook (220). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Prior to looking specifically at our outline we must establish some basic info – In order to do that let us read Ruth 1:1-5

Ruth 1:1–5 (NASB95)

1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

The book of Ruth is taking place during the time of Judges –

The Family that it involves –

Elimelech and Naomi are married

They have two son’s named Mahlon and Chilion

These people are of the nation of Israel (Specifically from Bethlehem in Judah) – However, there was a famine in that area, so they all headed for Moab.

Background on Moab –

Quote from MacArthur – “Aside from Bethlehem (1:1), Moab (the perennial enemy of Israel which was east of the Dead Sea), stands as the only other mentioned geographic/national entity (1:1, 2). This country originated when Lot fathered Moab by an incestuous union with his oldest daughter (Gen. 19:37). Centuries later the Jews encountered opposition from Balak, king of Moab, through the prophet Balaam (Num. 22–25). For 18 years Moab oppressed Israel during the judges (3:12–30). Saul defeated the Moabites (1 Sam. 14:47) while David seemed to enjoy a peaceful relationship with them (1 Sam. 22:3, 4). Later, Moab again troubled Israel (2 Kin. 3:5–27; Ezra 9:1). Because of Moab’s idolatrous worship of Chemosh (1 Kin. 11:7, 33; 2 Kin. 23:13) and its opposition to Israel, God cursed Moab (Is. 15–16; Jer. 48; Ezek. 25:8–11; Amos 2:1–3). MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible(electronic ed.). Nashville: Word Pub.

Nation arose from and ungodly relationship - Gen 19:37

Genesis 19:37 NASB95

37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.

their god is Chemosh

Numbers 25:1-2 – The Moabites dishonored God and the nation of Israel began to partake in this horrific sin –

Numbers 25:1–2 NASB95

1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Two son’s marry two ladies who are in Moab – Orpah and Ruth

The Father and the two sons pass away

All that are left is Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth

Proposition - As we come to the book of Ruth we will see how God uses those who are faithful to Him and His Word –

Interrogative question - How are demonstrating your faithfulness?

1) Commitment to Faithfulness – 1

Read – 1:14–18

Ruth 1:14–18 (NASB95)

14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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.

17 “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

·Summarize the previous verses –

The three ladies left Moab and headed back to Judah

Naomi told Orpah and Ruth to return back to their mom’s home b/c she has no other son’s to give to them

Orpah returned back to her mom – however, Ruth clung to Naomi and said that she will not leave her

Ruth made a commitment to remain faithful to Naomi regardless of the cost

Have you all ever made a commitment to someone regardless of the cost?

For those of us to know Christ I would ask How are you doing with your commitment to Him and His Word?

Naomi and Ruth return to Judah at the end of chapter 2 is “at the beginning of barley harvest.”

2) Challenges of Faithfulness – 2

Ruth 2:1-3 – The challenge of gathering food when you don’t know them

Ruth 2:1–3 (NASB95)

1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

To go out and gather up barley throughout different fields is an extremely dangerous task 2:22 (the risk is that of being assaulted)

Keep in mind that Ruth is not in her own land which is certainly another concern

Ruth 2:6-13 –

Ruth 2:6–13 (NASB95)

6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 7 “And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.

9 “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.

12 “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”

Boaz owns a field and tells Ruth to gather up barley only from his field

Ruth’s response was one of utmost respect – falling on her face

She questions Boaz as to why he is being so kind to her –

He responded by saying several things –

I have heard what you have done for Naomi

How you have left your father and mother

Left your native land

Come to a people that you do not know

He concludes by saying that a full reward be giving to you from the Lord

Ruth 3:1-5 – The challenge to obey even when you may not understand –

Ruth 3:1–5 (NASB95)

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.

3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”

Naomi has given her some very strict instruction

Go and uncover his feet –

She is faced with a decision to make

She chooses to obey all that Naomi said

The outcome of Ruth’s obedience – Ruth 3:9-10 -

Ruth 3:9–10 NASB95

9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.” 10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

How are you doing with being faithful to God and His Word when challenges come your way? Maybe even things that you don’t like and or understand?

3) Blessedness/joy’s of Faithfulness – 4

Ruth 4:8-11 –

Ruth 4:8–11 (NASB95)

8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.

10 “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”

11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.

The next person in line to redeem the land, Naomi, and Ruth did not do it cause he was unable to marry Ruth –

Therefore Boaz was next in line who was an Israelite bought the land, and married Ruth a Moab women –

This is he blessedness for Ruth b/c she remained faithful she now has a kinsmen redeemer

4:13 – Is the joy of faithfulness – she has a child –

The book of Ruth paints a vary vivid and precious picture of faithfulness –

SO WHAT??

Faithfulness = commitment, challenges, blessedness, and joys regardless of the cost!

Interesting fact –

Boaz is used to deliver Naomi and Ruth – Christ was used to deliver human kind from eternal damnation -