The Book of Ruth

Focus Verse: Ruth 3:11 KJV — And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Opening Statement: We can all think of great stories that have been told throughout our life time weather it be from a book, a movie, or just a story someone has told us.

We can all think of stories where something awful had happened to someone then a knight in shining armor comes and saves those who are in trouble.

Or the western where the cowboy comes into town to meet a band of robbers. Somewhere along the way he meets a woman and they fall in love. He feels the need to protect this lady he had not know before, to banish the robbers from her home, marry the young lady and ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after on a little piece of property with the wife he had just redeemed.

The book of Ruth is almost like one of our current day stories of a knight in shining armor or the cowboy riding in on the horse with the sun shining at his back. But this event goes much deeper than a fun story to watch. This recording of the life of Ruth speaks of redeeming love, passion for those who are dealing with hardship and lose, the faithfulness of God, and the blessings afforded to those who live under his wing.

But her story begins with great pains of a woman by the name of Naomi.

Book setting:

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the Judges when “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”(Judges 21:25) it was a time where people did not act well according to the law of God.

It was a time of great famine in the land of Bethlehem and this cause Elimelech to leave the city. Notice in this story there is no divine voice from heaven. No great sign to follow. And no great man of God to guide there footsteps. They simply are walking.

Ruth - Chapter 1

Elimelech was married to a woman named Naomi. They had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.

Because of this great famine Elimelech decided to leave Bethlehem (The house of bread) and take his family to Moab.

Moab was no place for a Jewish family to be. Moab was despised by God. Moab was a place of idolatry, they hired a prophet of Balaam to curse Israel, and the nation was birthed out of incest when the two daughters of Lot, conspired to get him drunk so they could have children.

During the period of Judges they spent 18 years attacking Israel.

It sounds bad enough to leave the promise land that God gave to you… but to leave it for a land that God had cursed (Psalms 60:8 calls Moab Gods washpot) God placed a curse even upon the people of that land in Deuteronomy 23:3 NKJV — “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever,

They came to Moab and dwelt there for 10 years. This decision would bring great trouble to Elimelech's wife, Naomi. During this time here Husband would die leaving her with her two sons.

Her two sons found Moabite women to marry. Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah.

But then her two sons died.

We begin to see the heartache that must have filled Naomi’s heart.

She has lost her husband, not only one but two sons, and she is left in a foreign land with two daughter in laws. Ruth and Orpah.

But then she heard that the LORD had visited Bethlehem and had once again given his children bread.

We should remember how important it is to tell of the things God has done. The news of Gods hand spread all the way to a pagan nation(10 days journey) where Naomi, who had left the promise land, heard of the goodness of God and she desired to return home. In the midst of all of her pain and trials she heard of his mercy and remembered God.

We may want to go out and try it by ourselves, but the provisions of God will always be there right on time if we will wait upon the Lord. We may not understand and we may struggle to see how, but bread will always return to the house of God.

So Naomi decides to head back to Bethlehem and her two new daughter in laws follow her. But out of compassion she tells them to go back to Moab.

She has nothing to offer the two daughters, she has lost everything. She was to old to find another husband, she had no sons for the women to marry, her land any everything she had was about to be sold. She said V.13 “The hand of the LORD is gone out against me".

The women lifted their voices and cried together. Then Orpah kissed her mother in law and left.

BUT Ruth CLAVE unto Naomi. Ruths heart had connected to Naomi, she had also lost her husband and felt pain. Sometimes pain its self will connect us with people and open the door to help. They may be angry or even hateful but if we use that as an opportunity to show love, God can open some wonderful doors.

Ruth 1:16-18 KJV — And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem

Naomi recognizes Ruths commitment and they return to the home of Naomi.

The city is moved to see Naomi but she has been beaten down by life. Naomi , who’s name means Pleasant, now ask the people to call her “Mara" meaning bitter. “For the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” Even in her heartache and pain. She refers to “The Almighty", tho she has nothing, she refers to her God as the one of unending provision.

You may not understand, you may not see him working, but if you will cling to the Almighty in your struggles He will provide for all of your needs. As you look back over your life, can you remember the times where you felt like all hope was gone, but in your patience you found God to be faithful, present, and rewarding to those who diligently seek after him.

Read Ruth 2:1-3

Its funny how the writer of this book describing the fact that Ruth came to glean from the field of Boaz as “Her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz" it almost seems like a sarcastic remark. We can see the hand of God in it because we are looking back and have read the story. But Ruth seemed to have wondered into a random field to find food for her and her mother in law.

While Ruth is working In the field, Boaz comes to see the progress when he notices a lady on the outskirts of his field working, he ask who the young lady is and the servants explain her story to him and that she was with Naomi.

Boaz showed great kindness to not just any stranger but to a Moabitess stranger.

Boaz blesses her for the great love she has shown and faith in leaving her father and mother, her home and all she had ever known to follow and care for Naomi. Not only does he do that but he ask her to eat at his table among his servants, that she need to go to any other field, and Boaz commanded his young men to let her glean among the good parts of the field and for them to “misplace" handfuls of the choice harvest for Ruth to pickup.

Because of compassion this Moabitess woman who was a foreigner gleaned 3 days supply in one day.

Ruth returns to Naomi and instantly she gives thanks to God and Ruth tells her from who’s field she had received so much from, Boaz. And Ruth and Naomi had food plenty until the end of harvest time.

The need for a redeemer

While this was all good news, Ruth and Naomi still were in need of a redeemer. So Naomi instructs Ruth, at the end of harvest, to approach Boaz to be her husband. Interestingly Naomi had the right herself to go to Boaz but in order to continue her families lineage she sent Ruth in her place.

Ruth came to Boaz at night, uncovered his feet which was the custom of that time to purpose, and layed down at his feet.

Boaz woke up startled as he layed over top of his harvest to protect it for the night noticing someone at his feet and asked “Who art thou?”

She said V. 9 “I am Ruth, Spread therefore thy skirt (wing) over thine handmaid for thou art a near kinsman"

But Boaz knew of one redeemer closer who first had the ability to by all the debt and assets of Naomi. He met the unknown man at the gates of the city.

The unknown man was willing to buy the field but not take on another wife nor lose the field if the wife bore a child unto the dead brother. And relinquished his right to Boaz.

Boaz the Kinsmen Redeemer

So Boaz became the kinsmen redeemer for both Naomi and Ruth buying all the inheritance of Elimelech.

Ruth would go on to have a son named Obed which would carry on the name of the once downtrodden Naomi who now Is free and with inheritance.

Jesus Christ out Kinsmen Redeemer

Scriptures say he was made like unto his brethern. As we look at the story of Ruth we can see a pattern of love and compassion.

We see in 1:14 where Ruth “clave" to Naomi. She no doubt noticed the difference in Naomi compared to the pagan women she was around and wanted that! Even in Naomi's troubles there was something there that Ruth refused to leave.

In 1:16 we see Ruth Declaring your God will be my God, and if anything causes us to separate but death may the Lord do so to me! Bringing to life also the story of Elisha and Elijah.

When see first meets this kinsmen redeemer, without even understand who he was she was in awe of his mercy.

Chapter 2:10 strikes me as the exact words each of us express as we came to our kinsmen redeemer! Oh the depths of his goodness and mercy towards those who love him!

In 2:12 we see the reward of those who come with humility before the redeemer! Revelation 22:12 KJV — And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

In 2:15 we see the Gentiles working with the Jews to harvest the crops. There is neither Jew nor Gentiles to this kinsmen redeemer but a redeemer who is without respect of persons.

In 3:7 we see Ruth lay down at the feet of her Redeemer. In Luke 8:41 a man by the name of Jairus ran and fell at the feet of Jesus, asking for mercy on his daughter and Jesus healed her.

In Luke 10 Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening and gleaning for the words of the Lord.

In Luke 12 Mary anointed Jesus feet with oil and wiped his feet with her hair.

And in 3:9 Ruth asked the redeemer to place his wing over her.

Psalm 17:8 KJV — Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalm 36:7 KJV — How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psalm 57:1 KJV — Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm 91:4 KJV — He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

This Jesus paid the price. He took on your inheritance which was death and promised you new life in Him. He paid a debt he did not owe just like Boaz owed nothing to Naomi. But he paid the price anyways.

Jesus took your shame, He took you reproach, he took you sin, and nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-15 KJV — And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Is he your redeemer today? He has already paid the price for you. Naomi and her family left the safety of the promise land but they came back and still found the redeemer waiting for them.

Jesus laid his life down for you, will you accept a debt free life or will you continue to walk in Moab, a place cursed by God, a place where there is no redeemer.

Come to the feet of Jesus, He is calling to those who will come serve him, he is longing for those who want to be under his wing.

There is a marriage supper of the Lamb coming and he expects us to be there. Will you be there? Do you believe he has paid your debt, or is it a burden you wish to carry on your own?

Will he find faith when he return to this earth or will all have forsaken their kinsmen redeemer.

Revelation 22:17 KJV — And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.