Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Author and Setting.

A. Author

The author of Ruth is unknown.

II.

The Doctrine of Suffering.

Some scholars offer up the possibility that Samuel or Solomon could have written the book of Ruth, however due to the date of writing.

Neither one is probable.

It is best to just accept and unknown authorship and trust that the Spirit inspired whomever he willed to give us this story and that the book is historically reliable, because of the content and ecclesiological acceptance of the book as canonical.

That brings us to the...

B. Recipients and Date

The book of Ruth was written around 1010-970 B.C. to the people of Israel.

C. What Type of Genre?

Historical Narrative

The genre of the book of Ruth is historical narrative in the form of a short story.

The book contains a simple plot that revolves around three main characters: Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz (Sproul, R. C. (Ed.).

(2015).

The Reformation Study Bible)

Leon Morris writes,

The book of Judges tells of war and strife, but this is a quiet story of ordinary people going about their quiet lives.

In one way it is a tale of two women.

It relates how one of them, Naomi, underwent much hardship, but eventually won through to peace and security.

It tells how the other, Ruth, attached herself firmly to her mother-in-law and to her mother-in-law’s God and how she received the blessing of that God.

But most of all the book is a book about God.

It deals with unimportant people and unimportant matters.

But it deals with them in such a way as to show that God is active in the affairs of men.

He works his purpose out and blesses them that trust him.

In other words, the book of Ruth is about God’s redemptive plan.

The book of Ruth provides a historical example of a type of redeemer who saved a women and her family from famine and death while at the same time pointing us to the True Redeemer that would save His people from around the world from bondage to sin and the destruction that it brings.

Let’s consider....

II.

Main Themes and Doctrines

A. Main Characters

Yahweh, Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz

There is no doubt that Ruth, Naomi and Boaz are the central character of the story.

But there is no doubt that the LORD is in control of the story.

We see the Providence of God in:

Suffering

Feasting

Salvation

Marriage

Protection and ultimately

Preparing the way in which Christ would come.

B. The Doctrine of Suffering.

Famine:

The first five verses of the book of Ruth reveal to us the reality, certainty, and severity of suffering that was happening in the book of Ruth.

We see first of all it was happening in the days of the judges when we know that everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes.

So famine came in Judah so Elimelech took his wife and two sons and decided to go out to Moab and find food.

Instead of seeking and trusting in God the Father they set out on their own to try and overcome the famine.

However, they could not escape it and famine came on the land of Moab.

Have know doubt, this famine was not a random act of nature is was a God ordained famine to accomplish his purpose.

The famine was a fulfillment of God’s promise to use natural disasters to accomplish His purposes.

Deutoronomy

Not only do we see God’s providence over suffering in famine, we also see God’s providence in death.

Deuteronomy 3

First we see the,

Death of a Spouse:

So here is a women of God, one of God’s people in a foreign land in the midst of a famine without a husband to care for her.

But the suffering doesn’t stop there, Naomi we next experience the,

Death of Sons:

George M. Schwab writes, “She [Naomi] has become the female Job, acutely feeling the enmity of the very LORD she invokes when blessing her daughters.

It is Yahweh who blesses women with houses and homes and husbands and sons; it is Yahweh whose hand has been against those whose husbands and sons die.

This is so even in a foreign land.

Ruth treats the subject of suffering, and as with Job, the ultimate answer to suffering is restoration.”

This is why it is so important as Christians we have a solid theology of suffering.

This is why our belief and trust in God is so comforting.

Even though these terrible things that happen to Naomi and Ruth are hard to understand and accept at times we have to remember God is in control.

God is a good and loving God and even in the midst of tragedy we know He has a plan for ultimate restoration.

Consider Naomi and Ruth, they don’t know the end of the story, but we do!

The famine that ran them from the people of God is about to cause them to return.

The death of the Husband of Naomi is about to demand that she go back to God’s people.

The death of the sons of Naomi caused Ruth to be devoted to Naomi, her people, and her God!

Ruth is going to be redeemed and through her the Great Redeemer would come!

The book of Ruth begins with God’s Providence over Suffering, but next points us to,

C. God’s Providential Care

First we see,

The Lord Fed His People

The family of Elimelech has left the people of God because of famine, but now Naomi would get up and return to God’s people because he had visited them and give them food!

God had fed his people, it was the time of the barley harvest and it sounds like the fields were flourishing!

Not only did God care for his people in feeding them, but he made sure the ones he wanted to enjoy the feast hear about it!

The testimony of the blessings of the LORD had made it from Bethlehem to Moab!

Notice also, God’s Providential care,

Through the Kindness of His People

Here we see one of the main characters show up.

Boaz, the man who will come to be known as the kinsmen redeemer.

He looks up and sees this foreign women in His field.

He then asks his farm manager who does this young women belong to?

His man says, she is a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi.

Notice how he didn’t respond.

Ruth 2:8-

Don’t waste my grain on our enemy.

Don’t feed one who does not belong to us.

Get that women out of my field we need to keep all that we have for our people.

He said to Ruth, you stay in my field.

You don’t go anywhere else.

You get all that you need.

You will be fed and protected by my people.

God cares for his people through feeding, through the kindness of His people, and also

Through the LORD’s Own Kindness

Ruth 2:20

Do you see it, Naomi recognizes the kindness of Boaz, but also the kindness of the LORD whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”

It is because the kindness of the LORD he had provided Ruth a foreigner a what?