Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction to Ruth

Show the video: https://youtu.be/0h1eoBeR4Jk

https://youtu.be/0h1eoBeR4Jk

Theme: kindness and redemption

The word kindness (hesed) appears 3 times in the story - 1:8, 2:20, 3:10

The kindness is most evident in Ruth’s steadfast dedication to Naomi.

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Ruth would demonstrate a God-like kindness to Naomi

This kindness mirrors God’s kindness toward those who love and serve Him!

6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

The words: Redemption (ge’ullah), redeem (ga’al) and redeemer (go’el) appear over 20 times in Ruth.

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The concept of redemption dominates the final two chapters of the book.

**Ruth boldly approaches Boaz and requests him to redeem them!

Kinsmen Redeemer:

Old Testimant law (

If a man dies with no son to carry on his name then the brother would marry the widow and have a son with her and their name would not disappear from history.

Again this parallels the eternal truth of salvation -

This also is why the Name of Jesus is so important…

My name will be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life only in conjunction to the Name of Jesus!

So just as Boaz was Ruth and Naomi’s Kinsmen Redeemer, Jesus Christ is ours!

Who and When?

We don’t know...

The Talmud - Rabbinical teaching - attribute the authorship to the Prophet Samuel.

Some have suggested that it was written by Solomon or in his time - A family story passed down for generations.

Many will fiercely argue that it was written by a woman, probably from Solomon’s time, because of the perspective of the story.

It was likely in the time when Gedeon Judged Isreal (or before) as that was when they were dealing with Moab.

Many will fiercely argue that it was written by a woman, probably from Solomon’s time, because of the perspective of the story.

Key Takeaways:

let’s us know that Jesus was the descendant of Obed, Ruth’s son and King David.

He was the long awaited messiah who would, out of love and kindness, redeem his poeple.

BUT, Naomi was not the only ones redeemed… Ruth the Moabitess was as well.

So… This deals with the fact that the gentile people would be grafted into the vine as Paul put it!

This lets us know that salvation is not just for the Jew!

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This even lets us know when the gentile would be given access to the Redeemer.

When did this all happen?

We know it was at the feast of Weeks -

Feast of Weeks has another name… Fest of Pentecost

When would the gentiles be given access to the Redeemer?

There is a lot of parallels and prophetic goodness in the book!

Look at the Book...

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, RUTH...

First things to note:

Time of the Judges

There was a famine

Families moving because of famine was common.

Whole areas were abandoned because of famine.

There was a family

Elimelech: God is King

Naomi: Pleasant

Mahlon: Son of __________

Chilion: Completeness, perfection

This family removed themselves from the will and plan of God and joined their enemies!

They were in Moab for 10 years.

Other Key figures

Orpah and Ruth were probably sisters...

They were part of the Royal family; maybe daughters but more likely nieces or cousins of the King of Moab

Orpah: back/nape of the neck

Deals with her ability to turn around and leave

Ruth: friendship, satiation (saturate or satisfy)

There was a place

efendants of Lot and the incestuous relationship he had with his oldest daughter.

Beth-lehem-judah: Place of Bread - Jesus would be born in the Place of Bread… no wonder He is the Bread of Life!

The other place:

Moab: pertaining to the territory/house of Moab

Defendants of Lot and the incestuous relationship he had with his oldest daughter.

They were cursed because they did not meet Israel with bread and water when they crossed there land and because they hired Balaam to curse them.

Moab worshiped Chemosh or Molech (among others gods).

Scripture calls Chemosh/Molech the “abomination of Moab”

Lustful god of war that in order to please him:

Sacrifice your children or other humans

Common practice was open orgies around on the street outside of the temple.

Remember: ; Balak would hire Balaam to prophecy against Israel and he could not… He finally perverted them with the worship of Chemosh/Molech - which is defined by “whoredom with the daughters fo Moab”.

In the lewed acts would continue in the House of God

Judah’s King Jehoram, the king of Moab faced military defeat, and the Moabite ruler “took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall” ().

Chemosh-worship was introduced into Israelite culture by King Solomon, who had wives from other cultures who turned his heart to other gods ().

Chemosh was eventually destroyed in Judah by King Josiah ().

Moab was a problem for Israel from the Beginning; and would be a problem until the 7th century BC.

So they were in Beth-lehem-judah; the Place of Bread - to Moab, the place of child sacrifice and perversion.

When tough times came, they went to Moab; the place that had been a problem for them since before they were a people!

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Why?

Boaz did great staying...

The unnamed kinsmen did good...

The Beth-lehem was here when they returned...

Some people simply need an excuse to pursue their own fleshly desires!

When you do, don’t blame it on God or the pastor!

Verb return or turn again is used 15 times in the Book of Ruth 12 TIMES IN THE FIRST CHAPTER.

Return (shub) = it is more then just turn back, repay or avenge a wrong

While kindness and redemption are the theme’s of the Book, return (REPENTANCE) is the theme of the first chapter.

The key for anyone who finds themselves living outside God’s plan is to return!

Naomi says; “I hear that Jehovah had visited his people with bread”, so maybe he would remember her as well!

Time to return!

Those who return, make things right!

Repay and avenge the wrong they did… IF God will remember them!

Felt all afternoon that there are those who have walked away that are on there way back!

Backsliders that have lived in Moab for many years...

Seem to have lost everything while they were there...

But are ready to return back to the Place of Bread!

MAKE A PLACE FOR THEM!

When they return, they always bring baggage...