Sermon Tone Analysis

Preface

Is the story of Ruth a salvation/redemption story like the story of Christ?

Or was a story of salvation and Grace?

Is the story of Ruth a salvation/redemption story like the story of Christ?

Or was a story of salvation and Grace?

The efforts which we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Is the story of Ruth a salvation/redemption story like the story of Christ?

Or was a story of salvation and Grace?

The Book of Ruth beautifully illustrates God’s work of salvation.

The story opens with Ruth as an outsider, a stranger, but it ends with Ruth as a member of the covenant community because she has married Boaz, her kinsman redeemer.

He paid the price for her to be redeemed.

Is the story of Ruth a salvation/redemption story like the story of Christ?

Or was a story of salvation and Grace?

The events in the Book of Ruth occurred during the period of the Judges, a time not much different from our own day.

If you focus only on the evils of our day, you’ll become pessimistic and cynical; but, if you ask God what field He wants you to work in and faithfully serve Him, you’ll experience His grace, love, and joy.Was it a story hinting that salvation would come to the Gentiles?

Was it a story hinting that salvation would come to the Gentiles?

Why did God saw it necessary to put two heathen women sequentially in the genealogy of Christ?

Notes to Chapter 1

What do you understand by the turn, “when Judges rule”?

Ruth

When Judges ruled

provides the context for understanding the opening verses of .

‘In the days when the judges ruled’ is shorthand for ‘In the days when the Lord’s people forsook the Lord, rebelled against his rule (each man doing as he saw fit), suffered the consequences and needed a rescuer.

provides the context for understanding the opening verses of .

‘In the days when the judges ruled’ is shorthand for ‘In the days when the Lord’s people forsook the Lord, rebelled against his rule (each man doing as he saw fit), suffered the consequences and needed a rescuer.

The use of the phrase “in the days when judges ruled” indicates the premonarchic period was recognized as a clearly identifiable phase in Israel’s history, between the death of Joshua and the crowning of Saul as the nation’s first king.

The use of the phrase “in the days when judges ruled” indicates the premonarchic period was recognized as a clearly identifiable phase in Israel’s history, between the death of Joshua and the crowning of Saul as the nation’s first king.

Twice the book declares that “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (; ).

Seven times Judges states that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh” (e.g., ).

These two emphases stress that the natural man is inclined to do evil.

Without revelation and the motivation to obey it man will inevitably choose the path of destruction.

Judges

Twice the book declares that “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (; ).

Seven times Judges states that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh” (e.g., ).

These two emphases stress that the natural man is inclined to do evil.

Without revelation and the motivation to obey it man will inevitably choose the path of destruction.

Historically, the events of the book are precipitated by a famine that struck the land, apparently the entire land of Israel.

The cause of the famine is not indicated.

From a natural meteorological perspective it seems that the rains, so critical for the growing season in the land of Israel, had failed to fall, presumably for several successive years.

From a theological perspective, however, this famine may be explained as a judgmental act of God.

Historically, the events of the book are precipitated by a famine that struck the land, apparently the entire land of Israel.

The cause of the famine is not indicated.

From a natural meteorological perspective it seems that the rains, so critical for the growing season in the land of Israel, had failed to fall, presumably for several successive years.

From a theological perspective, however, this famine may be explained as a judgmental act of God.

OMINOUS, FOREBODING NAMES OF CHARACTERS

Elimelech - It was a great name for an Israelite.

It means ‘God is King’ or ‘God is my King’.

His departure for Moab may reflect his own doubts about the truth his name declared.

Instead of submitting to God’s rule, Elimelech, like the rest of his generation, did as he saw fit ().

Naomi - means ‘pleasant’ (1:20)

Bethlehem - means “house, granary of bread,” has no food for this family.

How strange that there should be a famine in Bethlehem, which means “house of bread”!

In the Old Testament, a famine was often an evidence of God’s discipline because His people had sinned against Him (; , )

Mahlon - The name may mean ‘sickly, diseased’ in Hebrew.

How strange that there should be a famine in Bethlehem, which means “house of bread”!

In the Old Testament, a famine was often an evidence of God’s discipline because His people had sinned against Him (; , )Mahlon - The name may mean ‘sickly, diseased’ in Hebrew.

Mahlon - The name may mean ‘sickly, diseased’ in Hebrew.

Chilion - is constructed from the root kālâ, “to be finished, come to an end,” hence “frailty, mortality.”

Ruth, “friendship; refreshed [as with water]; [poss.]

comrade, companion”:– Ruth (12)

Ruth, “friendship; refreshed [as with water]; [poss.]

comrade, companion”:– Ruth (12)

Boaz, “[prob.] in him is strength”:

Boaz, “[prob.] in him is strength”:

CONSIDER THE MOVE TO MOAB

The move to Moab must be interpreted in light of the general Israelite disposition toward the Moabites.

That disposition seems to have been colored by five factors in their history: (1) the Moabites’ contemptible origins in the incestuous relationship of Lot and his daughter (); (2) the Moabites’ resistance to Israelite passage through their territory when they came from Egypt (); (3) the Moabite women’s seduction of the Israelites and the latter’s subsequent punishment (); (4) Israel’s constitutional exclusion of Moab from the assembly of the Lord (); and (5) the recent oppression of the Israelites by Eglon the king of Moab ().

This combination of factors may explain the impression created by the narrator that of the Bethlehemites only Elimelech’s family sought refuge from the famine in Moab.

Whether Elimelech knew this we don’t know, but he should have done.

One of the Lord’s commands as his people entered the Promised Land was that his law should be read to the people every seven years so that it would not be forgotten ().

The record of Judges indicates that this command was disobeyed.

Very soon generations grew up knowing nothing about the Lord and his word.

When the Lord’s word is ignored, the Lord and his rule are soon ignored and men, like Elimelech, do as they see fit, to the detriment of themselves and their families.

Whether Elimelech knew this we don’t know, but he should have done.

One of the Lord’s commands as his people entered the Promised Land was that his law should be read to the people every seven years so that it would not be forgotten ().

The record of Judges indicates that this command was disobeyed.

Very soon generations grew up knowing nothing about the Lord and his word.

When the Lord’s word is ignored, the Lord and his rule are soon ignored and men, like Elimelech, do as they see fit, to the detriment of themselves and their families.

shows that the spiritual faithfulness of one generation cannot secure the faithfulness of the next.

It is true for a family, for a local church, and for a nation.

A following generation may be able to ride on the coat-tails of their ancestors for a while, but it will not be long before their true state is revealed.

So it was in the days when the judges ruled.

shows that the spiritual faithfulness of one generation cannot secure the faithfulness of the next.

It is true for a family, for a local church, and for a nation.

A following generation may be able to ride on the coat-tails of their ancestors for a while, but it will not be long before their true state is revealed.

So it was in the days when the judges ruled.

SURROUNDING THE RETURN TO BETHLEHEM

Views about Elimelech

Elimelech is vilified in rabbinical exegesis as an arrogant and evil man.

His death in Moab is viewed by the rabbis as just punishment for having left the Promised Land.

Naomi “was left” (lit., she remained) with her two sons in the land of Moab (1:1–3).

Again rabbinical exegesis sees Naomi here as defying the divine warning of the death of her husband by choosing to remain on foreign soil.

Nothing in the text, however, suggests that Elimelech sinned by moving his family to Moab.

Nothing suggests that his death was anything more than coincidental with his abiding in that foreign land.

The passage does suggest, however, that godly people do experience unexpected tragedies, and sometimes in rapid succession.

After the death of Elimelech, the two sons took Moabite wives.

They thus, in the eyes of Jewish commentators, sinned more grievously than their father.

If this passage is intended to be a protest against religious intermarriage it certainly is a mild one.

Consider what Elimelech actions means for us today

The name ‘Christian’ means someone who belongs to the Christ—to God’s anointed King.