Book of Ruth

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Overview

The little book of Ruth is a love story. Ruth is a foreigner to Israel. She comes from Moab. Ruth and her sister were both married to Israelite men, but they are widowed. Ruth shows great love and loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who is also a widow. Together they travel from Moab to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem. There Ruth meets Boaz, her husband’s next of kin. Boaz is a good man who deals kindly with them. In due course, Boaz marries Ruth. Their great-grandson will be King David.

The Bible Guide Who Wrote the Story of Ruth?

Who wrote the story of Ruth?

We do not know who wrote this story. It is set in the days when the judges were leading Israel, but has a much more peaceful atmosphere than the tales of their exploits. It tells how God can guide and bless people even in the midst of personal tragedy. It shows how a righteous man, Boaz, protects and provides for two widows. It also has a special interest as background to the story of David. It seems to be told as a true story and is therefore one of the Bible’s history books.

Theme

Ruth is a story of faithfulness, both human and divine. Naomi demonstrated faithfulness by returning to the land of promise. Ruth demonstrated her faithfulness by accompanying Naomi to Bethlehem and working the fields to provide for her. Ruth further demonstrated faithfulness to her deceased husband by her desire to marry into his family. Boaz demonstrated his faithfulness by fulfilling his covenant role as near kinsman.

Above all, Ruth is a story of God’s faithfulness. God was faithful in preserving a family line, which—in God’s time—led to King David and ultimately to Jesus. Ruth’s story serves as a reminder that our faithfulness plays a part in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Main Theme

Holman Bible Handbook Purpose and Theology

Purpose and Theology

1. The story provides a transition from the patriarchs to the monarchy. The genealogy at the end of the book traces the lineage of Boaz from Perez, the son of Judah, down to King David. For many Israelites the most important word of the book was the last—David.

2. The story of Ruth shows how God sovereignly, though almost imperceptively, achieves His purposes through the faithfulness of His people. The book speaks about God indirectly through the prayers and blessings of the story’s characters. Although the book reflects a strong belief in God’s lordship over history, it equally convinces readers that human decisions and actions play a significant role.

3. The book teaches that God’s will is sometimes accomplished by common people with uncommon faith. The Book of Ruth does not have miracles or revelations. It does not mention the institutions of Israel’s religion, such as tabernacle and prophecy. It has simple people going about everyday affairs.

4. The theological emphasis of Ruth can be summed up by two key words—kindness (hesed) and kinsman-redeemer (goel). The word kindness indicates covenant faithfulness and occurs three times in the prayers and commendations spoken by the characters (1:8; 2:20; 3:10). There is an implied contrast between the story’s characters, who are righteous, and those of Judges, who “did as he [they] saw fit” (Judg 21:25).

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).

5. The story corrected the Jews when they made the worship of God exclusively the prerogative of Israel. Although Ruth was a Moabitess, she was blessed by God.

Main Theme

God Provides and Redeems.

Main Characters (Naomi, Ruth, Boaz)

Geneology is key!
There are three main characters in the book of Ruth, and God provides for each one of them in a distinct way. God provides Ruth for Naomi (), God provides Boaz for Ruth (), God provides Ruth for Boaz (), and God redeems Ruth (). In each of the four chapters we see God provide for each person and then in the very end of the book we see that God is providing a Redeemer for all relationships in both the present and future by seeing the genealogy of David come back to Boaz.

Key Themes

v6-22 - Ruth’s Decision
Redemption. There was always a plan in place throughout the Old Testament when someone dies and there was no one to carry on the family name and take the property. We learn in this story that Boaz was the family-redeemer for Naomi. The book ends with the genealogy of David, which leads to Jesus. Jesus is our redeemer; there was a plan in place all along for Jesus to come down to earth, live with us, die on the cross, and raise from the dead. He provides life in our lives, just as we see God use others in this story to provide life for others. For my life, I feel that I need to remind myself that Jesus truly is my Redeemer. I tell our students that all the time, but I need to make sure my own thoughts and actions line up with this.
2. Another theme of the book is faithfulness. At the beginning of the book, Naomi requested to the people of her some time that they call her Mara, because she felt that the LORD had been very bitter to her and brought affliction upon her. Even during tough times, God provided for her by Ruth living with her. God also provided for Ruth a husband; she kept faith and didn’t give up.
Faithfulness. At the beginning of the book, Naomi requested to the people of her some time that they call her Mara, because she felt that the LORD had been very bitter to her and brought affliction upon her. Even during tough times, God provided for her by Ruth living with her. God also provided for Ruth a husband; she kept faith and didn’t give up.
Ruth is a story of faithfulness, both human and divine. Naomi demonstrated faithfulness by returning to the land of promise. Ruth demonstrated her faithfulness by accompanying Naomi to Bethlehem and working the fields to provide for her. Ruth further demonstrated faithfulness to her deceased husband by her desire to marry into his family. Boaz demonstrated his faithfulness by fulfilling his covenant role as near kinsman.
Above all, Ruth is a story of God’s faithfulness. God was faithful in preserving a family line, which—in God’s time—led to King David and ultimately to Jesus. Ruth’s story serves as a reminder that our faithfulness plays a part in the fulfillment of God’s promises.
3. Another them of the book is kindness. Throughout the book, we see how kindness is displayed in not only families, but among strangers as well. Ruth showed Naomi loyalty and kindness as she stayed with her after losing her husband and two sons (1:16-17). Boaz treated Ruth kindly when he first met her (2:13).
Kindness. Throughout the book, we see how kindness is displayed in not only families, but among strangers as well. Ruth showed Naomi loyalty and kindness as she stayed with her after losing her husband and two sons (1:16-17). Boaz treated Ruth kindly when he first met her (2:13).
Days of the Judges; the cycle. Recap.

Setting

Dates: 1375-1050 BC
Author: We don’t know who wrote it; but it’s a beautifully written story
The Bible Guide Who Wrote the Story of Ruth?

Who wrote the story of Ruth?

We do not know who wrote this story. It is set in the days when the judges were leading Israel, but has a much more peaceful atmosphere than the tales of their exploits. It tells how God can guide and bless people even in the midst of personal tragedy. It shows how a righteous man, Boaz, protects and provides for two widows. It also has a special interest as background to the story of David. It seems to be told as a true story and is therefore one of the Bible’s history books.

1375-1050 BC
Judges:
Judges 21:25 NIV
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
Judges 2:25
Ruth 1:1–5 NIV
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:1–5 NIV
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
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There was no king, and there was a famine. These were dark days.
Cycle of Judges - there’s sin; then there’s oppression; repentance; God delivers and sends a judge to defeat enemy. , then there’s peace.
Days of the Judges; the cycle. Recap.
v1-5
Family Tree on right side
- Author introducing characters.
- Family Tree on right side
Naomi widowed; 2 daughters in-law.
Family Tree on right side
- Moab - east of the Dead Sea; a nation that oppressed Israel during period of judges; hostility between the two. Famine must have been severe.
- God uses Ruth; someone outside of God’s chosen nation.
v6-9 - Naomi decides to return to Judah
- Almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world; taken advantage of or ignored. Almost always poor. God’s law provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow, but Naomi had no relatives in Moab.
v10-13 - Naomi instructs them to stay for their own benefit
- Even in her desperate situation, she kept a selfless attitude (v12-13)
v14-18 - Daughter-in-law’s responses
Orpah’s response - kissed her
Ruth’s response
Clung to Naomi (v14)
Loyalty. (where you go, where you lodge, who your people are, who your God is, where you die, and where you’re buried. (v16-17a)
Trust’s God (v17b)
v19-22 - Naomi and Rut return
Not a normal welcome; why were people surprised?
Naomi changes name to Mara because of God being bitter towards her.
Naomi = kindness Mara = bitterness
v 20-21 - Did Naomi lose faith? Is it okay to be better?
V22 sets up next part of the story
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