Part 1: Introduction

Introduction

When I began studying this, and I’m currently going through a course on the book of Ruth for Bible college; my studies there are where God started really dealing with me about doing the book of Ruth for our next Bible study series on Wednesdays.

When thinking about what all is in this little book, it’s difficult to know exactly where to even start - it’s such an amazing book.

This book plays a huge part in the future of Israel and it’s a book of mystery, intrigue, up and downs. We are introduced to a family that makes a journey of only 50 miles - that’s about the distance from my house to downtown Winston-Salem, but that 50 miles would prove to be the deadliest 50 miles known to the man, his wife, and his children.

The book of Ruth is a story about love, life, grace, hope, and redemption.

Background

We have four chapters, 85 verses, and a period of time around 10 years.

The Book of Ruth was written during the times of the Judges; we learn that in verse 1 of chapter 1…

Ruth 1:1 (KJV 1900)

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

During the times of the Judges, Israel had no king at all. The Bible says every man did that which was right in his own eyes. It was a time of apathy because God's people failed to claim all the land for their inheritance. They failed to obey God and were indifferent to His commands. It was also a time apostasy. Apathy lead to apostasy. Israel compromised and lived like all the other heathen nations. They were idolatrous and immoral. It was also a time of anarchy. The apostasy ended in anarchy because everyone was doing their own thing and running their own life without any regard for God's word.

Now, you can divide the book of Ruth in several ways, but I believe there are two main divisions to the book…

Chapters 1 and 2 - Find Grace

Chapters 3 and 4 - Find Rest

It’s the plan of God that the Gentiles (like Ruth) should find grace…or “His unmerited favor,” for this, my friend is the need of mankind!

Notice what Ruth says to Naomi:

Ruth 2:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

God’s grace is so wonderful, His love is so admirable, His mercy so enduring, and His fellowship so sweet that I'm made to ask with Ruth, 

Ruth 2:10 (KJV 1900)

10 …Why have I found grace in thine eyes…?

It’s also the plan of God that the Gentiles should find rest. Naomi was so interested in Ruth that she wanted her to find rest. - we read that in 1:9 and 3:1…

The only place in the world that Ruth was able to find rest was at the feet of Boaz, who is a type of Jesus Christ, as we will find out through our studies. 

Let me go ahead and say just like with Ruth, the only place of rest for any man or woman is at the feet of Jesus Christ!

God desires that all men find His grace and should be delivered from the bondage of a sinful life, and then He gives them rest!

We can see with just those divisions of the book what God has planned for the church, which, is composed mostly of Gentiles.

Some Facts…

The two words that continually ring out like bells are redemption and kinsman. They appear around twenty times in one form or another. The key verse is our text verse we’ve already read…

Ruth 4:14 (KJV 1900)

14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

PLACES

The setting of the book takes place in two places, Moab and Bethlehem; we are introduced to them in verse 1 of chapter 1, which I’ve already read. 

a. Consider Bethlehem Judah

Micah 5:2 (KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Bethlehem is about 6 miles south of Jerusalem and is located upon a sloping hill. It was a small insignificant place, but a place that would be chosen to birth the very Son of God.

Bethlehem—"House of Bread

Judah—"Praise"

Bethlehem Judah—"House of bread and praise"

b. Consider Moab

The country of Moab was about 50 miles east of Bethlehem on the other side of the Dead Sea. Moab was a pagan country that had been rejected by God in how they had previously mistreated the nation of Israel.

Psalms 108:9 (KJV) Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

The country of Moab had a dirty and demented beginning as Lot committed incest with his 2 daughters in a cave. The boy grew up to become the founder of an ungodly and unjust nation, Moab. God considered Moab to be a place for garbage or waste; it was vile and unclean in its start and stand.

PEOPLE

BOAZ - 

Ruth 2:1 (KJV 1900)

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

His name means strength.

Boaz was a very wealthy man, possibly a man of the law. The idea here is that Boaz immediately became attracted to this stranger that was gleaning barely in his fields. This is a grand picture of how Jesus loves those of us that are foreigners and strangers, deserving to die and go to a sinner's hell. The righteous Boaz (Jesus Christ) actually died to pay my price and purchase my liberty. We will learn more about this when we dig into what the kinsman redeemer 

RUTH - 

Ruth 1:4 (KJV 1900)

4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Her name means pleasant, beauty, or friendly.

Ruth would represent the church standing in the need of redemption. Boaz would represent Jesus as the available ready Redeemer. Ruth also was one of the daughter-in-laws of Naomi. Ruth refused to turn back to her old gods and her old way of life, she would stay close to Naomi and go to Bethlehem. 

NAOMI - 

Ruth 1:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Her name means pleasant or delightful. In her we find a woman that faced much difficulty in life and living. Naomi proved to be a woman of great faith and much fame when all is said and done.

She is a picture of Israel.  

MR. SUCH A ONE

Ruth 4:1 (KJV 1900)

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

He represents the law. We actually will see that he is a nearer kinsman than Boaz.

Ruth 3:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

We’ve been studying this over in Hebrews…The law could never redeem! All the law is, is a schoolmaster to get us to our heavenly Boaz - remember, the law isn’t complete. It can’t save anyone, it can only condemn.

Galatians 3:24 (KJV 1900)

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

THE WITNESSES

Ruth 4:1–2 (KJV 1900)

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Ruth 4:11 (KJV 1900)

11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:

The witnesses represent the Holy Ghost.

In Biblical numerology, the number 10 is the number of testimony.

To understand the book, you have to understand these five major characters…There are others, but these are the key characters.

CONCLUSION

I’m going to give you one more fact and we’ll be done tonight - What I’ve done is give you an introduction tonight.  

Understanding these facts I’ve given you, the information concerning the people, the divisions, and the places will help you understand the rest of our studies in this wonderful book!

I don’t believe it’s any coincidence, because there aren’t any coincidences with God…but Ruth is the 8th book of the Bible.

I’ve already mentioned a little Biblical numerology with the witnesses, but I want you to notice some more…The number 8 is the number of new beginning.

Israel certainly needed a new beginning and God was making a way for it!

Maybe you need a new beginning? That new beginning can start by coming to our heavenly Boaz - Jesus Christ…When you come to Him, you’ll find grace and find rest!