Ruth 4 / A Memory of the Future

Why do we have the book of Ruth?

- There are plenty of stories in the Bible; what's the purpose of this one?

- Facts:

1. Ruth is the only book named after a non-Israelite.

2. It has two places in ancient text traditions. (After Judges; after Proverbs)

3. Khesed.

4. Levirate Marriage / Kinsman Redeemer

5. Divine Sovereignty

- YHWH has revealed himself in a book (library). The purpose of the whole Bible is to reveal God (e.g. his plan, his character, his will).

- The literature of the Bible is marked by a sophisticated theological intentionality.

- The author of Ruth has crafted this account toward a theological end.

The End of Ruth

- 12 men of Israel (All Israel!). Judging righteously (regarding the gentile).

- Obed is born!

- Women brought to the foreground.

- Signals a new creation/beginning

- Celebration of YHWH's provision (Naomi was empty when they last convened in Ch.1)

- King David

- Pointing us forward towards a messianic royal hope!

A Vision of an ideal covenant community.

- The author has revealed his theological purpose.

- A memory of the future. A vision of future hope couched in a story from the past.

- The character of Ruth, Boaz, and the whole community highlight the hallmarks of YHWH's ideal covenant community

1. Bringing in the outsider

2. Virtue

3. Loving loyalty

4. Obedience to YHWH's word.

5. Trusting in YHWH's sovereign goodness

- BIG IDEA: The book of Ruth is calling us to catch a vision of God's ideal covenant community.

- A community established around his son; David's son, the Messiah, King Jesus. A community hospitable to the outsider. A community marked by virtue (Khedsed and obedience to the True King…not doing what is right in our own eyes, but what is right in His!)

- Gather around the Promised Seed. We are called to be the little community of Bethlehem in the midst of the chaotic time of the Judges.