Good morning,
This week we will look at the book of Ruth. This is a love story. There is the love that Ruth had for Naomi. There is the love that Boaz had for Ruth. Then there is the love God has for His children. Only one of those loves is unconditional, redemptive, and eternal.
RUTH
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: (Ruth 1:16)
Introduction: The book of Ruth is a love story. There is the love that Ruth had for Naomi. There is the love that Boaz had for Ruth. There is the love God has for His children. Only one of those loves is unconditional, redemptive, and eternal.
Chapter 1 Ruth’s Decision v16-17
Verses 1-5 Setting the scene
- Famine in Bethlehem and sojourn into Moab v1
- Family: Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion v2
- Elimelech dies v3
- Marriage of Mahlon to Ruth and Chilion to Orpah v4
- Dwelt in the land for 10 years v4
- Mahlon and Chilion die v5
Verses 6-15 Naomi’s counsel to her daughters to return to their homes
- Naomi’s argument v6-13
- Orpah chooses to return v14
- Naomi encourages Ruth to go v15
Verses 16-17 Ruth’s Decision
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Verses 18-20 Return to Bethlehem
Chapter 2 Ruth’s Service v2
Verses 1-3 Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 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. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Verses 4-23 Ruth meets Boaz
- Boaz inquires about Ruth v4-7
- Boaz encourages Ruth to abide in his field and glean v8-9
- Ruth’s humble response v10
- Ruth reward for faithfulness to Naomi v11-12
- Ruth’s humble response v13
- Boaz’s instructions to Ruth and to his young men v14-16
- Ruth gleans the field, goes home, and rehearses all that went on that day v17-23
Chapter 3 Ruth’s Rest v1 and 18
Verses 1-7 Naomi arranges Ruth’s wedding
- Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? V1
- Naomi’s instructions to Ruth v2-7
- Ruth claims Boaz as Kinsman v8-15
- What Ruth did in going to Boaz was not immodest nor was it wicked. A kinsman was expected to marry the young widow and raise up children for the dead husbands line. (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) Ruth simply reminded Boaz of his duty and privilege as a kinsman.
The role of the Kinsman Redeemer
A major theme of the Book of Ruth is that of the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz, a relative of Naomi on her husband’s side, acted upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances (Lev. 25:47-49). This scenario is repeated by Christ, who redeems us, the spiritually impoverished, from the slavery of sin. Our heavenly Father sent His own Son to the cross so that we might become children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. By being our Redeemer, He makes us His kinsmen.
Verses 16-18 Ruth sit still Boaz will not rest
Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. V18
Chapter 4 Ruth’s Reward v13
Verses 1-12 Boaz redeems the inheritance of Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
Verses 13-15 Boaz marries Ruth
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. V13
Verses 16-22 Ruth’s son Obed is David’s grandfather.
- Naomi nurses the child named Obed v17-18
- Genealogy of Pharez v19-22
CONCLUSION
The gentile woman Ruth, like Rahab the harlot, trusted in God and was taken into the ancestral line of Christ; Boaz was of the son of Salmon and Rahab. Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, would become father to Jesse, who was the father of King David. Their home was Bethlehem where Micah prophesied Jesus would be born. (Micah 5:2)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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