FAITH – HOPE – FORGIVENESS by Growing Older

Introduction: The Book of Ruth is one of two Books of the Bible that has the name of a woman: Esther is the other one. Ruth is about a kind woman; a Moabite, Gentile, that marries a Hebrew. This story takes place during the Judges. The timeline for Ruth is about the time of Judges chapter 3 and 4.

Ruth is the widow of Mahlon, the son of Elimelech Naomi.

What does Ruth represent? Ruth 4:17 & 22: she symbolically brings all non Jews (gentiles) into the line of Messiah.   Matthew 1:5. This means that the Gospel is for ALL people, not just a certain group of people.

CENTRAL  MESSAGE: The Kinsman Redeemer

Divisions of the Book of Ruth

1. Ruth makes a decision = choice: chap. 1.
2. Her response, serving: chap. 2
3. Her request: chap. 3
4. Her reward: chap. 4

The reward of love: Ruth received a reward for her Godly love towards her mother in law. The reward was the kinsman redeemer; Boaz. Boaz is a picture or a type of Christ, our kinsman redeemer.

I.Requirement Of The Kinsman Redeemer

A. He MUST be willing: Lev. 25:25, Galatians 4:4-5

B. He MUST have the RIGHT to redeem: Lev. 25:48-49

C. He MUST have the POWER to redeem: Ruth 4:4-6, John 10:15-18.

II. Application To Christ

A. The unnamed kinsman: Ruth 4:6 represents the Law.

The Law is just and right but shows no love nor mercy.

B.The kinsman redeemer represents Christ, the expression of God’s love and mercy.

Gal. 3:13-14; Gal. 4:4-5

C. Christ was the only one willing and had the right and power to redeem us; both Jews and Gentiles.

Chapter 1

I. Decisions have to be made. In your life & mine, we each have decisions to make.

A. Decisions should be made after searching the Word of God and much prayer.

B. The important thing is to find God’s perfect will for each of our lives.

II. Elimelech was married to Naomi, Vs 2.

A. They had 2 sons & 2 daughter’s in law.

B. Vs 3 Elimelech dies leaving his wife without a means of support.

C. Vs 5: The 2 sons also die.

D. Vs 5-7, Naomi decides to return to Moab

E. Vs 8-9, Naomi decides her 2 daughter’s in law should go home.

     1. In Moab, as well as in Israel, widows were to dwell with their parents.

2. The women, in Moab, also had apartments distinct from the men, where the daughters lived with their                   mothers, and the sons lived with their fathers.

F. Vs 9, they wanted to stay with Naomi.

G. Vs 11-13, Naomi reasons with them.

      1. She has no more sons.

2. She is to old to have any more sons.

3. Even if she could, these women would not wait for them to be old enough to marry.                                                 4. In other words, Naomi basically tells them not to waste their time or their years on her.

H. Vs 14: Ruth & Orpah have made their decisions.                                                                                                               Orpah chose the way of false gods.

I. Vs 15, 16, 17: Ruth chose to stay with Naomi.

J. Vs 18-19: It caused a stir when Naomi arrived.

1. She was well known & well liked by the people there.

2. Naomi had been gone for about 10 years.

3. When she now comes home, she is changed or different than when she left.

K. Vs 20: Call me not Naomi, call me Mara.

1. Naomi means pleasant.

2. Mara means bitter, sorrowful, grief & pain.

3. She had lost her husband and her two sons in a strange land.

4. Naomi went from a woman who was well provided for and had plenty, to a woman who                                               now has no material wealth at all.

L. Vs 21: She went out full: husband, 2 sons, property, etc.

1. Now she is empty = lost it all, death & cost of living.

2. God brought her back home.

3. There is a reason why God brought Naomi back home.

4. Naomi is a chastened believer; she blames God for her losses.

M. Vs 22: Beginning of barley harvest = beginning of spring.

1. The barley harvest began immediately after the Passover which corresponds nearly with                               the end of our March.

2. God’s plan for Ruth & Naomi is unfolding

Ruth Chapter 2 Ruth Serving:

Vs 1: We see God at work.

1. Naomi has a kinsman or a relative of her husband.
2. His name was Boaz.

Vs 2: Ruth  humbles herself.

1. They go to glean the corn fields.
2. Ruth looks for grace from the owner of the fields.

Vs 3: The right of gleaning was conferred by God’s Law on the widow, the poor,

and the stranger: Leviticus 19:9 & Deuteronomy  24:19.

1. The liberty to glean behind the reapers was not a right that could be claimed;
2. It was a privilege granted or refused according to the good will or favor of the owner.

3. This part of the field belonged to Boaz, a relative of Naomi.

Vs 4-6: Boaz arrives on the scene.

1. Who is this young girl?
2. He wants to know who is in his fields.
3. They answer: she came with Naomi.

Vs 7: Ruth pleads with Boaz to let her continue gleaning.

1. Ruth to a break with the farm hands.
2. She, basically, is working with the farm hands.

Vs 8-10: He tells Ruth to only glean in his fields.

1. Boaz is protecting her = grace.
2. Vs 9: again, grace. Ruth, a gleaner, can drink form the vessels provided for to his workers.

3. Ruth, again, humbles herself: fell on her face.

4. Ruth tells him, she doesn’t deserve such wonderful treatment; she is a stranger.                                                             Matthew 25:35: grace, mercy, compassion.

Vs 11-12: Ruth was rewarded for her kindness & compassion to her mother in law.

1. Vs 12, a full reward is given to Ruth.
2. II Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 6:7-8
3. Wings = protection and care.
4. Referring to hens which protect and cherish their young ones under their wings.

Vs 13-19: These verses are filled with grace.

1. Boaz allows Ruth to get more than she hoped for.

2. Romans 5:20: God gives us more than we deserve.