Introduction To Ruth Series

The book of Ruth reminds us that God never leaves Himself without a witness. Moses was His witness in Egypt. Elijah was His witness in Israel. John the Baptist was Christ’s forerunner.

I. Facts About the Book of Ruth

1. There are four chapters, 85 verses, more than 2500 words.

2. The time period covered about 12 years.

3. There are three key people. The book revolves around, Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.

4. There are two words that continually ring out: Redemption and Kinsman.

5. These words appear 20 times in one form or another.

6. The key verse is Ruth 4:4

II. The Stages of the Story

1. The setting o the book takes place on two stages: Moab and Bethlehem.

2. At this time, there were three countries into which the people of Israel went when they were in a backslidden condition.

3. Egypt, a picture of bondage, worldliness, and sin.

4. Babylon, a place of cultural and spiritual apostasy.

5. Moab, described in Jeremiah 48:11.

a. It was unfaithful.

b. It was unconcerned.

c. It was unmoved toward the things of God.

6. The story begins in Moab which was located east of the Dead Sea.

a. It was a place of sin and idolatry.

b. It was nicknamed, “God’s washpot.” Psalm 30:8

c. It was off limits to the Jews.

d. From Moab the scene changes to Bethlehem of Judea.

e. This was a town surrounded by grainfields that gave it its name house of bread.

III. The Purpose of the Book of Ruth

1. God uses this book to teach the providence of God in blessing His children even in the area of finding a spouse.

a. The story reveals the great love the Lord has for women as well as men.

b. It shows God has a special unique purpose for the family.

c. The pages of this book have God’s fingerprints everywhere.

2. In the midst of trouble, trials and tragedy, His salvation shines as brilliantly as the noonday sun.

3. We have seen this truth repeatedly throughout the pages of scriptures.

4. Joseph was a slave for about 22 years in Egypt.

a. His father was grieved.

b. Joseph was rejected, falsely accused, forgotten by those he assisted.

c. God was using the greenhouse of tragedy to grow a savior for His people.

5. Moses, as a baby, was placed in a basket and put upon the Nile River to escape the massacre of the Pharoah of Egypt.

a. All the trials Moses endured in Egypt and in the wilderness were used by the Lord to develop him.

b. He became a great leader and lead Israel out of bondage.

6. In Ruth, God was preparing the house of King David.

a. Ruth would become the great grandmother of king David.

b. Ruth is one of five women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.

7. This book shows how three people remained strong in character and true to God when the society around them was collapsing morally and spiritually.

a. The nation was permissive, but Ruth remained pure.

b. The nation was irresponsible, but Boaz was responsible.

c. It was a dark period for Israel yet in spite of the nation’s condition. God was still working in people’s lives.

d. This story demonstrates God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances.

e. The time of the judges was a period of disobedience, idolatry, and violence.

f. God continued to bless those devoted to Him.

IV. The Kinsman Redeemer

1. The book of Ruth also teaches us the concept of what a kinsman redeemer was.

2. The kinsman redeemer is a picture of the person and work of Jesus on the behalf of the bride, His church.

3. There were several qualifications he had to meet.

a. The kinsman had to be related to the individual that needed redeeming.

1) Galatians 4:4-5

2) John 1:14

b. The kinsman had to be free. Jesus was free from the sin that has cursed the human race.

c. The Goel, nearest kin, had to pay the price of redemption. Leviticus 25:48-49

1) Jesus alone by His sinless life was able to pay the price for our sin in order that we could be saved.

2) 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Corinthians 6:20

d. The redeemer had to be willing to pay the price.

1) In the garden of Gethsemane.

2) John 10:15-18

3) 1 John 3:16

e. The kinsman had to be prepared to marry the widow.

f. The result of redemption is Jesus was married to the church.

g. As Boaz would come forth from Bethlehem to take a gentile bride, Ruth. So, Jesus would come forth form Bethlehem to take His gentile bride, the church.

4. You and I are affected by the events of this book through Ruth. David comes into the world. Through David our Savior came into the world.