Introduction to the Book of Ruth
Series: Ruth
June 16, 2013
NOTE: If you would like to have the formatted student study sheet that goes along with this week’s intro study with a helpful chart and a color map, write and request it at chucksligh@hotmail.com.
TEXT: Ruth 1:1-5 – “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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 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. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.”
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF RUTH
Unquestionably, the book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful and captivating books in the Bible.
We can draw inspiration, guidance and direction from all of the Old Testament books, but the book of Ruth seems to speak in a sweet, soft way like no other book in the Old Testament…
• In GENESIS we read about the great patriarchs of the Bible, and the great lessons we can draw from their lives. Men like—
> NOAH, who was steadfast and faithful
> ABRAHAM, who was obedient and full of faith
> ISAAC, who was a man of great patience
> JACOB, who learned to be a man of God the hard way
> JOSEPH, who persevered through great trials
• In EXODUS we read of the Children of Israel, and of Moses, their great leader, and of the tragedy of the wilderness wanderings.
• In PSALMS we see…
> a reservoir of strength when I am weak…
> a treasure of inspiration when I lack motivation…
> and a repository of encouragement when I am down and discouraged.
• In PROVERBS is unparalleled practical guidance for everyday living.
In the PROPHETS we see many lions of men who preached God’s message boldly, and wonderful glimpses into the character of God.
But the book of Ruth is a diamond among the many jewels in the coffers of God’s Word. It’s special and precious in a unique way like no other book in the Bible, because not only is it a splendid spiritual narrative, but it is also an exquisite love story.
Before jumping into the book of Ruth, this week I want to look at some background information and introductory material so that we can get a deeper understanding of the book of Ruth.
• First let’s look at the HISTORICAL SETTING.
The book of Ruth takes place during the historical period of the Judges: Note verse 1 – “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.…” The period of the Judges was one of the darkest periods in Jewish history.
> Its place in the Bible:
The Pentateuch:
Genesis – Creation through the Children of Israel in bondage in Egypt
Exodus – Moses leads the Children of Israel out of Egypt
Leviticus – Law and some historical detail
Numbers – Law and some historical detail
Deuteronomy – Law and some historical detail
Joshua – Victory as the Children of Israel take the Land of Promise
Judges – Theocracy – Period of defeat, sin, and decline / Cycle of sin (See )
Ruth – Ruth takes place in the period of the Judges
1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles – Kingdom period = Saul —> David —> Solomon —Split of kingdom into two kingdoms (Israel and Juday) under Solomon’s sons, Jeroboam and Rehoboam.
> Another way of looking at it: Children of Israel in Egypt—> Moses—> Joshua —> conquering the land —> settling in.
> Cycle of Judges (REFER STUDENTS TO CHART ON STUDENTS SHEET):
Once in the land of Promise, God was to be their only ruler.
This was to be a theocracy—a rule by God.
But we read that the people turned from God.
Note Judges 21:25 – “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
God wanted to be their ruler and to bless them, but…
they rejected God’s leadership…
they rebuffed God’s commands…
they spurned His principles…
and they ignored His warnings.
The book of Judges tells us of this period:
> It was a period of sin and idolatry – Judges 2:11 – “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:”
> It was of defeat and servitude due to God’s anger for their waywardness and spiritual adultery – Judges 2:14 – “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.”
> It was a period of distress due to God’s hand of judgment – Judges 2:15 – “Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.”
> It was a period of poverty – Judges 6:6 – “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.” Compare with Ruth 1:1 – “Now it came to pass in the days when the Judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.…”
C.I. Schofield says, “Joshua is a book of victory; Judges is a book of defeat.”
Merrill F. Unger describes the period of the Judges as the “Dark Ages” of Israel’s history.
BUT nestled in this awful, violent period of human history is this beautiful love story of a lovely widow named RUTH, and a godly man of character and grace named BOAZ.
And you know, it reminds us that no matter how bad our culture and society become, God always has His RIGHTEOUS SEED on the earth. God always has His REMNANT! Yes, we may live in wicked, vile times, but WE can decide to be a Ruth or a Boaz and be different and please the Lord.
• The basic story line of the book of Ruth goes like this:
> A Jewish couple named Elimelech and Naomi were in a famine in their homeland, Bethlehem-Judah, and moved to the Gentile land of Moab to find food.
> There they had two sons named Mahlon and Chilion. Elimelech later died in Moab, leaving Naomi far from her relations in Bethlehem-Judah. Ruth, a non-Jewish Moabite woman, married one their sons, and Orpah, also a Moabitess, married their second son. Then, both sons died in Moab, leaving all three women widows.
> Because of the hardships in Moab and the lack of a male breadwinner for support, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem-Judah, the land of her ancestors. Orpah decided to stay with her own people, but Ruth left her own homeland to go to Bethlehem-Judah with Naomi. In order to survive, Ruth was able to get work as a farm laborer for a wealthy landowner named Boaz.
> In the course of time, Boaz took note of Ruth, a great woman of inner beauty and character, and evidently also very outwardly beautiful as well, and showed her special deference and favors—whether out of mercy for her condition, or because he fell in love with her, or both—the Bible does not say. Meanwhile, Naomi made the propitious discovery that Boaz was a distant relative to her, and that according to Jewish law, her daughter-in-law, Ruth, had the right to be married to Boaz if a closer relative were not found and if Boaz were agreeable to the marriage. Ruth exercised her right for marriage, which Boaz gladly consented to and they were married according to the customs of the day. It was from that union that the family through which David and Jesus would come was established.
Let’s now turn to a handout I have prepared for you that gives you some pertinent introductory information about Ruth:
I. THE THEME OF RUTH – There is a two-fold theme in the book of Ruth.
A. The way in which God guides His children in the details of everyday life.
B. The way in which God founded the Family within the Nation through which the Messiah would come. Note Matthew 1:5-6 – “And Salmon begat Booz (Boaz) of Rachab; and Booz (Boaz) begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.” This remember, is the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
II. AUTHOR: Unknown
III. PERIOD AND DATE: During the period of the Judges, approximately 10th Century B.C.
IV. OUTLINE: Two suggested outlines:
A. Unger’s –
1. Ruth Deciding by Faith (Chapter 1)
2. Ruth Gleaning under Grace (Chapter 2)
3. Ruth Communing in Fellowship (Chapter 3)
4. Ruth Resting in Redemption (Chapter 4)
B. Schofield’s –
1. Ruth Deciding (Chapter 1)
2. Ruth Serving (Chapter 2)
3. Ruth Resting (Chapter 3)
4. Ruth’s Reward (Chapter 4)
V. MAJOR CHARACTERS: (NOTE: You will see that the names of the characters are significant to understand the book of Ruth, so that is why I have included the meanings of names here.)
A. Ruth (means “friendship”)
B. Naomi (means “pleasant”) – Mother-in-law of Ruth
C. Boaz – a distant relative of Naomi’s who desired to have Ruth as his wife, and after following the customs of the day, wed Ruth.
VI. MINOR CHARACTERS:
A. Elimelech (means “my God is King”) – Naomi’s husband
B. Mahlon (means “sick”) – one of Naomi’s two sons
C. Chilion (means “pining”) – Naomi’s second son
D. Orpah – one of Naomi’s two daughters-in-law (Ruth being the other)
E. The near kinsman (unnamed) – A relative of Naomi who was either not able, or not willing to marry Ruth, and therefore deferred the responsibility to Boaz who was both able and willing to marry her.
VII. LOCATION: This story takes place in two places:
A. Moab (chapter 1) – means “God’s washpot” and is always a symbol of the world in the Bible.
B. Bethlehem–Judah (chapters 2-4) – means “house of bread and praise.” (NOTE MAP ON REVERSE SIDE OF HANDOUT.)
VIII. BASIC TEACHINGS:
A. Gentiles, as well as Jews, are capable of being joined to God’s people through repentance and faith in Jehovah.
B. God rewards faithfulness.
C. The foreshadowing of Christ’s work on the cross for His people in the “kinsman-redeemer” concept.
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION QUESTION: What do you want to learn from the book of Ruth? That is, what do you want to take away from this study?
