The Book Of Ruth (4 Of 4)

She is noted for two special things in her life:

• She became the grandmother of King David

• Her greatest honor is that the birth of Christ can be traced back to her

The Book of Ruth is considered to be a wonderful book for many reasons, such as:

(1) IT HAS ROMANCE

Some consider it one of the most romantic stories you can read.

The Book of Ruth isn’t only noted for the ROMANCE, but also-

(2) IT HAS LITERARY VALUE

It is well written, and scholars around the world praise it as a literary masterpiece.

Illus: It was one of the favorite books of the Bible for Benjamin Franklin, when he was United States Ambassador to France.

During that time, he would occasionally attend the “Infidels Club” - which was a group of intellectuals who spent most of their time searching for, and reading literary masterpieces.

On one occasion, when it was Benjamin Franklin’s turn to read, he chose to read the book of Ruth to the club. He changed the names in it so it would not be recognized as a book of the Bible.

When he finished the reading, they said it was one of the most beautiful short stories that they had ever heard. They requested that he tell them where he came across such a remarkable literary masterpiece.

Being a Christian, it was his great delight to tell them that it was from the Bible.

Let’s look at how Ruth came to know and to marry Boaz. Let’s look at-

I. THE TRAP

Now some might resent me calling what Ruth and Naomi did as a TRAP, but that is exactly what it was.

Men often give the impression that they are the aggressive ones in getting their wives to the marriage altar.

That might be the case in some marriages, but most of the time the man is ROPED AND TIED before he realizes what happened to him.

She got his attention in chapters 1 and 2, but Naomi and Ruth set a TRAP for Boaz to get more than his attention.

But before we get too far into this trap, let look at -

II. THE TRAGEDY

Yes, there is indeed a tragedy in this story!

The reason that Ruth became the grandmother of David, and her life can be traced back to the birth of Christ, is because she came to Bethlehem with Naomi.

Look at Ruth 1:22, “So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: AND THEY CAME TO BETHLEHEM IN THE BEGINNING OF BARLEY HARVEST.”

But remember, while Naomi lived in Moab in her backslidden condition, she did everything she could to discourage her two daughter-in-laws from coming to Bethlehem with her. But Ruth was determined to come.

Look at what she said in Ruth 1:16, “And Ruth said, Entreat 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.”

But remember, Naomi had two daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah. They both left Moab to come with Naomi to live in Bethlehem.

However, probably one of the reasons that Orpah turned back to Moab was because of Naomi’s backslidden condition. She did not do one thing to encourage her to come to Bethlehem, but did everything she could to discourage her from coming to know the God of Israel.

There is a good chance that Orpah died and went to a devil’s hell because of Naomi’s backslidden condition.

It is going to be sad on the Judgment Day, when backsliders stand before the Lord and give account of all the blood that is going to be on their hands for the many souls they sent to hell.

Orpah returned to sinful Moab, but Ruth refused to go back to that place. But when they reached Bethlehem looked what happened.

Ruth evidently was a TIMID young lady. Look at-

III. THE TIMIDITY

When they reached Bethlehem, Naomi felt an obligation to help Ruth do two things:

• Find a JOB

• Find a HUSBAND

Had Ruth been a strong and independent person, Naomi probably would have never gotten into her personal life.

Naomi felt she needed to give Ruth some good motherly advice.

Look at Ruth 3:1-5, we read, “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? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth (Wind-o-with) barley to night in the threshingfloor. Wash thy self therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.”