She let boaz know of her interest by lying at his feet after he had fallen asleep. The purpose of the book of ruth this book was written to israel but i believe it has an even greater and much deeper meaning to christians today because it is reflective of our own redeemer, jesus. Rahab was a prostitute whose faith saved her from the crashing walls of jericho. Postcards from the widows path is the only book that looks at ruth through the eyes of a widow. The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. It teaches that genuine love at times may require uncompromising sacrifice. The timeline of this book is interweaved throughout the period of the judges. Oct 09, 2014 the book of ruth is one a book of great significance. Ruth presents various important themes, each one of which merits being explored and elaborated. The book of ruth is about how god used ordinary people without the people knowing what god was doing in their current circumstances to accomplish great things for gods future plans. The genealogy at the end of the book shows davids lineage through the days of the judges, acting as a support for his rightful kingship.
This is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled the spiritual meaning of the book of ruth. Though hazal debate whether certain books should be included in the biblical canon, there is no explicit discussion recorded regarding the book of ruth. The book of leviticus comes to life here, with its injunctions to leave part of the harvest for the needy, and with all of its concern and compassion for the underprivileged within the society. The tradition is that the book of ruth was written by the prophet samuel. The book of ruth is a story of ruth and boaz and it exemplifies the theory of redemption. Gods providence is sometimes harsh, but in the end he works for the blessing of his people. It also refers to a former time in israel, indicating it was written years after the actual events occurred. Here is the main idea, the purpose of the book, a few leading themes, an explanation of what it means for us today, and some study questions you can use in your small group or quiet time. Christ spoke of his kingdom as the kingdom of heaven, to differentiate it from the worldly kingdoms. Naomi wanted ruth to find a home where she can be provided for. The book of ruth does not specifically name its author. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. Judges is the book that comes before the book of ruth in the christian old testament. Ancient versions and modern translations consistently entitle this book after ruth the moabitess heroine, who is mentioned by name 12 times 1.
And when she beat out what she had gleaned, it was about an ephah of barley. To buttress the case further, an excursus compares ruth to what. The tradition is that the prophet samuel was the author of judges. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Looking to gods word and the intended message of the book of ruth, we will. Ruths story is celebrated during the jewish festival of shavuot, the feast of weeks, 50 days after passover. God intended for ruth to be a part of the story of the lineage of jesus. Internal evidence indicates that the author of judges lived shortly after the period of the judges.
Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The book of ruths author is never mentioned but it was not written by ruth. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. She told ruth to get dressed up in her best clothes and perfume and go to boaz.
The book of ruth by richard arillotta friday study. This word is used elsewhere in the bible to describe gods loyalty and faithfulness to israel. The book is named after one of its main characters, a young woman of moab, the greatgrandmother of david and an ancestress of jesus 4. The book of ruth is a story of ruth and boaz and it exemplifies the theory of. On the festival of shavuot pentecost, the season of the barley harvest, we read the bucolic tale of ruth the moabite lady, a. The basic purpose of the book of ruth is to show how the lord intervened to protect naomis family line from extinction, in order that her greatgreatgrandson davidthe future, divinely chosen king of israel and ancestor of the messiahmight be born ruth 4. Just look at the five women mentioned in the genealogy of jesus. Only two old testament books receive their names from women, ruth and esther. If we were to inquire into the origin and purpose of the biblical book of ruth, it may seem like a simple and straightforward question. Ruth, naomi and boaz all occupy the stage in turn, and gods. The significance and application of the book of ruth. Join pastor anton and web for an informal and live bible study in the book of ruth on wednesday evenings at 7. The story is told in the book of ruth, part of the biblical canon called ketuvim, or writings. Ruth was a moabite woman, whose sense of piety and devotion to her motherinlaw naomi led to her marriage to the prominent boaz of bethlehem in judah.
Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. The old testament does not again refer to ruth, while the new testament mentions her just once, in the context of christs genealogy. The basic purpose of the book of ruth is to show how the lord intervened to protect naomis family line from extinction, in order that her greatgreatgrandson. It is rightly felt likewise that the striking appropriateness of the words put on the lips of certain personages to the general purpose of edification apparent in the book of ruth does not necessarily disprove the historical character of the work, since this is also noticeable in other books of holy writ which are undoubtedly historical. The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. This book received its title in honor of the heroine of the story. Through ruth s story, we learn that god uses the most unlikely people for his purpose. Naomi believed boaz to be the guardianredeemer in her family line. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. This summary of the book of ruth provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ruth. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. The purpose of the book of ruth from the bible jack wellman. The key characters or personalities include ruth, naomi, and boaz.
The book of judges does not specifically name its author. Nevertheless, in the context of an ongoing debate regarding the canonicity of esther and the song of songs, r. Postcards from the widows path widows christian place. The book of judges can be divided into two sections. Ruth, biblical character, a woman who after being widowed remains with her husbands mother. Boaz meets ruth 15 when ruth got up to glean, boaz ordered his young men, even if she gathers among the sheaves, do not insult her. The book of ruth is one of the most beautiful stories because the circumstance seems as if there was no purpose in it, and it is a story that seems to lose hope, but god was there to. Handfuls of purpose paperback november 29, 2006 by ruth bryan author 5. Its purpose was to demonstrate the kind of love, and faithfulness that god desires for us. However, the prevalent view is a date between 1011 and 931 b. Mar 25, 2020 join pastor anton and web for an informal and live bible study in the book of ruth on wednesday evenings at 7. In fact, the hebrew word for thischesedappears multiple times throughout the story. The book of ruth is one of the most beautiful stories because the circumstance seems as if there was no purpose in it, and it is a story that seems to lose hope, but god was there to fulfill his purpose, and to renew hope.
The book of ruth is one a book of great significance. Think of that, according to jewish tradition, king david, and all of his descendents, of whom tradition includes the yettocome messiah, all originally come. Ruth, who has an entire biblical book named after her, is originally a foreigner, a moabite, and a convert, or a jewbychoice, and from her is descended no less a person than king david. In part iii gow draws his conclusions concerning the purpose and provenance of ruth. Find your ultimate purpose book of ruth 2belikechrist. God used several ordinary people in the book of ruth to accomplish his plan. Various interpreters have proposed different central themes for the book. The book of ruth, although one of the smallest books in the old testament, has many values displayed in its mere four chapters. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. In the story, ruth received blessings from god that she did not merit. The text itself says nothing of the author, but whoever wrote it was a.
Mar 15, 2009 ruth, who has an entire biblical book named after her, is originally a foreigner, a moabite, and a convert, or a jewbychoice, and from her is descended no less a person than king david. In chapter one ruth and naomis initial endeavor is revealed. To demonstrate the legitimacy of davids kingship despite his moabite ancestress, ruth. Overview of the book of ruth third millennium ministries. Scripture comes alive as we see how god uses the examples of ruth, naomi and orpah to guide us through the twists and turns of widowhood and into the deep love and compassion of god. It shows the difference between what happens when a nation does not follow in obedience to the covenant of god judges, and when gods people follow in faithfulness within the covenant ruth. The book of ruth demonstrates gods grace toward people. The mans name was elimelek, his wifes name was naomi, and the.
The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. In ruth, its the characters who act with chesed towards each other. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. According to the talmud jewish tradition, the prophet samuel wrote the book of ruth. The exact date the book of ruth was written is uncertain. To you who listen on the radio, you are sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. This is the reason why since the ancient and up to modern times different opinions have been formulated which have tried to. Among other possible purposes, ruth has been understood as. The message of ruth transcends the immediate purpose of offering dvids geneology. The book of ruth and its purpose 203 proof of israelite literature develops in such a manner that the author does not easily betray the purpose for which he has compiled it. This scroll of ruth tells us nothing either of ritual purity or impurity, nor of prohibition or permission.
The book of ruth relates that ruth and orpah, two women of moab, had married two sons of elimelech and naomi, judeans who had settled in moab to escape a. God has shown us our ultimate purpose in this beautiful narrative of redemption. The book of ruth is more than just a beautiful, godordained, love story, although it is that. The main purpose of the book of ruth is to give information about the direct ancestors of david, the one in whose line was to come the messiah. The author is unknown, though rabbinic tradition states the the prophet samuel did. The book of ruth is an important historical work in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible, as it traces the lineage of king david and ultimately that of the messiah, jesus christ. So, he pulled together events such as the famine, naomis relocation to moab, their return to bethlehem, boaz bloodline, and many other events just to ensure that ruth could be a part of his plan. Ruth summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ruth for bible study or sunday school lessons.
Naomi loses her husband and sons in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. What is a good way to explain do unto others as you would have done unto you. Throughout the book, readers are shown the struggle of ruth and her motherinlaw, naomi, as they try to survive in a patriarchal world. The book was written sometime after bc 1010 since that was when david took the throne of israel.
What were the two purposes of the book of ruth answers. On the festival of shavuot pentecost, the season of the barley harvest, we read the bucolic tale of ruth the moabite lady, a poor widow exiled in the land of judah. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. This book was written to israel but i believe it has an even greater and much deeper meaning to christians. The inclusion of the moabite ruth, as gentile participant, in. The final words of the book link ruth with her greatgrandson, david ruth 4. Christ is to be the ultimate ruler of the kingdom of israel spiritually. One writer argued that naomi is the main character in the plot, boaz is the main character in the dialogue, and obed is the main character in the purpose of the book. Although some sources credit samuel the prophet, samuel died before davids kingship, which is alluded to at the end of the book date written. From internal evidence he argues that the purpose relates to ruths moabite background p.