Book of Ruth
I.
Introduction
A.
Date and Author
Although the
story is ostensibly set in the days of the Judges (about 1375 B.C.), it has
nothing in common with the sanguinary tales of international and inter–tribal
warfare in that period of time. Since
the woman Ruth is a Moabitess, not an Israelite, the
book expresses a sympathetic feeling toward foreigners who put themselves under
the protection of Israel’s
God. For this reason, plus the
similarity in both content and language with the postexilic period Scriptures,
many have assumed it to be a postexilic composition based on an older tale.
B.
Place in the Canon
Ruth follows
Judges in today’s Bible. It’s placed
there to fit the chronological sequence.
In Hebrew Canon, it appears in the third division (“Writings”) of the
threefold Canon, under a group of five books called “Megilloth”
(Song, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). These books are read by the Jews at annual
feast or holidays. The harvest field
setting of Ruth makes it an appropriate liturgy for the harvest festival,
Pentecost.
C.
Main purposes of the Book
1.
Genealogy
The book
introduces a few of the ancestors of David, the royal lineage of Christ the
Messiah, especially the inclusion of a non–Israelite, Moabitess
Ruth, in this line (c.f. Mt 1:1–6).
2.
Typology
The gô-el (Kinsman-redeemer) Boaz is the prominent Messianic
type. Ruth then is the type of the
church.
3.
Theology
Underlying the
entire book is its revelation of the character and ways of God: His providence, sovereignty, grace, holiness
and His invitation of salvation to all people.
4.
History
The book describes
a few intimate experiences of a godly family of Bethlehem during the period of the judges.
II.
Content and Teachings
A.
Elimelech and his
family moved to Moab
(1:1–5)
1.
There was a famine in the land …
a.
“Famine” serves as a trial to the faith (Gen
12:10ff; 26:1–5) or the chastisement to the disobedient (Deut 11:13–17; 2 Ch
6:26–31) from God.
b.
Perseverance and repentance are the merits
required at the time of tribulation (Mt 24:13; Jas 1:2–4; 1 Kg 18:20–45; c.f. Jer 42:13–17).
2.
They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
a.
Moabites were barred from participation in the
life of Israel,
and the Israelites were forbidden to seek their prosperity (Deut 23:3–6).
3.
Mahlon and Chilion took Moabites wives …
a.
“You shall not make marriage with them … For
they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods … ”(Deut 7:1–11).
b.
Abraham determined to find a wife for Isaac
among his kindred (Gen 24:1–9).
4.
The woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband
(1:5)
B.
Returning to Bethlehem (1:6–22)
1.
For Naomi had heard that the Lord had visited his people and given
them food (1:6; Lk 15:11–18).
2.
“For
it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me” (1:13).
3.
“Do
not call me Naomi, call me Mara …” (1:19–22).
a.
“For the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with
me”.
b.
“I went away full, and the Lord has brought me
back empty”.
4.
Ruth’s Decision (1:15–18)
a.
Orpah has gone back to
her people and to her gods (1:5)
b.
Ruth’s decision:
“Where you go I will
go and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your
God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from
you” (1:16–17).
C.
Between Ruth and Naomi in Bethlehem
1.
“Let me go to the field … ”, “Go, my
daughter” (Ex 20:12; Lev 19:32; 1 Sam
3:1–9; Lk 2:51; Col 3:20–21)
2.
She showed her mother–in–law what she had
gleaned, and she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over
(2:18).
3.
Conversation between Naomi and Ruth (2:19–22)
a.
“My daughter, should I not seek a home for you, that it may be well with you?” (3:1; 1 Cor 13:5; Phil 2:4)
b.
“All that you say I will do” (3:5)
4.
Boaz’s comments
a.
“All that you have done for your mother–in–law
has been fully told me…” (2:11–12)
b.
“… for all my fellow
townsmen know that you are a woman of worth” (3:11).
5.
Women’s comment
a.
“ … for your daughter–in–law who loves you, who
is more to you than seven sons … ” (4:15)
D.
D. Boaz’s
Temperament
1.
Gracious to servants (2:4; Col 4:1)
2.
Loving and caring for the needy (2:8–9, 14–16)
3.
Pure and holy (3:6–11)
4.
Considerate (3:13–14)
5.
Respectful/righteous (3:13, 4:1–10)
E.
Words of Grace (Col 4:6; Jas 3:17–18; Rom 12:14)
1.
Naomi to her daughters–in–law
“May the Lord deal
kindly with you …” (1:8)
2.
Boaz to the reapers
“The Lord be with you!” (2:4)
3.
The reapers to Boaz
“The Lord bless you!” (2:4)
4.
Boaz to Ruth
“The Lord
recompenses you for what you have done, and a full reward be
given you by the Lord …” (12:12)
5.
Naomi to Boaz
“Blessed be he by
the Lord …” (2:20)
6.
Boaz to Ruth
“May you be blessed
by the Lord, my daughter …” (3:10)
7.
The people and the elders to Boaz
“May the Lord make
the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together
built up the house of Israel … ” (4:11–12)
8.
Women to Naomi
“Blessed be the
Lord, who has not left you this day without next to kin …” (4:14–15).
F.
Descendants of Boaz and Ruth (4:17–22; Mt 1:1–6)
G.
Final notes
1.
Levirate marriage (Lev 25:5–10)
2.
Rules of gleaning (Deut 24:19–22; Lev 19:9–10)
3.
Meanings of Names
a.
Naomi– “pleasant
one”
b.
Elimelech– “my god is king”
c.
Mahlon– “sick”
d.
Chilion– “pining”
e.
Orpah– “neck”
(i.e. “stubbornness”)
f.
Ruth– “friendship”
g.
Boaz– “in
him is strength”
4.
Kinsman–redeemer (gô–el)
5.
Typical interpretation
a.
Deciding by Faith –> Gleaning under Grace
–> Communing in Fellowship –> Resting in Redemption
