Introduction

The Book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful books we find in the Bible, it’s a story about love and loyalty. Although it has only four chapters, we see God working in people’s lives in wonderful ways. The author is unknown, some scholars credit the writing to Samuel the prophet, Samuel died before David’s kingship, which is alluded to at the end of the book.

It was probably written sometime after 1010 B.C. since that was when David took the throne of Israel. It also refers to a ‘former time’ in Israel, indicating it was written years after the actual events occurred and it was written to Israel.

The book opens in Moab, which was a pagan country east of Judah and the Dead Sea. Naomi and her husband Elimelek fled there during a famine. After Elimelek and Naomi’s two sons died, she decided to return to Israel. The rest of the book takes place in Bethlehem, the future birthplace of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Faithfulness is one of the main themes of this book. We see Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, Boaz’s faithfulness to Ruth, and everyone’s faithfulness to God. God, in return, rewards them with great blessings. All their faithfulness led to kindness toward each other. Kindness is an outpouring of love and we see that everyone in this book showed the type of selfless love toward others that God expects from his followers.

We also see Ruth as a hardworking, morally pure woman, Boaz treated her with respect while fulfilling his lawful responsibility.

We also see obedience to God and His laws within the book. Ruth took care of Naomi, Naomi took care of Ruth, and then Boaz took care of both women. Finally, God took care of all of them, blessing Ruth and Boaz with a child they named Obed, who became the grandfather of David.

From David’s line came Jesus of Nazareth, Saviour of the world. And finally, redemption is an underlying theme in the book of Ruth.

As Boaz, the ‘kinsman-redeemer,’ saves Ruth and Naomi from a hopeless situation, he illustrates how Jesus Christ redeems our lives.

Outline

Naomi loses her family (her husband, and two sons). Ruth 1:1-5

Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem. Ruth 1:6-22

Ruth meets Boaz. Ruth 2:1-3:18

Boaz redeems Ruth. Ruth 4:1-12

The lineage of David is established through Ruth and Boaz’s son, Obed. Ruth 4:13-22

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