Though its events happened over three thousand years ago, the. Naomi later on lost her husband and she was left with her two sons. God in the lives of ordinary people theology and steak. In ruth 1 we saw god was in their wandering and in their weeping. And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. The book of ruth is one of the most moving accounts in the bible, a story of love and loyalty that is a stark contrast to todays cynical, throwaway society. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ. How long does it take to read each book of the bible. After all, its a classic tale of boy meets girl, of unexpected love discovered in the most routine of settings. It involves god s sovereign rule over nations and reaches across thousands of years in its purpose. This cycle of poems by john piper tells the story of gods care for naomi and the love affair between ruth and boaz through the eyes of their son, an aged obed, as he narrates the account to his eightyearold grandson david, the future king of israel. Ruth chapter 3 points to the actual incarnation of our redeemer, jesus, who promises, i am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls matthew 11.
God names whom he will have, and moves the earth to bring them to himself. God will reward ruth because she has sought refuge under his wings. The book is primarily a story of naomis transformation from despair to happiness through the selfless, god blessed acts of ruth and boaz. The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. Meditations of a christian hedonist and most recently coronavirus and christ. The god of small details and perfect timing ruth 2. You will also find options for commentaries on ruth that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. The book of ruth gives a good picture of pious israelites family life, time of. No price paid to her gods of wood and stone could ever cleanse her heart, atone for sin, or satisfy the just and holy claims of god. We see him working out his perfect plan in ruth s life, just as he does with all his children romans 8. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. Ruth, in a manner of speaking, views boaz as the incarnation of the lords wing when she says, spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer 3. Ruth was a moabitess, and her people worshipped false gods. As they work through both economic hardship and prosperity, we see the hand of god at work most clearly in their productive agricultural labor, generous management of resources for the good of all.
For 33 years, he served as pastor of bethlehem baptist church, minneapolis, minnesota. In chapter 1 of ruth gods hand fell hard upon naomi and her family. Discover the most popular ruth bible verses in this collection of scripture quotes. Boaz is a godsaturated man in his business and personal relations vv. Another theme throughout ruth is the contrast between the lives and attitudes of. How each chapter of the book of ruth points to jesus. The book of ruth is first and foremost about the covenant faithfulness of the lord to ensure the arrival of our redeemer, the lord jesus christ. In the end, we watch as god s hand redeems those who follow him and heals the lives of the brokenhearted. And what the book of ruth does for us is give us a glimpse of the hidden work of god during the worst of times. While in judah, god orchestrated a wondrous plan for a man named boaz to take ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provide for her and naomi. It speaks of and symbolically demonstrates god s redeeming power. The mans name was elimelek, his wifes name was naomi, and the.
One of the major themes running throughout this book is the providence of god. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. In fact, some of the books will take the average reader 2 minutes to read. Numerous elements of the story serve as a type of christ. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy.
Did you know that many of those books can be read in less than an hour. Whats remarkable about this plan was that boaz was suited as a kinsman redeemer to take her as his wife. The book of ruth carries within its pages some of the most fundamental and powerful doctrines of the kingdom. It is a tradition to read the book of ruth during shavuot jun 12, 2016 festival of weeks there are multiple purposes in the story of ruth loyalty, wise leadership and more. The book of ruth starts then, in the days of the judges 1, and in a time of famine 2. But, as the author of hebrews tells us, there is a rest that god s people are still waiting for hebrews 4. According to god s word, it just so happened that boaz was a relative to ruth s. And he preserves a kinsman of naomis husband who will some day marry ruth and preserve naomis line. God lifts the famine and opens a way home for naomi. It includes the famous biblical characters boaz and naomi that play significant roles in the life of ruth. The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times.
Third, the book of ruth is the portrait of beautiful, noble. The bible is a story of god s relationship with mankind, and most books put god front and center. The theology of the book of ruth download ebook pdf. This book is written to describe gods providence in the life of this. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The book of ruth is one of the bibles shortest books, telling its story in just four chapters.
The most likely suggestion is that ruth was able to leave the refuge of her father and mother in moab because she had found a refuge under the wings of god which was far superior. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. No price paid to her gods of wood and stone could ever cleanse her heart, atone. This cycle of poems by john piper tells the story of gods care for naomi and the love affair between ruth and boaz through the eyes of their son, an aged obed. He is author of more than 50 books, including desiring god. Discover the basics of the book of ruth with the esv study bible from crossway, video from the bible project, audio from mark dever, and more. Ruth is an example of how god can change a life and take it in a direction he has foreordained. Meditations of a christian hedonist and most recently why i love the apostle paul.
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 book of ruth is a beautiful story, and probably one you may have heard in sunday school as. Book of ruth bible study ruth chapter 1 counting the cost. Ruth god in the lives of ordinary people by brett w. In this we see that god is both sovereign and good.
Naomi was from bethlehem and moved to moab with her husband elimelek and two sons, mahlon and kilion. The great lesson of ruth is that god is at work in every circumstance. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. Charlotte and i lived in texas for right at 15 years. Although ruth came from a pagan background in moab, once she met the god of israel, she became a living testimonial to him by faith. The book of ruth narrates ruth s affirming the god of the israelites as her god and the israelite people as her own. But we must ask how ruth s love for naomi and her leaving her own family relate to her seeking refuge under the wings of god. Click download or read online button to get the theology of the book of ruth book now. The biblical book of ruth gives a short glimpse of their lives. Sweet providence as well as bitter comes to naomi in chapter 1.
By birth she was a moabite, outside the law, and israel, the bride of god, cut off from sacrifice, and priest, and covenant. He is author of more than 50 books, including desiring. The book of ruth tells the extraordinary story of god s faithfulness to israel in the life and work of three ordinary people, naomi, ruth and boaz. God once again shows that he is a universal god, a god for all people, and that he is not bound by mere human customs or prejudices. While the bible is a big book, you can read it in book sized pieces. Jesus, the god man, is the main character in all four books. The way ruth and boaz find each other is the stuff of epics. So readers shouldnt be fooled by its age, says john piper. I all ready loved the story but author john piper made me feel that each character i the story engaged in the plan of god had significance. We love the friends we made there, but we never grew to appreciate the flat land with no trees, and the unbearable heat and. This short book, only four chapters, shows how god uses unexpected people in amazing ways. In chapter one of ruth, gods hand fell hard on naomi and her family. Ruth is a goddependent woman under the wings of god.
He gives her an amazingly devoted and loving daughterinlaw to accompany her. The book of ruth a story of redemption gospel blog. Ruth, redemption, covenant, and christ religious studies. Naomi is now a godexalting woman under the sovereignty of god. Its main character is a moabite woman named ruth, the daughterinlaw of a jewish widow named naomi. Best ruth commentaries updated for 2020 best bible.
Its an intimate family tale of misfortune, crafty use of kinship ties, and ultimately, loyalty. The picture for us is clear and its one that we see often. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth,andrew wilson, alastair robert study from the bible and be encouraged to grow your faith. I believe this little book has far more to say about god, his plan of redemption, and his workings in the world than meets the eye, but we must be willing to look beyond the surface. Elimelech and his wife naomi are living in israel, gods chosen land, yet we read that their eyes began looking to the prosperity in the world. The most popular bible verses from the book of ruth.
Even though many discriminated against her, god loved her just the same. Redemption is a key concept throughout the account. Before the story is about this couple, it is about god. Boaz says, a full reward be given you by the lord, the god of israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge 2. Her two sons found wives, ruth and orpah, but 10 years later, both sons died as well. Theologically, the book emphasizes the sovereign activity of god s providential working in the affairs of man. Not only does god s promise to the seed of abraham go on through the troubled time of the judges, but he so arranges the details of earths history and the chosen line to include. But the story is the fleshandblood experience of one family living the unexpected plan of god.
349 1177 13 255 742 1391 349 1132 559 122 201 1264 1003 470 1376 1243 499 574 1425 15 1302 630 33 828 482 1281 1460 127 1380 69 1102 250 255 128 452 653 172 814 1434 555 553 824