Ruth

We do not know the author of the book of Ruth. The events of the book cover the period when God’s people were led by Judges, probably in the 1300 B.C. timeframe. The book was written during the reign of King David around 1000 B.C.

Purpose of the book:

The great power of the book is to reveal the great sovereign purpose of God working through the triumphs and tragedies of family life as He lovingly provides a redeemer for the fallen race.

Additional information found in Ruth:

• Ruth shows the customs of the times
• Helps us understand family life at that time
• It is a great love story

Ruth 1

• Living in Moab
  • The migration to Moab (Ruth 1:1-5)
    • Famine in Israel (Ruth 1:1)
    • Elimelech moves his family (Ruth 1:2)
      • Location
        • They were in Bethlehem on the west side of the Jordan River
        • Moab is just east of the Dead Sea
      • The family
        • Father – Elimelech
        • Mother – Naomi
        • Son – Mahlon means sickly
        • Son – Chilion means failing
    • The Moabites
      • Descendants of Lot, nephew of Abraham
    • Tragedy in Moab
      • Elimelech dies leaving Naomi with two sons
      • The sons married Moabite women – Orpah and Ruth
      • They lived in Moab for about ten years
      • Both sons died leaving Naomi, Oprah, and Ruth widowed
    • Decisions in Moab (Ruth 1:6-22)
      • A choice to return home
        • The famine had ended (Ruth 1:6)
        • Naomi chooses to return (Ruth 1:7)
        • Decision time for Orpah and Ruth (Acts 1:8-18)
          • “Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.” (Ruth 1:8)
          • Their choices
            • Initially, both choose to stay with Naomi
            • Naomi asks them to reconsider
            • Oprah bids Naomi farewell and leaves her
            • Ruth clings to Naomi
            • Naomi again asks Ruth to reconsider
          • Ruth’s declaration
            • 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….”
      • The return (Ruth 1:19-22)
        • For Naomi, it was a bittersweet experience
          • Naomi in her grief asks those who knew her to call her Mara (Ruth 1:20)
          • Mara means bitter
        • For Ruth, it was the dawn of a new day