The events recorded here took place in the time of the Judges. This time is described in Judges 21:25. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Ruth was not written until at least the reign of David. Ruth 4:22 Samuel may have been used of the Lord to write down this book.
It is the only instance in the Bible in which a whole book is devoted to the history of a woman. There are two books of the Bible named after women: Ruth, a Gentile, who married a Hebrew husband; Esther, a Jewess, who married a Gentile husband. Ruth is one of four women who are mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord. As a Moabite she was shut out by the Law (Deut. 23:3), but she was admitted by grace.
Ruth is a type of the Church, the Gentile bride, and Boaz as the kinsman redeemer is a type of Christ. She was the great-great grandmother of David, and the genealogy of Ruth 4, is the chief reason for the book being written.
"The book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible. The number "eight" is the number which signifies something new, a new beginning. Christ arose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is the eighth day. Noah was the eighth person (II Pet:2:5), and eight people were saved in the Ark. Jewish boys were circumcised on the eighth day." W. G. Heslop
One of the themes of the book is REST, and we find it only comes through redemption and union.
I. THE LAND OF REST & THE LAND OF DISTRESS. v.1-5
A. The Land Of Rest Forsaken. v. 1-2
5. The people of the departure. v. 1-2
a. Elimelech means "my God is King."
It is a shame that he did not live up to his name.
b. Naomi means "pleasant."
c. Mahlon means "sick", and Chilion means "pining."
These two names reveal the spiritual famine in the life of Elimelech and
Naomi before they left Judah. God could have preserved them in Judah. Many
others stayed in Judah and survived, but this family was tested and they
failed.
B. The Land Of Distress Found. v. 3-5
1. Elimelech dies out of the heaven blessed
land. v. 3a. The way of the transgressor is hard. Leaving the will of God
never brings peace and prosperity. I John 5:16, If any man see his brother
sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life
for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say
that he shall pray for it.
2. Naomi and her two sons left in an unblessed land. v. 3b
3. Naomi allows her sons to marry unblessed wives v. 4a. Deut. 23:3,
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD;
even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation
of the LORD for ever.
4. She stayed 10-years too long in the land
of distress. v. 4b
5. Death strikes again in the land of distress. v. 5. This shows the cost
of departing from God. Now there are three sad heartbroken widows.
II. LEAVING THE LAND OF DISTRESS FOR THE LAND OF REST. V. 6-13
A. A Decision To Return To The Land of Rest. v. 6-13
1. She heard of God's blessings upon Judah.
v. 6b. When the Lord blesses us, others will hear.
2. "Then she arose" after all of her distress and chastisement.
v. 6a
3. "She went forth OUT of the place." v. 7. Separation always
precedes sanctification. Gen. 12:1, Now the LORD had said unto Abram,
Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's
house, unto a land that I will shew thee. II Cor. 6:17, Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
4. Naomi urges her two daughters in law to remain in Moab. v. 8
5. She mistakenly thinks they will find REST in Moab. v. 9
6. They express a desire to go with her. v. 10
7. She confesses her barren fruitless condition and that she had nothing
to give them. v. 11-13; Deut. 25:5-9
8. The result of disobedience. v. 13. "...The hand of the Lord is gone
out against me." Prov. 3:11, My son, despise not the chastening
of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction. Heb. 12:5-8, And
ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,
My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou
art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you
as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if
ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,
and not sons.
B. They Face A Time Of Decision. v. 14-18
1. Orpah decides to return to her people and
her gods. v. 14-15. We cannot believe but what this is exactly what Orpah
wanted. There are many like her today who are seemingly very close to being
Christians, but they turn back. The result - she disappears from history.
2. Ruth decides for rest and the true God. v. 16-18. She states her allegiance
to the true God of Israel, and not to Chemosh the god of Moab. If she had
not made the right decision she would never have been and ancestor of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Right decisions are important.
a. In v. 16-17 we have one of the most beautiful
statements to be found in all of literature. Her heart was fixed. She did
not know it, but she was headed for a city whose builder and maker is God.
Heb. 11:10, For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
b. Surely the grace of God was at work in her heart.
C. Her Features Marked By Distress. v. 19-22
1. The city moved by her return. v. 19a
2. "Is this Naomi?", or the price of backsliding. v. 19b
3. From "pleasant" to "bitter" in just a few years.
v. 20. Ten years had left their mark.
4. "The Lord hath brought me home again." v. 21a. God always does
this for His erring children. She was "empty" as a result of backsliding.
5. Almighty God had afflicted her. v. 21b. Heb. 12:5-6, And ye have forgotten
the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom
he receiveth.
6. They came at a time of harvest and blessing. v. 22. Rom. 8:28,
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose. Phil. 2:13,
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
7. She left three graves in Moab as a result of sin, but at long last she
is back in the land of blessing.
—by E. L. Bynum
1. At what time did the events in Ruth take place?
2. Name each member of the Jewish family and the meaning of their names.
3. How many books of the Bible are named after women?
4. How many women are mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord and who were
they?
5. What did the Law say about a Moabite?
6. Why did Naomi and her family leave their homeland?
7. What is the meaning of Bethlehem-judah?
8. How does the names of her children reflect the spiritual condition of
Naomi and her family?
9. What was wrong with the marriages of her two sons?
10. Give the five-fold expression of resolve made by Ruth?
11. What did the people of Bethlehem-judah say when Naomi and Ruth arrived?
12. What time of the year was it when they arrived?
13. Repeat the memory Verse.
Back To: Ruth Lesson One | Ruth Lesson Two | Ruth Lesson Three | Ruth Lesson Four
Ruth could have sat at home with Naomi, and they both could have had a pity party. She did not allow herself to become bitter, but she went forth to do what she could.. Bitterness is always the wrong way for God's people to go.
Boaz is introduced in this chapter as the kinsman-redeemer, and thus he is a beautiful type of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no blot on his character as some of the other types of Christ, such as Moses, and David. The Hebrew word "Gaal" (go-el) is translated "kinsman" some 13 times in the book of Ruth. The same word is translated redeemer or redemption several times in Ruth. In the following lessons we shall consider the meaning and application of these truths. Boaz means strength or fleetness. We shall see this man as lord of the harvest, master of servants, redeemer, bridegroom, and life-giver. Thus we see him as a fitting type of Christ.
I. RUTH GLEANING THE GRAIN. v. 1-16
A. Ruth Finding Grace In The Field Of Boaz. v. 1-3
1. This was at the beginning of the barley harvest.
1:22. This would have been in the early spring, perhaps in April.
2. Booz the kinsman. v. 1
a. As a type of Christ he was kinsman who could
redeem. Gal. 4:4, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Phil. 2:7-8, And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.
b. As a type of Christ he was a mighty man. What a contrast from the sickly
Mahlon. John 1 :1-3, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made. Rom. 1:4, Rom. 9:5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom
as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.
Amen. Col. 2:9, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily. Heb. 1:3, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand
of the Majesty on high.
c. As a type of Christ he was a man of wealth, for redemption is costly.
Psa. 49:8, (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:) Phil. 2:5-11; II Cor. 8:9, For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
3. Ruth the gleaner. v. 2a; Lev. 19:9-10; Lev.
23:22, And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make
clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt
thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the
poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God. Deut. 24:19-21
4. Ruth's faith was centered on him "in whose sight I shall find grace."
v. 2b
5. Providence, "her hap," leads her to the field of Booz. v. 3.
Joseph sold as a slave, resulted in the salvation of many nations as well
as Israel. The capture of a Hebrew made, led to the cleansing of Naaman
the leper.
B. Boaz Bestowing Grace Upon Ruth. v. 4-16
1. Boaz as a type of Christ came from Bethlehem.
v. 4. Divine providence led her to the right field. Micah 5:2, But thou,
Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Luke 2:4-7,
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was
of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the
days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth
her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
2. Boaz as a type of Christ is Lord of the harvest. v. 4-5
3. The lord of the harvest concerned about one damsel. v. 5
4. The servant is here a type of the Holy Spirit, as was Abraham's servant.
v. 6-7. He leads her to the lord of the harvest, he gives her rest in the
house.
5. As lord of the harvest and a type of Christ he invites Ruth to abide
in his field and behind his reapers. v. 8. He treated her as a daughter,
and did not try to seduce her for sinful purposes. He gave her guidance
as Christ will give to us, if we will only listen to Him. John 15:5, I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6. As a type of Christ he offers her protection and water. v. 9. John 4:14,
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. John 7:37-39; Rev. 21:6, And
he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of
life freely.
a. Because she was a Moabitess some of the young
men may not have respected her.
b. But Boaz took care of that, so that she would have the protection and
fellowship with believers. How we should depend upon the protection of the
Lord. Psa. 91:11; Psa 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.
7. Ruth takes her place in humility at the feet
of Boaz, as all sinners should, at the feet of the Lord. v. 10. John 3:27,
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him
from heaven.
8. Boaz as a type of Christ knows all about her. v. 11. She had forsaken
all to follow the God of Israel, and so should we. Psa. 32:8; Prov:3:5-6
9. She has left father and mother. v. 11; Gen. 12:1-3; Mk. 10:28-30
10. As a type of Christ he promises her recompense, reward, and the protection
of the Lord. v. 12; Psa. 17:8; 36:7
11. He had comforted her and spoken friendly (to her heart). v. 13 As a
Gentile she was unlike the others.
12. As a type of Christ he offers her the bread (of life). v. 14. The bread
a type of our Lord's body and the vinegar perhaps a type of His blood. She
was satisfied. Phil. 4:19. The world would have said that she was a fool
to march out of Moab.
a. Abram marched out of Ur of the Chaldees and
became the father of the Hebrew nation, and the father of all the faithful.
b. Rebekah marched out to become the bride of Isaac.
c. Moses marched out of a palace, to become the lawgiver of Israel.
d. Ruth march out of Moab into the lap of luxury, and to become and ancestor
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
13. Reproach her not. v. 15. Although she was
of the hated Moabite race she was not to be reproached. She was a stranger
and an alien, yet grace took her in.
14. She was allowed among the sheaves, this was more than the O.T. law demanded
. v. 15
15. Let fall...the handfuls of purpose. v. 16. This is grace!!
II. RUTH GLEANING THE GOSPEL OF GRACE. v. 17-23
A. Naomi Inquiring. v. 18-19
1. Her great success. v. 17. This was a ten
day supply.
2. Naomi saw the great blessing. v. 18
3. Where hast thou gleaned TODAY? v. 19. Not tomorrow, today.
4. Where hast THOU gleaned? v. 19. Each person must answer.
5. Where host thou GLEANED? v. 19. John 4:35-39. Each one of us will give
an account of our labor in the Lord's field.
6. Ruth confessing the name of Boaz. v. 19; Rom. 10:8-10
B. Naomi Declaring. v. 20-23
1. Naomi declares the blessing. v. 20a. "Blessed"
is a new word on her lips after all her bitterness. Psa. 103:1-2
2. She declares the remembrance. v. 20b. "His kindness to the living
and to the dead."
3. She declares the redeemer. v. 20c. He is a near kinsman to redeem their
inheritance and to marry Ruth. Boaz would do for her in a physical way,
what Christ would do for us in a spiritual way. Naomi has been bitter because
of an empty house, her empty heart, and her empty hands. Now that bitterness
is leaving and all because of Boaz. Our Boaz (Christ) can take away all
our bitterness.
4. Boaz advises her to keep in his field. v. 21. What a lesson for us, oh,
that we might stay busy in His harvest until "they have ended all my
harvest." v. 21. John 4:35; Gal. 6:9. Ruth did not yet know it, but
there is going to be a wedding after the harvest. As members of His church,
we are in His field, and praise God there is going to be a wedding after
the harvest.
5. Naomi advises her to keep in Boaz's field, and that is good advice for
us. v. 22
6. Ruth's continued gleaning. v. 23. The wheat harvest follows the barley
harvest.
—by E. L. Bynum
1. Where do we get the idea of the kinsman-redeemer?
2. How is Boaz as the near kinsman a type of Christ?
3. What right did Ruth have to go into the field and glean?
4. How did she end up in the field of Boaz?
5. As lord of the harvest, how is Boaz a type of Christ?
6. What does he offer Ruth?
7. What did Boaz already know about Ruth?
8. Explain why Ruth was among the sheaves, and the handfuls of purpose.
9. What did Naomi say when she found out that Ruth had been gleaning in
the field of Booz?
10. What did Naomi advise Ruth to do?
11. Quote the memory verse.
Back To: Ruth Lesson One | Ruth Lesson Two | Ruth Lesson Three | Ruth Lesson Four
Finding GRACE and seeking REST constitute two of the key expressions of the book of Ruth. These may only be found at the feet of Boaz (a type of Christ). The events of this chapter would lead to marriage, and we see the importance of parental guidance in choosing a mate. Even though she was a grown woman and a widow, she needed advice. This is lacking today in many instances, and it reveals why there are so many failed marriages in our time.
I. RUTH SEEKING REST. v. 1-7
A. Ruth Instructed In Finding Rest. v. 1-4
1. Naomi a type of the Godly remnant in Israel.
v. 1. She is concerned about a Gentile finding rest. Matt. 11:28, Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2. A proper marriage was a place of rest and protection for the woman. v.
1. I Tim. 5:14, I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children,
guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
It was Ruth's duty to take the initiative. Deut. 25:5-10
3. Boaz as a type of Christ is a separator. v. 2; Matt. 3:12, Whose fan
is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat
into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The light chaff and all that is frivolous and empty is to be winnowed away
in our lives.
4. Ruth as a type of the Church and individual Christian must be washed.
v. 3a; Eph. 5:25-27, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself
a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that
it should be holy and without blemish. II Cor. 7:1, Having therefore
these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
5. Ruth as a type of the Church must be sealed and anointed by the Holy
Spirit. v. 3b; Eph. 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Eph.
5:18, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with
the Spirit.
6. Ruth as a type of the Church and of the believer, must be dressed
in proper apparel (modest). v. 3c. "Nudity is of the devil. Exposing
of the body is wicked, sinful and devilish. Immodest dress or undress is
to be condemned as Satanic and corrupting. We must dress right if we would
please our Boaz (Christ). Dress is a sure index to the condition of the
mind and the state of the heart." W. G. Heslop
7. Ruth as a type of the Church should be at the feet of Boaz (the Christ).
v. 4a; Luke 10:39-42, And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat
at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving,
and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath
left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered
and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her.
8. Boaz the redeemer will tell her what to do. v. 4b; John 2:5, His mother
saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
B. Ruth At The Feet Of Boaz. v. 5-7
1. She promises to follow instructions. v. 5
2. She performed her promise. v. 6
3. It is not implied that Booz was drinking strong drink. v. 7a
4. Ruth at his feet. v. 7b
NOTE: It cannot be stressed too strongly that nothing immoral or unscriptural took place that night. Boaz was an honorable man and Ruth was a virtuous woman (v. 11). "There is not the faintest touch of impurity about it."J. Sidlow Baxter. "...There was no impropriety in them...Boaz probably slept upon a mat or skin; Ruth lay crosswise at his feeta position in which Eastern servants frequently sleep in the same chamber or tent with their master; and if they want a covering, custom allows them that benefit from part of the covering on their master's bed. Resting as the Orientals do at night, in the same clothes they wear during the day, there was no indelicacy in a stranger, or even a woman putting the extremity of this cover over her." Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown. All of this must be understood in the light of the customs of that day and the teaching of the O.T. Law. Of course such a thing to would not be done in this adulterous age.
II. RUTH FINDING REST. v. 8-18
A. Boaz Providing Shelter. v. 8-13
1. The discovery made. v. 8
2. A confession made. v. 9a. She is not now Ruth the Moabitess, nor Ruth
the Gentile stranger, nor Ruth the weeping widow, but "Ruth thine handmaid."
Remember that Ruth means "satisfied," and so should we be satisfied
at His feet. Ezek. 16:8, Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee,
behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee,
and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant
with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
3. A request made. v. 9b. The skirt or covering is a picture of the robe
of righteousness, which the Lord gives to the saved.
4. Ruth had eyes for Boaz alone. v. 10. She did not follow the young men,
but the kinsman-redeemer alone. This may imply that Booz was not a young
man, but he certainly was not an old and feeble man.
5. Boaz testifies to her being a virtuous woman. v. 11; Prov. 31:10,
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
6. There was a nearer kinsman. v. 12
7. If he will not, I will redeem thee. v. 13. We might well be reminded
that no one would or could redeem us except Christ.
B . Boaz Providing Sustenance . v. 14-18
1. She lay at his feet until morning. v. 14a
(The place of rest).
2. It was not yet time for her to be revealed. v. 14b. Notice how careful
he was to protect her reputation as well as his own.
3. Boaz as a type of Christ bestows gifts. v. 15
4. Naomi asks and Ruth tells all. v. 16-17
5. Ruth could only sit and wait. v. 18a
6. The kinsman-redeemer will not rest until he is finished. v.18b. Phil
1:6
NOTE: Typically, the book of Ruth sets forth:
Ch. 1—Decision for Christ.
Ch. 2—Meeting with Christ..
Ch. 3—Resting in Christ.
Ch. 4—Union with Christ.
—by E. L. Bynum
1. Give two of the key expressions of the book of Ruth.
2. How is marriage related to rest in this chapter?
3. Name the three things Ruth was instructed to do before going to Boaz,
and give their typical meaning.
4. Where did Ruth lie down and what is the typical meaning?
5. Why was there nothing improper in what Ruth did, and explain why this
would not be proper today?
6. What did Boaz say about her moral character?
7. What one thing stood in the way of Booz redeeming Ruth ?
8. Quote the memory verse.
Back To: Ruth Lesson One | Ruth Lesson Two | Ruth Lesson Three | Ruth Lesson Four
The issues of this book come to a dramatic head in the gate of the City, where matters of great importance were settled before sober and thoughtful elders. The kinsman-redeemer must meet three tests, if the redemption is to take place.
1. He must have the RIGHT to redeem. He must
be a near kinsman with no nearer kinsman willing to redeem.
2. He must have the POWER to redeem. If he is poor, of course he could not
redeem.
3. He must be WILLING to redeem .
Think upon these 3 tests in regard to Boaz, and in regard to our kinsman-redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. THE KINSMAN WHO WAS UNWILLING TO REDEEM. v. 1-8
A. He Is Willing To Redeem The Land. v. 1-4
1. Boaz finds the man. v. 1. The gate of the city was a good place to find him, and the place of important business.
a. Those seeking refuge were to come to the
gate. Josh. 20:4, And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities
shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his
cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the
city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
b. It was a place where decisions and rebuke of wrongdoing took place. Amos
5:10, 12, 15
2. Ten elders found for witnesses and judgment.
v. 2
3. Boaz presents the problem. v. 3
a. The land sold or going to be sold because
of poverty.
b. It will not revert to the descendants of Elimelech until the year of
jubilee. Lev. 25:25-28, If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away
some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall
he redeem that which his brother sold. And if the man have none to redeem
it, and himself be able to redeem it; Then let him count the years of the
sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it;
that he may return unto his possession. But if he be not able to restore
it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that
hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out,
and he shall return unto his possession.
c. It is not stated here, but there would be no descendants of Elimelech
unless Ruth is redeemed through marriage.
4. The other kinsman willing to redeem the land. v. 4. This was a business investment, pure and simple, for there is no love or affection involved at all. Lev. 25:23-24, The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
B. He Is Unwilling To Redeem Ruth. v. 5-8
1. Boaz reveals that the one who redeems the
land must redeem Ruth, in order to raise up an heir to Elimelech's inheritance.
v. 5. Deut. 25:5, If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and
have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger:
her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife,
and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. "Brethren"
could mean a brother as we think today, but it could also mean a near kinsman,
if there was no brother.
2. The kinsman refuses the opportunity. v. 6a. By not taking advantage of
his opportunity, he slips out of history and is forgotten.
3. He fears if he did that he would mar his own inheritance. v. 6b. What
he means by this is in much dispute. He may have already been married and
had children. Another marriage and more children could dilute his inheritance.
He may have already had other marriage plans, or he might not have wanted
to marry a Moabite, since the previous man who did, had died. It may be
that he was financially unable to redeem the land and Ruth.
4. He offers his redemption rights to Boaz. v. 6c
5. He takes off his shoe and gives it to Boaz. v. 7-8. This signified his
public agreement that he gave the right to tread upon the inheritance to
Boaz. See Deut. 25:5-10; Josh. 1:3; and Psa. 60:8. This unnamed kinsman
now drops out of history. Little did he know what a great blessing he missed.
He may be looked upon as a type of the law which could not redeem, and of
man who also could not redeem.
II. THE KINSMAN WHO WAS WILLING TO REDEEM. v. 9-22
A. Boaz Makes The Redemption. v. 9-10
1. He redeemed the land. v. 9. "Ye are
witnesses this day" clearly shows that the 10 elders and the others,
were legal witnesses of this transaction.
2. He redeemed Ruth. v. 10. Boaz paid the price of redemption, and so did
Christ. Eph. 5:25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it. Boaz a wealthy man did not need
the land, but he did it because his real interest was in Ruth. He is mighty
to save and strong to deliver. He is not ashamed of "Ruth the Moabitess"
and publicly announces he will marry her.
B. Boaz And Ruth Are Wed. v. 11-13
1. The people desire Ruth to be fruitful. v.
11a
2. The people desire Boaz to be worthy and famous. v. 11b
3. The people desire Boaz and Ruth to be like Pharez and Tamar. v. 12. All
the tribes of Judah sprang from five families of whom Pharez and Tamar were
one.
4. Boaz and Ruth married. v. 13a
5. Obed is born. v. 13b. Boaz (Jew) took Ruth (Gentile) into Davidec ancestry
and the Messianic line; and Ruth representatively takes all the Gentiles
with her.
What Star of Messianic truth,
More beautiful than Gentile Ruth?
In her the Gentiles find a place,
To share the hope of Judah's race;
Now see from royal David's line,
One hope for Jew and Gentile shine!
C. Naomi's Great Blessing. v. 14-17
1. Naomi (a type of the believing Jewish remnant)
also blessed by the Lord, because of Boaz the redeemer. v. 14a
2. Obed is also a type of Christ. v. 14b. When connected with v. 14, we
see that it is Obed in this verse who is the kinsman and not Boaz.
3. What the son will do for Naomi. v. 15a. "A restorer of thy life,
and a nourisher of thine old age."
4. Ruth (a type of the Church) is better than seven sons. v. 15b
5. Naomi the happy grandmother. v. 16. She did what good grandmothers do.
6. The naming of Obed, the grandfather of David. v. 17. "Obed"
means worshiper and server.
D. Part Of The Genealogy Of Our Kinsman-Redeemer.
See Matt. 1:3-6, And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias. Luke 3:31-33, Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, Matthew contains the genealogy of Joseph and Luke that of Mary. How significant this genealogy: Boaz, Obed, David, Jesus Christ. Matt. 1:1, The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The book of Ruth begins with a famine and funerals, but it ends with a beautiful romance, a happy marriage, and a smiling baby boy. We see here once again that God's grace leads from darkness to light!
Ruth a type of the Church: 1) a stranger, 2) destitute, 3) a Gentile, 4) bids farewell to her past, 5) enters Canaan, 6) possesses the land, 7) dwells in Bethlehem, 8) serves in the field, 9) helps in the harvest, 10) feasts with the lord of the harvest, 11) obeys his word, 12) abandons her all to him, 13) keeps clean and anointed, 14) supplicates, 15) rests in faith at his feet, 16) and becomes his happy bride.
Boaz a type of Christ: 1) Lord of the harvest, 2) Powerful and rich, 3) Compassionate and kind, 4) Interested in both Jews and Gentiles, 5) Provides for all, 6) Welcomes Ruth into his service, 7) Speaks comfort to her heart, 8) Purchased Ruth for himself, 9) Covered her with his robe, 10) Protected her and blessed her, 11) Redeemed her fully and completely, 12) And unites her to himself in marriage. W. G. Heslop
—by E. L. Bynum
1. Why did Boaz go to the gate of the city?
2. What was the purpose of the 10 elders?
3. State the three tests of the kinsman-redeemer.
4. Why was the land sold? When would it revert to its heirs?
5. Why was the other kinsman unwilling to redeem?
6. What is the meaning of the taking off of the shoe?
7. Do you think that Boaz's main interest was in the land, or in Ruth?
8. Name the son born to Boaz and Ruth.
9. What is the significance of the genealogy of this chapter?
10. Quote the memory verse.
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