The Book of RUTH
James J. Barker

— Chapter 1 —

 

Text: RUTH 1


INTRODUCTION:

  1. Today we will start a series on the book of Ruth.
  2. The time frame – the same time as the book of Judges (Ruth 1:1). These were the darkest days in the history of Israel (cf. Judges 21:25).
  3. "During the period of compromise, corruption, and confusion, this lovely story takes place. It is light in the midst of darkness. This is the way God writes, is it not? He writes the story of salvation on the black background of sin, and He put this lovely little story on the black background of the time of the judges" – J. Vernon McGee.
  4. Scofield’s four-point outline is good and easy to remember:
    1. RUTH DECIDING (CHAPTER 1)
    2. RUTH SERVING (CHAP.2)
    3. RUTH RESTING (CHAP.3)
    4. RUTH REWARDED (CHAP.4)
  1. One of the most interesting things about Ruth is that she was a Gentile, a Moabitess, and her husband was descended from Rahab the harlot. Remember, they are in the genealogy of our Lord (cf. Matt.1:5). This illustrates the grace of God!
  2. Tradition (e.g. the Talmud) has it that Samuel wrote the book of Ruth but the Bible does not say. The book ends with a reference to King David and Samuel anointed David as king (Ruth 4:22).
  3. The best story that I have heard concerning the book of Ruth involves the great American statesman and inventor, Benjamin Franklin.
  4. While serving in the French court he heard many of the French aristocrats ridiculing the Bible. So Franklin wrote out the entire book of Ruth in longhand (only 85 verses), only changing all the names to French names. Then he read the story to a group of snooty Frenchmen.
  5. They all exclaimed on the elegance and simplicity of style. They all thought it was a beautiful story. They asked him: "Monsieur Franklin, where did you find this gem of literature?"
  6. He told them that it was from the very Book that they despised – the Bible, God’s Holy Word.
  7. The key word in this story is "redeem," and another key word is "kinsman." Boaz, the "Kinsman-Redeemer," is a type of Christ who redeems his Gentile bride.
  1. NAOMI’S MISFORTUNES
    1. Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, was a "certain man of Bethlehem-Judah" ("House of Bread and Praise") who left on account of famine and went down to Moab (1:1).
    2. His name means "my God is King" but he was not acting like God was his king.
    3. Unfortunately, there are many people like Elimelech in our churches today – when things get rough, they bail out. There is no indication in the Bible that Elimelech had any business leaving Bethlehem and going down to Moab, a heathen country (cf. Deut.23:3-6).
    4. Abraham went to Egypt to escape the famine and he had no business going to Egypt (a picture and type of the world).
    5. J. Vernon McGee says that there are thirteen famines in the Bible and they always represent judgment from God.
    6. The Lord Jesus Christ, "the bread of life," and "the living bread which came down from heaven" (John 6:35,50,51) was born in Bethlehem.
    7. Bethlehem is here called "Bethlehem-judah" to distinguish it from the other Bethlehem in Zebulun (Joshua 19:10-15). The Bethlehem that Elimelech was from, the town where our Lord was born, used to be called "Ephrath" (Gen.35:19; cf. Micah 5:2).
    8. Naomi’s name means "pleasant one," but she had her share of misfortunes (cf. 1:19-21). She had to leave behind the "house of bread" for the pagan land of Moab, and then Elimelech died and left her a widow with two sons (1:2,3).
    9. Her sons were sickly – one was called Mahlon (name means "a sick person") and the other was called Chilion ("wasting away"). They married heathen wives and then they died (1:4,5).
    10. They were wrong to marry Moabites (cf. Ezra 9:1,2; Neh.13:23-25), but God in His grace saved Ruth and allowed her descendant, David, to become king of Israel.
  1. RUTH’S DECISION OF FAITH
    1. Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem when she heard that there was food there (1:6).
    2. But when she urged her two daughters-in-law to go back to Moab, only Orpah went back (1:7-14). "But Ruth ("Friendship") clave unto her" (1:14).
    3. One preacher said that Naomi was a "grieving widow," stripped of the earthly joys of a husband and family by God’s judgment; Orpah was a "leaving widow," leaving Naomi to return to the worldly comforts of Moab; but Ruth was a "cleaving widow," clinging to her mother-in-law, in spite of her discouraging words (1:12-15).
    4. When Ruth chose a new life with Naomi, she knew it would not be easy. She would be leaving her family and friends and going to a new land without a husband to provide for her.
    5. These beautiful words are often quoted in wedding ceremonies (1:16,17).
    6. What we see in Ruth is genuine and real repentance. Orpah shed many tears but went back to Moab. Ruth made a sincere decision to receive Naomi’s God (1:16b).
    7. Naomi could see that she was "stedfasly minded to go with her" (1:18).
  1. THEIR ARRIVAL IN BETHLEHEM
    1. By God’s providence, it was the beginning of the barley harvest (1:22), the season of firstfruits (typifying our Lord’s resurrection).
    2. Naomi represents all backsliders – she went out full but came back empty (1:19-22).
    3. But better late than never. As I said it was a good time to arrive in Bethlehem – a providential time. Soon Ruth would be working in the fields of Boaz, her Kinsman-Redeemer and future husband.

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