The Whole Story
The book of Ruth is more than a love story — it
is a story of redemption, providence, and faithfulness that foreshadows the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds herself in a
desperate situation, yet through her faith, steadfastness, and divine guidance,
she becomes part of God’s redemptive plan.
This week's lesson will explore the major themes of
Ruth, including God’s sovereignty, Ruth’s faith, and Boaz’s role as a
kinsman-redeemer, a role that points ultimately to Christ, our true Redeemer.
I would encourage you to read the full story of Ruth chapter's 1 - 4 as it's not a long read and it's important that you grasp the desperation and despair that is at stake here.
The book of Ruth is the story of tragic loss,
unimaginable grace, and God’s ability to redeem even the most broken of
circumstances. Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, find themselves in a horribly
broken and hopeless situation as both of their husbands are dead, they are
separated from the people of God, and they have no prospects of financial
provision.
Have you been here? Are you here right now?
RUTH 1:1-5 and 4:13-22
Beginning & End
Naomi Widowed
1 In the days when the judges ruled there was
a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the
country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was
Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were
Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went
into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of
Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the
name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there
about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left
without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth and Boaz Marry
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his
wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a
son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left
you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He
shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your
daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given
birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his
nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has
been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the
father of David.
The Genealogy of David
18 Now these are the generations of Perez:
Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20
Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz,
Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David
The
Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ruth
1:1-5, Ruth 4:13-22
How does Boaz’s role as a kinsman-redeemer
foreshadow Christ’s work of redemption?
How do we see God’s invisible hand at work in
the “coincidences” of Ruth’s story?
What does Ruth’s transformation from an
outsider to a covenant member teach us about the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s
redemptive plan?
Naomi’s suffering led to Ruth’s redemption — how
does this reflect the greater biblical theme of God using suffering for His
redemptive purposes?
How does Boaz’s willingness to redeem Ruth
contrast with the law’s inability to redeem, and how does this point us to
Christ?
END
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