Ruth 1 - 4: A Love Story
INTRODUCTION.
A. The story of Naomi and Ruth is a refreshing story in amidst the roller-coaster cycles of obedience and disobedience seen in the history of Israel.
B. The story of Ruth is a love story filled with selflessness, love, and loyalty. It is a story that begins in sorrow and ends in joy.
C. While the author of the book has been left unnamed, the time period of the story is easily determined. The story of Ruth takes place three generations before David was appointed as king over Israel. This time period would have been during the time of the judges.
D. Let us begin with the tragedy of Naomi’s family.
I. TRAGEDY STRIKES NAOMI’S FAMILY. (1:1-22)
A. After moving to Moab because of a famine, Elimelech, the husband of Noami, died. Naomi’s two sons took wives, Ruth and Orpah. After dwelling in Moab ten years, Noami’s sons died. (1:1-5)
B. Noami urged her two daughter-in-laws to return to their own people. Orpah left and Ruth stayed with Noami. (1:6-18)
C. Noami and Ruth traveled to Bethlehem. (1:19-22)
II. RUTH FINDS FAVOR IN THE EYES OF BOAZ. (2:1-23)
A. Ruth went to glean heads of grain in the field of Boaz. She caught the attention of Boaz. (2:1-7)
B. Boaz told his men to take care of Ruth. They were to let her drink and eat. They were to drop extra grain for her to glean. (2:8-16)
C. Ruth worked till evening. She returned home and told Noami all that had happened. Ruth continued to glean until the end of the barley and wheat harvest. (2:17-23)
III. BOAZ CHOSE TO TAKE RUTH AS HIS WIFE. (3:1 - 4:22)
A. Noami wanted to find rest or security for Ruth. Noami gave Ruth instructions on what to do to see if Boaz would provide that security. (3:1-5)
B. Ruth went to Boaz to lie at his feet. Ruth asked Boaz to provide rest (security) since he was a near kinsman. (3:6-9)
C. Boaz told Ruth that there was a kinsman nearer to Ruth than he. Boaz told Ruth to go and wait to see if the other kinsman would choose to perform the duty of the kinsman. (3:10-13)
D. Ruth stayed the night and left in the early morning. Boaz sent her to Noami with six ephahs of barley. (3:14-18)
E. Boaz asked the other kinsman if he was willing to buy the field of Noami from Noami and Ruth. The other kinsman chose not to exercise the duty of a kinsman. He therefore passed the right to Boaz. (4:1-12)
F. Boaz performed the duty of a kinsman and took Ruth to be his wife. Ruth conceived and bore a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. (4:13-22)
IV. LESSONS LEARNED:
A. We can learn a lesson of selflessness, love and loyalty.
1. Ruth could have chosen to return to her family in Moab. Instead, she chose to stay with Noami and help provide for Noami. Ruth was selfless, loving, and loyal to Noami. (Ruth 2:11-12)
2. Followers of God are to likewise be selfless, loving, and loyal . . .
a. In their relationship with Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:24-26)
b. With their family members. (Colossians 3:18-21; I Timothy 5:8)
c. With brethren in Christ. (Romans 12:10; 15:1-6)
d. With all mankind, including their enemies. (Galatians 6:10; Matthew 5:43-48)
B. We can learn a lesson from the gleaning process.
1. Ruth went through the fields gleaning from what the gathers had dropped. (Ruth 2:2-6)
a. Glean is from the Hebrew word laqat {law-kat’} which means to pick up, gather, glean, gather up.
b. The Old Law required that gleaning be permitted. (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22)
2. Under the new covenant of Jesus Christ, we find that we are to help those who are in need as we have the opportunity.
a. Ephesians 4:28
b. Matthew 25:31-46
C. No matter what your ethnic background, social background, or behavioral background may be, you can play a part in the fulfilling of God’s will.
1. Ruth, a Moabitess, married Boaz and gave birth to Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. As both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 reveals, Jesus was born into the family line of David. (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38)
2. Just as Ruth played a part in God’s will for man, you too can do God’s will, no matter what your background may be.
a. God’s will for you is that you repent and turn to Him. (II Peter 3:9)
(1) Jesus said, “. . . whoever believes in Him should not perish. . .” (John 3:16)
(2) Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; . . .” (Mark 16:16)
(3) There is no limit on who can be saved as long as that person believes and obeys the commands of Christ to repent and be baptized. (Cf. Acts 2:38) All their past sins will be forgiven.
b. God’s will is for Christians to teach the lost. (Matthew 28:18-20)
c. God’s will is for Christians to help restore a brother who has turned away from the Lord. (Galatians 6:1-4; James 5:19-20)
CONCLUSION.
A. As I stated in the beginning of this lesson, the book of Ruth is one of selflessness, love, and loyalty. As we stand many centuries removed from the time of this story, we can, nevertheless, glean great lessons . . .
1. of selflessness, love and loyalty,
2. of helping those who are in need,
3. of serving the Lord, no matter what our background may be.
B. If you are not a Christian, begin a life of selflessness, love, and loyalty by turning to Jesus Christ and obeying His command to believe and be baptized. (Mark 16:16) Just as Ruth made the right choices within her life, so too can you begin to make the right choices today.
------------------------------------
Ruth 1 - 4: A Love Story -- February 3, 2002 -- File # 671
by John M. Duvall – Lawton, OK