A Walk Through the Bible With Bro. Bill Parker

1. Praise Chapel Puget Sound A Walk Through the BibleWith Bro. Bill Parker Lesson 6 The Book of Ruth The Romance of Redemption

2. A Walk Through the Bible ● Ruth is one of the most significant books in the Old Testament for the Church.

3. A Walk Through the Bible • Chapter 1 is “Love’s resolve”, where Ruth cleaves to Naomi. 2. Chapter 2 is “Love’s Response”, Ruth’s gleaning.

4. A Walk Through the Bible • Chapter 3 is “Love’s Request”, a pivotal threshing floor scene. • Chapter 4 is “Love’s Reward”, The redemption of both the land for Naomi and a bride for Boaz.

5. A Walk Through the Bible ● The story takes place in the days of the judges. It is interesting to note that in Bethlehem (The House of Bread) there was no bread, but a famine.

6. A Walk Through the Bible • A man named Elimelech (my God is King) who with his wife Naomi (pleasant) and their two sons left Bethlehem because of the famine and went to live in Moab.

7. A Walk Through the Bible 2. The book of Leviticus tells us that famine indicates a low level of spiritual vitality within the chosen nation. 3. In Moab, Elimelech died and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilionmarried women of Moab, Ruth and Orpah.

8. A Walk Through the Bible • After 10 years the two sons also died and Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law. • Things were looking better back home in Bethlehem so Naomi decides to return home.

9. A Walk Through the Bible • Naomi releases the daughters-in- law and encourages them to find new husbands since they were young. 7. Orpah decides to stay with her people in Moab, but Ruth (which means desirable) remained with Naomi.

10. A Walk Through the Bible 8. Ruth’s commitment to Naomi (chap. 1:16-17) is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. It was impressive; she was a very impressive person.

11. A Walk Through the Bible ● In Chapter 2 Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest with a very uncertain future. ● The Bible says that Ruth went into the fields to glean. One must understand the Levitical law of gleaning. It was a form of welfare.

12. A Walk Through the Bible 1. If you were a landowner, your reapers could only go through the field once, and only once. 2. Whatever they missed was left for widows, orphans, and the destitute.

13. A Walk Through the Bible ● Ruth had been gleaning in a portion of a field owned by Boaz. 1. Boaz happens to be a close relative of Naomi’s dead husband Elimelech.

14. A Walk Through the Bible • Boaz has heard the story of Naomi and Ruth’s return to Bethlehem. 3. He commends Ruth for her kindness to her mother-in-law.

15. A Walk Through the Bible • Acting with restraint and dignity he is attracted to Ruth. • Boaz instructs his workers to leave extra grain for Ruth to glean.

16. A Walk Through the Bible 6. Naomi learns that Ruth has been gleaning in the fields of Boaz, and that Boaz is a relative.

17. A Walk Through the Bible ● In chapter 3 Naomi explains that Boaz is a kinsman and she is aware of The Law of Redemption, and instructs Ruth what to do.

18. A Walk Through the Bible • By going to Boaz and lying at his feet, she is essentially asking Boaz to fulfill the responsibility of a kinsman to marry her and raise up heirs to the deceased Elimelech.

19. A Walk Through the Bible 2. That night the men worked the threshing floor, the work usually could not be completed in one night. The landowner and his key workers would sleep by the grain.

20. A Walk Through the Bible 3. Ruth went and quietly laid down and slept at Boaz’s feet. When he awoke he realized she was there.

21. A Walk Through the Bible 4. Ruth asks Boaz to cover her with his skirt. The hem of the skirt was a symbol of authority and stature. It was asking for his protection and to marry her. 5. Boaz was older than Ruth and gladly accepted the responsibility.

22. A Walk Through the Bible ● There was one little problem… Boaz tells Ruth there is a closer relative. 1. Boaz gave Ruth six measures of grain to take home to Naomi. This was a message that he would not rest until the issue was resolved.

23. A Walk Through the Bible ● Chapter 4 has Boaz at the gate of the city for a meeting. 1. Boaz tells the nearer kinsman that Naomi had a piece of land to sell, and needed a redeemer. The nearer kinsman says it’s no problem.

24. A Walk Through the Bible 2. But Boaz said, “By the way, the man that does this also has to take Ruth to bride”. 3. The nearer kinsman replied he could not do that, he would lose his inheritance.

25. A Walk Through the Bible 4. The nearer kinsman takes off his shoe and gave it to Boaz as a symbol of yielding the opportunity or the obligation. 5. Boaz purchased the land for Naomi and purchased Ruth as his bride.

26. A Walk Through the Bible This concludes our review of The Book of Ruth