The Redeeming Love of Christ in the Book of Ruth

1. Ruth: an introductionRuth 1:1-5

2. Introduction: • 2Ti 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

3. Psa 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. • Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. • Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

4. Author: Unknown • 1Th. 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Place: • Land of Moab. Ruth 1:1-18 • A field in Bethlehem. Ruth 1:19-2:23 • A Threshing floor in Bethlehem. Ruth 3:1-18 • The City of Bethlehem. Ruth 4:1-22

6. Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea. The Moabites, descendant of Lot, worship Chemosh and other pagan gods. The Bible records two times when they fought against Israel (Judges 3:12-3- and 1 Sam. 14:47).

7. Time Frame: • During the judges of Israel. • A time of apostasy, warfare, decline, violence, moral decay and lawlesness. • Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

8. Jesus Christ in the book of Ruth: Jesus is shown as the kinsman redeemer. • Requirements of the kinsman-redeemer. • He must be related by blood to those he redeems. • Deu 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.

9. Deu25:7-10 And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. 8) Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9) Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house. 10) And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

10. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. • Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

11. Php2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

12. Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

13. Requirements of the kinsman-redeemer. • Be able to pay the price of redemption. • Rth 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. • 1Pe 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

14. Requirements of the kinsman-redeemer. • Be willing to redeem. • Rth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? • Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. • Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

15. Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. • Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

16. Requirements of the kinsman-redeemer. • Be free himself. • 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

17. Important reminders from Ruth: • The kinsman appears 13 times in Ruth and basically means “one who redeems.” By buying back the land of Naomi, as well as marrying Ruth and fathering a son to keep the family line alive, Boaz acts as a redeemer.

18. Important reminders from Ruth: • Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

19. Important reminders from Ruth: • Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. • Ruth 4: In 22 verses Ruth moves from widowhood and poverty to marriage and wealth. In fulfilling the law, Boaz brings a Moabite woman into the family line of David and eventually Jesus Christ.

20. Matt. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.