Agere Sequitur Esse

Ruth

Book of Ruth

Notes.. .

. ..Introduction. Authorship is unknown. Written to show how three people could remain strong in character and true to God even when society around them were collapsing. People include Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. Places include Moab and Bethlehem.
. ..Themes. Faithfulness, Kindness, Integrity, Protection, and Prosperity and Blessing.
. ..Outline. “There are times when we ask where God is in times of crises and great pain. Is there any affirmation of God’s presence and power in the life of His people when they are wracked by the tragedies of life? The beautiful story of Ruth is God’s response to such questions” (William Seay 2019, L4 40:35–40:55).
. ..Application. “Ruth gives us a realistic portrait of life’s tragedies and frustrations. Most of us can readily identify with her” (Seay 2019, L5 02:48–02:58).
. ..Timeline. The story of Ruth is set in 1100.

Introduction. 37:25 – The purpose of Ruth was to show how three people could remain strong in character and true to God even when society around them were collapsing. The author of Ruth is unknown. The key people are Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. The key places are Moab and Bethlehem.

Themes. 38:00 – There are five major theological themes. (i) Faithfulness. Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi as a daughter-in-law and friend is a great example of love and loyalty. Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz were also faithful to God and His law. Throughout this story we see God’s faithfulness to His people. (ii) Kindness. Ruth showed great kindness to Naomi. In turn, Boaz showed kindness to Ruth; a despised Moabite woman. God showed His kindness to Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz by bringing them together for His purposes. (iii) Integrity. Ruth showed high and moral character by being loyal to Naomi. Her break from her former land and customs and by her hard work in the field. Boaz showed integrity in his moral standard, his honesty, and by following through on him commitments. (iv) Protection. We see God’s care and protection over the lives of Naomi and Ruth. His supreme control over circumstances brings them safety and security. He guides the minds and activities of people to fulfill His purpose. (v) Prosperity and Blessing. Ruth and Naomi went to Bethlehem as poor widows but soon became prosperous through Ruth’s marriage to Boaz. Ruth become the great grandmother of King David. The greatest blessing was not the money, marriage, or child but quality of love and respect between Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi.

Outline. 40:28 – There are times when we ask where God is in times of crises and great pain. Is there any affirmation of God’s presence and power in the life of His people when they are wracked by the tragedies of life? The beautiful story of Ruth is God’s response to such questions. Through the story of Ruth, likely, emerges from the early period of Israel a monarch, its message is as timely as a daily newspaper. The feel of the inspired writer and character of his message keeps the reader along until the story makes its impact. The key element is subtle yet powerful in the way the story unfolds its message is the character of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz but Naomi is the story’s key figure with whom the Spirit’s readers are invited to identify with. What happened to her and her family’s crises portrays the faith which can be awakened in our own struggle.

The book begins by introducing the family of Naomi and the tragedy that befell them. Naomi was understandably bitter at God and life itself. God’s presence seemed to be far from her; especially, because she had to move to foreign territory the land of the enemy. Her parting words to her daughter-in-law made clear that, for Naomi, God’s blessing was in the past. No hint of God’s presence or of His blessing were to be found in her tragic circumstances.

We cannot program God. His Word always seems to break through to call people closer to Himself. Trial and tragedy bring surprises and surprising responses from God’s people and from God. Naomi’s family sought to escape from the promised land. God moved mysteriously with them. Trial and tragedy may lead people to lose faith at the moment but cannot move God away from His people. God can use surprising people to accomplish His purpose. Moabites epitomize pagan worship. They serve as OT marvels for wrong and tempting worship yet through the Moabites Ruth became a haram of the story and the ancestress of the messiah. Human categories and boundaries do not limit God as He works out His promise and purpose.

Personal loyalty leads to surprising sacrifice. Ruth left her nation, her land, and her blood kind to follow her God to follow her mother-in-law back to a foreign land. God used such loyalty to accomplish His saving will for the family and though them for the world. The greatest surprise comes with God’s presence. 2:17 – God relieved Naomi’s bitterness by working though the kindness of Boaz, her relative, the foreign widow, Ruth. Through Boaz’s actions, God suddenly became the main hero of the story as He is of all of life. God is truly present in crises, needs, tragedy, and pain to redeem us in earthly trials and to provide an eternal redeemer.

Application. 2:42 – Ruth gives us a realistic portrait of life’s tragedies and frustrations. Most of us can readily identify with her. We identify especially with Naomi, the bitter one. Some identify with Ruth, the lonely foreigner. Some of the things we can learn and apply to our lives are loving loyalty may separate us from heritage and family, it may also lead us to God’s will for our life. In the moment of tragedy, God is present even if we are not aware of His presence. No person or people should be ignored or condemned. God may use the hated enemy to bring about our purpose for us. We need to be good neighbors to all people regardless of race, heritage, or culture. God may surprise us by the way He works through us to help others. God can be trusted in the darkest hour. We need not seek escape from tragedy to new places of opportunity but seek God’s presence and wait for Him to reveal His grace and fulfill His promise. Despair may be the only response we can give in the hour of tragedy. Despair is not the end of faith. Naomi became bitter but God continued to work to bless her and He will do the same for us. Helping us work our out through despair to faith and His redemption.

4:40, three was a great tragedy in Ruth’s life. What was it that made her so bitter at life and turn against God? The fact is, her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons died. That left her with two daughters-in-law, Oprah and Ruth, to take care of and care for.

Timeline. 5:25 – The story of Ruth takes place in c. 1100 BC.

Ref.

Seay, William. 2019. Old Testament Theology [MP3]. Andersonville Theological Seminary (ATS). Camilla, GA: ATS