Some minor Ruth highlights

Ruth
Chapter 1-
v. 1- God in his ordinances is concerned with a certain man. Our small ordinances fall within God’s mighty care.
Why go to Moab? Human sacrifice was made here, they are lines of incest and outcast. Chemosh was the god idol. Why not go somewhere where Yahweh was worshipped? Was this distrust n the providence of God.
God’s providence covers up our mistakes, when we are faithless he is faithful.
v.2 The significance of the names?
1. Elimilech- God is my King My God is king- was he? Why not trust in the famine?
2. Naomi- pleasant
3. mahlon- sick
4. chilion- annihalation
The sons of Elimilech are marrying worshippers of Chemosh, foreign. Ten years go by and no children for the sons in moab. How can Naomi be saved? A child must be born.
There was plenty in the land of Moab while sacarcity in Israel.
v.3-5 – The men died along with their names. The author is piling up one disaster after another in Naomi’s life. Even the unbearable is in God’s providential care. The book opend with the worst possible circumstances for an individual, even the death of children
Parallels Psalm 1 – stand soujourn, sit in the seat of mockers (Moabites).
v.6-18
They were both kind in accompanying her half way to the land of Judah, and Naomi an Israelite had won their love for her kindness. Regardless of what the faith is it is necessary to live in love towards that person.
Naomi reminds them of her afflicted condition despite their wanting to accompany her. The bitternes of this situation is that she did not have the means to give the girls what they wanted.
Persuading the girls to come to Judah where Yahweh is worshipped is different than having them choose to do so. Ruth is compeled by the love of God. Converts of persuasion are of short value and continuance. Orpah bade Naomi farewell forever, she could not forsake her land for the sake f Judah. Many will believe in the name of Christ but not forsake all things. Orpah returns to her idol worship.
Ruth refuses to forsake Naomi despite all of the hardships involved. Ruth is willing to travel down any road whether pleasant or unpleasant, forsaking the idols of Moab, she will go in faith. Most likely the idols did nothing for Ruth, she saught what Naomi had, the God of Israel.
Ruth lovs Naomi as an example of how we are to love Chris This God I will lodge with a die with and rise again to be with. Ultimate expression of love. When we take God for our God we are to take his people for our people though poor and despised. We are to fare as other Christians fare, mission, for all the nations.
v. 19-22
Returning at the beginning of the barley harvest gave them an opportunity to provide for winter. They had returned to God in Judah and he was blessing them already.
Now it is believed that Naomi was aristocracy and now she returned bare, broken and filled with affliction. Is this Naomi? Her friends didn’t recognize her as well. Change can alter things very fast, this is why we put our hope in God alone.
Curious to know what happened to Orpah after returning to idols God’s grace will get us through all change, especially the last enemy, death. Naomi sees the hand of God in tis matter, he that empties his creatures knows how to fil us with himself.
ALL AFFLICTIONS HAVE THE HAND OF GOD IN THEM.
Tribulation works patience, wisdom and fuels faith and hope, allowing us to love and help those who suffer after us.
Chapter 2 Ruth meets Boaz
v.1-3
Boaz- his name is strength, in the family of Elimilech, brought so low. The food is to be corn for their portion. There is no bitterness but willingness to glean ears of corn. Ruth trusted providence from God to raise up a friend that would show her kindness. A young missionary who goes out afraid can trust that God will provide guidance and direction. Matthew 6.
Many a great thing is brought out by a little turn.
Boaz is a good master, taking care of servants and of Ruth. Boaz was kind to the workers and they returned favor to his gentleness.
1. Ruth was a stranger and by law was to glean the field.
2. Allied t the family
3. She was a gentile
4. She was modest only taking what she could get
5. Diligent in work
The language and dress may have differed plus her modest run down physical appearance.
Ruth 2:10- a great deal of humility and gratitude.
Boaz must have seen Ruth’s new found faith in Yahweh, a faith grounded in faith hope and love. Ruth trusts alone in grace, a mark of her new God. Ruth does not stand on er rights to glean the field but comes in humility and hope of a better future than has been her lot in former times.
11-16
Boaz’s kindness
v. 17-23
Ruth works until night and reports particular kindness received by Boaz. Ruth gathers to save for winter. Proverbs 6:6-8
Chapter 3
V1-5 – The directions on how to claim Boaz for Ruth’s husband.
1. To raise up seed and prserve the family from being exstinct after the death of her husband and sons.
2. To find Ruth rest and a spouse
The suspicious course, very unordinary
Why not remind Boaz that he had the rights as redeemer (not knowing there was a closer) tell Boaz to take her. Why not remind him of his duty?
Duet 25 7-9 shows us that the woman was to anoint herself and make the demand for marriage. Boaz was to continue the lineage of his fathers.
This may look suspicious but it is not a proposal for fornication or evil. Boaz being a righteous man and ruth being a woman of noble character would have questioned this idea. Since she obeyed it is clear she was proposing herself to him in faith and not for sexual relation. Naomi designed nothing but what was honorable and modest.
v. 6-13
Ruth proposed that Boaz redeem her, her cause was just. Ruth did not come out of sinful lust but honor that maintained through the night.
Despite his desire to have her there was a kinsman nearer than he who had the rights to her. In faith he left his desires to God’s providence. God is willing to work out good things for the righteous.
Instead of fondling her, Boaz blessed her as a father, encouraged her as a friend, promised her a redeemer, gives her hopes and gifts, no less chaste, happier than when she came. Boaz’s treatment of Ruth is Christ’s treatment of us.
v. 14-18
Ruth had not come back reviled but with a promise of redemption. After encountering Christ we are not cast down but promised to eat of his supper, the body and blood of the new covenant.
Boaz was to resolve the matter having it ultimately rest in the arms of God’s good Providence.
Chapter 4
v.1-8
The first redeemer would not have Ruth as to mar his inheritance. The rights to ruth are now passed to Boaz, the kinsman redeemer. The transaction was complete by the removal and exchanging of the sandal.
The one kinsman who was concerned with maring his inheritance was never to be named again. The one thing we try to prevent is inevitable to happen if we take matters into our own hands. It is necessary to have faith.
Boaz was dignified to be in the lineage of Christ. The elders pray for Boaz and Ruth.
Ruth is brought into the lineage of both David and Christ.
The mother of Boaz is Rahab- the harlot. Boaz treated Ruth with love perhaps due to Israe’ls treatment of his mother.