Overview of the Book of Ruth

Moore's Corner Church

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The overview of the week for this Sunday is the Book of Ruth. Only two books in the

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Bible receive their names from women. Ruth is obviously one of them, Esther being the other.

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The Book of Ruth is considered a masterpiece in ancient literature. The story takes place in the time period of the judges, and we don't know who the author was.

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Some speculate Samuel. We don't really know, but it was likely written around the 10th century

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BC. The Book of Ruth tells of this woman, Ruth, a

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Moabite, who accepted the God of Israel. After the death of her husband, who was of the tribe of Judah, she decides to stay and live with her

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Jewish mother -in -law, Naomi. Because Naomi had instructed her, I have nothing here for you,

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I have no other sons, your husband is dead, go back to your people, the

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Moabites, and Ruth says, no, I'm going to stay here with you. Chapter 1, verse 16,

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Ruth says to Naomi, where you go, I will go, and where you stay,

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I will stay. Your people, this is the important part, your people will be my people, and your

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God, my God. So the Book of Ruth tells us several things.

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First, that being an Old Testament Jew wasn't as much about your Israeli bloodline as much as it was about your faithfulness to the

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God of Israel. Again, Ruth was a Moabite. The main theme of the book, however, is that of the kinsman redeemer.

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Ruth marries a man who fits that bill, the kinsman redeemer. His name was Boaz, and Boaz is seen as a type of Christ.

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So the concept of the kinsman redeemer, you say, well, what is that? It's basically a male relative who, according to the law of God, had the privilege slash responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in need.

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So he was to help or redeem them. And in the New Testament church, we recognize

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Christ as our kinsman redeemer because he is our relative.

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He is our brother, according to Hebrews 2 .11. He also redeems us because of our great need, and he's the only one who is able to do that.

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So this is really a great story. But in conclusion, Boaz and Ruth end up giving birth to a son.

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His name is Obed. He is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David, Israel's great king.

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And because of that, Ruth is included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.