Bible 101: Lesson 9

Ruth

The book of Ruth is a love story. Set in the turbulent times of the book of “Judges”, it tells the story of a heathen girl from Moab who married into the Israelite family of Naomi and Elimelech. Her father-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law all died, leaving the two young widows and the mother-in-law alone. Naomi decides to return to Israel, and urges her two daughters-in-law to return to their father’s house. Ruth refuses, swearing loyalty to Naomi and God.

Back in Bethlehem, Ruth meets Boaz. He is the son of Rahab, a former prostitute in the city of Jericho who sheltered the Israelite spies in Joshua chapter 2, and a close relative of her dead father-in-law. According to Lev. 25:25-28 and Deut. 5:5-10, Boaz has the right to be a kinsman-redeemer, to marry Ruth and perpetuate the line of Elimelech. He does, and the marriage produces Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David.

There are no direct Messianic prophecies in the book of Ruth, and the author is unknown. But it is a beautiful picture of what God does for us as kinsman-redeemer when we put our trust in him.

Contains no messianic prophecies.