During the bleak days of the Book of Judges, one might wonder what was happening to God's promise to Abraham about his descendants living in the Promised Land, growing into a great nation, and eventually blessing the whole world. Now begins the Book of Ruth--only a few pages, but a vitally important book in watching God's hand move among His people.
The author of Ruth is unknown. The book was most likely written during David's reign, recording events that took place toward the end of the time of the judges.
Ruth was a foreigner from Moab who had married an Israelite. When her husband died, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and live in Israel. Ruth's love for Naomi meant great sacrifice. Ruth had to leave behind her culture, her language, and her people in order to care for Naomi and ensure her well being. Ruth chose to worship the God of Israel--and God chose her to be in the line of His Son. Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David, and you'll see her name in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:5.
A key concept in this book is "kinsman-redeemer" or family redeemer. That word, pictures a near relative who takes responsibility for a family in difficulty. Ruth and Naomi were widows; Boaz, their close relative, stepped in to provide for them. Through him, they had protection, provision, and inheritance.
This very term, "kinsman-redeemer," can be ascribed to Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer who came to earth to save us. By His death on the cross we have protection, provision and an inheritance--heaven itself.
Under the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, there is a room in which, it is said Jesus was born. An old tradition says that the same room was part of the ancestral home of David, and before David, of Boaz and Ruth. Thus, according to this tradition, Boaz took Ruth to be his bride, and started the Family that was to bring Christ into the world, in the Very Same Room in which, 1100 years later, Christ Himself was born.
The Genealogy - Ruth 4:17-22, showing Ruth's son to be Obed, Obed's son to be Jesse, and Jesse's son to be David, is the thing for which the Book of Ruth was written. Thenceforth Old Testament thought centers around the Coming King of Kings, to be born in David's line.
God Bless,
Dan
The author of Ruth is unknown. The book was most likely written during David's reign, recording events that took place toward the end of the time of the judges.
Ruth was a foreigner from Moab who had married an Israelite. When her husband died, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and live in Israel. Ruth's love for Naomi meant great sacrifice. Ruth had to leave behind her culture, her language, and her people in order to care for Naomi and ensure her well being. Ruth chose to worship the God of Israel--and God chose her to be in the line of His Son. Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David, and you'll see her name in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:5.
A key concept in this book is "kinsman-redeemer" or family redeemer. That word, pictures a near relative who takes responsibility for a family in difficulty. Ruth and Naomi were widows; Boaz, their close relative, stepped in to provide for them. Through him, they had protection, provision, and inheritance.
This very term, "kinsman-redeemer," can be ascribed to Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer who came to earth to save us. By His death on the cross we have protection, provision and an inheritance--heaven itself.
Under the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, there is a room in which, it is said Jesus was born. An old tradition says that the same room was part of the ancestral home of David, and before David, of Boaz and Ruth. Thus, according to this tradition, Boaz took Ruth to be his bride, and started the Family that was to bring Christ into the world, in the Very Same Room in which, 1100 years later, Christ Himself was born.
The Genealogy - Ruth 4:17-22, showing Ruth's son to be Obed, Obed's son to be Jesse, and Jesse's son to be David, is the thing for which the Book of Ruth was written. Thenceforth Old Testament thought centers around the Coming King of Kings, to be born in David's line.
God Bless,
Dan
