INTRODUCTION:

A. Amidst the violence and sin in the time of the judges, the events of Ruth took place.
B. The Bible contains many different types of literatures including Ruth, a love story.
 The book of Ruth is included to show the family from which Christ was to come 
 (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:5).
D. Ruth was a Gentile who became a believer in the true God (Ruth 1:16).
 1. Moabites were descended from Lot (Genesis 19:30-38).
 2. They worshiped Chemosh, an idol (Numbers 21:29).

DISCUSSION:

I. “THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND” (CHAPTER ONE).

 A. Elimelech of Judah took his wife and sons to live in Moab.
  1. This betrayed a lack of faith in God.
  2. Mahlon (Sickly) and Chilion (Pining, Consumption) married in Moab 
   (Deuteronomy 23:3; I Kings 11:1,2).
  3. Elimelech and both his sons died in Moab.
 B. Naomi (Pleasant) decided to return to Judah.
 
1. Orpah and Ruth accompanied her to the border.
  2. Naomi pleaded with them to return to their people, but    Ruth would not go (Ruth 1:16,17).
 
II. “NAOMI HAD A KINSMAN OF HER HUSBAND’S” (CHAPTER TWO).

 A. Boaz was the son of Salmon and Rahab (Matthew 1:5; Ruth 4:21).
 B. Ruth’s “hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz”; God’s providence 
  was at work (Leviticus 19:9,10). 
 C. Boaz showed kindness to her because of the kindness she had shown to Naomi (Galatians 6:7).

III. “NAOMI SAID...SHALL I NOT SEEK REST FOR THEE?” (CHAPTER THREE).

 A. The Law of Moses stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother (levir) was to marry his
  widow and raise up an heir for him (Genesis 38; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Matthew 22:23-33).
 B. Naomi sent Ruth to the threshing floor to meet Boaz.
  1. There was nothing indiscreet in this although Prof. Andre Resner at ACU tried to 
   make it appear as such:  
   “And Ruth…’dear, sweet Ruth.’  Well, just what was she doing out there at the 
   threshing floor at Boaz’s feet?  And why did he want her to stay all night, yet 
   leave before daylight, and not let anybody see her?  Hmmm.”
     (“Christmas at Matthew’s House,” WINESKINS, Nov. 1992, 5-7). 
  2. Ruth asked Boaz to do the part of a kinsman according to the Law, but there was
   one nearer of kin than he. 
 
IV. “BOAZ WENT UP TO THE GATE” (CHAPTER FOUR).

 A. He gave the nearer kinsman opportunity to redeem Elimelech’s land, but he declined when 
  he found out that Ruth was a part of the deal.B. Boaz married Ruth, Obed was born to them, and Naomi was comforted in her old age.
 C. Obed became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David, thereby establishing the 
  family from which the Savior came.

CONCLUSION:

A. Ruth is one of only five women referred to in the genealogy of Jesus  (Matthew 1:1-17).
 When Benjamin Franklin was the United States ambassador to France, he attended the meetings 
 of a learned society of scholars, most of whom ridiculed the Bible.
 1. When it came Franklin's turn to present a paper to the society, he read the book of Ruth, 
  not telling them it was from the Bible.
 2. The learned scholars highly praised the work as a literary masterpiece.
 3. They were embarrassed when they learned it was from the Book they held in such low 
  esteem.
 

         Rod Rutherford