Joshua/Judges/Ruth | Lesson 7 | Lesson Notes / Talking Points

SEARCHING FOR CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF RUTH / THE ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION / YAHWEH’S PREPARATION FOR HIS TRUE KING

Ruth, chapter 1 / Emptiness and Exile

I | INTRODUCTION / CONNECTIONS / CONTEXT

1 / “The Bible’s metanarrative [big story, whole story, all-encompassing story] begins in the garden of Eden, comes to its climax in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and culminates in the Lord’s return, when he will bring his redemptive work to consummate effect and usher in the new heavens and the new earth. The narrator of Ruth transparently tethers the book to this broader biblical storyline (cf. 1:1; 4:17b–22), thereby leading the audience to interpret its drama as one scene in the Bible’s metanarrative. Within the book of Ruth, several inner-biblical connections underscore the book’s ties to the larger biblical story. Outside the book, the Bible mentions the person of Ruth only once (Matt. 1:5), in the genealogy of “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Ruth’s inclusion in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus, Abraham’s and David’s greater son, is fitting since her inclusion among God’s covenant people represents partial fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3) and the book of Ruth concludes by pointing to God’s provision of David.” Mary Willson Hannah, ESV Expository Commentary, p. 682.

2 / We will begin our brief 4-part survey study of the Book of Ruth.

3 / Please keep in mind that our laser-focus is going to be the same as God’s focus was when He inspired the writing of this book in the original author [1 Peter 1.10-12]: our focus is SEARCHING FOR CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF RUTH! The Spirit of Christ who inspired this book knew where He was going: both in the telling of the Big Story, this story, and in the coming generations of human/redemptive History [remember: history is His-Story, the Story of CHRIST, THE KING OF KINGS!].

4 / The Book of Ruth is more than just a sweet love story … or valuable life-lessons. If we were looking only for a good moral human-interest or love story, or if all we wanted to do was to make some good applicable life-lessons, then we could outline the book by chapters like an author did in a commentary I have: ch 1, Till Death Do Us Part; ch 2, Boy Meets Girl; ch 3, Some Enchanted Evening; ch 4, Happily [for]Ever After. This outline is cute, catchy, and creative. But Ruth is more than just a sweet love story [though it is certainly that]; this is a ‘pre-enactment’ of the coming of Christ into our world to redeem us from our sins! This is a ‘prequel’ of the Gospel! This is the promise, pattern, and pointer to Christ as our Heavenly Husband who will come to take us and marry us to Himself forever! And, God The Holy Spirit knows that when He is inspiring the original narrator to write this story.

5 / So, THAT is what we are going to be reading, studying, and looking for: SEARCHING FOR CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF RUTH—THE ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION! This is a romance narrative on both levels, horizontally and vertically. The ‘horizontal’ romance is a ‘pre-enactment’ of the vertical romance yet to be revealed.

• ALSO…as a follow-up to the Book of Judges [“In those days there was no king in Israel…”], this Book of Ruth could also be themed “YAHWEH’S PREPARATION FOR HIS TRUE KING”!

6 / So, let’s get started by keep asking ourselves these three questions as we make our way through the scenes and movements of this story:

[1] Why did the narrator write this book? Of course, the main key answer is in ch 4.18-22—to trace and certify the ‘family tree’ of “the house and lineage of David” [Luke 1.26; 2.1-4] through whom Christ will be born.

• But there is also much to be learned about God’s Presence and Providence: especially how He faithfully fulfills His eternal, covenant Kingdom purposes through the obedience of His common, everyday  servants who remain faithful to Him even while everyone else around them is unfaithful.

[2] Why did the narrator write the words he wrote? We’ll note how the narrator teaches his lessons he wants us to learn by using very specific words. We’ll pay particular attention to the contexts and connotations of those words. We’ll also learn intended lessons by repetitions of words and contrasts

[3] Why did the narrator write the story the way he wrote it? …because without a doubt, the narrator wants us to see the hand of God, not only in the physical providences, but also in His larger redemptive plan for Israel and also for … the nations [as in “Moabites”]. I know all these questions will all weave in together, but also each question can be considered with much interest on its own merit…

II | OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 1

So, let’s get started on chapter 1…

THEME: Emptiness and Exile

MAJOR MOVEMENTS:

• v 1: The context
• vv 2-5: Naomi is emptied
• vv 6-14b: Naomi pleads with her two daughters-in-law to “return” [or ‘stay’] in their native home, Moab
• vv 14c-18: Ruth’s promise and response of love … she made a covenant ‘love’ commitment to Naomi, and made a profession of faith in Yahweh, the God of Israel
• vv 19-22: Naomi and Ruth return and arrive in Bethlehem

III | Ruth 1.1: The context

There are three key elements in this contextual setting:

1 / ‘when the judges ruled’ There are almost no nice words we could use to describe the days when the judges ruled: civil disorder, social unrest, violence, debauchery, perversions. And yet, in the midst of all this, God is still working out His sovereign and gracious plan of redemption

2 / ‘there was a famine’ The famine was no more a random, chance fluke of nature than God’s giving them bread later [v 6]. God intended for famine to bring them to repentance and back to Him

3 / ‘in the land’ The land was not just chattel or real estate … the land was God’s inheritance given to His people, and where He would dwell with them and bless them. To leave the land was to leave the Presence and blessing of Yahweh, their God [see Lev 25.23-24]. Watch for the repetitions of ‘land’ and ‘fields’ and for contrasts of ‘land’ and ‘country’ – between ‘Bethlehem’ and ‘Moab’

IV | Ruth 1.2-5: Naomi is emptied

1 / So here’s where the downward spiral into emptiness begins [see v 21]

2 / Their story begins in Bethlehem. The name means ‘house of bread’ [see also 1.6 & 2.14]. Micah 5.2 refers to Bethlehem as just an ‘insignificant’ village in Judah—viewing at it from a merely ‘horizontal’ perspective…human, physical point of view. And, even as far as the human author is concerned, Bethlehem’s distinction is just as the home village of David—who is Israel’s first God-anointed king…and from whom Christ will come! But God knows where He’s going with this Story!

3 / They all go to sojourn in the country of Moab. We can’t begin to feel the visceral cringe factor that ‘Moab’ would have had to an Israelite in that day [Gen 19.30-38; Num 22-25; Deut 23.3-6; Judges 3.12-14]. Moab was the son born to the incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters.

4 / Note the progress of ‘emptiness’: v 1 ‘famine’; v 3 ‘died’; v 3 ‘left with’; v 5 ‘died’; v 5 ‘left without.’ God is bringing Naomi to the painful and bitter end of herself and all her resources for joy – so He can bring her back to Himself and begin filling her with His fullness … and all of us are receiving the fullness of the blessing of Christ as a result of this…

V | Ruth 1.6-14b: Naomi pleads with her two daughters-in-law to “return” [or ‘stay’] in their native home, Moab

1 / This is obviously the bulk of the story in chapter 1 – the author begins in verse 6 with twelve repetitions of some form of the word ‘return / turn back / go back’: vv 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15 (x2), 16, 21, 22 (x2). Yahweh is ‘returning’ to Israel and ‘returning’ Israel to Himself!  NOTE: find at least 3 reasons why Naomi says Orpah and Ruth should ‘return’ back to their previous country and families [vv 8-13]

2 / God’s blessing is not in Moab – it is in ‘the land’ of His covenant promises. So God must devise the means to bring Naomi back to ‘the land’ … with Ruth—the Gentile Moabitess convert!

3 / The author also introduces another word in v 8: ‘kindly’ [from ‘chesed’]. This is the same word used so often in Scripture to speak of God’s covenant love and faithfulness. The word is often translated: ‘mercy’ / ‘steadfast love’ / ‘lovingkindness.’ God is obviously pointing to Himself as the covenant God of Israel [note Boaz’s covenant blessing on Ruth in ch 2.12]. …AND He is ‘pre-enacting’ how He will send Jesus Christ into our world as our Merciful Redeemer [see Lk 1.76-79]  

4 / Naomi also expresses her first grievous complaint against Yahweh’s treatment of her in how He has emptied her of all her fullness and joy [v 13]

VI | Ruth 1.14c-18: Ruth’s promise and response of love … she made a covenant commitment to Naomi, and made a profession of faith in Yahweh, the God of Israel

1 / v 14c begins the story of Ruth: “but Ruth clung to her…” [the same word found in Gen 2.24]

2 / Naomi again attempts to persuade Ruth to go back to her former people and gods – this was the only humanly reasonable recourse for Ruth

3 / But Naomi’s God—Yahweh of Israel—had won Ruth’s heart – and the commitment of her life

4 / Find and repeat the five promises / vows / commitments Ruth made to Naomi – and by extension, to Naomi’s God [vv 16-17]

5 / Think how these same promises/vows/commitments reflect the commitments of faith we make to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, when we believe on Him and follow Him

VII | Ruth 1.19-22: Naomi and Ruth return and arrive in Bethlehem

1 / v 19: “So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.” Yahweh is returning them to “the house of bread” – not just the bread of  physical food, but more … to the place where He had foreordained that our Redeemer would be born “in the fullness of time…”

2 / This is where they must be to establish the human family lineage to God’s Christ / Messiah – who will come to redeem Israel AND the nations from our sins [see Luke 1.26; 2.1-7; Matthew 2.1-6]

3 / All Bethlehem was abuzz with Naomi’s arrival – so glad to see her. But Naomi rebuked them for calling her by her name “Pleasant” and insists on the name “Mara” = ‘bitter.’

4 / Yes – Yahweh had afflicted her, but not to mistreat, abuse, diminish, or destroy her … Yahweh had afflicted her to give her no choice but to come back to the place of covenant blessing – so He can begin filling her to the full with His MERCY [chesed – go back to V, 3/]

5 / v 21 becomes the theme sentence of chapter 1 – but it also sets in stark contrast what God is about to do for her – AND FOR US! There is also Ruth the Moabite [Gentile / ‘nations/] coming to Bethlehem [house of bread] AND future birthplace of the Redeemer!

6 / “at the beginning barley harvest” because God has timed it perfectly for her to need and meet Boaz … who is God’s foreordained “pre-enactment” of His Christ, our Messiah-Savior, our Redeemer!Up until this little simple phrase, all we have seen and witnessed is ‘emptiness.’ But now, by timing His Providences for this precise season for Naomi’s and Ruth’s ‘turn/return’ to Bethlehem, Yahweh is going to begin His sovereign graces of supplying His ‘fullness’ of their ‘emptiness.’

That will commence immediately in the next scene!