Ruth: The Redeemer Has Come - Week 1 (1:1-22)
Ruth 1:1-22
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The Redeemer Who Provides
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Ruth 1:1-22 〰️ The Redeemer Who Provides 〰️
This week marks the beginning of the Advent season, and as a church, we'll be spending the next four weeks in the book of Ruth! Ruth is comprised of four chapters in a narrative format. Verse 1 tells us that this story takes place "during the time of the Judges," that is, the book of Judges from the Old Testament. For those who grew up hearing the Old Testament, some of the cultural context doesn't feel all that out of place, but if we read this book at face value, we might be confused or a little frustrated at the way Ruth and Naomi are discussed or treated by the culture at large. The Bible Project has an excellent video on Ruth, giving an overview of the book, as well as some of the very cool Messianic foreshadowing. In the end, we can read the book of Ruth and see this as a beautiful story of compassion and redemption. Boaz and Ruth serve as a picture of Christ and how He would go on to redeem the nation of Israel and all people to the Father.
In the first chapter, we encounter Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah. Ruth and Orpah married Naomi's sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died, followed by Mahlon and Chilion, leaving the three women widows. Naomi's daughters-in-law were Moabite women who had no biological ties to Israel or Naomi. At this time, Moabites were hostile towards Israel and were considered enemies, but our God brought this Moabite woman into the grand story of redemption through the Messiah, Jesus.
Interestingly, after her husband and sons pass, Naomi decides to return to her home in the land of Judah, urging Ruth and Orpah three times to stay, find Moabite husbands, and remain close to the land and people they had always known. Orpah eventually complied and returned to her people, but strangely, Ruth decided to accompany Naomi. Ruth, having absolutely no measurable reason to stay at Naomi's side, said,
"Don't plead with me to abandon you
or to return and not follow you.
For wherever you go, I will go,
and wherever you live, I will live;
your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
Where you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried.
May the Lord punish me,
and do so severely,
if anything but death separates you and me." (16-17)
Then Naomi dropped it and accepted Ruth's determination to accompany her. Surprisingly, Ruth was committed to Naomi. Ruth had no incentive to remain with Naomi but loved her so deeply that she didn't want to let her go. Naomi then changed her name to "Mara," which means "bitterness."¹
As we look ahead to the Advent season over the coming weeks, we look back with joy at our Savior's coming and also with anticipation at His eventual return. Our Lord loved us so deeply that He sent His Son to come and live among us. The entire narrative of Scripture is Christ's redemption of man, and as we say, all Scripture points toward Christ. God's ultimate goal was to redeem His people for His glory, and we see this exemplified at a major tipping point in Scripture: the book of Ruth. So, as we read this very important book, let's keep our eyes on the Cross and and our hearts on His first coming: Christmas.
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
How do you see Jesus in this passage?
How would you describe Ruth in this passage?
Read Ephesians 3:1-7. How are these passages connected?
Ruth would eventually be King David's great-grandmother, a pillar in the lineage of Jesus. What does this tell us about God's impartiality towards Gentiles?
What do you think we can learn from Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi in this chapter?
1. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4755/kjv/wlc/0-1/