Ruth - The Story of our Redemption

Ruth-the Story of our redemption I. Theme: God’s sovereign intervention as deliverer and redeemer. Ruth is written in the era of the Judges of Israel. This is a time of spiritual and moral darkness. The Book is about God’s mercy that sustains us. A. 1:1-5: The story begins in a famine: spiritual reflection of the devastation of the time in people’s hearts. Bethlehem-house of bread- is without bread: an irony. B. 1:6-18: The death of Naomi’s husband and sons, while devasting for her, is also reflecting the spiritual desolation of Israel, people of the covenant. C. Naomi persuades her daughter-in-laws, both Moabite women, to go back to their homeland (She goes back to Israel). There, they will find husbands, family and children. 1. Vv.15-18-Ruth uses the language of covenant to express her longing to go with Naomi. Ruth is experiencing a type of conversion, a turning from darkness to the light of the covenant of Yahweh with his people. D. Naomi returns with bitterness of all that has happened to her. Yet, in her midst, is Ruth-the Moabite. Ruth symbolizes the redemption that awaits not just her, but Naomi as well. 1. Bethlehem will once again be “house of bread” for both of them. 2. The walls of racial divides will fall down in the conversion and redemption. See Eph. 2:12 and Gal. 3:28. 3. Ruth surrenders all rights, all her past, her family, her godseverything-to be devoted to Naomi. See Jesus in Mt. 10:34-39. Questions for reflection: 1. Do you feel the Gospel of Christ is redemptive in the sense of healing division? Where have you seen this? 2. Why is covenant significant to Ruth? What is she willing to “pay the cost” for it? How does this relate to Jesus in Mt. 10:34-37. 3. Where in your life is the Gospel yet to “conquer” the parts of your heart opposed to the Lord? 4. How is the Gospel redemptive of our “bitter” experiences?