BIBLIOLOGY : A Study of the Bible.... (August 06, 2014) Bible - TopicsExpress

BIBLIOLOGY : A Study of the Bible.... (August 06, 2014) Bible Survey : Ruth Introduction : 1. Authorship: Uncertain, possibly Samuel 2. Recipients: Not specifically stated 3. Date: Covers about 10 years of time. Not known just when it occurred, other than “when it occurred, other than ‘when the Judges ruled’” (1:1). Probably near beginning of period of Judges. 4. Purpose of Book: a. To give insight into the brighter side of life during the period of the Judges. It relieves the picture of the preceding book, which might lead us to think all was black and all had deserted God. b. It was evidently also written to show something of the family of David, especially to show how Ruth, a woman of Moab, became his great-grandmother. It is one of two books in the Bible named after a woman. 5. Theme: The story of Ruth, a woman of Moab, who chooses to serve the God of Israel, and is richly blessed by Him. 6. Key words: “Kinsman” (13 times) – “Redeem” Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer Ruth 1 Verses 2-15 – Naomi and her family were out of God’s will: They remained in Moab (1:2) The sons married Moabite women (1:4) All the men died (1:5) – Jewish writers from the early times have contended that the early deaths of Naomis’ sons were divine judgments because of their unlawful relationships. Naomi tries to send the daughters-in-law back to their gods (1:15) Verse 13 – Naomi believed that the hand of the Lord was against her. Verse 15 – Orpah returns to her people and her gods. Verse 16 – Ruth says, “where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” 31 Ruth 2 Verse 2 – See Leviticus 19:9,10 – The Israelites left a little grain in their fields for poor people. But the poor had to go pick the grain; it was not given just as a handout. Ruth 3 Verses 8,9 – It was the woman’s responsibility to initiate the seeking of this marriage (Deut. 25:5,7-10) Verses 6-13 – Ruth asks Boaz to redeem her. “In Old Testament, Israel, a person, or an estate, sold into bondage could be redeemed by another if that person were a near kinsman, able, willing, and free from bondage himself. Boaz did this for Ruth and her estate. So in the New Testament we see Christ, our great Kinsman-Redeemer, fulfilling all these requirements, redeeming those who are sold under the bondage of sin” – Luck. Ruth 4 Verse 1 – The “gate” was: A place of meeting with friends A place where courts were held and disputes settled. There became a synonym for power or authority. Often used as a market place Verses 2-8 – Boaz redeems Ruth. Verses 13,17 – Obed, born to Ruth and Boaz. Verse 22 – Obed the grandfather of David. (Continue.......)