THE TITLE: Ruth is only one of two books in Scripture named for women (the other being Esther). Both ladies had mixed marriages. Esther was a Hebrew who married a Gentile; Ruth was a Gentile who married a Hebrew.
THE AUTHOR: Jewish tradition cites Samuel as the author of the book. Many scholars, however, believe that the author of the book was either an anonymous author during the reign of David or David's son Solomon.
THE OCCASION: The book of Ruth serves as an appendix to the book of Judges. It reflects an episode occurring during this period of Israel's history: ''Now it came about in the days when the judges governed . . .'' (1:1a) Since Ruth, the main character of the book, lived only three generations before David, the book must be in the latter period of the judges. This was a time when the Lord was frequently disciplining Israel. The book begins this way: ''. . . there was a famine in the land'' (1:1b), a fact reflecting God's discipline upon them (Deut 28:17-18, 38-40).
THE PURPOSE: To demonstrate how godly people live in ungodly times. Additional purposes include: (1) To explain David's ancestry (4:17-22); (2) to demonstrate Gentile inclusion into the line of David/Messiah through faith; and (3) to focus on God's faithfulness.
THE THEME: Redemption through a Kinsman-Redeemer. It is worth noting that in the Hebrew culture, Ruth would be read at the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost. It is more than coincidence that the love story of a kinsman redeemer who would win his bride would be read at the Feast of Pentecost-and centuries later, on the day of Pentecost, the Kinsman Redeemer would initiate the redeeming of His bride as the bride of Christ, and the church is created on this day. It is the work of grace then and now.
SUB THEMES:
1. During the dark days of the Judges, God continues to work behind the scenes. When times seem most uncertain, God is still providentially at work bringing about His purposes in the lives of His people.
2. In a time when the culture has largely abandoned God, God has a faithful remnant: a group of people who continue to walk with Him in righteousness.
3. God remains faithful to His promise. God is bringing about the fulfillment of the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through this foreign woman.
4. All the nations are part of God's plan and He is actively seeking their inclusion into the blessings of the Messiah.
KEY WORDS: ''Kinsman'' (go'el, 13 times), ''redeem'' (9 times), and ''kindness'' (chesed = loyal love). It is also worth noting that the name of God is mentioned 23 times in 85 verses.
KEY VERSES: Ruth 1:16: ''But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.'''
Ruth 3:11: ''Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.''
UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS: The book of Ruth contains the second highest proportion of dialogue in the canonical books, surpassed only by the Song of Solomon. Of the 84 verses in the narrative, 59 have dialogue.
CHRIST IN RUTH: The book ends with the genealogy that culminates with David, the greatest king of
Israel's history and the one through whom the Messiah-king would come (2 Samuel 7). Ruth is the great-grandmother of David and one of three Gentile women included in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1.
SUMMARY STRUCTURE:
The structure of the book of Ruth can be seen in the following outline:
1. Ruth's love is demonstrated (1:1-2:23)
2. Ruth's love is rewarded (3:1-4:22)
