Ruth

The Romance of Redemption
The Messiah as the Related Redeemer
Providential Guidance of God

Ephesians 1:7 In union with Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, when He made known to us the secret of His will. This was according to His plan that He set forth in the Messiah to usher in the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah all things in heaven and on earth.

The Book of Ruth is beautiful, elegant, and inspiring, with the Scarlet thread of the gospel threaded throughout the entire story, illustrating God's work of salvation. It is a small interlude between Judges and 1 Samuel that tells the simple story of King David's great-grandmother.

The message of salvation is simple enough for the youngest minds, yet scholars can spend decades studying its pages and still find new hidden treasures in each passage. There are multiple levels of understanding available in the book of Ruth.

Even in the turbulent time of the judges, God was providentially looking after His people, and yet was also still concerned about those individuals in other nations (even Moab) whose hearts were open to Him. It also provides a striking type of Christ in the person of Boaz, who became the "kinsman redeemer" for Ruth (4:1-12). He brought her into the family of God's people by paying the price for her redemption, just as the Lord Jesus purchased us with the cost of His shed blood (Eph 1:7) so that we might become part of the eternal family of God.

The death of a father and his two sons in a foreign country puts the family's name and inheritance at risk. However, in times of crisis, there is an opportunity for divine intervention. Thanks to the actions of a noble kinsman who understands his obligations, the family's lineage remains intact. The union of Boaz, a Hebrew, and Ruth, a Moabitess, becomes the means through which God fulfills His gracious purpose. This story provides a perspective on the history of Christmas and the event of Pentecost within the broader message of the Scriptures. The genealogy ultimately leads to the theocratic king David, to whom the promise of the Messiah's arrival is given. Notably, this lineage includes a Moabite ancestor, highlighting the universal significance of the Messiah: He is not only the Savior of Israel but of all humanity.

Scarlet Thread:

Two books with names of women: Ruth, a Gentile, marries a Hebrew husband; Esther, a Jewess marries a Gentile husband. Two tokens that Gentiles as such were to be blessed only through Abraham's seed, according to Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; Psalm 72:17, and Acts 3:24

Ephesians 1:7 In union with Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, when He made known to us the secret of His will. This was according to His plan that He set forth in the Messiah to usher in the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah all things in heaven and on earth.