Ruth 1

Ben Franklin, when he was US Ambassador to France, occassionally attended the Infidels Club, a group of atheistic and agnostic intellectuals who discussed literary masterpieces and treated Scripture with scorn. Franklin changed the name and places in one of his favorite stories and read it to the group. They loved it. He happily then confessed to them that it was the Old Testament Book of Ruth.

Who
The book of Ruth was probably passed down orally for a few generations. It may have eventually been written down by Samuel and possible updated/modified after Samuel's death.

What
The book provides an account of the events that led to a marriage between Ruth and Boaz, great grandparents of King David

Where
The story takes place in Israel and Moab

When
The first verse tells us that this story took place during the time of the Judges, when there was a famine in the land (possibly around the time of the story of Gideon)

Why
The purpose of the book seems to be to provide some background on King David's lineage and to serve as a type of the union between Christ and the church.

Context
The time of the judges was a period of great darkness in Israel's history
They failed to destroy the enemies God had commanded them to kill
They provoked the Lord to anger
Judges temporarily brought them back
There were gruesome murders, reluctant heroes, and disappointing heroes
There were rapes, mass deaths & civil wars
There were no moral standards (21:25)

The story begins with a man named Elimelech from Bethlehem (which means 'house of bread'). Ironically, there is a famine in this land and so he moved his family to Moab (descendants of Lot). His family consisted of his wife and 2 sons. After Elimelech died, his wife (Naomi) was left with her 2 sons who married Moabite women. Soon after, the 2 sons also died, leaving Naomi with only her 2 daughter's-in-law. At this point Naomi decided to return to her homeland. 1 Daughter-in-law decides to stay in Moab, the other (Ruth) clings to Naomi.

2 Kinds of Love

1. Orpah
--Showed her love with a kiss
--Somewhat like 'lip service'
--Had legitimate sounding reasons
--Didn't walk with Naomi, turned back

2. Ruth
--Clung to Naomi
--Couldn't be persuaded to leave
--Fully committed to Naomi and her God
--Invited potential curse on herself

Ruth's surprising faith...
Think what she had observed about Israel's God
1. His land was experiencing famine
2. All 3 Israelite men she knew died early
3. Her mother-in-law was bitter against Him

She seems to have had many reasons to reject God, yet she didn't
She became 1 of 4 gentile woman to appear in matthew's geneology of Christ
She seems to have been the most virtuous of them all