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The Upper Register

Introduction to Ruth

Although the Babylonian Talmud places Ruth in the third section of the Hebrew canon called “the Writings,” the Christian canon places Ruth right after Judges and before 1-2 Samuel. This is very fitting, given that Ruth is set in the time of the Judges: “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1). Ruth also provides a ray of hope in the midst of the smoking ruins of Judges, as its story tells us a wonderful picture of God’s grace in the very time of apostasy and corruption narrated in Judges. Ruth also provides a bridge from Judges (when there was no king) to 1-2 Samuel in its concluding genealogy of King David (“David” is the last word of the book). Preachers on Judges would be advised to preach on Ruth as well.

Outline of Ruth

Section titled “Outline of Ruth”

ESV Study Bible

  1. Introduction: Naomi Bereft of Family (1:1-5)
  2. Scene 1: Naomi Returns to Bethlehem with Ruth (1:6-22)
  3. Scene 2: Ruth Gleans in Boaz’s Field (ch. 2)
  4. Scene 3: Ruth, at the Threshing Floor, Asks Boaz to Marry Her (ch. 3)
  5. Scene 4: Boaz Arranges Redemption at the Gate (4:1-12)
  6. Conclusion: Naomi Blessed with a new Family (4:13-17)
  7. Genealogy: Extended Blessing (4:18-22)

Note how the Introduction and the Conclusion shine the spotlight on Naomi. The story begins with her loss and bitterness (1:13, 20-21) and ends with her in a blessed condition with a newborn in her arms. Naomi is the one who is redeemed and restored: “Blessed be the LORD who has not left you this day without a redeemer … He shall be to you a restorer of life” (4:14-15).

Themes and Typology of Ruth

Section titled “Themes and Typology of Ruth”

We must read Ruth in terms of the history of redemption and therefore as bearing witness to the Messiah. It is obvious that we must take Boaz as a typological figure pointing to Christ. Just as Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer, so also Christ is our kinsman (by incarnation) who restores the inheritance. We might then think that if Boaz is Christ, then Ruth (his bride) must be the church. But that is too simplistic and doesn’t really work, given that Boaz functioned as the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi, restoring the inheritance to Naomi’s family after the death of her sons. A better approach is to introduce an intermediate step, before jumping right to Christ:

  1. Boaz was Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer.
  2. This was a picture of how Yahweh is Israel’s kinsman-redeemer.
  3. Then we can see that this is ultimately fulfilled by Christ.