Ruth

Theme 1 Faith is rooted in hope and trust in the Lord and requires action and for us to be obedient to him. Ruth acts in faith to the Lord and out of obedience to him when she declares to her mother in law Naomi that her god would become Ruth’s God and that her people would become Ruth’s people. She pledged to follow her mother in law after her husband had died and to go from Moab to Israel. ( 1:16-17).

Theme 2: The Lord is with those who trust in him and who are faithful to obey all his commands. Boaz is a well respected and prosperous person who is able to give Ruth a day’s harvest of grain. He is able to sit in a place of prominence at the city gate among those who resolved community matters. ( 4:1). In Israel all legal matters were resolved by a community of elders who sat at the city gate . ( Deuteronomy 19:12).

Theme 3: The Lord blesses and honours those who honour him by showing his character to the world and exemplifying godliness in their life. Boaz is blessed as he takes on the role of kinsmen redeemer who provides for the need and welfare of the

Family of his brother who has passed away. ( Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Boaz says the faith Ruth has shown is admirable as she has not trusted in her own charm or gone after younger men who might be better looking or richer than he was. (3:10).

Theme 4: The Lord has a plan for those who are faithful to him and will bless them. Through those who follow him, the Lord will accomplish his plan of salvation. One of their descendants David blessed the nation of Israel and allowed it to prosper because of his great love for God. As Matthew noted it was out of David’s line descended from Ruth and Boaz that Christ, the savior of the world is born. (1:4-6).