| KINSMAN REDEEMER |

I hope that you enjoyed reading Ruth. In the case that you did not read it and instead you just skipped here to read my summary, I want to encourage you to go back and read Ruth yourself. Even if you have to take a day or two to read it (it should take about 25 minutes) it will be well worth your time.

God of the Ordinary

One of my favorite preachers, Alistair Begg, preached a series through the book of Ruth. He titled the series, “God of the Ordinary.” I highly recommend that you download and listen to the series. Alistair introduces the series this way.

The book of Ruth must surely be one of the loveliest short stories ever written. Its four chapters contain a tale of purity, faithfulness, innocence, loyalty, duty and love, yet it is set in dark times. The concluding verse of the book of Judges, which comes immediately before Ruth in the Bible, tells us that, “In those days Israel had no King; everyone did as he saw fit.” One commentator says, “The book of Judges teems with violent invasions, apostate religion, unchecked lawlessness, and tribal civil war.”

It is against this backdrop of strife and chaos that this story unfolds. Ordinary people in Bethlehem facing the everyday events of life; marriage, moving home, bereavement, family relationships… In all of this we are reminded that no matter how dark or dramatic the events of life appear to be, God still has His people and is still working out His purposes.

Ruth Doesn’t Belong

One of the beautiful things about the book of Ruth is the fact that Ruth doesn’t belong. Ruth is a Moabite. She is not an Israelite. She is not a descendant of Abraham. She is not born into the covenant promise of God. And yet, she is brought into the family of Israel by rejecting the gods of her own people and trusting in the One True God.

Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. – Ruth 1:16

It is so important that we see that one who was far off from the promises of God can be brought into the household of God through repentance and faith.

Great-Grandma Ruth

Ruth ends with something even more striking! After Abraham, the most important character in the Old Testament is King David. Ruth ends with the geneology of King David. It turns out that Ruth and Boaz’ son is Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. And Jesse was the father of David, who would be come the king of Israel. That means that Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David.