UNDERSTANDING RUTH | MEGA-THEMES

0. Introduction

a) The Bible Book Introductions are divided into 4 parts (Overview, Vital Statistics, Blueprint, Mega-themes) for easy-to-understand.

1. Mega-themes

@1. Theme: "Faithfulness"

a) Explanation

i) Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi as a daughter-in-law and friend is a great example of love and loyalty. Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz are also faithful to God and his laws. Throughout the story we see God's faithfulness to his people.

b) Importance

i) Ruth's life was guided by faithfulness toward God and showed itself in loyalty toward the people she knew. To be loyal and loving in relationships, we must initiate God's faithfulness in our relationships with others. 

@2. Theme: "Kindness"

a) Explanation

i) Ruth showed great kindness to Naomi. In turn, Boaz showed kindness to Ruth - a despised Moabite woman with no money. God showed his kindness to Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz by bringing them together for his purposes.

b) Importance

i) Just as Boaz showed his kindness by buying back land to guarantee Ruth and Naomi's inheritance, so Christ showed his kindness by dying for us to guarantee our eternal life. God's kindness should motivate us to love and honor him. 

@3. Theme: "Integrity"

a) Explanation

i) Ruth showed high moral character by being loyal to Naomi, by her clean break from her former land and customs, and by her hard work in the fields. Boaz showed integrity in his moral standards, his honesty, and by following through on his commitments.

b) Importance

i) When we have experienced God's faithfulness and kindness, we should respond by showing integrity. Just as the values by which Ruth and Boaz lived were in sharp contrast to those of the culture portrayed in Judges, so our lives should stand out from the world around us. 

@4. Theme: " Protection"

a) Explanation

i) We see God's care and protection over the lives of Naomi and Ruth. His supreme control over circumstances brings them safety and security. He guides the minds and activities of people to fulfill his purpose.

b) Importance

i) No matter how devastating our present situation may be, our hope is in God. His resources are infinite. We must believe that he can work in the life of any person - whether that person is a king or a stranger in a foreign land. Trust his protection.  

@5. Theme: "Prosperity / Blessing"

a) Explanation

i) Ruth and Naomi came to Bethlehem as poor widows, but they soon became prosperous through Ruth's marriage to Boaz. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. Yet the greatest blessing was not the money, the marriage, or the child; it was the quality of love and respect between Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi. 

b) Importance

i) We tend to thing of blessings in terms of prosperity rather than the high-quality relationships God makes possible for us. No matter what our economic situation, we can love and respect the people God has brought into our lives. In so doing, we give and receive blessings. Love is the greatest blessing.