The book of Ruth may be considered an appendix to the book of Judges. The sin-cycle that characterizes Judges views the problem on a national level. Ruth however, is a case study of a particular family living through the national declension of Israel.

Ruth the Moabitess ranks high among the favoured women of the Old Testament; her poetic display of sanctified affection (1:16-17) wins the heart of all who read of her and she finds her place in the genealogy of the Saviour.  The other characters in the book are no less attractive. The kindness, perseverance and wisdom of Naomi, her mother-in-law, complement the attractiveness of the story and we discover that the grace of Boaz forms the key to this story of redemption.

But the book of Ruth is not simply a compelling novella for literary analysis or to interest a junior Sunday school class. It is the story of divine providence over the life of a Moabitess brought into a family in the nation of Israel and through whom the Lord would bless the nations of the world. This is not just a story of redemption it is part of the actual history of redemption for Christ would come from the family of Boaz and Ruth

 The book outlines like a stage-play; 

Acts 1: Introduction: The demise of a godly family

  • Scene 1 The fallout of disobedience (1:1-5)
  • Scene 2  A glorious return (1:5-22)

Acts 2: Meeting Boaz

  • Scene 1: Corn for the poor (2:1-2)
  • Scene 2: The choice of a field (2:3-7)
  • Scene 3: Meeting Boaz (2:8-16)
  • Scene 4: Reporting to Naomi (2:17-23)

Acts 3: Rest in Bethlehem

  • Scene 1: Naomi’s counsel (3:1-7)
  • Scene 2: Meeting Boaz (3:6-18)

Acts 4: The development of a godly family 

  • Scene 1: A home established (4:1-10)
  • Scene 2: A home enduring (4:11-22)