I observed high school studentsyes, high school students. Mar 26, 2003 while the book of ruth is a super story of love and loyalty, were separated by thousands of miles and thousands of years from its setting. If you read the books of the bible in their modern christian order. People often describe the book of ruth as a love story, and certainly it contains elements of two people growing in love in the unique way of their ancient near eastern culture. Inspired by the biblical story, for the love of ruth follows the journey of ruth sommerling boutte, who, orphaned as a child and currently residing in a womens shelter. In the book of ruth, the titular heroine finds herself at such a crossroadsshould she go forward with her destitute motherinlaw to an unknown land or backward with her sisterinlaw to home and security. Ruth and naomi are not the sort of heroines youd expect.
All of us are in a relationship, want to be in a relationship, or in and out of relationships. We should never underestimate the seemingly small events in our lives. Ruth gets her happily ever after by marrying boaz, but there is also the love that ruth shows to naomi by refusing to abandon her. Mourning turns to dancing as themes of loyalty, kindness, boldness, acceptance, love, and redemption are uncovered. The mans name was elimelek, his wifes name was naomi, and the. Ruth chose to follow the lord and to accompany naomi back. It teaches that genuine love at times may require uncompromising sacrifice. Among historical narratives in scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty and dramatic effectiveness an exquisitely wrought jewel of hebrew narrative art. She so lived this before ruth that ruth trusted in her god. Naomi was from bethlehem and moved to moab with her husband elimelek and two sons. A terrible famine drives naomi, her husband, elimelech, and. Welcome to awaken love, a place for christians to learn about gods wonderful plan for sex in your marriage.
Ruth summerling has spent the majority of her life struggling to find her way and comes to some understanding of where exactly it is she belongs. About for the love of ruth on may 9, tv one airs one of the greatest love ever told starring denise boutte, gary dourdan, loretta devine and james pickens jr. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. In my research this week, i went on the internet and found the website for the union of american hebrew congregations in new york city. This chain of chesed leads to something more extraordinary than anyone could have imagined. And even when despair had overshadowed her, naomi never doubted that god was behind what was happening to her. Ruth shows her love through dedication and devotion without actually mentioning the word love. But then i realized the ultimate purpose of the verse, and book of ruth in general, is to demonstrate the kind of love and faithfulness that god.
But as this love story unfolds, we realize that it is about more than the love shared between two people. This book is more than worth the investment and read. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Our focus will be on ruths loyal love which goes far beyond the superficial contexts in which we sometimes use the word love. We have looked at ruth s loyal love and we have seen the. Intro to ruth biblica the international bible society. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. The hesed of the book of ruth in any and all of its manifestations points forward in the bible to. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ.
Here are three things to notice about this type of love in the book of ruth 1. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. The second in the living room series, this 6week study delves into the virtuous character of ruth, her unique relationship with her mother in law naomi, and her blossoming love with boaz. But ruth felt such devotion to her mother in law she refused to leave.
The tensions that arise when a newlywed has her new husband move into the home of her oppressive mother. May 17, 2018 all of us are in a relationship, want to be in a relationship, or in and out of relationships. This book is the story of a young widow named ruth, whose heart had been broken by her husbands death yet healed by faith in the god of israel. The fun illustrations have humorous details such as ruth s copy of threshing floor attire for the bride.
Dec 08, 2019 the book of ruth is a love story in more ways than one. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. The exact date the book of ruth was written is uncertain. People often describe the book of ruth as a love story. To get the most out of this bible study, read the entire book of ruth, preferably in one sitting. The book of ruth is a hebrew short story, told with consummate skill. There are many reasons to love every book of the bible. Jan 10, 2018 the book of ruth is one of the bibles shortest books, telling its story in just four chapters. Even though its small, this remarkable book contains many principles with profound impact to our lives today. The text of the book of ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in the bible. The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. In the old testament, the hebrew word most often used to describe this sacrificial love is hesed love often translated as kindness or loyallove. All three are widows, they have all been through numerous disasters, and they all want a second chance at life.
Here is the main idea, the purpose of the book, a few leading themes, an explanation of what it means for us today, and some study questions you can use in your small group or quiet time. The book of ruth offers an entirely different perspective on this often maligned relationship. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. In one of the most endearing parts of this story, ruth pledges herself to naomi with such lasting covenant words that they are frequently spoken in weddings. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. Likewise naomi shows love towards ruth by encouraging her and giving her wise advice. But ultimately, ruth is a book about the providence of god. Its main character is a moabite woman named ruth, the daughter in law of a jewish widow named naomi. Read ruths blog, learn more about the book, or ask ruth to speak. Hesed love is shown through actions hesed love is expressed primarily through actions rather. Hesed, repeated multiple times and demonstrated throughout the book, is the theme of the book of ruth. It would be easy to see the book of ruth as a love story. In the book of ruth, god is the ultimate source of hesed the source of ruths hesed, the one who uses hesed to reach out and redeem naomi and the one who pours out his hesed on ruth and boaz.
With christine lahti, nicholle tom, evan jones, teryl rothery. So this subject is relevant to each of us no matter where were at. Hesed love expresses genuine concern for others hesed love cares about the needs of other people. Ruth is a womens bible study of ruth s journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy.
T he brief and beautiful narrative of the book of ruth, in the holy bible, is an illustration of gods perfect love, and what he will do for the helpless and hopeless when they wholeheartedly turn to him. The book of ruth only has four chapters and 85 verses, but what it lacks in size is made up for in abundant love and unwavering faithfulness as naomi, boaz, and especially ruth discover, firsthand. The book of ruth a story of love and redemption tells a story of love that goes deeper than what we see today. The book of ruth is a beautiful story about ruth and naomi and ruth and boaz. The author focuses on ruth s unswerving and selfless devotion to desolate naomi 1. A selfless love story the book of ruth nourish, move, love. Introduction to ruth as a book of chesed the hebrew nerd. Book of ruth summary the book of ruth is more than just a beautiful, godordained, love story, although it is that.
Among historical narratives in scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty and dramatic effectivenessan exquisitely wrought jewel of hebrew narrative art. Her love was shot through with loyalty, a virtue sadly missing in the negotiable notions of love of our time. The hebrew word hesed is the word which has been translated most often as loyal love in the net bible. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. The book of ruth has undoubtedly received its fair share of undervaluation at this point. Jan 06, 2017 ruth is a book about chesed, a chain of acts of kindness, that transform the lives of some people living in a dark time the days of the judges. Its an intimate family tale of misfortune, crafty use of kinship ties, and ultimately, loyalty. The book reveals the extent of gods gracehe accepted ruth into his chosen people and honored her with. I also appreciate that ruth is very clear in her description of a loving, understanding marriage. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. In these short videos which coincide with our book of the month series we share some of these reasons.
A literary masterpiece, it offers a rich exploration of gods providence, a theology of mission, and a case study in a plethora of christian virtues, including courage, trust, generosity, hospitality, sacrifice, humility, kindness, compassion, friendship, stewardship, purity, perseverance, faith, hope, and love. Ruth gives practical recommendations and anatomy lessons, encouraging us to understand and respect the bodies we have been given, knowing that they are made for pleasure. In chapter 1 of the book of ruth, 3 women have to make this important choice. Oct 18, 2019 there are many reasons to love every book of the bible. Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you. The book of ruth and hope in hard times cbe international.
The book of ruth is more than just a story about someone whose life was changed by love, but it reveals how love can truly move mountains and. He presents striking examples of lives that embody in their. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. Naomi loses her husband and sons in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. While ruth begins as a story of heartache, it doesnt stop there. Enjoy deeper intimacy, feel cherished, and grow closer together with your spouse through. Hopefully the story of naomi and her daughterinlaw.
This short book, only four chapters, shows how god uses unexpected people in amazing ways. With denise boutte, gary dourdan, gary weeks, loretta devine. However, the prevalent view is a date between 1011 and 931 b. But as the story unfolds, we realize that it is about more than the love between two people. For example, the theme of marriage occupies much of the story, but when viewed as an idealized romance between faithful ruth and godly boaz, the rich theology of this book passes right under the noses of many of its admirers. I love the book of ruth because the women in the story are so raw and real. The book of ruth is one of the most moving accounts in the bible, a story of love and loyalty that is a stark contrast to todays cynical, throwaway society. The importance of faithful love in human relationships among gods kingdom people is powerfully underscored. To start off, i would suggest that you sit down and read through this beautiful book.
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