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THE BOOK OF RUTH
BY
Arno Clement Gaebelein
1861-1942


In the Public Domain


                              THE BOOK OF RUTH

                               Introduction

     This book, containing the beautiful story of Ruth, is closely linked
with Judges. The beginning of the book makes this clear: "Now it came to
pass in the days when the judges ruled." The events happened during the
period of the judges. It therefore belongs next to that book. In the Hebrew
Bible it occupies another place. We find it there next to the Song of
Solomon, followed by Lamentations. Five books are called by the Jews
"Megilloth" and are read by them at different feasts commemorating past
events. The Song of Solomon is read during Passover; Ruth at Pentecost;
Lamentations on the ninth day of the month Ab in memory of the destruction
of Jerusalem; Ecclesiastes is read during the feast of Tabernacles and
Esther they read when they celebrate Purim.

     The author of the book of Ruth is unknown. The conclusion of the book
shows that it must have been written after David had been made king.
However the late date assigned to it by the critics, after the exile, is
incorrect. We do not enter into their arguments. Any intelligent reader
must see at once that its place between judges and Samuel is the right
place, for it is as sequel to the former and an introduction to the latter.
If we read the books of Samuel we discover that they do not contain any
reference whatever to the ancestors of the house of David. To supply this
deficiency is one of the reasons why this book was written. It is more than
probable that Samuel is the author.

     The story is so familiar that we do not need to repeat it in this
brief introduction. Ruth the Moabitess is the chief character in the story.
She who was cursed by the law becomes married to Boaz and as we learn from
the ending, Ruth is the great-grandmother of David. Her name appears
therefore in the first chapter of the New Testament in the list of
ancestors of Him, who is David's son and David's Lord. She is the third
Gentile woman in the genealogy of our Lord. The two Canaanitish women,
Tamar and Rahab, precede her. The promises made to Abraham that the
Gentiles were to receive blessing through his seed are confirmed through
the history of these Gentile women among the ancestors of David and our
Lord.

     The typical dispensational meaning of the story of Ruth is interesting
and has many blessed lessons. (The best application we have seen is in the
Numerical Bible to which we acknowledge our indebtedness.) Ruth is often
given as a type of the Church, as the bride of Christ. This application is
difficult to make and leaves much of the beautiful story unexplained. Naomi
represents Israel in unbelief, widowed and in bitterness. Ruth is the type
of the remnant, who is called and received back by grace (like the sinners
of the Gentiles) identifying itself with Israel's ruin, as Ruth identified
herself with Naomi. The Kinsman-Redeemer, who espouses their cause and
through whom Naomi's bitterness is changed to joy, who marries Ruth, is the
type of the Redeemer, Christ. We shall follow briefly this correct
dispensational foreshadowing in the annotations. A special division of this
little book is not needed. The story has been divided into four chapters
which makes another division unnecessary.


                         Analysis and Annotations

                                 CHAPTER 1

                    The Story of Naomi: Orpah and Ruth

     1. Naomi and her sorrows (1:1-5)
     2. The return (1:6-13)
     3. Orpah turning back, Ruth cleaving (1:14-18)
     4. Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem (1:19-22)

     The story begins with a famine. Elimelech, "my God is king," and
Naomi, "pleasant," leave Bethlehem, "the house of bread," to go to the land
of Moab, the heathen country. The story ends in Bethlehem with a marriage.
Naomi far from the land, in unbelief and bitterness, bereft of Elimelech,
her two sons also dead, Mahlon, which means "sick," and Chilion "pining,"
pictures Israel's condition, away from the land, no longer married unto
Jehovah, but forsaken. Like Naomi, Israel has had trouble upon trouble and
sorrow upon sorrow. There is no hope for Naomi amidst the Gentiles in Moab,
as there is no hope for Israel among the nations. Hearing that Jehovah had
visited His people with bread, she arose that she might return from Moab.
Then Orpah said farewell to remain in Moab, while Ruth, the Moabitess,
clave unto Naomi. She had faith and the beautiful words she addressed to
Naomi were the expression of that faith. Not alone did the poor Moabitish
woman say "thy people shall be my people," but also "thy God my God." It
was grace which had drawn her. She thus clung closely to Naomi, became one
with her in all her misery, yet with a faith, a confidence in Naomi's God,
which Naomi did not possess. When Israel sets her face homeward once more,
there will be in the midst of the unbelieving nation a remnant, searching
for the promised blessing, longing for God, a remnant* which ultimately
will come in touch with the mighty Kinsman-Redeemer and inherit through Him
the promised blessings.

     * Of this remnant called through the grace of God, after the true
Church has left this earthly scene, the prophetic Word has much to say.
Read: Is. 6:13; 10:21-22; 11:11; Micah 4:7; Zeph. 2:7; Ezek. 9; Rom. 11:5
and many other passages. In the Psalms we read the future prayers of this
remnant, the sorrows and sufferings they will have and the glorious
deliverance when the King comes.

     This remnant is represented in Ruth, cleaving to Naomi. But the
objection may be raised that Ruth was a Gentile. How can she represent the
remnant of Israel? Israel through her unbelief has become practically the
same which the Gentiles are. They are "Lo-Ammi," not my people (Hosea 1:9).
The grace which called and saved Gentiles will call and draw them.
Therefore this remnant is called "according to the election of grace"
(Romans 11:5-6).

     Naomi is back in Bethlehem, empty and with a bitter spirit. She calls
herself "Mara" which means bitter. This pictures Israel's return in
unbelief. And it was at the time of the barley harvest. The harvest, as our
Lord tells us, is the end of the age. When that end comes, after the true
church has been gathered home, Israel, like Naomi, with a believing,
trusting remnant cleaving to her, represented in Ruth, will return.

                                 CHAPTER 2

                           Gleaning in the Field

     1. Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz (2:1-3)
     2. Grace shown to Ruth by Boaz (2:4-17)
     3. Ruth hears concerning Boaz (2:18-23)

     Boaz comes now upon the scene. His name means "in Him is strength." He
is called "a mighty man of wealth." As the kinsman-redeemer he is a
beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one in whom there is
strength, the rich one. Ruth knows at first little of him and the coming
relationship with the wealthy one. Boaz is related to Elimelech, whose name
"my God is king" is typical of Israel's faith. Through Elimelech only Naomi
(the nation Israel) has a claim on Boaz. And she can only lay claim through
Ruth. Even so Israel has a claim on the blessings promised to her through
the remnant which returns to Him in the beginning of the harvest, the end
of the age; that remnant, as stated before, is represented in Ruth.

     How simple and beautiful is the story which follows. The mighty man of
valor knows evidently all about her, though he does not act at once in her
behalf. He appears on the harvest field. Beautiful greeting he brings! "The
LORD be with you"; and they answer him, "The LORD bless thee." Gracious are
his words to her, who had cast herself upon his grace, for Ruth had said to
Naomi, "Let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in
whose sight I shall find grace." She anticipated in faith, though she did
not fully know what grace was awaiting her. Even so the remnant of Israel
in the last days. How he permits her to continue in the humble work. He
provides for her. She is only to glean in his field. She is not to be
molested; his gracious power shields her. She can also drink of the water
he provides. Then she falls on her face. Beautiful are her words of
humility, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take
knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" Then she hears from his lips that
he knows all about her. More than that. He assures her of coming blessings,
blessings Ruth will get because she trusted; blessings not of works, the
law covenant, but of grace, because she believed. "The LORD recompense thy
work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under
whose wings thou art come to trust.

     All foreshadows dispensationally the soul-exercise of the believing
remnant of Israel, when the harvest begins, and the gracious dealing of the
Lord with that remnant. Another application may also be made on spiritual
lines of a soul which seeks blessing and how the Lord deals in His grace
with those that seek Him. This we cannot follow in these brief annotations.
Then he comes closer to her. She receives from his own hands. He also,
unknown to her, gives instructions that "handfuls on purpose" are to be
dropped, just for her. What evidences that the mighty, wealthy Boaz loves
the poor stranger, Ruth! So the remnant will gradually learn of His love.
And we also find our comfort here. We glean in His Word. It is typified by
the wheat, the barley and the corn. Then when we feel our need and
dependence on Him, and plead, as we always should, our ignorance, He drops
the handfuls on purpose, so that we find just what we need for our
spiritual sustenance and comfort.

     And Naomi tells her something about Boaz. But she only calls him "one
of our redeemers." She should have said he is the redeemer. The secret who
he is and what he will do for her, the trusting Ruth, she will learn only
from himself. So unbelieving Israel does not know the full story of Him,
who is the Redeemer. Boaz, Christ Himself, will make it known when He
reveals Himself in His grace and power to the remnant of His people.

                                 CHAPTER 3

                            At the Feet of Boaz

     1. Naomi instructs Ruth (3:1-5)
     2. At his feet (3:6-7)
     3. The discovery (3:8-13)
     4. The six measures of barley (3:14-17)
     5. He will not rest until he have finished the thing (3:18)

     What follows in the realization of redemption must be connected with
Leviticus 25, the law concerning the redemption of an inheritance and the
other law about the marriage of a brother-in-law as given in Deut. 25:5-12.
See the annotations on that passage. Naomi gives instructions to Ruth which
are based upon that law. But notice it is the question of the rest. "My
daughter, shall not I seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?"
She then is seen resting at his feet. Blessed truth indeed which even Naomi
realizes, rest can only be found at the feet of the redeemer. This truth is
known to all His beloved people. He promises rest and He giveth rest. Like
Mary it is the good part for us to be at His feet.

     But what is Boaz's occupation when Ruth seeks him to claim her full
blessing? "Behold he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor." The
winnowing is a sifting process by which the wheat is separated from the
chaff. Read Matthew 3:12. The threshing floor is Israel. The dark night of
tribulation is coming for them, when the mighty One will do the work of
separating among His people. "His fan is in His hand." In that coming night
the believing remnant will seek, like Ruth, the place at His feet and claim
Him as their own redeemer. Critics and unbelievers have often sneered at
this scene and suggested evil motives. They do the same with other portions
of the Word of God. Only an evil mind can read evil into this beautiful
scene. It was at midnight when Boaz became conscious of her presence and
asked, "Who art thou?" She answered, "I am Ruth." She owns all she is and
prays that he may cover her, "for thou art a redeemer." Notice the steps.
His question--her answer and prayer because she believed in him as the
kinsman redeemer.

     She tarried there during the night. "And she lay at his feet till the
morning." Then she left not empty handed!

                                 CHAPTER 4

                        The Redemption and Marriage

     1. The other kinsman (4:1-5)
     2. His refusal (4:6-8)
     3. Boaz's redemption (4:9-10)
     4. The marriage (4:11-13)
     5. Naomi's happiness (4:14-17)
     6. The ancestry of David (4:18-22)

     And now the other redeemer, who cannot redeem, appears. Boaz sits in
the gate and hails the one whom he knew as he passeth by. He calls him not
by name but said, "Ho, such a one! turn aside, and sit down here." If Boaz
had not called him he would surely have passed by. Then ten men also sit
down. The case is stated and the other redeemer is willing to redeem the
land. But when he hears that he also must take Ruth the Moabitess, he
declares his powerlessness to do it. "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I
mar mine own inheritance. Redeem thou my right to thyself, for I cannot
redeem it." Whom does this unnamed redeemer represent who can redeem the
land but can do nothing for the poor stranger, the Moabitess? This
powerless redeemer is the law. Ten witnesses are there confirming his
inability to do it. These represent the Ten Commandments. The curse of the
law rested upon the Moabitess for it is written, "An Ammonite or Moabite
shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD, even to the tenth
generation forever" (Deut. 23:3). Therefore the law could not bring in
Ruth, but only keep her out. Her case is indeed hopeless from the point of
the law. Grace alone can help her. And this grace is beautifully seen in
Boaz. He acquires both the land and Ruth, the Moabitess. "And Boaz took
Ruth and she became his wife." It is a blessed type of Him who has paid the
redemption price for the land and the people. The great day is coming after
He had the fan in His hand, at the time of the harvest, when He will redeem
both by His gracious power. Then all the blessings will follow--which are
but faintly seen in Ruth's union with Boaz. "For thou shalt break forth on
the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles,
and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not, thou shalt not be
ashamed; neither be thou confounded: for thou shalt not be put to shame.
For thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the
reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the
LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the
God of the whole earth shall He be called" (Is. 54:3-5). "Thou shalt no
more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land be any more termed
Desolate. But thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah; for the
LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married" (Is. 62:4).

     The conclusion of this precious little book is the generations of
Pharez ending with David. Ruth became the great-grandmother of David.

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