Here’s the Truth: You’re Not Ruth (Part 1)
The purpose of the Book of Ruth is obvious and fully disclosed to us. This Holy Spirit inspired book is not a mystery requiring a doctorate in biblical studies. To discover the purpose all one must do is read it. Where specifically can we find the Book of Ruth’s purpose? Ruth 4:17–22 is the answer:
“And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David” (Ruth 4:17–22 ESV).
The Book of Ruth is about our Lord and Savior Jesus/Yeshua the Christ. Pay very close attention to the passage. “… He was the father of Jesse, the father of David… and Jesse fathered David.” The Book of Ruth is about David’s great-grandfather and great-grandmother. David will later become the ancestor to the physical body of Christ; the origin of the Messianic/Davidic line.
There are innumerable sermons on the Book of Ruth. The thesis of a vast majority of mainstream sermons on the Book of Ruth is: “Single Women Find Your Boaz.” From there, you usually hear some rather whimsical and often vulgar references to the “Boaz Family” (Broke gluteus maximus, poor gluteus maximus, stealing gluteus maximus, etc…). Aside from the very inappropriate language, this thesis points away from Ruth’s purpose. As stated earlier, Boaz was the great-grandfather of David. It will be impossible to find your “Boaz” because he has been dead for several thousand years. No one will ever find their “Boaz”. There was only one Boaz in existence.
Rather than focusing on “finding your Boaz,” focus on what Ruth tells us about our relationship with Christ. Instead of “finding your Boaz,” work on “finding your Lord and Savior Jesus/Yeshua Christ.” The Lord and Savior can easily be found if sought after. Christ teaches us to, “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8 NKJV). Seek a relationship with God. Never forget the fact that you are not “Ruth” and you are not looking for “Boaz.”
And as the Apostle Paul closed his letter in 2 Corinthians 13:14, so too will I close by saying, “May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
Unapologetically Christian Apologetics™
