This lesson wraps up our study on the book of Ruth
Ruth 4:11-22 NLT
Boaz Marries Ruth
11 Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.”
The Descendants of Boaz
13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”
16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
18 This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron.
19 Hezron was the father of Ram.
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
21 Salmon was the father of Boaz.
Boaz was the father of Obed.
22 Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of David.
Examine the Scriptures
Ruth 4:11-22 NLT
Boaz Marries Ruth
11 Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses!
All of the people at the city gate signaled strong approval of Boaz’s actions.
May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah,
From whom all the nation of Israel descended!
Rachel was the most beloved wife of Jacob.
Rachel had been barren many years before she bore children.
Ruth had been barren in Moab.
Rachel was buried nearby.
Genesis 35:19 NLT
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Leah was the mother of Judah, their namesake descendant. (900 years prior to this time.)
What does it mean to be “like Rachel and Leah”?
It might be something like this: Like Ruth, from whom came all the descendants of David.
- The elders and all the people standing in the gate demonstrated a great deal of respect for Ruth the Moabitess.
May you (Boaz) prosper in Ephrathah (another name for Bethlehem)
Ephrathites were from the clan of Ephrathah, centered in Bethlehem.
- All of the people at the city gate prayed that Boaz would prosper and be famous.
and be famous in Bethlehem.
The birthplace of Jesus.
12 And may the Lord give you descendants
- The elders and all of the people at the city gate prayed that the Lord would give Boaz descendants.
These descendants would include David and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The elders acknowledged that children are a gift from God.
Psalm 127:3 NLT
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez (the first born of twins), the son of Tamar and Judah.”
Genesis 38:1-30.
Boaz was a descendant of Perez.
They may have been praying for more descendants like Boaz.
The Descendants of Boaz
13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.
Ruth was married to Mahlon for ten years without having children.
- The Lord enabled Ruth, who had been barren in Moab for the entire period of her marriage to Mahlon, to become pregnant.
14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family!
Once again Naomi becomes the center of attention.
The women of the town recognized that God had provided a redeemer (Obed) who would care for Naomi in her latter years.
- The Lord had provided a redeemer for Naomi and her family.
May this child be famous in Israel.
How was Obed used by God?
15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”
Ruth turned out to be better than seven sons.
Seven sons was an ideal for Hebrew families.
16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own.
17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!”
“Son” can mean descendant.
This child replaced the family Naomi lost when her two sons died in Moab.
The family line would continue once again.
And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
Obed means “worshiper” or “servant”.
- Naomi’s deep sorrow turned to radiant joy; emptiness gave way to fullness.
It appears that the neighbor women named Ruth’s son Obed.
- Obed replaced the family Naomi lost when her two sons died in Moab. The family line would continue.
- Obed became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
18 This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez:
Also in:
1 Chronicles 2
Matthew 1
Luke 3
Perez was the father of Hezron.
19 Hezron was the father of Ram.
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
21 Salmon was the father of Boaz.
Boaz was the father of Obed.
22 Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of David.
Nine centuries / ten generations. (900 years back to Jacob, 100 years before David)
“Son” can mean descendant.
Some generations have been selectively omitted.
The book of Matthew takes this line of ancestors back to Abraham.
1 Chronicles 2 goes back to Israel (Jacob).
Luke 3 goes back to Adam.
David was an ancestor of Jesus.
- Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, was an ancestor of Jesus.
- The genealogical record of Obed is found in Ruth 4, 1 Chronicles 2, Matthew 1, and Luke 3.
The Book of Ruth
The story of Ruth, a virtuous woman.
The story of Boaz, a kinsman redeemer.
An illustration of God’s redemptive plan extending beyond the Jews.
A picture of God’s sovereignty.
And so much more!
