Deep Dive into The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Thomas R. Schreiner - Ruth

The Book of Ruth is a narrative that explores themes of divine sovereignty, faith, and the anticipation of kingship, set during the time of the Judges. It emphasizes the kingship of the Lord, showing the firm, guiding hand of divine providence working out God’s plan even through ordinary events.

Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” suffered great affliction, losing her husband and two sons. She characterized her suffering by asking to be called Mara, which means "bitter," confessing that the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her. Her theology, which affirmed that her calamity was under the Lord’s control without suggesting her suffering was necessarily due to personal sin, is quite sophisticated, anticipating the Book of Job.

Ruth, a Moabitess, demonstrated extraordinary faith and covenantal devotion to Yahweh, the God of Israel. Her devotion is shown through her act of "clinging" (dabaq) to Naomi and her commitment: "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Like Abraham, she "left" her father, mother, and native land to join the people of God. Boaz recognized her faith, acknowledging that she had come to take refuge under the wings of the Lord. The book frequently uses words related to redemption (gō’el), occurring more than twenty times.

The story’s conclusion clarifies its connection to the preceding Book of Judges, which focused on Israel's need for a king. Ruth’s faithfulness is rewarded by her marriage to Boaz, and the genealogy that closes the book culminates with David. This descendant, David, is the man who would serve as Israel's king, solving the problem of a nation that lacked a righteous ruler. In this way, the sovereign rule of Yahweh is manifested through the rule of King David. The inclusion of Ruth, a foreigner, in David's lineage also anticipates the promise of universal blessing made to Abraham, showing that God's care extended beyond Israel to the whole world.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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