What woman doesn’t enjoy a good love story? Whether it’s in the form of a book or a movie, a great romance is defined by its characters, setting, and plot. Timeless classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Wuthering Heights are well-known for their unlikely tales of love. Similarly, movies like Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, and Dr. Zhivago have captured the hearts of audiences for generations. More recently, the films starring Meg Ryan, such as Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, French Kiss, and Kate and Leopold have become some of the most popular love stories, often referred to as “chick flicks.”
However, there is one story that stands out from the rest. The biblical account of Ruth and Boaz is a remarkable tale, but it is much more than just a love story.
The story is set during the period of the judges, one of the darkest times in history. The action takes place in several locations, including the city of Bethlehem, the land of Moab, a farmer’s field, a threshing floor, a city gate, and a bedroom.
The plot of the story is centered around the redemption story of Naomi and Ruth, as well as the overarching story of redemption. It features conflict when Naomi is left as a widow with no son to carry on the family’s lineage, but the resolution is found in Boaz, a figure who shares many similarities with Jesus Christ.
The characters in the book of Ruth are compelling, drawing readers in with their grief, trust, and compassion. The story features real people, including an Israelite gentleman and a Moabite widow. The author not only details how God works in their relationship but also shows how God works in redemptive history, leading to the line of Jesus Christ.
Studying the book of Ruth provides us with models of godly character and reminds us of how God works in both good times and bad. It is essential to study all of Scripture to understand the larger story of redeeming grace and look for God beyond the present moment.
Sources for this text can be found in the last post of this series.
Debbie Swindell 