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Title: The Characters of Ruth
Text: Ruth 1:1–5

Introduction:
The story of Ruth is more than a love story—it is a story of redemption, grace, and God's providential hand guiding the lives of ordinary people. In the first few verses of Ruth, we are introduced to three significant characters whose journeys paint a powerful picture of the gospel.

Main Points:

1. Ruth – The Sinner Saved by Grace
Ruth was a Moabite woman—outside the covenant, unfamiliar with the God of Israel, and marked by personal loss. Yet, through God's grace, she becomes part of His redemptive story. Her story reminds us that no one is too far from the reach of God’s mercy.

2. Naomi – The Backslidden Believer
Naomi left Bethlehem during a famine and returned bitter, believing the Lord had dealt harshly with her. But God was not finished with Naomi. Her story is a comeback story—of how God can restore the broken and use them again for His glory.

3. Boaz – The Kinsman Redeemer
Boaz is a beautiful picture of Christ—willing, able, and ready to redeem. As a close relative, he had the right to redeem Ruth, and he did so at great personal cost. His character points us to Jesus, who took on flesh to become our Redeemer.

Themes Introduced in Chapter One and Throughout the Book:

  • Law and Grace: Ruth’s entrance into the covenant people is not by birthright but by grace. Boaz fulfills the requirements of the law while showing compassion and kindness.

  • The Threshing Floor: A pivotal moment of surrender and proposal, the threshing floor becomes a place of vulnerability and commitment—a symbol of resting in the Redeemer.

  • Redemption by Substitution: Ruth and Naomi could not redeem themselves; someone else had to step in. Boaz did for them what they could not do for themselves.

  • Marriage and Faithfulness: The book ends not only in a marriage but in a legacy of faithfulness that extends to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
Every character in Ruth represents a spiritual reality: the sinner, the straying believer, and the saving Redeemer. As we journey through this story, may we see ourselves and our Savior more clearly, and find hope in the redeeming love of God.