Studies in the Book of Ruth #1 (Introduction and 1:1)
Ruth is the 8th book in the Old Testament. The books of the Bible are arranged BY GOD in a SPECIFIC ORDER to show us what HAS HAPPENED (past/history) and what WILL HAPPEN (future/prophecy).
- Genesis – the book of BEGINNINGS (beginning of time, earth, man, nations, etc.)
- Exodus – the book of REDEMPTION (Israel is loosed from Egyptian bondage by the blood of the Passover Lamb – a type of Christ in 1 Corinthians 5:7)
- Leviticus – the book of the PRIESTHOOD (instructions for the Levites in carrying out the service of the tabernacle)
- Numbers – the book of WANDERINGS (Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness because of their failure to trust God)
- Deuteronomy – the book of the LAW FOR THE SECOND TIME (God gave Israel the law a second time prior to entering the land of Canaan)
- Joshua – the book of CONQUEST (Joshua and the Israelites’ conquest of the land of Canaan)
- Judges – the book of APATHY (Israel is comfortable in the land and enters a continual cycle of sin, slavery, supplication, and salvation)
Since the number EIGHT is the number of NEW BEGINNINGS in the Bible (seven marks the end of something, so eight is “beginning again”), the book of Ruth marks a NEW BEGINNING that coincides with the present Church Age (which began after the resurrection of Jesus Christ). In Ruth, a Gentile woman (Ruth) marries a Jewish kinsman redeemer (Boaz). The typology is incredible! Ruth is a picture of the bride of Jesus Christ (the church – see Ephesians 5:23) and Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!
Continuing on with the ORDER of the books of the Bible:
The NINTH book of the Bible is 1 Samuel, the book in which Israel demands a king so they can be like all of the other nations and the LORD gives them what they desire. The first king of Israel is Saul, a man who starts well but ends horribly. Saul may be likened to the Antichrist as the “false king” will have power before the REAL KING (Jesus Christ) shows up! In 2 Samuel, David is anointed as king and he is from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of KINGS. David is a picture of Jesus Christ taking over AFTER the reign of the “false king.”
The book of Ruth begins with a famine (Ruth 1:1) prompting a man named Elimelech (Ruth 1:2) to leave the land of Canaan and move to “the country of Moab” (Ruth 1:1). Americans no very little about famine since we have been blessed with food in abundance. While there may be no PHYSICAL famine in the land at the present time, we are in the midst of a SPIRITUAL famine. The prophet Amos spoke of this sort of famine:
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (Amos 8:11)
