at a glance
author: Unknown.
date: Around 1000 BC.
setting: The story is set during the time of the judges, during a temporary time of peace between the nations of Moab and Israel.
verse to remember: But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God’’ (1:16).
theme to consider: Ruth and Naomi are wonderful role models of friendship, loyalty and commitment—to God and to each other. Take notes!
unchanging truth
Every year a popular magazine lists twenty women who are well known for some accomplishment. The group typically includes doctors, writers, politicians, actors, singers, scientists, sports figures, religious workers, etc. The one thing these women have in common is that they are all “trying to make the world a better place to live.” Readers are asked to rank the women, and when all the votes are tallied, one woman is declared “Woman of the Year.”
If you were choosing a Woman of the Year among your friends and acquaintances, what qualities would you look for? Leadership? Positive influence on others? The ability to accomplish a task? This girl would probably be someone you respected, someone you trusted to do the right thing. You’d probably think about how friendly, caring, loyal and genuine she is.
What if the people of Bethlehem had chosen a Woman of the Year three thousand years ago? It probably would have ended in a dead tie between Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. These women were totally committed to God and to each other. This commitment showed in the way they lived their lives. Ruth and Naomi had a great bond of friendship, loyalty and genuine love for each other. What an example they set for the people around them—and for us!
1. Commitment and loyalty to God and to one another are true marks of godly character (1:14–18).
2. The Christian life always involves others. The Lord wants us to help others in any way we can (2:2, 17–18).
3. God gives us incredible blessings when we’re fully committed to him in all we think, say and do (4:13–16).