Posts that reference the book of Ruth

STT: Divine Details – Genealogies

When Matthew began his Gospel, he started with what many readers might skip: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1), followed by 17 verses of names. Yet this “boring” list reveals God’s faithfulness across centuries and contains surprising treasures for those willing to look deeper.

Biblical genealogies aren’t just ancient family records—they’re theological statements about God’s covenant faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

1. Look for Patterns and Breaks

Genealogies often contain deliberate patterns:

Matthew organizes Jesus’ genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations
Unusual breaks in patterns (like women being mentioned) signal something significant
Missing generations or altered name orders may highlight theological points

Matthew’s inclusion of four women with complicated stories—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and “the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba)—points to God’s grace working through unexpected people and circumstances.

2. Research Unfamiliar Names

Each name represents a real person with a story:

Look up significant individuals in a Bible dictionary
Note how their stories connect to the larger biblical narrative
Consider what their inclusion reveals about God’s character

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, Jabez appears briefly in a long genealogy with a prayer that stands out. This “interruption” highlights how God responds to faithful prayer, even in the midst of seemingly routine family records.

3. Connect to Historical Context

Genealogies anchor biblical events in history:

They establish chronology and historical setting
They verify fulfillment of prophecy
They demonstrate God’s work across generations

Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38), establishing Jesus as not just the Jewish Messiah but the Savior of all humanity.

4. Look for Messianic Connections

Many genealogies point to Christ:

Note references to the line of David
Watch for fulfillment of promises to Abraham
Observe how God preserved the Messianic line despite threats

The genealogy in Ruth 4:18-22 concludes this beautiful story by connecting Ruth and Boaz to David, revealing their place in the lineage of Christ and showing how God used a Moabite widow in His redemptive plan.

For your next study session: Read Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17) slowly. Note the three divisions he creates. Research a few unfamiliar names. Consider why Matthew begins his Gospel this way instead of with the dramatic story of Jesus’ birth. What does this genealogy tell you about God’s faithfulness across generations?

How might paying attention to biblical genealogies strengthen your confidence in God’s long-term purposes in your own life?

STT: The Background Method

By Paula Wiseman

THe Background MEthod title graphic featuring library aisle

Study Tip: The Background Method

When Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), His Jewish audience would have immediately understood the cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans. Modern readers might miss this crucial context without some background knowledge.

Understanding the historical, cultural, and geographical background of Scripture enriches our study by helping us see the text through the eyes of its original audience.

1. Explore the Historical Setting

Every biblical text was written in a specific time period:

Who was in power? (Romans, Persians, etc.)
What major events were happening?
What was daily life like for ordinary people?

For example, knowing that Amos prophesied during a time of unprecedented prosperity in Israel (around 760-750 BC) helps us understand why his messages against complacency and social injustice were so pointed and necessary.

2. Understand Cultural Customs

Many biblical practices seem strange to modern readers:

Marriage and family customs
Religious rituals and festivals
Social hierarchies and expectations

When Ruth uncovered Boaz’s feet and lay down (Ruth 3:7), this wasn’t inappropriate behavior but a culturally recognized way of requesting his protection through marriage as a kinsman-redeemer.

3. Recognize Geographic Significance

Biblical locations often carry meaning:

“Going up to Jerusalem” was both literally uphill and spiritually significant
The wilderness represented testing and dependence on God
Crossing the Jordan symbolized transitions and new beginnings

When Jesus chose to travel through Samaria (John 4) rather than around it like most Jews, this geographical choice revealed His intentional breaking of cultural barriers.

4. Use Study Resources

You don’t need to be a scholar to access background information:

Study Bible notes
Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias
Bible atlases and maps
Reputable online resources

For your next study session: Choose the story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Research what a Roman centurion was, the relationship between Romans and Jews at that time, and why Jesus’ praise of the centurion’s faith would have been shocking to the Jewish audience. How does this background information enhance your understanding of the passage?

What biblical story or passage might you explore using this background method?

Like Boaz

By Paula Wiseman

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Ruth 2:15

Boaz was a wealthy farmer, and his fields were full at harvest time.
We are surrounded by people whose circumstances have left them with needs and little recourse.

Boaz was generous. The law required that farmers allow gleaning. He offered more than just his castoffs.
We can go beyond what is expected in our interactions with others.

Boaz had great compassion. He used his resources to care for others.
We must not shame or question the motives of those who are in need.

But sometimes, we are more like Ruth.

Poor. Alone. Isolated.
With few other options.
Maybe with others depending on us.

God is kind. He is generous.
He calls us to His table.
He offers His riches.
And He will never shame us in our need.

See, Boaz strove to be godly in his attitudes and interactions.

Because we have often been like Ruth, we understand how important it is to seize the opportunity to be more like Boaz, and so more like God.

Refuge

By Paula Wiseman

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:12

Many times in scripture God is pictured as an eagle, watching over Israel
Often the wings are specifically mentioned.

The wings provide two things.
Protection and provision.

Ruth has come with nothing, dependent on the grace of strangers.
So we come with nothing dependent on the grace of Almighty God.

And we, like Ruth, find exactly what we need.
Grace.
Protection.
Provision.

In a word, we find refuge.

Which is amazing in itself.
I love that word, that idea.
Safety. Comfort. Rest.

But God goes beyond even that, and gives a reward.

Who is like the Lord, our God?

Study Tip: Ruth

By Paula Wiseman

The book Ruth is like the Huckleberry Finn of the Bible. Huck can be read and enjoyed by fourth graders, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students. But it's also the subject of deep discussions in university halls and by literary critics. Each group of readers gains a deeper appreciation of the book as they mature. They begin to see the deeper themes and symbolism wrapped in a seemingly simple story.

That's the way it is with Ruth.

With just four short chapters, it's easy to give it a cursory read, and come away satisfied by a story of God's provision in hard times. My Sunday school boys appreciated the story of the "hot foreign chick" loyally returning to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, leaving behind a life of idol worship.

This summer I read, The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules by Carolyn Custis James, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the depth of the story. (I recommend it.) The greatest challenge readers face when studying the book Ruth is understanding the ancient Near Eastern customs described. However, if history is not your thing, here are a few ideas on how to approach this little book.

Choose an individual – Naomi, Ruth or Boaz – and follow the story from his or her perspective.

Some questions to consider:

How does God care for His people?
How does God make a place for outsiders/ foreigners? For widows? How then should we as believers care for them?
What is redemption and how does Boaz portray Christ's redemption?
What types of love are manifested?
BONUS: How is Ruth a Proverbs 31 wife?

How about you? What have you learned from the book of Ruth?