The Book of Ruth

(part2) by Minister Paul J Bern

A Teaching on the Book of Ruth,

and Why It’s Still Relevant (part 2)

by Minister Paul J. Bern

Last week in the Book of Ruth part 1, as we closed out chapter 2, we have now ascertained what I would call the ultimate identity of Ruth. Children get adopted all the time, and when they do they become a part of their new extended family. Many preparations must be made, and much paperwork must be signed, and let’s not forget those legal fees. But Ruth was already considered family, so she sat at Boaz’s table. This is where last week’s study left off, and I quote, “Then, in chapter 2 verse 14 the Bible says, “At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar’”. Here we see a Jew offering a gentile some bread dipped in vinegar. Contrast this to Matthew 27:48, where a gentile Roman soldier gives Christ Jesus, our Jewish savior, a sponge dipped in vinegar to drink as He hung on the cross at Golgotha. What a horrible way to pay back our Lord and Savior!

Later, in Ruth 2, verses 19–20, the true identity of Boaz is revealed; “…Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “‘The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz’, she said. ‘The Lord bless him!’, Naomi said to…