Introduction to Ruth

Jim ButlerRuth 1

The book of Ruth, set during the period of the judges, opens a window onto ordinary covenant life in Israel — marked by hesed, divine providence, and the sovereign outworking of the Davidic line through which Messiah would come. This introductory study establishes the date, historical setting, authorship, and historicity of the book, demonstrating from internal evidence and Matthew's genealogy that the events are historical fact. The book's theological themes — God's grace, judgment, excellence, and meticulous providence — are traced through key passages, showing that even in a period of widespread apostasy, God preserved a faithful remnant. The study closes with a structural outline organized around four acts, preparing the congregation to read Ruth as a Christ-centered narrative whose ultimate aim is the royal genealogy pointing to David and his greater Son.