Theme Tracing:

The book of Ruth has a few different types of themes in it like: rest, loyal love, and kinsman
redeemer; however the theme that I see is faithfulness. Faithfulness is shown three major times in
this book. The first is with Ruth to Naomi, second Boaz to Ruth, and last God to the people of
Israel.
The first instance of faithfulness is with Ruth to Naomi (1:16-17). When all falls through
and goes south for this particular family and majorly with Naomi, Ruth shows faithfulness to
Naomi. She says, Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be
my people and your God my God. This is an example of great faithfulness to another person.
She trades in all that she is for the sake of Naomi. She did not have to, but she chose to show
faithfulness to Naomi in her time of real need. Second instance was Boaz to Ruth (4:9-10). Ruth
needed a kinsman and Boaz became that for her. He stepped in and provided for her. Her closer
kin refused to redeem Ruth and Naomi, but Boaz stepped in and was faithful to her by
performing the duty of a kinsman redeemer. Third, and last of all, God shows his faithfulness to
the people of Israel by restoring and saving the line of David, which would be the most famous
king in Israelite history and the line which Jesus came through (4:18-22).
To the OR this entire story was a familiar one. This would have been a familiar situation
to many people in Israel and a problem that they ran into. In concern to Ruths faithfulness to
Naomi, her vow to be with Naomi was very meaningful and powerful. It was not a light vow, it
meant changing everything that Ruth was and coming under the religion and under the God,
Yahweh. She changed everything for Naomi. The OR would have understood the amount of love
and real faithfulness to a person that this would have taken for Ruth to do. Also, with Boaz this
would have been familiar to the Israelites; especially the fact that someone rejected Ruth at first
and Boaz took her and performed the duty. Lastly, Gods faithfulness to Israel was a major point
of this story. Israel could be very grateful for this redemption and faithfulness that God shows
His people and not letting them end or die out but preserves them. This would have been of huge
significance to the OR in that day.
To todays readers, this theme of faithfulness is rather important as well. I think as people
we are all searching for stability and something that will remain constant, something that will
truly be faithful. And I am so thankful that God, Yahweh, is faithful. I can absolutely trust Him.
He is my Rock and my Fortress. If nothing in this world, I can trust the Lord with all of me;
without fear and without doubt I can trust that the Lord will be faithful. He has proven Himself
faithful in the past and continuing today He proves Himself faithful. That is where my hope lies
is in all of who He is. My life would fall to pieces without the security and faithfulness of my
God. I am eternally grateful for the Lord.