Reading Guide
Song of Songs
Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s (Verse 1)
“Song of songs” is a hebrew idiom like “holy of holies” or “king of kings” - a means of emphasis.
A collection of love poems that explores the human experience of love and sexual desire.
Chapter 8:6-7 could be considered a summary or conclusion to the book.
The power and intensity of love
The human longing to know and to be known by another.
Transcendent and mysterious, and a gift from God.
Three different interpretations of this book have been put forward.
Jewish tradition: An allegory - the woman represents Israel, the man represents God, their love represents the covenant between God and Israel.
Christian tradition: Christ’s love for his people, the church. (Ephesians 5:25-33)
A collection of ancient Israelite love poetry that reflects on the divine gift of love.
A key feature: the considerable use of garden imagery - echos of the Garden of Eden
The scene of the married couple in the Garden of Eden
The man and the woman naked and vulnerable, yet united and safe
Vision of a relationship untainted by sin
The “Song of songs” holds out hope
It points us to something greater: the gift of God’s love.
Ruth
The key people: Naomi the widow; Ruth the Moabite; Boaz the Israelite farmer
Chapter 1: Tragedy and death; three widows; Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi
What was Ruth’s pledge? Why did Naomi change her name?
Chapter 2: Two widows look for food. Ruth meets Boaz.
A relative of Naomi
“a man of standing” (NIV), “a worthy man” (ESV). (2:1) Hebrew “HaYiL”
Boaz shows generosity to Ruth (Deuteronomy 24:19)
Boaz prays that God will bless her.
Boaz is Naomi’s family “kinsman redeemer”. It was a cultural practice at that time: If a man died, it was the “kinsman redeemer’s” responsibility to marry the widow in order to protect and preserve the family line.
Chapter 3: The plan for courtship. Ruth and Boaz meet again.
Ruth asks Boaz to marry her so as to fulfill the role of “kinsman redeemer”.
Boaz agrees to do so.
Boaz calls Ruth “a worthy woman” (ESV), “a woman of noble character” (NIV) (3:11) The same Hebrew word HaYiL used to describe Boaz in 2:1.
Chapter 4: Boaz goes through the legal cultural process to be designated as the “kinsman redeemer” and he takes the necessary steps to fulfill the role: he acquires the family property of Naomi and he marries Ruth. Symmetry:
The book begins with tragedy and death followed by Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi.
The book ends with Boaz’s loyalty to Ruth and Naomi followed by joy and birth.
Why is the book of Ruth in the Bible? Read Matthew 1:1-6