Ruth
by Arlen L. Chitwood

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      Foreword        Chapter 1       Chapter 2

      Chapter 3        Chapter 4       Chapter 5

      Chapter 6        Chapter 7       Chapter 8

      Chapter 9       Chapter 10      Appendix

 


        Documents in Microsoft Word Format:

     Foreword       Chapter 1       Chapter 2

     Chapter 3       Chapter 4       Chapter 5

     Chapter 6       Chapter 7       Chapter 8

     Chapter 9       Chapter 10     Appendix

There are two books in Scripture named for women — Ruth and Esther — and no one knows who wrote either book.  But both books form major keys to a correct understanding of the whole of Scripture.

These books, from a typical perspective, cover a complete panorama of the triune Godhead’s dealings with both the Church and Israel Ruth deals with Christ and the Church, and Esther deals with God and Israel.  And the two books together reflect upon and relate the complete story of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.

The information provided in these two books is indispensable to a correct understanding of numerous parts of Scripture.  And this would be particularly true relative to a correct understanding of the book of Revelation, for both Ruth and Esther deal heavily with the same subject matter that is seen in this book.

Thus, any proper exposition of the book of Revelation will, of necessity, have to draw heavily from both Ruth and Esther — along with other Old Testament books such as Exodus and Daniel — or miss the mark on vital points of interpretation.  In this respect, God has provided His own built-in interpretation of His Word; and that which God has provided is the only completely correct interpretation in existence.

Ruth and Esther form integral parts of the complete Old Testament word picture that God has provided, revealing His plans and purposes as they relate to man and the earth.  And this word picture, designed by God Himself, allows the spiritual man, under the leadership of the Spirit (who gave this Word [2 Peter 1:21]), to come into a full and complete understanding of that which has been revealed.

God has provided different parts and facets of the picture in different places throughout Scripture, and the complete picture can be seen only through viewing all of the different parts together, as a unit.  Scripture must be compared with Scripture.  Only through this means, under the leadership of the Spirit, can man see all of the various “things that God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9-13; cf. John 16:7-15).