Elimelech
Naomi
Mahlon
Chilion
Orpah
Ruth
Boaz
Obed

women / ladies
mothers
mothers-in-law
daughters
daughters-in-law
grandmas
wives
widows
sisters
parents
new parents
husbands
sons
and yes, even bosses could learn a good thing from the story of Ruth!
oh, and pastors and preachers could stand to read this as well - great illustrations to learn from!

faithfulness
Integrity
Love
Proper prosperity and blessings
Protection
Grace
Redemption
Strength to go on!
Caring for others
Humbleness
Comfort
Comforting others
Patience

1:8 - the LORD deal kindly with you...
1:8 -as ye have dealt with the dead
1:9 - the LORD grant you that ye may find rest
1:13 - for it grieveth me much for your sakes...

1:8 ... and with me.
1:13 - ...that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me
1:20 - ... call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
1:21 - ... I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty... the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

• strong - name of Solomon's left pillar in his temple - I Kings 7:21
• He was strong in:
in grace
integrity
purpose
• Lord of the harvest
• master of servants
• redeemer
• bridegroom
• life-giving
• Good ensample for a boss - 2:4

Orpah - going back after husband dies - back unto her gods!  1:15

Ruth stays with Naomi - 1:16,17

Good testimony from Ruth - 2:10-12; 1:19-21

Ruth - humble!  2:10,13

Neat story of going beyond gleanings 2:14-17

Ruth heeded Naomi's direction - 3:3-5

Mother-in-law good advice to younger women today - 3:18 - sit still!
(learn from the older ones - Titus...)

Kinsmen Redeemer - Boaz

'The shoe' - 4:7,8

In Hebrew law, a near kin who redeems the property of an impoverished relative.  Boaz became kinsman redeemer for his relative, Elimelech (chapter 4:9-12. The kinsman redeemer is a picture of Jesus Christ who became a man to redeem sinful men from bondage to sin, Satan, and death.

With that action, Ruth gave Naomi a restored life - and nourished her old age!  4:13-16

This is an observation showing that old folks like to see children when you take them to nursing homes, etc. and shows that grandmas' love their little grandchildren.

There is little joy in our older years (See Ecclesiastes 12:1-7).

We also see here an illustration that shows us the sadness of grandma's that would exist when the grandkids are a long ways away or are kept from them!

Daughters, let the grandma and grandpa's in on the lives of their grandchildren.  Doing so would give them a restored life and would nourish their older years!  (Unless, of course, they would be a detriment to the child, and there is plenty of that these days!)

4:13-22 - Mother of Obed, to David to Christ - Matthew 1:5
(Obed - David's grandpa)