The book of Ruth may be one of the loveliest short stories ever written, telling an unforgettable tale of purity, faithfulness, innocence, loyalty, duty and love. Yet it is set in dark times. The final verse of the book of Judges, which precedes Ruth in the Bible, tells us that “in those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The time was marked by apostate religion, lawlessness, invasions and tribal war.

Against this backdrop of strife and chaos, Ruth is a story of ordinary people in Bethlehem making the most of their bad situation—and finding God in the midst of it.

Through this study, we'll be reminded that no matter how dark or dramatic our days may seem, God still protects His people and accomplishes His purposes. Within life’s humdrum and routine events, we discover His loving hand at work.