The Book of Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament telling an inspiring story about the life of King David’s great-grandmother. Kids will find inspiration in Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi as well as her trust in God.
Who was Ruth in the Bible? Video
Here is a video introduction to Ruth’s life:
The Life of Ruth in the Old Testament
And here is a biography you can share with kids:
Ruth was the great-grandmother of David, the king of Israel, and ancestor to Jesus Christ. Her story is told in the book that bears her name in the Old Testament. Ruth was a Moabite and not one of God’s people, but she married a man from the Israelite tribe of Judah.
Ruth’s husband died leaving her and her mother-in-law Naomi all alone. Naomi told Ruth to go back to her family, but Ruth refused to abandon her. “Wherever you go I will go,” she told her. “Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.” So she travelled with Naomi back to her home in Bethlehem of Judah.
Ruth met a man there named Boaz. He heard about her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi. He liked her very much. She liked him as well even though there were other younger and richer men for her in Bethlehem. He proposed to marry Ruth and oversee the lands that her husband and father-in-law owned before they died. Together they had a son named Obed who became the father of Jesse and grandfather of King David.
Ruth Reflection Questions
1. Why didn’t Ruth return home to the people of Moab after her husband died?
2. How can you show your loyalty to your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents?
3. Who in your family could you help grow closer to God as Naomi did for Ruth? How?
Download the Ruth Biography Worksheet
Get a copy of the The Life of Ruth Worksheet including these reflection questions here:
Bonus Video: The Song of Ruth
This is one of my favorite church songs. It was written by Steve Warner while serving at the University of Notre Dame. Here is the song sung by the Notre Dame Folk Choir:
