Butler's examines the life of Ruth as a life story, a love story, a historical story, and most importantly, a religious story, in the following chapters:
John G. Butler, originally from Iowa, has been a Baptist minister for over fifty years and a pastor for over thirty-five years with pastorates in Clinton, Iowa; Williamsburg, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Chicago, Illinois. Having attended Tennessee Temple University and graduated from Cedarville University, he also authored the 27-volume Bible Biography Series, a 10-volume Study of the Savior series about Jesus Christ, and the 4-volume Butler's Daily Bible Reading set, a unique daily devotional focusing on expository Bible study. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy.
“The lack of the recording in Scripture of any special details about the trip reminds us that the path of God’s will is made up mostly of the ordinary—the daily grind as some call it. It is simply a step by step, day by day walk with nothing special happening.” (Page 43)
“Any visitation from God that brings blessing is a visitation of God’s grace; for men do not deserve any blessing from God.” (Page 24)
“This reaping of grain, though it appeared to be an insignificant and lowly bit of activity, was not an unimportant incident in Ruth’s life. Rather, it was that which gained her a husband through whom she had a son which made her an ancestress of Jesus Christ. Not infrequently in life, events which we may consider insignificant turn out to have major effects upon our lives. Therefore, never discount the importance of an event in your line of duty. Be faithful to your duty, though humble and inconspicuous it may be; and the important things that need to happen in your life will indeed happen.” (Page 57)
“Elimelech not only defiled himself in the move to Moab, but he also defiled his family. When you backslide, you do not backslide alone. When you sin, you cause others to sin. So it was with Elimelech. When he failed, he caused his entire family to also fail. Backsliders always take others with them. And, in fact, people will often follow a backslider quicker than they will follow an obedient person.” (Page 15)
“A famine in morals is far worse than a famine in the material. A famine of food for the soul is much more harmful than a famine of food for the body. Scripture warns of spiritual famine: ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it’ (Amos 8:11).” (Page 13)