1 Samuel 1:11
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”
 
She.
She wept and prayed unto the Lord, then vowed what she would do if He supplied her need.
 
She promised that if the Lord gave her a man-child she would give him back to Him.
 
Eli the priest was watching as she prayed, and wrongfully assumed she was drunk because of her actions.
 
1 Samuel 1:12-14
“And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”
 
She immediately corrected him, and admitted her condition.
 
1 Samuel 1:15
“And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”
 
She made a petition that the Lord would give her the desire of her heart, and then vowed in faith.
 
Hannah also serves as an example of how serious it should be to make a vow to God.
 
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
 
Romans 11:29
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 43-44  |  Colossians 3  |  Psalm 45-46

1 Samuel 1:10
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.”
 
She.
She had no children.
 
1 Samuel 1:4-5
“And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.”
 
The Lord had shut up her womb, and her adversary used the thing most near and dear to her heart to provoke her.
 
1 Samuel 1:6
“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.”
 
Our enemy knows how to get our attention. He knows how to distract, discourage, and even depress us, in an effort to defeat us before we see what God has in store.
 
1 Samuel 1:7
“And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.”
 
She was persistently provoked by her adversaries.
So much so that she cried away her appetite.
 
1 Samuel 1:8
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?”
 
Her heart was grieved because she longed for something more; yet she chose to use the bitterness inside to cause her to pray unto the Lord.
 
Hannah serves as an example that when our heart hurts, the ears of the Lord are open to our cry.
 
Psalm 18:6
“In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 41-42  |  Colossians 2  |  Psalm 43-44

Ruth 4:13
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.”
 
She.
She waited while Boaz went to the gate of the city to meet the nearer kinsman.
 
Ruth 4:5-6
“Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.”
 
The nearer kinsman chose not to redeem both Naomi and Ruth, but that was no surprise to the Lord. This simply made it possible for Boaz to do so.
 
Ruth 4:7-8
“Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.”
 
That shoe symbolized so much more.
It was a pledge that a transaction had been completed, and Boaz was now legally able to marry Ruth.
 
She conceived and bore a son soon after their marriage.
Naomi and Ruth had been redeemed and restored.
 
Ruth 4:14-15
“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.”
 
She was given a legacy of redemption.
That baby would be the grandfather of King David of Israel.
And fourteen generations after him Christ would be born of the same lineage.
 
Ruth also serves as an example of a beautiful picture of the redemption that Christ has provided us.
 
Romans 3:23-26
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 39-40  |  Colossians 1  |  Psalm 42

Ruth 3:14
“And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.”
 
She.
She went home with her arms full of provision from Boaz.
 
Ruth 3:15
“Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.”
 
She was full, instead of empty.
 
Ruth 3:17
“And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.”
 
When we come to the Word of God, we will never leave empty handed.
 
She had done what she could, and now it was time for her to “sit still” and wait for God’s will to take place.
 
Ruth 3:18
“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.”
 
She had done her part, and now it was Boaz’s responsibility to take care of her.
 
Ruth also serves as an example of how we must wait on the Lord to take care of us in our time of need.
 
Psalm 27:14
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
 
Psalm 138:7-8
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
 
Ruth had laid herself at Boaz’s feet like a servant.
We should approach Christ as a servant, just as He did for us.
Philippians 2:5-8
 
Ruth had asked for Boaz’s protection.
We should acknowledge our dependence on Christ.
Psalm 18:1-3,6
 
Ruth was obedient to Boaz’s instructions.
We should seek and obey God’s commands through His Word.
Psalm 119:4
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 37-38  |  Philippians 4  |  Psalm 41

Ruth 3:6
“And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.”
 
She.
She obeyed all that her mother-in-law told her to do.
 
Ruth 3:2
“And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.”
 
Naomi knew that Boaz was working in the threshingfloor. and she also knew what Ruth needed to do.
 
Ruth 3:3-4
“Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.”
 
She obeyed in faith, believing that Boaz would do what he could.
 
Ruth 3:9
“And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.”
 
He was a near kinsman that could redeem them, and he was willing.
 
Ruth 3:11
“And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”
 
She was kind and virtuous, and although there was a nearer kinsman, Boaz was whom God had prepared to be the redeemer.
 
Ruth also serves as an example of how Christ is willing to redeem us if only we will trust in Him by faith.
 
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
​
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 35-36  |  Philippians 3  |  Psalm 40

Ruth 2:15-16
“And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.”
 
She.
She found handfuls of purpose within the field of Boaz.
He had purposely arranged for them to be there, just for her.
 
“even among the sheaves”
The other gleaners were not allowed there, but she was.
 
Ruth 2:17-18
“So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.”
 
She returned home to Naomi with the reserve of barley, and the amount sparked the interest of her mother-in-law.
 
She held abundant grace within her hands as Naomi asked where she had been to find it.
 
Ruth 2:19
“And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.”
 
She had found a kinsman redeemer in the field.
 
Ruth 2:20
“And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.”
 
Ruth also serves as an example that God has left us “handfuls of purpose” within His Word that He desires us to apply to our lives.
 
Where are you gleaning from today?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 33-34  |  Philippians 2  |  Psalm 38-39

Ruth 2:10
“Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?”
 
She.
She had found grace in the eyes of Boaz.
 
She had been faithful to follow her mother-in-law and the sacrifices she made in order to come to Bethlehem with her, but most of all, he saw Who she trusted in.
 
Ruth 2:12
“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
 
She had chosen Naomi’s God as hers.
 
Ruth 1:16
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
 
She humbled herself and knelt in awe of the grace she had found in the field of Boaz. God had ordered her steps to the place He had prepared to fulfill her need.
 
She was given abundant grace in that she also sat at the table beside the reapers. She ate until she was sufficed.
 
Ruth also serves as an example of what we too can find if we will fall on our face before the Lord.
 
His grace is sufficient for our every need, we must need only fall at His feet to find it.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 31-32  |  Philippians 1  |  Psalm 37

Ruth 2:3
“And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.”
 
She.
She was divinely directed by the Lord.
 
“…her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz…”
 
There are no coincidences with God.
It was no accident that God directed her to the field of Boaz.
 
“she went”
God gave her the faith to go.
 
“and came”
God directed her steps of where she should go.
 
“and gleaned”
God provided exactly what she needed, when and where she needed it.
 
She met Boaz in the field.
She met the man that was of the kindred of her father-in-law.
 
Ruth 2:7
“And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.”
 
She asked to glean, and he encouraged her to stay in his field.
 
Ruth 2:8-9
“Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.”
 
No other field could meet her need.
The field is a picture of the Word of God.
 
Ruth also serves as an example of how important it is for us to glean from the right field.
 
Everyday we glean from the different things we focus our mind and spirit on whether it is intentional or not.
 
Like Ruth, we need to find the right field to glean from… the Word of God. Boaz gave Ruth his field to glean from, freely…God has given us His Word and He shares It with us freely.
 
May we be mindful of where we are spending our time, and from what fields we are gleaning.
 
John 5:39
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 29-30  |  John 21  |  Psalm 35-36

Ruth 2:2
“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.”
 
She.
She encouraged her daughter-in-law to go out into the field.
 
She knew of Ruth’s need of a kinsman redeemer.
 
Ruth 2:1
“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”
 
She must have told Ruth about this man, for she asked Naomi’s permission to go before seeking after him.
 
Ruth went out, and came back with more enough for them.
 
Ruth 2:19
“And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.”
 
She encouraged Ruth to continue to go out and glean in his field.
 
Ruth 2:22-23
“And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.”
 
Naomi also serves as an example of how we can be used to encourage others to go out into the field.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 27-28  |  John 20  |  Psalm 34

Ruth 1:18
“When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”
 
She.
She was a Moabitess who married one of Naomi’s sons.
 
Her mother-in-law begged her and Orpah to return to Moab after they had grieved over the lost of their husbands.
 
Ruth 1:8-9
“And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.”
 
She and Orpah both refused to oblige Naomi’s request at first, and desired to go with her back to Bethlehem.
 
Ruth 1:10
“And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.”
 
Naomi pleaded with them to obey her command.
 
Ruth 1:11-13
“And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.”
 
Orpah decided to do as she requested, but Ruth refused once again.
 
Ruth 1:14
“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”
 
She then expressed to Naomi how serious she was about staying with her.
 
Ruth 1:16-17
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
 
She was stedfastly minded.
She was strong, courageous, bold, brave, and determined…even unto death.
 
Ruth serves as an example that we can choose to be stedfastly minded about what God has given us to do.
 
If Ruth had given in to Naomi’s request, she may have never met Boaz.
If we give in to the pressure of others, we too will miss God’s will for our lives.
May we too be stedfastly minded in pursuit of all He has prepared for us.
 
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
 
Joshua 1:9
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
 
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 25-26  |  John 19  |  Psalm 33