Ruth 4:4–10; Be Still, My Soul

 

What do you notice about Ruth that might have helped her earn such great blessings from the Lord? How did Boaz redeem Ruth from her desperate situation? In what ways were both Ruth and Boaz like Jesus Christ?

"4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

5 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.

6 ¶ 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.

7 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.

8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9 ¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day." (Ruth 4:4–10)

"124

Be Still, My Soul

Peacefully

1.Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2.Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as he has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

3.Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697; trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813–1897.

Music: Jean Sibelius, 1865–1957. © 1900 by Breitkopf and Härtel. Arr. © 1933, ren. 1961 Presbyterian Board of Christian Education (admin. Westminster John Knox Press). All rights reserved.

Psalm 37:3–9

Doctrine and Covenants 101:14–16, 35–38"

And here's the commentary entitled: "Jesus Christ can turn tragedy into triumph.": 

"Life is hard for a widow in any era. But when Ruth’s husband died, her situation was especially hard. In Israelite culture at the time, a woman without a husband or sons had no right to property and very few ways to earn a living. As you read Ruth’s story, notice how the Lord turned tragedy into great blessings. What do you notice about Ruth that might have helped her? How did Boaz redeem Ruth from her desperate situation? (see Ruth 4:4–10). How were both Ruth and Boaz like Jesus Christ?

See also “Be Still, My Soul,” Hymns, no. 124." 

Ruth's firm faith in the Lord, as a convert, her selfless love and compassion for her mother-in-law, and her sacrifice of her old faith and her own people might have helped her earn such great blessings from the Lord, because God does reward those who are faithful to Him. 

Boaz redeemed Ruth from her desperate situation by marrying her and having a son with her. Through their son, even David and, eventually, Jesus Christ came.

Both Ruth and Boaz were like Jesus Christ because:

• Ruth selflessly sacrificed for Naomi because of her love for her, just as Jesus Christ selflessly sacrificed for each of us because of His love.
• Ruth saved Naomi from losing her social status among her own people, the Israelites, just as Jesus Christ saved us from losing our good standing with God. 
• Ruth's marriage to Boaz restored Naomi's right to her property, just as Jesus Christ's atonement restored our right to inherit our place in God's kingdom. 
• Boaz redeemed both Ruth and Naomi from their desperate situation just as Jesus Christ redeemed us from our desperate situation of being separated from God.