OT 20 All the City Doth Know that Thou are a Virtuous Woman
                                                                    Ruth 1; Samuel 1-2
Note: This material shows the prophetic meanings of Hannah and Ruth's lives
I. The Story of Hannah
    Review the Story of Hannah. Read appropriate scriptures to find answers to the following questions.
    Consider: What virtues made Hannah so honorable? (1 Samuel 1:11)
         How did Hannah keep her vow after Samuel was born? (1 Sam.1:24-28)
         Was Hannah bitter or reluctant to keep her promise? (1 Sam. 2:1-2)
        How does Hannah’s sacrifice compare to Abraham’s? (While Abraham’s sacrifice of his son was stayed, Hannah’s was not. Though her sacrifice was not of the magnitude of Abraham’s, yet it was great, and fully required).
        Though Hannah made a great sacrifice, she sings praise to the Lord. (Read 1 Sam. 2:1-10). How is it that she can praise the Lord under the circumstances? (Among other things, because of her sacrifice Hannah is blessed with other children. (2:20-21).
    Hannah’s rejoicing is also prophetic. She sees that her wondrous birth after barrenness foresees the birth of the Messiah who will come only after Israel’s long waiting for the Messiah. (Compare Mary’s rejoicing in Luke 1:46-55).
    Samuel’s life was also prophetic. See how he and Jesus’ boyhood are compared. (1 Sam. 2:26 and Luke 2:52) 
Application for Today: Many couples bear sorrow due to childlessness. We learn from Hannah’s story that we should not judge those who are not having children lest we judge those who are trying but not succeeding. If you are one of those couples,  you might feel inspired to use the article by Ardeth G. Kapp, “Just the Two of Us --- for Now,” February Ensign, 1989.)

II. The Story of Ruth had much prophetic meaning. 
    Review the story of Ruth.
    What virtues made Ruth honorable? 
        Answer: Her faith. Though born outside of Israel, she chose to follow the true God. (Ruth 1:15-16). 
        Other answers could include devotion to Naomi, her sacrifices, her willingness to work, etc. 
      Additional Material on the Prophetic Meaning
        Ruth’s story is a touching one which verifies the love of the Lord for those outside of Israel, who long to be a part of and are accepted into His house.
        Many Biblical scholars see the story of Boaz and Ruth as pointing toward Christ as bridegroom, with Ruth symbolizing His bride.
       The events of Boaz as a bridegroom revealed six points regarding Christ. 
            1. First, the Bridegroom would allow those outside Israel to receive of His blessings. Boaz observed that Ruth, a Gentile, had accepted Israel’s God. He therefore had mercy on her, insuring that she would receive the gleanings of his harvest. He later wed her, bringing her under His covenant with all its blessings. 
        2.  Second, the Bridegroom provided a covering for the bride. Ruth went to Boaz while asleep, pleading he cover her with his skirt (Ruth 3:1-9). Ruth’s request, while appearing inappropriate to us, had special implications. It was a request he marry her.[i] The prophet Ezekiel was one who later connected covering with skirts to making one a bride. “…I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine” (Ezekiel 16:8). (Note: because of these and other scriptures, it became a tradition for an Israelite bridegroom to drape a portion of his outer clothing over the bride at the wedding ceremony).     
    Now, all who covenant with Christ receive the covering of His atonement.
   3.  Third, the Bridegroom purchased His bride. Boaz paid a bride price for Ruth. “Moreover Ruth … have I purchased to be my wife…” (Ruth 4:10). All those who come into Christ’s household are purchased through His atonement.
    4.  Fourth, the time of union was at the harvest (Ruth 2:2-5). Boaz’ and Ruth’s union occurred at the harvest of grains. Later, Christ performed His great acts of atonement, making the receptive a part of His household at that harvest. 
    5. Fifth Ruth’s gleaning after the initial harvest taught that the Gentiles would receive the covenants of the gospel only after being first offered to Israel. Christ Himself taught the truth of the Gentiles receiving the gospel after the Jews, but later used different imagery. When approached by a Gentile woman asking that her daughter be healed, Jesus’ response was that it was not proper to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs. (Jesus did not use the term dogs in a derogatory manner, but meant little pets who are loved.) Whereupon the woman argued that those pets are allowed to eat leftovers from the master’s table. Because of her faith and persistence, the Savior blessed her (Matthew 15:22-28). From all His other teachings we know the Lord meant the gospel would go to the Gentiles, but its timing would be after it was first offered to the House of Israel.[ii] 
    6.Six, some feel Ruth’s going to Boaz while he was sleeping was additional witness that it would be after Christ’s death that the Gentiles would be taught of Jesus Christ, and many would accept His covenant, that they and their posterity might live![iii]

[i]. Daniel I. Block, “Marriage and Family in Ancient Israel,” in Marriage and Family in the Biblical World, ed. Ken M. Campbell (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), pp. 44-45. 
[ii]  James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 355-56. 367
 [iii] For example see Samuel Mather, The Figures or Types of the Old Testament (New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1969), 65-66. He gives the most detailed argument that brides who came to their bridegrooms while sleeping, specifically Adam, but this would include Boaz, witnessed of those who came to Christ after His death.