Ruth 1 - 1 Samuel 4

In just a few continuous chapters of the Old Testament, two exemplary great women are briefly mentioned. Our stake young women leaders would describe both of them as "Women of Christ". Ruth was a moabite which I believe were descendants of Lot. Her people like many in the region had turned to false Gods. Ruth had obviously become converted to the on and only true God. After losing her husband and being allowed to stay with her people, you can sense her conversion to the truth as well as her deep love for her mother-in-law when she responds -

"...Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 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." (Old Testament Ruth 1:16 - 17)

Ruth willingly accepted the poverty of Naomi and did all she could to care for her saying -

"...Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace..." (Old Testament Ruth 2:2)

Ruth recognized the goodness of Boaz which the reader can also sense as Boaz says to the reapers -

"...The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee." (Old Testament Ruth 2:4)

Ruth must have been quite fair to look upon for the elderly Boaz asks -

"...Whose damsel is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab..." (Old Testament Ruth 2:5 - 6)

He even tells her -

"...Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9 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." (Old Testament Ruth 2:8 - 9)

Boaz then sets her apart and takes special care of her. I believe the Spirit of the Lord rested upon Ruth for -

"...for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman..." (Old Testament Ruth 3:11)

And with the Spirit she pursued after that which she knew would be best for her for Boaz recognized she -

"...followedst not young men, whether poor or rich..." (Old Testament Ruth 3:10)

But was guided by the Spirit. Boaz was respectable and being a close kinsman followed the law and went -

"...up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down." (Old Testament Ruth 4:1 - 2)

And after all the kinsman declined, Boaz said to the Elders -

"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.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses." (Old Testament Ruth 4:9 - 11)

"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife..." (Old Testament Ruth 4:13)

And after Ruth did bare a son, in a touching scene for all grandmothers -

"...Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it...." (Old Testament Ruth 4:16)

It was her son that became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David, an ancestor of Mary, the mother of the Savior.

Hannah was another faithful mother who was barren and thought herself worthless. After having been provoke by her husband's other "fruitful" wife, in great faith, Hannah -

"...Hannah rose up ...And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
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..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 1:9 - 11)

"Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 1:13)

What a difficult promise for a mother. Eli thought she was drunk but as she explained why she was so emotional, he said -

"...Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 1:17)

You can sense the faith of Hannah as she answers -

"...Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19 ¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house ... and the LORD remembered her." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 1:18 - 19)

"...when she had weaned him, she took him up with her...unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 1:24)

It must of been very difficult to drop off a very young child to be "lent to the Lord". But Hannah rejoiced, praising God, saying-

"...My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 2:1 - 2)

The child became the great prophet Samuel. And later on -

"...the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 2:21)

"..Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Old Testament Psalms 2:12)