In fulfilment of her vow, Hannah handed her young son Samuel over to work for God for his whole life. On that day, Hannah prayed, and as the Holy Spirit came upon her, she began to speak one of the greatest prophecies in the Bible, declaring how God would completely change her nation's situation and send his Anointed King, the Messiah.

Hannah's prophecy was the inspiration behind the great song of Mary, the mother of Jesus, that is called the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)

Hannah, a woman without children, was constantly taunted by her husband's second wife. In that situation, she began to pray and resolved that, if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to work for God for his whole life.

Such was the pious mother of Samuel the prophet, who herself, as we shall discover in chapter 2, was a prophetess.

Living in a lawless age, Boaz cared about God's law. He arranged for Bethlehem's leaders to gather as a court of law, to decide who would redeem Elimelech's family and therefore, marry Ruth.

So Ruth's marriage to Boaz became an important public occasion, at which the people acknowledged her great step of faith in joining Israel's people to revive one of its ancient families - and so to become the mother, not just of Obed, but also of its future royal family.

Desiring to become Boaz's wife, but fearful that he would never agree to marry her publicly, Ruth goes to Boaz late at night. When he wakes, she urges him to accept her as his wife, and so to have a child who will continue the family of her deceased husband. God's law has given her the right to request this from the closest relative of her late husband.

However, there is a problem. Boaz explains that he is not actually the closest relative.

Arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth decides to 'glean' for food: as a very poor person, God's law allows her to collect leftover grain from the harvest fields. By a little miracle, she chooses the field of Boaz, a relative of her deceased husband who shows her great kindness.

Our new season begins as we look at Ruth chapter 1. Ruth's courageous decision to come to Israel with Naomi, and to place her trust in the true and living God. Explained in clear and simple English.