Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–7: Lesson 68

Ruth

“A Full Reward Be Given Thee of the Lord”

Because the price of salvation is too high for us alone to pay, we each need to be redeemed. The account of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz in the Old Testament is a story of physical redemption that symbolizes Jesus Christ’s role as our personal Redeemer. This lesson is intended to help students feel a greater desire to trust in Jesus Christ and His redeeming power.

Student preparation: Invite students to consider why one of Jesus Christ’s titles is Redeemer. Encourage them to ponder how Jesus Christ redeems us from physical and spiritual death. (They might refer to “Redeem, Redeemed, Redemption” in Guide to the Scriptures for help.) Encourage them to come prepared to share their thoughts with the class.

Possible Learning Activities

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer?

You might begin class by displaying the following image of Jesus Christ or another of your choice and writing the word Redeemer on the board.

Display the quote from Elder Christofferson and invite students to answer the two questions in their study journal.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Among the most significant of Jesus Christ’s descriptive titles is Redeemer. … The word redeem means to pay off an obligation or a debt. Redeem can also mean to rescue or set free. (“Redemption,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 109)

• In what ways might you and others need to be redeemed by Jesus Christ?

• How much do you want to trust in Jesus Christ’s redeeming power in your life? Why?

Invite students to consider how confident they are in their answers and what they might like to understand better or feel about the Savior and His redeeming power.

You may want to summarize the next paragraph in your own words. You may also want to write the bolded truth on the board near the word Redeemer.

Redemption is one of the prominent themes in the account of Ruth. As you study Ruth’s story, consider how likening this account to ourselves can help us learn that if we come to Jesus Christ, He will redeem us. Seek the help of the Holy Ghost to know ways we are like Ruth and need redemption and how Boaz is like the Savior Jesus Christ and redeems us.

The account of Ruth

You might read or explain the following summary.

In a time of famine, an Israelite woman named Naomi, her husband, and her two sons moved from Bethlehem to Moab, a neighboring country with a different culture and religious beliefs. While there, the sons each married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah.

Tragically, Naomi’s husband and two sons died, leaving the three women widows. Naomi chose to return to Bethlehem. Unable to care for her daughters-in-law, Naomi encouraged them to return to their families in Moab. Orpah returned to her family.

Read Ruth 1:8–9, 14–17, looking for Ruth’s response to Naomi.

• What are some of the uncertainties and difficulties Ruth might face by going to Bethlehem with Naomi?

  After hearing what students share, you could explain some of the following:

  • By going with Naomi, Ruth would leave behind family in Moab.

  • Ruth would be a foreigner in an unfamiliar land with a different culture.

  • Without husbands, Ruth and Naomi would face extreme poverty.

  • Ruth’s choice showed her willingness to worship and rely on Jehovah (Jesus Christ), not the false gods of the Moabites. (You might invite students to mark the phrase “and thy God my God” in verse 16.)

• Knowing Ruth’s circumstances, what stands out to you about her response?

Boaz redeems Ruth

To continue Ruth’s account, you could invite students to complete the handout “Ruth and Naomi Are Redeemed.” Students could work in pairs to write the important details of the story. Another option would be to give students the scripture blocks of the handout and have them summarize the verses in their own words with a partner.

After students complete the handout, you could explain any of the following that you feel would be useful:

• As part of the Law of Moses, Israelites were required to leave unharvested grain in the fields to care for the poor (see Leviticus 19:9–10).

• Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was one of their “next kinsmen” (see Ruth 2:20) or close relatives. The term “next kinsman” comes from the Hebrew word go-el, which means “redeemer.” A “next kinsman” was expected to care for (or even marry) widows in their family to restore them to safety and security.

• Because there was another kinsman more closely related who had the right to marry Ruth, Boaz purchased the right from him (see Ruth 3:12–13) before marrying Ruth (see Ruth 4:9–10, 13).

It may be helpful to create a two-column chart on the board. Label the first column Ruth/Us and the second column Boaz/Jesus Christ. Students could list on the board what they find.

• In what ways might we be like Ruth?

  If students struggle to answer, consider asking them to think about how they may not have enough or be enough on their own. (This could include not having enough righteousness or obedience, not enough strength to overcome sin or weakness, not enough support to continue doing what is right, and so on.) You might also ask what Ruth did to seek redemption and how we may be similar.

• In what ways is Boaz like Jesus Christ?

  If students struggle to answer, consider inviting them to review Ruth 2:12, 15–16. You might also point out that Boaz entered a covenant marriage or relationship with Ruth to always love and care for her.

  If needed, explain that the Savior redeems us in every way we need. Consider inviting students to read Mosiah 15:7–9 or Helaman 5:9–11 to identify how the Savior redeems us. You may also add that the Savior’s redemptive work includes helping us with our problems on earth (see D. Todd Christofferson, “Redemption,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 109–110).

• How would you describe the difference in Ruth’s situation before and after Boaz helped and married her?

• What lessons can we learn about our relationship with Jesus Christ through the story of Ruth and Boaz?

Jesus Christ is our Redeemer

Providing students opportunities to answer the next three questions may invite the Holy Ghost. As students share and listen to each other share, the Holy Ghost can help students feel a greater desire to trust in Jesus Christ and His redeeming power. To help students prepare to answer the first question, you might show “Finding Your Purpose in Life: Does Faith Matter?” (5:08) or “Moving on from Past Mistakes” (3:43), both are available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• When have you or someone you know felt the redeeming power of Jesus Christ?

• Why might you, like Ruth, want to trust in Jesus Christ and His redeeming power in the future?

• What do you think someone could do to increase their desire to trust in the Savior’s redeeming power?

To conclude, invite students to consider what thoughts or impressions they received from the Holy Ghost about trusting the Lord and His redeeming power. They may want to add thoughts to the questions they answered at the beginning of the lesson in their study journals.

Additional Resources

What marriage customs influenced Ruth’s story?

The levirate law of marriage stated that when a man married and then died before having a male child, his nearest male relative was to marry the widow (see Bible Dictionary, “Levirate marriage”). The “kinsman [also] had the right to purchase (redeem) the land of [his] deceased relative.” (Ellis T. Rasmussen, A Latter-day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament [1993], 227)

Does the Savior’s redeeming power apply to me?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken; He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you; and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts. (“Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 44)

How can I access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ?

Elder Kim B. Clark of the Seventy taught:

When we live our covenants, they influence everything we say and do. We live a covenant life full of simple, everyday acts of faith that focus us on Jesus Christ: prayer from the heart in His name, feasting on His word, turning to Him to repent of our sins, keeping His commandments, partaking of the sacrament and keeping His Sabbath holy, worshipping in His holy temple as often as we can, and exercising His holy priesthood to serve God’s children.

These acts of covenant devotion open our hearts and minds to the redeeming power of the Savior and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost. Line upon line, the Savior changes our very nature, we become more deeply converted unto Him, and our covenants come alive in our hearts. (“Look unto Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 55)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The story of Ruth

To help students visualize the story of Ruth, you might consider showing the video “Ruth and Naomi” (2:00).

The imagery in Ruth 2:12

To help students recognize the references to the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in Ruth 2:12, you could ask them how “recompense” relates to the word redeem and Jesus Christ’s role as Redeemer.

Additionally, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Though it may seem impossible, feel impossible, healing can come through the miracle of the redemptive might of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who is risen “with healing in his wings.” (“He Is Risen with Healing in His Wings,” Liahona, May 2022, 39)

Additional videos about the Savior’s redemption

How we live is more important than where we come from

You might explain the following details about Ruth’s background before she was married to Boaz: Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4), a widow (Ruth 1:5), and a convert to the worship of Jehovah (Ruth 1:16).

Point out that although Ruth was neither an Israelite by birth nor a person of any wealth, she chose to trust in the God of Israel and follow Him. Because of her faith, she was redeemed.

Invite students to read Alma 11:40 and 2 Nephi 30:2, and ask the following question:

• What can we learn from Ruth’s account and these verses about repenting and keeping covenants?

The Savior is born through Ruth’s lineage

You could invite students to read Ruth 4:13–22, looking for who would be born into Ruth and Boaz’s family. The verses state that Ruth and Boaz would become direct ancestors of the Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ.

Consider inviting students to record their testimony of Jesus Christ in their study journals. You could encourage them to find an opportunity in the next few days to share their testimony with someone else.