Ruth 3-4; Ps 37; Acts 4

Ruth 3-4 recounts how Naomi's gentle and wise actions, well-versed in the customs and practices of Israel at the time, combined with Ruth's humble, obedient, and virtuous attitude, led to the best outcomes. Firstly, it led to Boaz's favor. Emphasizing Ruth's virtue and humility, he takes responsibility for the entire matter. This was not just a marriage. By marrying a widow at that time, a man was redeeming the name of the deceased, continuing his lineage. Therefore, Boaz conducts a special ceremony where he first asks a closer relative if he wishes to marry Ruth and redeem her land from Naomi. After his refusal, Boaz publicly declares that he will take Ruth as his wife in the presence of witnesses.

This story speaks of the wonders of God's providence. God uses the famine in Bethlehem, Naomi's husband's wrong decision to go to the fields of Moab (Scripture forbade this), the death of their two sons, Ruth's faithfulness and virtues, Naomi's wisdom, Boaz's nobility, and much more so that through all this, David, the most famous king of Israel, would be born.

Psalm 37 is one of the best texts in Scripture, providing confidence to God's children in difficult circumstances. Verses 36:4-6 should always be memorized and remembered: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and justice as the noonday."

Acts 4 describes the first persecution raised against the disciples of Christ. Several important points are highlighted here:

- Peter and John demonstrate unprecedented boldness, speaking directly to the members of the Sanhedrin about their actions under the power of Christ, whom the Jews crucified (they directly accuse them - "whom you crucified"), confirming their accusation with a quote from Psalm 118 and proclaiming the exclusive nature of Jesus Christ as the Savior (Acts 4:12).
- Another display of courage by the apostles and their refusal to obey the prohibition to speak in the name of Jesus Christ: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge" (Acts 4:19).
- Another testimony to the combination of God's sovereign election and human responsibility: "For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place" (Acts 4:27-28).
- The disciples pray not for safety but for boldness to proclaim the Word of God (Acts 4:29-31).