The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-11-29
RUTH'S CHOICE.
LESSON XII, FOURTH QUARTER,
INTERNATIONAL SERIES, DEC. %.

LESSON XII, FOURTH QUARTER,
INTERNATIONAL SERIES, DEC. %.
Text Of the Lesson, Ruth II, l0-eS-Com-
init Verses Io-ls-Goiden Text, Ruth
Il. le-Commentary BY Rev. u. NJ.
etearns.
condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
puhfisher.l
The book Of Ruth, with its record Of her
devotion to the God Of Israel and the great
blessing He bestowed upon her, is a delight
full resting place after the book of Judges
with its record Of the many backsiidings Of
lsraea and consequent Expressions by their
eremieA The first verso tells US that 1t was
in tho days Of tho Judges that the events Of
this book trunsptred, and some think as early
as the time Of Gideon The story of the
book Is briefly as follows Elimelech and
Naomi Of Bethlehem-Judah left their own
home because OF famine in the land, aud.
taking their two sons with them, wen. to re-
side in tho country Of Moab There Elimo-
lech died; the two sons married women Of
Noah, and after some years each of the sous
died, so that Naomi was left alone with her
two daughters-in-law, Crpah end Ruth,
bereft of both husband aud sons. After
spending about ten pears In the land
OF Moab d, 9 sAe searss with her daugh-
tiers to return to her own land; Orpah
is persuaded to remain among her own people
In Moab. but Ruth elings 10 Naomi snd her
God and hg peoPlA = lspqx3>d = en- asnea
today - ~ nES1e6 s(35d
giving her a hashand mighty nan Of
wealth, % the family of Elinelech, whose
name was Boaa di, y, and unto them Is born
child whom they cali Obed; he is tho father
OF Jesse, the father Of David Nv, 1S-l1.
TO. NAnd Ruth said, entreat mo hot 10
leave thee or 10 return from following after
thee" Elimelech signifies tiny God is king y
and Bethlehem Judah signifies ''the house of
bread and praise" and it seems very strange
to gee these people Of the true God going out
to the Moabites tfor the Moabitcs were the
enemies Of Israel Deut. xiii, 8, 4). even
though there was a famine in the land. The
COD who fed Israel forty years in the wilder
ness could find some way to provide for His
people even in time Of famine. Elimelech
end Naomi did net 60 into the land OF Moab
to glorify God, nor to seek His honor among
that people, nor to tell of His wondrous works.
We do not read of anything they did to honoz
God among the Moabites those ten years;
and now that Naomi is returning to the land
apd people Of the only living aud true God,
instead Of encouraging Qrpah and Ruth tc
forsakc the land Of idols and go with her. we
find her urging them both to rerlain in Moab
and in the case of 0rpah she is successful
But Ruth, for some cause, is determined to
forsake Moab aud idolatry and clenve to ths
Sol and people Of Israel. Perhaps the lifs
OF Naomi was better than her testineay, aud
Ruth had seen in her that which commended
the God Of Israel; or it may be that the
prophecies Of Balaam had come to her ear
with power; OF the tidings of the death OF
and mourning for Moses in the land of Moab
but whatever it was, we praise God for the
whole hearted turning from idols to serve the
living and true God OF this Gentife woman
The clinging OF Ittai the Gittite to David thu
king, as he fed from Absahom, was some
what similar; and alse the words of Elisha te
Elijah QI Sam XIV, 81; II Kings ii, 2-6)
May such be our words to the Lord Jesus
and may we with purpose Of heart cleav,
unto the Lordn (Acts xi, 2S),
IL. THE Lord do so to me, and more also
il aught but death part thee and me-" TAX
ing the words of these two verses together
tley certainly indicate on the part of Rutl
full identification with Naomi at any cost
and wo are reminded of the testimony O.
Paul at Caesarea, on his last journey to Jcru
salem: II am ready, not to ha bound only
but also to die at Jerusalem for the name o
the Lord Jesus" (Acta xxi, l3.I 81 coun
not my life dear unto myself, 50 tina
/ might finish my course with joy, an.
the ministry which l have received O
the Lord Jesus" (Acts Xxx, 24).
IS ''She was steadfastly minded to e
with her." Or, as In tho margin, sh
ayth thopod 10 4,
word that is translated courageous, or o
good courage, in Deut. xxi, q, Z, %; Josh
], 9, z, 0, Is, etc. and In Pa xvii, IA. XXX
| "a, We are promised that If we wait on th
| Lord He will strengthen our hearts. In LUX
XIX, 81, we are told that when the time wa
| fastly set His face to go TO Jerusalem; and
we would be steadfast and unmovable
abounding Ia the work Of the Lord, il mus
be by steadfastly fixing our eyes and on
hearts upon Him as we see Him in His lowi
life at Nazareth, His rejected. slandered an
despised public life, His death in our stea
on Calvary, bis resurrection, ascension an
continued iutercession for US, and His glorl
| GUS appearing for which we wait. Thus O
we labor i'll His harvest field He will dro
many handful on purpose for us III, l6
and we shall know him as our kinsman an
Redeemer, amghty man q wealth, 49,.
six mi!ea south of Jerusalem; there Rache
died and was buried when Benjamin, young
| est of Jacobs sons, was born, of whom Nose
said, ''The beloved of the Lord shall dive
in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cove
hip all the day, long, and he shall dwell b<
tween His shoulders" (Deut. xxxiii, 12); an
of the tribe OF Benjamin came Saul OF Tan
sus (Rom xi, y the great apostle to the Ger
| tiles. At Bethlehem was born David, th
man after Gods own heart; and there ais
was born Dayids greater son, Jesus, who
yet 60 sit on David's throne.
70. "rhe Almighty bath dealt very bii
terry with me-" As the women said, "Is thi
Naomis" she replied, call me ncs Naon
(which signifies pleasantly but can N
Mara (which signifies "hit.errt, giving thj
as her own reason Tor the pew name No'
in this she docs not talk like a. humble chill
OF God. but manifests q rebellous spirl
Somo one has said truly that she5 blanies til
Almighty when all he did was graciousl
to bring her home again, maxim
Moab provo Mara, lest she should die an
he buried there.
q II went out full, and the Lord hat
brought mo home again empty, Nov 81
opt, and the Lord had to bring her homt
tie sheep wandered, the shepherd sought an
found. However full we may be, ii we wal
der away from God He will permit the dev
soon to empty us, that we may bo he'd
| UnlnK Oh Inc talnerS QCuSc ana INC oDul
dance there; thus it was with the prodigal
Luke xv, and thus ID ever will be with Il
child Of God who wandegs from tic Father
House Of bread. How long it took to empt
. tho prodigal we are not told; it took K
years to empty Naomi; If any read.
has wandered from the Fathers love an
J plenty and is now undergoing Il
emptying process. Why not return ,
once and receive the welcome that avail
you, lest the Lord in His wisdom still furth,
testify against you. "He doth not affii
willingly, ner grievo the children of me-
but, though He cause grief, yet will lie Ia,
/ compassion, according to the multitude
His mercies' liam. III, 80, 3S). When f
does chasten 1t is for'our profit, that we ma
DO partakers Of His holiness, and then are v
able to say ''it is good for me that l ha'
been afflicted; that might learn Thy sta
= utes" (Heb Xii, 10; Ps. cxix, ny.
o. "Out of Moab to Bethlehem
That was ten thousand times better than o.
Of Bethlehem to Moab; and, although Naor
comes back without husband or sons, &
Lord overruled her wanderipgs to bring in
great honor Gentle woman who became
> bride Of the kinspsn redsemer, tho. migh
Ipan Of wealth