The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-01-07

JlOn OF the lru' CHRISTIAN, who
perseveres in the service of God in
the face of difficulties and discour-
agements, toll and tribulation. She
Identifies herself with her friend in
all her interests, and in all her re-
lations. She is willing to share her
destiny, TO adopt her religion, to
worship her God, and to become one
with her people. Thus again does
her example illustrate the character,
and conduct of the true Christian
who becomes identified with Christ
and his people. in all their relations
He is willing to share the humilia-
ton, sacrifice, and toll of his divine
friend, and become identified with
his people in Whatsoever relation
in life they may be found. With
their hearts thus knit in bonds of
love, and their destinies linked to-
gether, Naomi and Ruth turn away
from Moab, and share with each
other the tolls and cares of the long,
weary journey, until they come to
Bethlehem, the former home of the
old Jewess, from whichshe had gone
forth ten years before. There
Rachel died and was buried (Gen.
xxxv: 19). There David was born
Il Sam. xvii: 12), and there many
centuries afterward was born a
greater than David (Luke ii: ID.
Although worn with her long Jour
ney, and changed by time and trou-
BILE, Naomi was recognized by her
former acquaintance. as she went
slowly along the once familiar street
In search of some humble lodging.
Her former position and prosperity,
no doubt, contrasted strikingly with
her present poverty-stricken APP
pearance, and so awakened many
inquiries in the minds of the gossips
of the village. Then the interest
was still further increased by the
appearance of her companion, who
was, perhaps, uncommonly beauti-
full, for her very name is said by
some to signify beauty" while
others make it to mean " a rose"
and so designate Ruth as the Rose
of Moab" Interest, sympathy and
gossip were instinctively awakened
by their appearance, and each gave
rise to train of inquiries, the ques-
tons being asked by the Womcn of
the town, as indicated by the He
brew word, which is feminine. 1t
may be that Naomi, and her whole
family had become in some measure
cOnfOrmed to the customs of the
idolatrous people among whom they
lived, and so had departed from the
true God until affection brought
her to repentance Ii. 40 conscious
of her guilt, she regarded It as the
cause of her misfortunes, although
her language would seem to Indicate
that she regarded them as punish
ment visited upon her by a stern
Judge rather than as chastisement
from a loving Father Providence
directed her footsteps, and brought
her to her old home just at the pro
per time for the accomplishment of
a great purpose, for no sooner does
she arrive in Bethlehem than an
acquaintance springs up between
the "Moabite beauty" and one of the
prominent men of the town, which
soon ripens into love and culmi-
mates in marriage. Thus the faith
full daughter-in-law becomes the
mother of princes, the great-grand-
mother of King David, and an in
teresting as well as important link
in the genealogy of our Lord. Her
answering fidelity was richly re-
warded, while each succeeding gen
Grafton sees and commends the wis
dom of her choice in forsaking
Moab for Israel.