The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERESTING DISCOURSE BY REv.
j.. J.. PEIL.
Tho Story OF Ruth's Choice Beauti-
fully IIIusfrated-The Pate OF
Naomi.


/ OltpptI 1J.-tsuln 1HOi'".-fkutl l., IT,
The book Of Ruth is the postscript o
Ju' gts, AMI. Ike the postscript Of d wo
mans letter, the most interes Ing part o
II. 1T Is OF value 10 US not only becaus
/ IL supplies the genealogy OF David an.
hence of Jesus, but also for the charm
ms light which 1t throws M The troubiou
times OF the judges. and the rich exam
pies or providence, patience, faith an.
unseliish devotion for which IL is r.mark
able From IL we learn that whatevei
else evolution may have done II has nae
no effect upon the hearts OF men OF wo.
men Tor thousands Of years and that nc
age Is so dark but We may find 0eaeatf
the surface many holy life and many
an example Of purity, piety and self.
sacrificing affection.
Pressed by famine Ellmeech and Naomi
broke up their home IN lit.lo Bethlehem
and with their two sons crossed the Jor-
dan and settled IN the rich fieds OF
Moab, among the heather. Perhaps
they did wrong In going. they were God
chosen people in his chosen land and
they should have trusted him 70 pro-
vide for them in the land Of his choice.
But IL was a question OF bread, and when
the question Of bread comes 10 the front
the conscience does not always pause
10 make the incest distinctions. Pressed
| by poverty we are apt TO think that there
is no question so important as the ques-
ton Of bread: we forget that man does
| not live by bread alone, We al least feel
that God will overlook It N we neglect
/ spiritual matters for a time that we may
look after the needs OF our bodies. No
doubt Elimelech and Naomi thought that
there was nothing so hard so grinding
! rs poverty; that IL they could only get
the bread question settled u would be
/ easy 20 manage the rest; that With bread.
even in Moab. they would be able 10
raise the children in the service of the
| Lord, and that, after ali, they could wOr-
/ ship God as well there as In Bethlehem
They got what they went for And.
as Is sometimes the case, they We're able
70 live among the heather without be-
coming heather. They seem 10 have I'M
pressed themselves upon those around
them. and 10 have brought az least two
the young women who married their sons
to knowledge Of Israels God Evld-
emily God was overruing that move for
good. But Gods way of overruling it was
destined TO be very different from Ma
omrs calculations. Naomi could see only
the present; God looked ahead and saw
that all that was precious to Naomi
stood directly I'm his way. And so il came
10 pass that her husband died. and her
two sons died, and poor Naomi was left
alone I'm strange Moab. with "A broken
heart and the crushing thought that the
hand OF the Lord had gone out against
her How small the question Of bread
seemed to her now. How gladly she
would have devoted herself 70 a life Of
grinding poverty If she could only have
had her husband and children back,
What taste had she for bread now that
her loved ones were gone and the hand
OF God had gone out against her IL was
natural that she should think that the
Almighty had dealt very bitterly with
her We are so sinful that when great
sorrows come we begin 90 wonder If our
sins have not brought the sorrows upon
us. and If we speak in the midst Of our
grief. we are apt 10 declare that the hand
of God has gone out against us.
But 10 is not for US 10 say that such
and such a sorrow is a punishment sent
upon us for such and such a sin. In
deed. when crushed 10 the earth by s0r-
row. 10 is not for us 10 say anything. We
are i'm no condition to say anything. |
We cannot think, we cannot see as at
other times, and we cannot afford 20 /
judge God by the dim glimpse we get of /
him through our tears. ln the midst of /
her grief Naomi declared that Gods hand |
had gone out against hen. how plain IL is |
TO us that Gods hand had gone out in 1
her behalf and FOR his own glory, Little
did she think that God had condescended
TO use her in working out his great plan
by which the world was 10 be redeemed.
Would n not soften adversely. II we
could realize that these light Affections
which are but for a moment are evidences
that God is making use of us in the
Divine plan?
Poor Naomi bereft Of all but her faith
IN God (she had already in anticipation
given up her daughtcrs-in-law) resolved
20 return 10 Bethlehem She loved her
misunderstanding, but it was a self-sacri-
hcing affection, and she could not think
Of asking them 20 burden their young
hearts with her sorrow. A severe con-
lict must have taken place IN her heart.
II vas terrible 20 think of her daughters
n-law going back 20 their gods; t was
terrible 10 think Of their going with her
and sharing her poverty and suffering.
She had absolutely nothing to offer them.
md unselfsh as she was, she could not !
lut bid them turn back. Would they go?
The parting scene Is a beautiful char
lcter sketch. Ruth is weeping. So Is
)rpah Ruth has resolved 10 20 with
Ter mOther-in-law. So has Orpah. Both
Xhibit the tenderest affection. Both
Gem to be deeply in earnest But when
Naomi states the case from a worldly
tandnOnt Orpah woakcne while Ruth
n
s a tender sentiment. an affectionate
ity: IL Is a surface plant; IL is easily
necteI by worldly considerations Ruths
owe has root IL is "A principle: il en-
races Naomi and Naomis people and
,aomi's God-everytlfing that Is dear Z
o Naomi. and all the worldly consd-
rations that can be suggested only
trengthen her determination. Orpah and :
ruth are equal IN making resolutions, (
ut Ruth has resolution, while Orpah mas
one. "And Orpah kissed her mother-in- /
tw. but Ruth clave unto her" SO long G
3 sentiment prevailed. Orpah was fully
S resolved 10 go as Ruth, bur when ,
Orldly considerations were offered. SEN 4
ment cooled and she settled her part 4
2 the matter with a kiss. and went back p
her home and her gods feeling that =
be had squared of with her mOther-in- g
W by her fine show OF sympathy But y
it'll a heroism which only such love | =
,uld inspire. Ruth put her arm about
Pr mother-in-law. and gave utterancc
a declaration OF devotion that has be- q
me immortal. The wonderful beauty | y
the passage has been Ohscured by the | :
forts Of commentators 70 unfold II and e
irituaize IL. We spoil u talking about
repeat II over and over 20 your own
art and drink in its feryor. "N miner y.
on goest I will 60 and where thou =.
digest / will lodge: thy people shall be =,
y people. and thy God my Cod" e,
EDWARD L. PEI.L. m
- W
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