Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-10-17

Lesson for Oct. p.
Golden Text-"Thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God."-Ruth
/: 16
The lesson this week is found In Ruth
1: 1922. A sweet vision of home life,
Christ the home? Is there anything more
sacred or lovely this side of heaven? The
true Christian home reminds of heaven,
anticipates heaven. So guard it, guide it,
that when we some time awake in heaven
the instructive emotion will be, how
homelike!
The key word to the body Of Ruth Is
returned. V. % of our lesson. The key
thought is Jesus, heavenly spouse and de-
fender. How uplifting the truth. 'Thy
master'is thy husband"
A good working division of the book is:
Chapter 1. In the far country. Chapter
2. In the field. Chapter 3. At the
home. Chapter 4. At the gate. Run
rapidly on the whole. 1t is beautiful
love story Of the long ago. And it init
mates to-day's love story. The souls
tryst with the celestial bridegroom.
Whose name, like that Of Boaz, is
strength. He waits still in Bethlehem
fields.
Go forth to find him. But first come
back from an alien cline. Seek him
among his own. Orpah represents the
obdurate sinner, clinging to the world.
Ruth the penitent, seeking a better coun-
try and home. BY the ancient law, in
order to redeem Boaz must be both kin
and of higher station in life. See the
last part of the book. So is Jesus to US.
He makes himself most intimate kith and
kin to us by taking upon himself our ma
ture. Yet it is infinitely higher than are
we, since he is very God. Thus is he able
to save. Able and willing, for the book of
Ruth is a virtual abrogation of Deut.
%: 3. "An Ammorite or Moabite shall
not enter into the congregation of the
Lord" But what could not be on grounds
of justice is now made possible by grace.
When the Moabite Ruth enters the royal
family of Gods Israel she becomes the
forerunner of a mighty multitude. 1t is
kind of prophecy of open gates to the
Gentiles.
And how high the exaltation! The alien
becomes the daughter of the King and in
due time the mother of kings Out of this
noble succession, in the gracious purpose
of God, comes at last that one who is
worthy to be called King of kings and
Lord of lords. "This is the Lords doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes" But it
is true. We are the children of King.
The story begins with departure from
the right which is the first chapter Of
every human life. The desertion of Israel
by Elimekel and Naomi in the days Of
famine is at the same time symptomatc
of the degeneracy of the times and sug-
gestive of the natural evil bent of the
heart of man. "All we like sheep have
gone astray." But the story ends WELL
with the prodigal back in the house of
bread, where there is enough and to spare
How many are the limitations here Of the
gospel dispensation! The devout eye
glimpses the Father coming out to meet
the repentant soul on the way, and to the
reverent ear there are shepherd calls and
voice saying. "Come unto me, all We that
labor and are heavy laden, and will give
you rest"
1t is love-story pure and simple, and
there are those who smile at its sim
plicity. So also with that other pastoral
idyl, the Songs of Solomon. But be a
party TO it,. and you will not smile but
rather weep with deep joy. Perhaps the
children laughed n little over mothers
love letters put away. When in later
days the tender sentiment stirred in their
own breasts they took the matter n little
more considerably. To read this love
story right get the love of Jesus i'm your
own heart.
As a practical lesson, study the soNet
Of happy home We are i'm danger of
losing our American home. That would
be great loss to all the world, for our
Christian homes in free America are
meant to teach mankind everywhere
great lessons of blessedness and peace.
Let us make much of the suggestions of
sacred, quiet home life i'm the scripture be-
fore MS, and warn those that come within
the sound of our voices of the enemies
that are menacing the sweet sacristy of
the home.
We hear much Of the "new woman"
She does not look much like this Ruth
she would probably despise Ruth and her
humble ways. Nevertheless il does eyes
and hearts good to look upon the like of
our simple maid of Bethlehem. Ruth. the
simple and ingenious maid, winning by
her dainty faithfulness in little things.
cleaning well, and withal prettily after
the reapers; homely picture and beauti-
full for its homeliuess. Is not the heaven
ly Bridegroom also pleased with our little
| loyalties? As says George Macdonald:
''Then saw /, through all the pillarcd
gloom,
Across the church silent figure come:
Daughter it said thou sweepest we'll
my 1oorv
| 1T is the Lord! cried, and saw no more. -
| Next Lesson-"The Child Samuel
l. Samuel 81 lib.