The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-06

to the dead. left behind, to the scenes
through which they passed, the eXpecta-
tons and plans in their new home.
GREETING-The travellers reached
Bethlehem at the beginning of barley
harvest (IIx., ix:S1-32), about the first of
April. q most delightful season, when
the joy of ingathering filled the land.
The home coming of one we'll known.
after ten years OF absence, would excite
interest in any community. Among east
ern people of simple and demonstrating
manner the whole city was moved.
Matt, XXiIO) AS the tidings spread
in the famine, had returned. old friends
gathered about and looked seriously Into
the sad faces OF the bereavered. The
light had gone out of her eye, the smile
had departed from her face. and the look
of detection had succeeded that hopefui,
trustful expression which belongs to the
happy wife and mother. rs this Naomi?'
the women inquired. Qsa.. %Niii:'.) Can
this be our friend, whose name signify
ing pleasant, truthfully reported her dis
position in other days" 1t was not
wonder alone that led to tho question.
There was in it something OF tha, evil
spirit that comes into the heart of many
when others. once prosperous have met
adversely. Psaim, ,sXXv:el.)
SORROW-The heavy hcart of Naomi
was near to breaking at these words from
old neighbors. She made no apology or
defense, either for her appearance or mis-
takes. With commendable humility she
desired that her name might be changed.
a common custom i'll that day (Gen.,
Nvii:5), to express her misfortunes. will
ing to be know in the village as Mara
GEN, xv:23). that Is bitter. With patient
resignation she assigned all her trouble
to Divine Providence. Ooh, i:21) She
had gone out full accompanied by a hrs-
band and two sons. blessings enough for
ono woman, treasures more to be priced
than silver and gold. And she had come
home empty--her loved ones sleeping In
foreign graves, and she n weary lone pill
grim bearing heavy burden. 1t is strange
that In this expression Of her poverty
she made no reference to Ruth. the one
who had. with beautiful devotion, conse-
Grated her all to become her comfort and
support. 1t is possible that the greater
sorrow for the time quite drove out OF
her thought this solitary source of con-
ISOLATION; and it is even possible that the
presence Of the Meabites at that time, in
view OF the uncertainty Of the future,
was cause for added sorrow. Tender and
sympathetic souls are grieved when they
can do nothing for those who contide in
them.
CONCLUSION-Th central figure in
our lesson Is Ruth. 1t was very proper
to give her name to the whole book. for
she Is its heroine. The great thought Il
not the power of love between man and
woman, the theme of the novelist (Song
Viil0). not love of men for man q Sam,
viii:1,l the theme of fraternity; not the
love of God to man (John. iii:l6). the
theme of redemption. but the love of
woman for woman. Ruth's affection for
Naomi recognized in Bethlehem (Ruth,
iv:1jJ, was Of the purest. most unselfish
most extraordinary kind, n widow for
widow, a daughter-in-la for Il mother
in-law, a Moabitess for Jewess. 1t en-
dured the sevcrest test and made the
largest possible sacrifice. Whence came
that love? What caused II to spring up
in the heart of one who had been raised
outside the household OF faith. who had
worshippe6 idols? Was it product of
welded life? Did Chilion, the lamented
husband carry into his homo such rever-
ence for God and mother as to win his
wife? Was Naomi so beautiful and lov-
ing as to draw out these emotions like
the tendrils Of the vine? Did Divine
grace work in this woman's heart? Or
was she beautiful tiower appearing to
show the rarely possible of the heather
world? Whatever the origin 1t is worthy
to II place in the inspired Book. Il John,
iv:IS)