Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-12-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
international Lesson Comments For
December T..
Subject: Ruth aud Naomi, Ruth i'i6-22-Gold'
en- Text, Rom. XII, l0-Memofy Verses,
10, l7-Commenfar, on the Days
Lesson.

l6. "And Ruth said" After Orpah had
returned Naomi again put the test upon
Ruth. Naomi would have her know and
realize fully the importance of her decision,
and urge upon her to decide it for God,
This also would help her to contrast the
difference between heather woman and
an Israeite. The question would then be
settled upon the side of religion. 1t was
homeland with its comforts and famlllarl'
ties and idols, or it was strange land,
among strangers, in the service of lsrasps
Cod 1t was a separation from all her for
mer life to 90 with Naomi. '1ntreat me
not to leave thee" Here came the answer
from the heart. At this great crisis in her
life Ruth kept close company with one
who served the God whom she now chose.
She plead for the personal help and fellow.
ship of Naomi She desired that she would
not refer to her idols. relatives and home:
while she was in such trying position.
At once she decided on her associates, and
broke away from every opposing influence.
Whittier thou goest will CO." Thus Ruth
ends the debate. Nothing could be more
decisive or brave than this; she seems to
have had another spirit and another speech:
now her sister was gone, and it is an in
stance of the grace Of God inclining the
soul to the resolute choice of the better
part. Though to a country unknown to
her and one of which she had been trained
to have low opinion she would travel
there with Naomi. "Where thou lodgest,
| will lodge" By her firm resolutions she
declared her purpose to be one with Mao
mis- people. Though Naomi was under af
fiction, and returning to her own country
in humility, Ruth was firm in her purpose
to share in her lot. "Thy people shall be
my people," Thus she would renounce all
her connections and prospects in the land
of Moab, and live according to all the rules
of Naomi's people in Canaan. "And thy
God my God" I will adore the God OF
Israel, the only living and true God, trust
in Him alone, serve Him, and in every
thing be ruled by Him.
II. "Will 1 die" Ruth made this her
lifetime choice. "There will be buried. I"
Not desiring to have so much as her dead
body carried back to the country of Moab,
in token of any remaining kindness for it.
She would, by this choice, desire to forget
all relationship with her own people or
their religion. She was ready to make. the
change with all it meant. "The Lord do
So" etc. To prove her sincerity in this
matter Ruth called God to witness, and
did not keep true to this solemn vow. Her
words were an ancient form of an oath.
By thus calling God to witness she would
fix lasting obligation upon herself never
to leave this way. 1t came to pass, even as
they desire for when Naomi became old
she lived with Ruth and Boaz and was the
nurse of their son Obed Chap. 4: Is. Is.
Is. "Then she left speaking" There
could be no room to doubt her sincerity
and true motive Her VOW was convincing
Since Ruth's purposes reached beyond a
mere impulse and family affection, Naomi
was safe in allowing her to face all the con
sequences with her.
10. "They two went" When they were
both of the same mind they could walk low
ingly together When they were pledged
to be true to God they then could find
abundance of love for each other and fell
lowship so dear. The journey could be
made with joy, even though they keenly
felt their loss and bereavement in their
widowhood. "The city was moved" 1t
appears that Naomi was not only well
known but highly respected also at Beth
lehem; proof that Elimelech was of high
consideration in that place. us this Mao,
NIP" Her friends had remembered her as
they last saw her. What their sorrow was
at having to go into heather country we
do not read, but they eagerly met her. The
change which affection had wrought sur.
prised Naomi's friends. They probably
were surprised at her poverty, since she
had left Canaan to escape the famine
90 Call me Mara" Her former name
was fitting in her former life, as Naomi
means beautiful, pleasant, sweetness. Now
that affection had changed her lot Mara,
meaning bitterness, was a more suitable
name. They had known her young, happy
and free from care. By this request in the
change of her name Naomi showed her sub.
fn ha,, 1npo LOT ole hor
I tient spirit toward those who commented
upon her affairs. "rhe Almighty hath
dealt" She acknowledges the hand of
God, His mighty hand in the affliction. 1t
was duty and her interest to submit to
Him. She had not chosen the affection
She felt the bitterness of her lonely life
and circumstances, yet her heart yearned
to serve Him among His people.
81 event out full" Having husband
and two sons. Her cup of JOY was full
Home again empty The Lord spared
her life and enabled her to return. but He
had taken all her family Testified
against me-" Since God had wrought the
change in her life, according to His wis
dom, she would not hold to the name that
spoke contrary to His dealings. With her
affection there was humility Gods rod
of affection was as His voice She humbly
considered her affection as coming from
the Lords hand upon her and her family
for sin. Perhaps she considered herself as
guilty in not having left Moab Immediately
on the death of her husband Yet we con.
clude that Naomi was receiving the peace.
able fruits of righteousness, from her af.
Fiction. since she held her integrity, and
sought a humble place among Gods PEG.
pie, offering her humble confession to them
o.. Barley harvest" Usually in the
middle of April. The fact of its being bar.
ley harvest suggested to Ruth that she
might go forth to CLEAN This right of
cleaning was one of the legal provisions for
the poor of Israel, and as the land holders
were not subject to money taxes for the
support of the poor, this claim was liber-
ally construed by them. The part of the
field to which Ruth was providentially d.
rected belonged to Boaz, near kinsman of
Naomi's late husband.
The remainder of the book of Ruth tells
of her reward for the choice she had made.
l. She found a means of supporting her
mother-in-law. 2. She won the respect
and favor of the people among whom she
lived. 8. She gained most excellent hus-
band and home. 4. Ruth had the honor
of including among her descendants the
great kings David and Solomon, and, above
all, Jesus the Christ. Still we are to be
careful not to confound outward rewards
with the real reward of virtue.
FEAT WAS AN IMPossIBILITY.