Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-12-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAv0R.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Dec. 8, 1907.
y REV. s. RI. DOYLE.

BY REV. s. ri. DOYLE.
Topic Lessons from an old love story
The book OF Ruth Read In The meeting
Ruth II, 1920.
Benjamin Franklin being called upon
TO speak at n meeting of scientific
society in Paris, whose members were
mostly atheists, recited the Bible story
Of Ruth. His hearers were charmed
with the story one OF them was Sc
enthusiastic that he wanted to know
II il were published and, IL so, declared
that he would like to purchase thu
book that contained 1t. Franklin an
Hwered that it was published ANA
when asked where quietly answered.
'In a book called the Bible" This in
,ideut has other lessons, but 1t is also
Il splendid testimony TO the beauty or
the story of Ruth rs romance. Ana
1t is one OF the most charming of TO
mances, and moreover, ii is true truth
stranger (anl even more romantic
than fiction
The story may Ice very briefly re
called In time OF famine Elimelect
and Naomi husband and wife, With
their two sons, went down into the
land OF Moab Here the sons both
married the wife of one being Orpaia
and thar OF the other Ruth. 1t So
happened IN course OF time that All
three men died Naomi therefore d.
termiued 10 return to Judaea. She ad
ylsed her daughters in law to remain
in Moab. ana OTpah. consented to do
SO kissing her goodby. But Ruth
chung to her mother-n-aw" and said
"Entreat me not TO leave thee or 70
return from following thee, for width
er thou goeSt | will 90, and where
thou lodgest | will lodge Thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
God. Where thou diest viii | die, and
there viii | he buried Naomi coul0
not resist such pleading, and Ruth re-
turned 10 her home with her. She
was sent TO glean in the fields OF Boaz,
a rich and influential man, aud mu
tual love arose between them. Boax
took Ruth as his wife, and through
this marriage she became one of the
two gentiles who belonged to the an
cesuy or our Lord Jesus Christ
This is indeed an old love story, bur
one that in various phases is frequent
~ repeated But more than this, 1t Is.
an instructive love story G., 1t teaches
thar faithfu,uess is always rewarded
The faithfulness ct Ruth 20 her mother
iu-law has seldom been egualed, mucH
less eycetled BUT how great was her re
ward She found another husband,
better home and was especially honor
ed in being one Of those from whom
the Sa} iour of the world descended.
O. In Ruths life story we have also
a beautiful Illustration Of self sacr
ice. What 4 remuneration Ruth made
to accompany Naomi country, home
friends, her gods aud her burial place
so sacred TO orientals, But here, too.
She was highly rewarded. God al
ways rewards sacrifices made for love
and especially for love Of Him Isl
This story reminds us OF Gods love for
us. Boaz, the rich and powerful, loved
the humble Ruth God, the eternal
sovereign Cod loves us though we
are infinitely inferior 10 Him DO we
repay His love! 10 we love Him IN
return, as Ruth did Boaz, and are we
willing 10 serve Tlimf
BIBLE READINGS.
] Sam xviii, 10, IL Sam. /, 25-2T.
Song of Solomon ii. IA; viii, 6, Z:
Ter xXXi, 3, Hos. ii, 4 John ill., 10
Rom, Y. Sill; viii 81; John ~, ia.
1921