Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-12-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Dec. s, 1907.
BY REV. 8 II. DOYLE


Topic.-Lessons from an old love story
The book of Ruth. Read In the meeting
Ruth II. 1920
Benjamin Franklin being called upon
10 speak nj a 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
If it were published and. if so. declared
that he would like to purchase the
book that contained 1t. Franklin an
Swered that 1t was published amt
when asked where quietly answered.
In 4 book called the Bible" This in
cident has other lessons, but 1t is also
q splendid testimony TO the beauty OF
the story Of Ruth rs romance. And
1t is one Of the most charming of ro-
mances. and. moreover. il is true-truts
stranger and even more romantic
than fiction
The story may be very briefly ~
called. III time Of famine ElimelecF
and Naomi husband and wife. witls
their two sous went down into the
land of Moab. Here the sons both
married, the wife of one being Orpah
and that of the other Ruth. 1t 50
happened In course of time that an
three men died. Naomi therefore de
,ermined To return to Judaea, She al
viSed her ughters-in-aw to remain
i'll Moab, and Orpah consented to DE-
SO. kissing her goodby. But Ruth
chung TO her mother-in-law" ana said
"Enueat me not 10 leave thee or to
return from following thee, for width
er thou goest | will 90. ana where
thou lodgest | will lodge. Thy people
shall be my people and thy God my
God. Where thou diest viii | die, and
there will l be buried" Naomi could
not resist such pleading, and Ruth re
turned to her home with her She
was sent to CLEAN IN the fields of Boa2,
a rich ANA influential man, and mu-
ual love arose between them. BoaE
took Ruth MS his wife, and through
this marriage she became one OF the
two gentiles who belonged to the an
cestry Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is indeed an old love story, hut
one that in various phases is frequent
~ repeated But. more than this, it is
an instructive love story On Tt teaches
that faithfumess is always rewarded
The faithfulness or Ruth to her mother
in-law has seldom been cqualed much
less cycclled Eut how great was her re-
ward. She found another husband, Il
better home. and was especially honor
eel in being one Off those from whom
the Saviour of the world descended
O. In Ruths life story we have also
a beautiful Illustration OF self sacgl-
flee What Il remuneration Ruth made
To accompany NaOmi-country, home"
friends her gods and 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. g.
This story reminds us Of Gods love for
us. Boaz. the rich and powerful, loved
the humble Ruth. God, the eternal
sovereign God, loves us. though We
are Infinitely inferior to Him. DO we
repay His love? DO we love Him lin
return, as Ruth did Boaz, and are We
willing to serve Him?
BIBLE READINGS
Sam. xviii. ID; III Sam. /, 1921.
Song of Solomon ii, IA; viii, 6, z,
Jer XXI, ,; Hos. xi, 4 John iii, 16,
Rom. Y, Sill; viii. 80; / John ", TIA,
1921