Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-05


ity and truth. This suggests the es-
sential missionary character of the
Old Testament. After the death OF
her husband and sons Naomi, hear
ing of returning prosperity in the
homeland q:16), elected to return to
her own people.
IL. "Entreat Me Not to Leaves
Thee" This story puts to silence all
Of the mother-in-law jokes. When
Naomi thought they had gona far
enough she sought to dismiss the
younger women and expressed to
them the tender affection which er
listed between them. A woman in an
eastern land can find rest only in the
house of her husband and these young
widows stood but poor chance G se-I
curing husbands among tEcse who
hated their race. Moreover we mus.
remember that they were penniiesk
There seemed to be nothing for them
to gain if they proceeded any farther
(v. 12). Orpah reluctantly and tear
fully turned back buc Ruth clave to
Naomi (v. 1G. This illustrates cur
experience when we have to decide
whether to leave friends, home and
everything that we may follow Christ
or, on the other hand, have to choose
the things which are good and refuse
to follow the best, Matt 1927; Luke
14:ss)
III. AWhither Thou Goest | viii
Co." Naomi gave Ruth another OPP
portunity to go baca to her people
and this time bases her appeal upon
the love of Ruth for Orpah ". I'D.
The word Ruth means friendship Z
and one of the strongest motives for
loving nature to forsake the Lord
is the love for those that are of the
world Many young men and young
women have had such loves but they
usually result in making shipwreck
of faith. Read II Cor. STA, is: Rom.
10:S7. This test caused Ruth to count
fully the cost Uuke 14:25-33). No
more beautiful nor immortal words
can be- found in all literature than
Ruth's reply (vv. 16, I'D Ruth's words
are still sung as best expressing our
song of life devotion They have fur
nished inspiration for countless lives,
sermons and stories, and for some OF
the earth's greatest musicians as well.
They most wonderfully illustrate our
attitude towards him whom not hav-
Ing seen ye love" Il Peter 1:S). ID
"Entreat me not to leave thee" No
difficulties, duties, facinations nor per
secutions are to turn us aside. (2)
whittier thou goest." Towards every
| ideal. service, field OF endeavor, war
fare, or experience. (3) Where thou
| lodgest / will lodge" Where his peo
| pie are in the home. in service, inter
course, social life, here and hereafter
| win abide in Christ. (4) @Thy peo
pie shall be my people" One in love
sympathy and purpose in Christ, t5l
where thou diest will die" Let me
die the death of the righteous. t6)
There will / be buried" In the same
hope of Immortality, of the resurrec
ton, of death being swallowed up il
victory (Gal. 1920; Eph. 2:6; Cor
/ 1850. Ruth did not ask for com
plete data from Naomi before she ac
companied her to the homeland (Johr
1929.
w. The Sequel. At Bethlehem
Ruth had no other thought than t
cling to her motherin-law, even IL
poverty and life of lowly service
She did her menial duties faithfully
and displayed more of the real hero
/ ism of faith than that shown in tn
daring exploits recorded in the othe
4 history (Judges) of her day. Th'
truest hero is not the reckless particl
pant In Europe's battlefelds, nor is h
found in the mad struggle for CONNER
cial supremacy, but more often in tn
self-sacrifcing acts of tender wornel
and In the common round of life
duties. Ruth in a humble hut witt
Naomi was better off and better salts
fed than to have lived in the fines
palace in Moab (Phil. 1:23). Througl
all of this love and devotion Rutl
was being fitted for larger sphere Q
influence in which she was enabled t
give to Naomi the happiest life poss
bic to her. Not once is Ruth's beaut
suggested but she had the more a
tractive attributes of goodness, kine
ness and courtesy. She may have ha
personal beauty but her character ia
outshone the physical, and like Mary
precious ointment has filled the worl
with it's sweet aroma. Unconscious
she attracted the rich land owne
Boaz, who was true gentleman, an
through her marriage to him she b
came, through David, an ancestress {
our Lord Jesus. Rahab the harlot, an
Ruth the converted idolatress, al
each made a part of this ancestr
Matt. 1:5 R. w.
This lesson is a suggestive one fc
Decision day in our Sunday school
Give all an opportunity to choose an
to follow even as Ruth did. For tn
, little folks tell the story simply "a
to a little child"
Emphasize the beauty and value {
lovingly serving our elders.
Naomi is no less a heroine. He
name means pleasant, winsome
True, she suggested q new nam
Mara, bitterness" but her sorro
was not for herself but for others
ct grieveth me much for your sakes
(1:13). Naomi made the religion m
worship Of Jehovah 80 attractive
to win a most notable convert It
, our privilege to make religion attra
, tive. This gin cannot be bought nj
commanded. bat By the power Of Il
holy spirit and through the fellowsh.
' os Christ may bs ~ expsstsass q q