Evening star., 1915-02-06

I conversion. 1t was a tribute to the
| character Of Naomi, and is the most
beautiful confession of love in all the
| literature of the world.
Ruth's Choice.
Ruth's attachment primarily was to
Naomi. From her association with
this loyal follower of Jehovah during
the ten dark years of her life in Moab
the young daughter-in-law had seen
the goodness. gentleness and greatness
of Naon,fs faith. Orpah. moved by ma
terial considera tons. returned home
considerations to say ''Entreat me not
i to leave thee. or to return from follow
| ing after thee: for whittier thou goest
l will go. and where thou lOdgest I
pie and thy God my God: where thou
diest, will / die, and there will / be
buried: the Lord do SO to me and more
! also if ought but death part thee and
me-
Ruth broke from pagan worship when
she decided to follow the God of Israel
Like all pagans of her day, she believed
probably that each country had it's own
| god, but she had seen that the spiritual
| life Of Naomi that made her rise above
the trials through which she had passed
was the true faith. The way We en-
dure tempta tions reveals our religion.
Ruth. therefore. renounced her idols
and took her place as a proselyte of
Jehovah She was prepared to accept,
through her love of Naomi, not only
her God, but the people, country, con-
dltions to which she was going. There
was no danger of change In such
faith, for when one is prepared to give
up kindred and religion, as Ruth was
and did. she would remain steadfast
until death brought an end. The ir-
revocable choice of Naomi's country,
brought Ruth the joys of life. No man
ever gives anything for the glory of
God without receiving his reward.
Ruth's Reward.
Ruth put her profession to the test
of service, for when the widow who
had gone forth with her husband with
wealth, probably of stock, returned
in poverty with her Moabitish daugh-
ter-in-law. she asked that they recog-
nize her not as Naomi, the lovable, but
as Mara, bitter. for she believed that
the Almighty had punished her family
for leaving their land during the hour
OF need The men who desert in the
hour of danger are traitors to the
cause. but Naomi was no traitor, for
although she willingly followed her
and as an evidence of her missionary
success was the presence of Ruth. who
came not only to share hef poverty,
but to help support her in the time of
sorrow.
Providence brought them back at
the time of the barley harvest, which
comes about April l each year. Ruth
must have been impressed favorably
with Palestine. covered with foliage
and appearing to be a garden of the
Lord at that season of the year. Ruth
went forth to CLEAN in the field to OBJ
tain their daily bread. The law pro-
vided for the poor. for 1t prohibited
any man from harvesting his own field
to the limits SO that the poor following
the reapers might obtain what was left,
Guided by <providential leadings she
came to the field Of Boaz, a near and
wealthy kinsman of her late husband,
and Joined in the search with the poor
of the village for the grain that was
left by the reapers.
The women of this beautiful idyll
are so delightful that We have but
appeared with a spirit Of kindness in
the harvest field. noted the strangers
presence and at once showed her con-
alteration when he saw that she was
ionsed to another. He Immediately
became her protector because she was
In great danger at that hour when
out Of devotion to duty she Joined
The humanitarian interest that the
wealthy farmer exhibited developed
into love. Ruth had sowed love and
she reaped love. for Boaz, who put
about her the protection Of his CLEAN
ers, was doing for the foreigner, who
did not understand. as yet. all the
customs Of the land what the Y. w.
c. A. and other organizations are try
ing to do today to the stranger who
comes to our cities and country by
their friendly aid work
Naomi saw and her keen intellect
comprehended that back of the kind
ness of Boaz was the prospect of Ruth
band 1t was she that sent her forth
at night to the thrashing floor to make
a demand for her rights. for the
levirate law placed the responsibility
upon the next of kin, from Boaz when
the hour had arrived. that Naomi
reply favorably. Boaz received her
request in the spirit that the virtuous
woman gave It. We ought not to judge
Ruth's action by our standards, but
those of her day and land. Boaz
quickly in a public manner secured her
rules of practice of tho land, that still
prevails IN the east
Every love story closes with a BIRTH
so when there came to Ruth her first
born son, Obed. even the women that
had he'd aloof from Naomi and her
mixed marriages were contrary to
their laws. rejoiced and congratulated
the aged Naomi upon the son born to
Ruth, who was the grandfather of Da-
vfd. Ruths choice revealed that the
Gentiles had the possibilities of faith
cestry OF the Christ who came to save
ua all