Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-02-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR FEB. I
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Commentary Prepared In An Inter-
esting Way by Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns

We have Just one lesson In this beau
tiful story OF Ruth. but we will seek
TO gather many things from the whole
story The first and last names I'm the
book. Bethlehem and David. are two
or the most suggestive tn the Bible
No mans name is mentioned so often
rs David. ana his is the first and last
name Of Il mere man in the New Tesla
ment. Bethlehem. besides all the 9th
er interesting facts connected with it,
VIII always be of special interest as
the birthplace of the frStborn son Of
Mary. Jesus Christ our Lord Ruth Is
one OF the four women mentioned i'm
Matt. among the ancestors of the son
Of David. Some one has said that the
four chapters of this book might be en-
titled Ruth deciding-gle aning-rest
ing-rewarded
The devotion of Ruth Is an example
OF the devotion to Jesus Christ. which
Is expected Of all believers Her pa
tient cleaning I'm the field OF BoaZ hns
In II an example of the patience and
faithfulness which should he seen In
every Christian Her quiet expectation
or some great result at the suggestion
Of her mother-in-law makes US think
OF the assurance that the meek shall
inherit the earth When we see her "a
the wife of Boaz. the owner of the field
IN which she had so patiently CLEANED
we cannot but think Of the time when
the church. the body OF Christ the
company OF all the faithful cleaners OF
this present age, shall become the
bride Of our mighty man Of wealth
the owner OF the field. which Ia the
world. and then we shall inherit all
things with Him and Reign with Him
on the earth tRev xxi. {; v. l0l
That Naomi and her husband and
sons should leave Bethlehem because
OF famine and 70 To sojourn In Moab
seems like the misstep which Abram
made when he left Canaan because OF
famine and went down TO Egypt. for
he only got into trouble there, and we
read OF no altar unto the Lord until he
returned again TO Bethel Gen. xii, 10,
xiii. Ia. Poor Naomi found trouble
enough In Moab In the loss Of her hus
band and two sons. but she seems Co
acknowledge that the going to Moab
was her affair, while 1t was her gra
cions Lord who brought her back To
Bethlehem. II went out full and the
Lord hath brought me home again
empty" tchapter /. 2l She.turned her
steps homewArd because she heard
that the Lord had given bread to Beth
iehem (verse 81
The wandering hoy OF Luke XIV turn
ed homeward when he thought OF the
bread In his fathers house 1t seems
as If we should be ever telling To the
perishing Of the bread. and to spare. In
our Fathers house. for how can they
hear unless some one tells? Naomi
knew the God OF Israel These won
en- Of Moab must have learned of Him
through her. and Ruth had learned to
know Him well enough TO forsake all
for Him. TO esteem Him more than
her own people and her fathers house
Orpah had not so learned To know him
III our testimony is what 4 should he
and our life He will use US to gather
some to Himself. The devotion OF
Ruth In the ever memorable words of
verses 10 II, are I'm a measure repeat
ed by fttai to David I'm II Sam. XIV, 81
The words I'm verse 10, 80 they two
went" are found In ii Kings II. 2, A.
O, Z, 8, IL, and there again we see
steadfast purpose on the part OF Elisha
which brought to him that which his
soul desired. This Is the steadfastness
which we so greatly need Il Cor
XIV, So.
The friendiness and thoughtful kind
ness OF Boaz In chapter II are but
faint type of the loving kindness of
our Lord Jesus. who can truly say. Il
know thy works." etc. ILL IL. IL: Rev
u, 2. o, 13, l9p.
IL, as His redeemed ones, we have
not recognized many "handfuls OF pur
pose" as we have CLEANED In the part OF
the field He has assigned US. we must
be blind indeed tchapter H. 49, The
words OF Boaa In Ruth III. IL, Fear
not. my daughter; will do TO thee all
that thou requirest." made a great i'm
preston upon my wife. as we saw
them I'm motto In the Y. W. c. A. at
Cape Town. South Africa. In 1893. and
we have often passed them on 10 9th !
ers since then. There Is also much |
comfort IN the words Of Naomi In
chapter Ill. IL, ''Slt still. my daughter, |
for the man will not be In rest !
until he have finished the thing this |
day"
In chapter " Boaz as the kinsman |
redeemer having the right TO redeem |
and accomplishing the same. Is won
derfully suggestive OF our Redeemer,
who not only redeems us. but also our
Inheritance. the earth. and seals US |
with the Holy Spirit. the earnest Of |
our Inheritance, until the redemption
OF the purchased possession ,Eph |. |
10. Ia. When Naomi became nurse
for little Obed tchapter iv. ia. 81, she
no doubt forgot IN measure the emp
tiness OF chapter l. 81 Ruth also for.
got the weary days OF her poverty
NH ha .,i., .,.sA a. Al o.