The Green Forest tribune., 1915-02-05
INTERNATIONAL. SUNlAYSC|1OOL,
 LESSON
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY '
RUTH CHOOSES THE TRUE GOD
(By B. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of Sunday School Course Moody Bible h. sttute, Chicago.)

LESSON TEXT-Ruth 16-1s CRead en- tire book.)
 GOLDEN TEXT-Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.-Ruth 1:6.
 The book of Ruth is a great love story, full of deep spiritual sugges- tiveness. Amid the tales of war, de- ceit, success and failure, this story most beautifully illustrates another side of the life of the Israelites. The author of the book is supposed to have been the same as the writer of Judges, perhaps Samuel.
 l. "There Was a Famine in the Land" This famine drove Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chiffon, into the land of Moab. even as Abram before them went down" into Egypt. The immi- grant sons married in that land, one of them becoming the husband of Ruth. Through this Israelitish al- liance Ruth learned of the true God and the record of this book reveals God to all who turn to him in sheer 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 (1:16), elected to return to her own people.
 II. "Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee" This story puts to silence all of the mother-in-law jokes. When Naomi thought they had gone far enough she sought to dismiss the younger women and expressed to them the tender affection which ex- isted 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 of se- curing husbands among those who hated their race. Moreover we must remember that they were penniless. There seemed to be nothing for them to gain if they proceeded any farther (v. 12). Orpah reluctantly and tear fully turned back but Ruth clave to Naomi (v. 14). This illustrates our 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. 10:37; Luke 14:33).
 III. "Whither Thou Goest l Will Co.," Naomi gave Ruth another op- portunity to go back to her people and this time bases her appeal upon the love of Ruth for Orpah (v. 15). The word Ruth means friendship, and one of the strongest motives for a 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. IA, 15; Rom. 10:37. This test caused Ruth to count fully the cost Guke 14:25-33). No more beautiful nor immortal words can be found in all literature than Ruth's reply (vv 16, 17). 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 or the earth's greatest musicians as well. They most wonderfully illustrate our attitude towards him whom not hav- Ing seen ye love" q Peter 1:8).
 w. The Sequel. At Bethlehem Ruth had no other thought than to cling to her mother-in-law, even in poverty and a life of lowly service. She did her menial duties faithfully, and displayed more of the real hero- ism of faith than that shown in the daring exploits recorded in the other history (Judges) of her day. The truest hero is not the reckless partici- pant in Europe's battlefields, nor is he found in the mad struggle for conner cial supremacy, but more often in the self-sacrificing acts of tender women and in the common round of life's duties. Ruth in a humble hut with Naomi was better off and better satis- fled than to have lived in the finest palace in Moab (Phil 1:23). Through all of this love and devotion Ruth was being fitted for a larger sphere of influence in which she was enabled to give to Naomi the happiest life possi- ble to her. Not once is Ruth's beauty suggested but she had the more at tractive attributes of goodness, kind ness and courtesy. She may have had personal beauty but her character far outshone the physical.
 This lesson is a suggestive one for Decision day in our Sunday schools. Give all an opportunity to choose and to follow even as Ruth did. For the little folks tell the story simply "as to little child"
 Emphasize the beauty and value of lovingly serving our elders.
 Naomi is no less a heroine. Her name means pleasant, winsome. True, she suggested a new name Mara. bitterness" but her sorrow was not for herself but for others,- "it grieveth me much for your sakes'