The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-04-21
Sunday ! Sc! J! !! |! !! Notes
sSIDELIGHTS on NEXT SUNDAYS
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by CHARLES X. MEYERS

/, 14-22. Me-
The Old Testament gives much CON
sideration to- the lives of worthy Wom-
en-. None shines forth with greater lus-
tire than the character of Ruth, the
MOabite woman, who decided to be-
come Jew and cast her life and for
tunes with the people whose God was
Jehovah. sf! 3 s4
Tile bible record tells us that at one
time q Jewish family living near Beth.
lehem decided to move over to the land
inhabited by the Moabites, as there Wasi|
famine in and about Bethlehem, and
it was reported that the Moabites were
living i'm plenty The family consisted
Of the father, wife and two sons. The
boys grew to manhood and in. time mar
Tded Moab women, Orpah and Ruth.
Later the father died and then the two
sons, leaving Naomi the mothers wild
oW as well as the two daughters-inlaW.
The heart of Naomi now turned to
her old home and she decided to return
to Bethlehem She did not want her
removal ID disturb the lives of the other
women, and she advised that in time
they become married again and remain
with their own people. There came a
day when Naomi bid farewell to the
Moab home and the dnughters.in.laW
went with her a short distance for com
pany; and final words Of parting. One
to remain and after loud protestations
OF love to Naomi turned BACK to her
people.
with Ruth there was not an accept
ance of the advice to remain. 1t APP
pears that in some way the character
OF Naomi had made impress on Ruth,
and such had become the attachment
she felt for her mother-inlaw she de-
termined to cast her all with her and
her people over in Judea. The words
used BY Ruth in announcing her decls'
ion have become famous for they give
insight into the nature of d woman of
remarkable character. Ruth said: :
a aEn ire rnit me not .o t. le My,
go: and where thou5 lodgest 1 will
lodge; thy people shall be my peo-
pie and thy God my God. Where
thou diest Will die and there will
be buried;s Jehovah do so to me,
and more also, If aught but death
part thee and me" @T III -
1t will be remembered that Jesus at
one time in commenting on the con
duct Of Mary the sister of, Lazarus said
"She hath chosen that good part which
shall not be taken from her" and this
can well be said as to Ruth. Both the
young women had been associated with
Naomi and had equal chance to know
her habits and the effects of her relig
ion. The one appreciated without
doubt the Jewess, but her eyes We're not
open to the finer things Of her life, and
she was ready after making proper
show of sadness to turn back and end
her days with the heathen she had been
brought up with. 1t requires but little
life experience to caIl 10 mind from ac-
tual observation case after case where
two or more members Of the same fam.
lily differ strongly when it comes to APP
inc IA Iysist. f.
ant things of life. One gfeupe will turn
to a life of, aslOwer .feIels c6ntert thus
to live, while another seems actuated
with high aspiratiShkf hhsithe vision to
look ahead, appreciate atltfe above the
earthly. and then possess the tirmness
to hold for the best adespiteta all discourt.
agements. 63f etI2r'i
While the character of Ruth is justly
held up as Che Leading flgureyin.the book
OF Ruth, yet in truth Naomi is equally
sshGns she ph haa besR Y AaS 5f Mt
alb she bag q. t ned hsE lSyalty to
n IL nee RG%sf us aa sa Ss like sh hs
s sas t. S Se the a ths e se Sf
lie trusted to Hici9 HI extefit that 'the
daughter.in- law was willing to forsake
her lot unreServedlyS With them. This
statement of course brings up the great,
question! Of personal Responsibility on
the part of christian people in their
III right living to fIa Rish ideals Of the
bible religion; that SYMPATHY, love and
motives which spring from desire to be
helpful to others, will rnake an impress
sion and lead to drawing toward chris,
tianity. We well know certain individ-
uals jwhose christianity we feel like fol
lowing, knowing it is true gold in
quality, while there are others who
make great profession, and yet there is
no desire to be like them.
The character of Naomi is of vital
consequence in the consideration of this
lesson. Those of the readers of this
column who are processing christianity
can ask themselves whether they be-
long to the class TO lead others to wish
to become christians, or to the other
group who would drive away those who
wish to become christians. Sts Haul
says the christians virtue are. long suf-
Il ii1l