Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-04-22
LESSON FOR APRIL rs
RuTH's WISE CHOICE.

LESSON TENT Ruth l.
GOLDEN TEXT-Thy people shall be
my people and thy God my God.-Ruth
Lie
ADDITIONAL MATERiAL--Ruth ala,
q.
< PRIMARY TOPIC-The story of Ruth.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Ruth and Naomi.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Isife's Decisions.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Power of Personal Influence
1. The Occasion of Ruth's Choice.
t1:1-15).
On account of the famine in Beth
lehem-Judea. Naomi with her husband
and two sons sojourned in the land
of Moab. After the death OF her nus
hand her two sons married Monbitish
women. After time her sons died
also. Upon the death Of her sons she
resolved to return to her homeland.
having heard that the Lord had visit
ed his people in giving them bread
| TIer family went to Moab to escape
trouble, but they only got into more
trouble. Ii was not till Naomi was
| thus chastised that she resolved to re-
turn. She had the good sense to
recognize that the hnnd of the Lord
was upon her for good, Ruth and Or
| pah accompanied her. This she per-
mitted, but determined to place before
them frankly the difficulties which
would necessarily confront them. II
/ was this frank presentation Of the
difficulties and her repeated urging
/ them to go back that furnished the
occasion for Ruth's wise choice.
n. The Trials Of Ruth's Choice wv.
| 1919.
/ Much as Naomi loved her daughters
| In-law. she would not have them 90
into this matter bllndly. She wished
them to know the cost Of their under
taking. She told them The worst that
could come upon them. then IL hard
ships came they could only blame
themselves
Note the difficulties which confront
ed Ruth:
|. No chance to get married again.
Naomi told her that she had no more
sons for which she could wait. In that
day 10 be unmarried was the greatest
disgrace. Furthermore 1t was against
Coils law for the Jews to marry out
side of their own people.
2. She must renounce her gods, Her
4 iGoIatfous worship could not be carried
81 in the land where Gods people
dwclt. This was delicately touched
upon when Orpah went back ~. 10
Orpah went back when II was plain
that there was no chance to get hus-
band Now Naomi puts an additional
test upon Ruth that Of giving up her
religion. Naom's very frankness in
dealing with her caused Ruth to be
more and more determined 10 east her
lot with her. No doubt she learned TO
love the true God through the life Of
this true woman she was deter
mined 70 share Naomis Journey, her
rome her lodging, her lot IN life and
her grave in death, whatever that
would be- TO crown II all she would
renounce her heather gods and EN-
brace Jehovah When Naomi saw that
Ruth's mind was, fully made up She
quit urging her.
M. The Glorious Issue Of Ruth's
Choice.
Ruth was never sorry for her choice,
For:
/. she found the true God ". 16).
.. She found human friends (eh. -.
AS she went TO CLEAN IN the fields she
was led TO the field Of Boaz-a man
Of wealth and grace. The servants Of
Boaz treated her with consideration :
even Boaz gave instruction for special
consideration to be given her
3. a good husband and happy home
(cllaps 3 and 40. Size. not only Sc
cured q husband. but man of God,
who had abundance Of this worlds
goods.
a. An honored place In the Israel
itish nation (4:13-l7) Though she had
TO forsake her own people, she became
one Of a no1ler people
5. She became link in the chain
Of Christs ancestry (4;1S-22; CT Matt
1:5). The one who fully decides for
Christ and gives up all for him shall
get hundredfold in this life and ip
the world to come, eternal life.
This story is fine exhibition of dis
transitional truth:
% The famine n the land indicates
the testing Of the Jews; ~ the going
into Moab. the soiousn Of the Israel
ties among the nations; (3) sickness
and death in Moab, the chastsement Of
the Jews in this present age; tD the
return to the land, the gathering Of
Israel to their own land; (5) Ruth lol-
lowing. the gathering of the Genties
through the influence of the Jews
go the marriage between Boaz and
Ruth the union Of the church with
Christ.