New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-04-23

IfNlhA61 1OflC-l ne otoiy
JUNIOR .OPIC-:tuth and Naomi.
INTERMEDIATE AND ENloR IofiC
-Life's Decisions.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Power of Personal Influence.
!. The Occasion Of Ruth's Choice.
Il :1-15).
On account of the famine In beth-
lehem -Judea. Naomi with her husband
and two sons sojourned in the iand
of Moab. After the death of her nus
band, her two sons married Modoitish
women. After a time her sons dleo
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 Dread.
Her family went to Moab to escape
trouble, but they only got into more
trouble. 1t was not till Naomi was
thus chastised that she resolved to re-
turn. She had the good sense 10
recognize that the hand of the Loro
was upon her for good. Ruth and Or
pah accompanied her. This h per-
mitted, but determined to place before
them frankly the difficulties whlch
would necessarily confront them. IL
was tbs frank presentation OF the
difficulties and her repeated urgirs
them to go back that furnished the
occasion for Ruth's wise choice.
". The Trials Of Euth's Choice wv.
1919.
Much as Naomi loved her dauChters-
in-law, she would not have then go
into this matter blindly. She wished
them to know the cost Of their under
taking. She told them the worst that
could come upon them, then If hard
ships came they could only blame
themselves. Christ held before the
people the great good of casting their
lots with him, but always frankly TOLD
them what II would cost: IF any man
will come after me. let him deny him
self and take up his cross n follow
me-" mo man having put his hand
to the pillow and looking back, Is MT foH
the kingdom of God"
Note the difficulties which confront
ed Ruth:
!. No chance to get married gain.
Naomi told her that she had nc more
sons for which she could wait. in that
day to be unmarried was h greatest
disgrace. Furthermore, 1t was against
Gods law for the Jews to marry out
side Of their WI people.
2. She must her gods. Her
idolatrous worship could not be carried
on in The land where Gods people
dwelt. This was delicately touched
upon when Orpah went back ". 15).
Orpah went back when 1t was plain
that there was no chance to get a hus.
band. Now Naomi puts on additional
test upon Ruth, that of giving mp her
religion. Naomi's very frankness In
dealing with her caused Ruth to be
more and more determined to cast her
lot with her. No doubt she learned to
love the true God through the life OF
this true woman. Ruth's decision was
so definite and unfaltering that her
very expressions have come down to
us in words which mo poetry has out
rivaled and no pathos exceeded. ana
which have gone down through CEN
turtles with a music that will not let
them be forgotten" She was deter
mined to share Naomi's journey, her
home, her lodging, her lot In life and
her grave in death, whatever that
would be. To crown 1t all she would
her heather gods and m
brace Jehovah. When Naomi saw that
Dahl. ,,tpI x..a fully mazda nm she
quit urging her.
~. The Glorious Issue Of Ruth's
Choice.
Ruth was v sorry for her choice,
for:
1. She found the true God ". 16).
Instead of her heather gods, who were
unable to help her, she now had the
living God-the God of Israel-as her
God.
2. She found human friends (ch. -.
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.
8. A good husband and a happy home
(chaps. 3 and ~. She not Only Sc
cured a husband, but a man of God,
who had abundance Of this worlds
goods.
A. An honored place in the Israel
itisb nation a :13-17). Though she had
10 forsake her own people, she became
one of n nobler people.
8. She became a link in the chain
of Christ's ancestry t4:1s-22; Ct. Matt.
1:5). The one who fully decides for
Christ and gives up all for him shall
get a hundredfold in this life and In
the world 10 come. eternal life.
This story is a fine exhibition Of dis
sensational truth:
I'D The famine in the land indicates
h testing of the Jews; (2) the going
n Moab, the ~sojourn of the Israel
ties -mong the nations: t3) sickness
and death in Moab. the chastisement of
the Jews in this present age; t4) the
return TO the land, the gathering #
Israel to their own land: t5) Ruth D.
lowing, the gathering of the Gentiles
through the influence of the Jews
(6) he marriage between Boaz and
Ruth. the union Of the church with