Evening star., 1926-12-04
RUTH AND NAOMI-BOOK
OF RUTH.
Golden Text-Thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my
God-Ruth i.l6.
BIZ REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

Ruth empha asizes the message of the
that WIFI be observed throughout the
world upon the day we study this
wonderful short story. Against the
dark background OF human hunger
suffering and sorrow in foreign lands
we have a picture of the influence of
power Of love to dispel racial and in.
ternational prejudice that has been de.
veloped through disputes and warfare.
Hunger forced Elimelech to move with
his family from Bethlehem into the
land of Moab. Only the necessity of
sustaining life could have forced him
I" leave his native land.
During the next 10 years the char
acter and conduct of Elimelech and
his family met the acid test of living
amidst an idolatrous people. The re-
ligious teachings of Judaism and the
inherent tendencies of his race re-
Nealed itself in their refusal to bow
their knees in the worship of the idols
OF the land or In the indulgenceS in
any of Its iniquitous practices. Death
entered into the circle. The sons mar
ried daughters Of Moab, which was con.
trary to the teachings Of their faith.
But this mixed marriage did not pro-
duce any family controversy. The
of the slime pits of Sodom. The
nobler traits of the young men pulled
their wives up to their standards. In
this one can detect the helpful infiu.
ence that Naomi exercised over her
sons and daughters and her daugh-
ters-in-law after the death of her hus-
band, Elmelech
When death removed the sons of
this upright character, Naomi found
that both of her daughters were close
ly bound to her in their common af.
fiction. Naomi determined that she
should return 30 her native country,
where she was assured of being cared
for and sustained by her relatives as
we'll as by her husbands kinfolks.
The JeWish people, through all their
history, have always cared for their
own poor and been generous to the
needy Of other races. When Naomi
started to return to Palestine, Ruth
and Orpah both started back with her,
IN accordance with the custom in the
Near East to make the farewell some
where on the journey. When they had
gone far enough Naomi suggested that
they return. They wept as their
mother-in-law kissed them farewell
and urged each Of them to return to
her mothers home. Naomi knew the
diff1culties that she had experienced
IN strange land. The emigrant
never had an easy time adjusting his,
ire to the new environment. Orpah
responded to her suggestions and left
Naomi. She missed her one oppor.
tunity to become a part of a people
who represented 'the highest ethical
and spiritual life of the world"
Ruth declined to return. She
counted the cost. She knew that she
had to face hardships, suffering, sor.
row and final separation from her
loved ones, her god, Chemosh, and
her old home. She looked beyond the
trials of the moment and made a
great spiritual decision. She had been
Influenced by the life. Of Naomi and
deliberately accepted her religion. She
accepted all the ideals Of Israel-their
people. their nation, and their God.
Ruth accepted the truths of the
Hebrew faith because she loved
Naomi. She accepted them because
she discerned their influence in the
life of her mother-in-law. She made
up her mind that she would go down
to the grave on her decision and be-
come in all things a worshiper of
Jehovah.
One cannot easily change their re-
ligion. 1t is a serious matter to
change ones faith, for religion is the
most sacred thing that we can pos
sess. 1t is associated with everything
we hold dear and sacred. To a large
extent our religion is matter Of our
birth. We inherit our faith. Our
characters have been nodded and
developed by the religious atmosphere
Of our home life. No one ought ever
TO change their faith without the most
serious consideration. One can't serve
God and mammon. We can't be half
christian and half Spr1efbipp o1co
The Mohammedan can't change his
religion whenever he pleases. Re-
iigion can't be made a matter of con-
Nenience or be controlled by any legis-
lation. Christ claims our all. He de.
lnands that we give Him our mind,
heart and soul. He has a right to
make this claim because He is Truth,
The Way and the Life. Our Lord will
not be satisfied with neutrality. He is
e.