The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-04
BY VIM. f. Gilroy, D. D.,


No one should attempt either to
teach or to study this lesson with
out sitting down first and reading
the entire Book of Ruth. Even If
one knows the book through much
former reading, 1t is wise to refresh
ones memory of it. Reading the
book in this way one gains a re-
markable impression of it's great
beauty, both as a piece of literature
and as a spiritual document.
Ruth is one Of the most lovable
and beautiful characters in the Old
Testament, and she has come to SYM
bolize the purest heights Of loyalty
and constancy. When one says this,
there are facts TO bear in mind
with which are associated the deep
est teaching of the lesson.
Ruth was not an Israelitish wom-
an, but was a Moabitess by birth.
BY reference to Deuteronomy 1913
one finds that the Moabites were a
heather people, and were under a
particular ban, according TO the
Jewish law.
Probably this item in the law was
itself an expression Of the intense
prejudice OF the Israelites. against
the Moabites. It is interesting,
therefore. TO find this ancient writer
of the Book of Ruth. long before
Jesus commended the Good Samari-
tan, commencing a woman of a race
with which the Israelites tradition
ally had had no dealing.
Surely should we not say, God is
no respecter Of persons; and surely
likewise. God is no respecter Of
races?
Ancestress OF Jesus
But there is an even deeper as
pect of the matter. Ruth, as we
find in the closing verses Of the
book. was an ancestress Of David
and therefore an ancestress Of
Jesus himself How important Is
the significance of this fact that
Jesus of Nazareth was not in his
racial ancestry wholly a Jew but had
racial roots in those like the Moa-
bites. outside the palel In this re-
lationship we find a rich and beauti
full symbolism Of his universally as
Son Of Man.
While there is a somewhat regret
table aspect of the crucial incident
in this story of Ruth in the fact that
Boaz did not acknowledge the right
of a kinsman noblv and openly but
only after he had been led to realize
his responsibilities through strategy.
the book IS none the less a beautiful
pastoral story which illustrates the
more peaceable ASPECT Of life in a
crude and warlike time.
Courage of BOaZ
Boaz also. II his responsibilities
had been enforced upon him by a
woman's strategy playing upon his
own weakness, rose TO these respon-
sibilities with a noble strength. His
words in chapter 2. verses 10 to 70,
are the fine, manly words Of one
who in his best moments recognized
justice and right.
The verses chosen for our Lesson,
while they do not emphasize all the
richest and most significant truth
of the book, lay stress upon its most
beautiful personal aspect. Ruth's
words TO Naomi, 'Entreat me not to
leave thee, or to return from follow
ing after thee; for whittier thou
goest, l viii go; and where thou
lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God;
where thou diest, will l die, and
there will 1 be buried; the Lord
do so to me, and more also, If ought
but death part thee and me-" have
become, probably in all language, the
richest expression of that love and
loyalty which is the deepest bond in
| life