The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-07-31
Lesson for August 3
NAOMI AND RUTH: A STUDY IN
, RACIAL RELATIONSHIPS

NAOMI AND RUTH: A STUDY IN
RACIAL RELATIONSHIPS
LESSON TEXT-The Book Of Ruth.
GOLDEN TEXT-And hath made Of
one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Ruth q Helpful
Daughter.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Naomrs Faithful
ness Leads Ruth to God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Our Neighbors of Other Races.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
.1C-The Way to World Brotherhood.
I. How Naomi and Ruth Were
Brought Together Il :1-15).
On account Of famine in Bethlehem
of Judah, Naomi with her husband and
two sons sojourned in the land Of
Moab. After the death Of her hus-
band, her two sons married Moabitish
women. After time her sons died
also. After the death of her sons,
Naomi resolved to return to her home
land, having heard that the Lord had
visited his people in giving them
bread. They went to Moab to escape
trouble but only got into more. This
is always the case when Gods people
lgo into the world to escape difficult
ties. 1t was not until Naomi was thus
chastised that she resolved to return.
When the time came for her to 60.
Ruth and Orpah accompanied her for
a distance.
n. Ruth's Noble Choice Q:16-18).
Greatly as Naomi loved her daugh-
lters-in-law, she would not have them
lgo into this matter blindly. She wished
them to know the seriousness Of their
action.
/. No chance for them to marry
again ". 11).
Naomi told them that she had no
more sons for whom they could wait.
In that day for a woman to be I'M
married was the greatest disgrace.
Society differed then from now. No
avenues were open by which women
could earn their living.
2. Heather gods must be renounced
Nv. 15).
Idolatrous worship could not be car
ried on in the land where Gods peo-
Iple dwelt. This was delicately touched
upon when Orpah went back. She went
back when 1t was plain that there was
no chance for her to get husband.
After Orpah's return Naomi put an ad-
iditional test upon Ruth, that Of giving
her religion. Ruth was equal to
11rhe occasion. Her mind was fully
made up. She was willing to accept
as her God the One who was able to
Iproduce in his subjects the nobility Of
character she had observed in Naomi.
Ruth's determination was so definite
and unfaltering that her expressions
have come down to us In words which
mo poetry has outrivaled and no
lpathos has exceeded, and which has
gone through centuries with the music
which will not let them be forgot.
ten" She was determined to share
Naomi's journey, her home, her lot in
life, and grave in death, whatever or
wherever that would be. To crown 1t
jail, she renowned her heather gods
and worshiped Jehovah, the true God.
III. Blessings Which Attended Ruth's
Choice.
/. She found the true God Il :16).
Instead Of a heather god who was
unable to help her, she had the Living
God, the God Of Israel.
@ She found friends (ch. p.
As she went to CLEAN she was led to
the field Of Boaz, man Of grace and
wealth. The servants Of Boaz treated
her with consideration.
3. A good husband and happy home
(chs. 8 and A..
4. An honored place in the Israel.
itish nation (4:13-1O.
3. She became a link in the chain of
the Redeemer's ancestry a 1892 ct.
Matt. 1 :5).
The one who fully decides for
Christ and gives up all for Him shall
receive hundredfold in this life and
lin the world to come eternal life.
The story Of Ruth is fine example,
first, of right racial relationship. The
union of Ruth with Israel was around
the true God. And, second, Of dis
lpensational truth:
~ The famine in the land indi-
Gates the testing of the Jews in the
great tribulation.
(2) The going into Moab indicates
the sojourn Of the Israelites among the
nations.
~ The sickness and death in Moab
Indicates the chastisement Of the Jews
land their sorrows in the present age.
| az The return to the, land indi-
icates the gathering of Israel to their
own land, Palestine.
(5) Ruth's decision indicates the
gathering of the Gentiles through the
Influence Of the Jews.
(6) The marriage between BOaz and
Ruth indicates the union of the church
l Jesus Christ.
/ Adds Charm to Character
Small kindneSSpS small courteSieS