The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-03
Lesson for August 6
RUTH
RUTH

LESSON TEXT-Ruth 1919.
GOLDEN TEXT-Beloved, let us love
one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God,
and knoweth God. John AT.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Gift of
Friends
JUNIOR TOPIC-Ruth the Loyal.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Ruth the Loyal.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-The Message of the Book of Ruth.
In order to grasp the material con-
tanned in the subject there must be
swept into view the whole book of
Ruth. The lesson committee recog-
nized this and assigned the book as
the lesson text. However, for con-
venience the lesson text which is to
be printed has been confined to the
first chapter. verses 6-19.
I. Ruth's Connection With the Jew.
ish Nation Il :1-5).
1. The sojourn in Moab wv. 1-3).
On account of famine in Bethlehem
of Judah, Elimelech with Naomi, his
wife, and their two sons sOjourned in
the land. During this sojourn Eli
melech died. leaving Naomi, the wild.
ow, to care for two fatherless sons.
2. The marriage of the two sons
". a. During the sojourn the two
sons fell in love with and married
Moabitish women named Orpah and
Ruth. For Gods chosen people even
to sojourn in the world exposes them
to the likelihood of intermarriage of
the members Of the family with the
people of the world.
3. The death of the sons ". 81. In
a brief time, three widows were left
in the one family relation. This fam.
lily went to Moab to escape trouble,
only to have their troubles greatly in
creased. When Gods people go into
the world to escape difficulties they
are sure to suffer In consequence.
II. Naomi's Return to the Land of
Judah wv. GID.
Because of the chastisement that
was sent upon Naomi, she resolved to
return to her country. The purpose
of Gods chastisement Is to cause his
children to return unto him.
When the time came for Naomi to
go, Ruth and Orpah accompanied her
for a distance. This she permitted,
but determined to place before them
frankly the difficulties that would con-
front them. Having laid the matters
before them, she urged them to turn
back. AS much as Naomi loved her
daughters-in-law, she would not have
them go with her without knowing
fully what their decision meant.
III. Ruth's Noble Choice wv. 1919.
This choice on her part meant:
l. No chance 20 marry again. In
that day to be unmarried was the
greatest disgrace. Furthermore, it
was against Gods law for the Jews
to marry outside of their own people.
2. She must Tenounce her gods.
Idolatrous worship could not be car
ried ON in the land where Gods peo-
pie dwelt. This was delicately
touched upon by Naomi when Orpah
went back ". 15). Orpah went back
when it was plain that there was no
chance to marry again. At this time
Naomi put an additional test upon
Ruth, that of giving up her religion.
Ruth was equal TO the occasion. Her
mind was fully made up. Her very
expressions have come down to us in
words which mo poetry has outri-
vailed, and no pathos has exceeded,
and which have gone through centur-
les with the music that will not let
them be forgotten" She was deter
mined to share Naomi's journey, her
home, her God. her lot in life and her
grave in death, whatever that would
be. 1t meant that she would renOunce
her heather gods, and worship Je-
hovah.
~. Blessings Which Attended Ruth's
Choice (chaps. pa.
1. She found the true God Il: 16).
Instead of her heather gods who were
unable to help her. she now had liv-
ing God-the God of Israel.
2. She found human friends (chap.
p. AS she went to CLEAN she was led
to the field of Boaz. man of wealth
and grace. The servants treated her
with consideration. Even Boaz gave
instructions for special consideration
to be given her.
8. A good husband and a happy
home (chaps. g. ~. She not only Sc
cured a husband. but man of God
who had an abundance of this worlds
goods.
a. An honored place in the Israel
itish nation a :13-17). Though she
had to forsake her own people, she
became one of nobler people.
s. She became link in the chain
of Christ's ancestry (4:1S-22, CT. Matt.
1:5). The one who fully decides for
Christ and gives up all for him shall
receive a hundredfOld in this life, and
in the world to come eternal life.
The Holy Spirit
There is only one inlet of power In