The Coolidge examiner., 1938-08-04

my people, and thy God my God.-Ruth
1:16.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Girl Named
Ruth.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Story of Ruth.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Ruth's Wise Choice.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-An Adventurous Faith.
Out of the dark Businesses Of an
underground dungeon into the
brightness and warmth of Gods sun
shine-such is the transition we make
when we turn from the moral and
spiritual failures Of Samson to con-
slider the lovely story of Ruth. She
lived in the midst Of the travails
and the sorrows of life, in fact we
find her at the beginning of the
book which bears her name, a wild
ow who has lost all that the world
would hold dear. Yet she, because
of her purity of life and devotion to
God rises higher and higher, while
the one of whom we spoke last
week. starting with every advan-
tage. slipped lower and lower be-
cause of his sin.
Ruth was the great-grandmother
OF King David, and thus this Gen
tile woman became one Of the an
cestors of Jesus (See Ruth 4:22
with Luke 3:22D Many folk are
greatly concerned about their ances-
try-one could wish that more were
concerned about living such lives
and developing such characters as
will make them good ancestors.
Teachers and classes will do well
to read and study the entire book
of Ruth-only about three pages
long in most Bibles-and give at
tention to the full story of her life,
especially the picture of the kins-
man-redeemer, to be later fulfilled
in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must
confne our comments largely to the
printed portion which reveals Ruth
first as a loyal and thoughtful
daughter -in-law, then as one whose
love was not to be denied by sorrow
or circumstance, and finally as
one so bound to her mother-in-law
in unity Of spirit that she became
one with her and her people.
I. Commendable Loyalty (vv. g.
1O).
Tragic misfortune had visited
Naomi, who with her husband and
two sons had gone from Bethle-
hem to Moab in time of famine.
Not only had her husband died but
also her two sons, who had mar
ried Gentle women, leaving three
widows in one family to mourn to-
gether. Naomi craved the fellow
ship of her own people in her hour
Of trial and arose to return to her
own land
Her departure brought out in the
two daughters-in-law the expression
Of kindness and loyalty which
should exist in every family, but
which is all too often lacking. Her
own testimony concerning these
girls of Moab is that they had dealt
kindly with her and with the
dead. That word speaks volumes.
There is so little genuine kindness
in the world. Both Orpah and Ruth
went with her on the way-pro-
testing their loyal purpose to 60
with her all the way. Thus far
the two sisters were not differen-
tiated-but the next incident re-
veals Ruth as the one who had an
ii. Undeniable Love (vv. 11-14.
No one could for moment con-
denim Orpah for yielding to her
mother-in-law's entreaty that she
return to her own people. She af-
fectionately kisses Naomi and in
tears turns away. But Ruth
clave unto her"
Such love cannot be denied 1t
is the most precious possession that
a man can have, apart from his
fellowship with God. The love of a
devoted father or mother, of a noble
helpmate, or of a little laddie or
lassie, these are the things that
really make life worth while, that
stand out as an oasis in the desert
of life, as light in the darkness.
But Ruth takes one more step.
Her kindness and loyalty, her un-
| ~
sion of her faith in the true God,
and the declaration of an
Ill. Inseparable Unity (vv. 1919
Literature knows no more beauti-
full gem than verses Is and IT, 1t
was the Great Commoner, Bryan,
who said, I'VE cannot hope to con-
tribute to literature a sentence so
exquisite and thrilling as that into
which Ruth poured the full meas
ure of noble heart, but we can
initiate her devotion"
The story is told of fine young
Engishman who left his betrothed
sweetheart to go to California dur
ing the great gold rush. He was
going to make a fortune and then
send for her. He sent her his first
gold nugget. But alas, there were
none to follow and soon he became
not only poverty stricken, but ILL.,
In noble sacrifice he decided to re-
lease her from her promise, and
wrote to tell her so. She (and one
cn1ld almost believe her name Was