St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-08-05

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 SUM-
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, q 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 Cen
tile woman became one Of the an
cestors Of Jesus. (See Ruth 4:22
with Luke 3:22.) 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 win 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
confine 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-fn-law
in unity Of spirit that she became
one with her and her people.
1. COmmendabIe Loyalty wv. g.
100.
Tragic misfortune had visited
Naomi, who with her husband and
two sons had gone from Bethle-
hem to Moab in a 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. e
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 &c
with her all the way. Thus faI
the two sisters were not differen
tiated-but the next incident re-
veals Ruth as the one who had ar
II. Undeniable Love wv. 11-1D
No one could for a moment con
denim Orpah for yielding to hel
mother-in-law's entreaty that she
return to her own people. She at
tectionately kisses Naomi and IL
tears turns away. But Ruth
clave unto her."
Such love cannot be denied. I
Is the most precious possession tina
q man can have, apart from hi
fellowship with God. The love Of [
devoted father or mother. Of nobl,
helpmate, or Of a little laddie O.
lassie, these are the things tina
really make life worth while, tina
stand out as an oasis in the deser
Of life, as a light IN the darkness.
But Ruth takes one more Step
Her kindness and loyalty, her ur
swerving love Lead on to a COMES
sion Of her faith In the true God
and the declaration Of an
III. Inseparable Unity wv. 1919
Literature knows no more beauti
full gem than verses 10 and II. ]
was the Great Commoner. Bryan
who said, I'VE cannot hope to cor
tribute to literature q sentence s
exquisite and thrilling as that int
which Ruth poured the full mea!
ure Of noble heart but We ca
initiate her devotion"
The story is told of fine youn
Engishnan who left his betrothe
sweetheart to 60 to California dIr
ing the great gold rush. He wa
going to make a fortune and the
send for her. He sent her his FIR
gold nugget. But alas, there wei
none to follow and soon he becam
not only poverty stricken, but il
In noble sacrifice he decided to n
lease her from her promise, an
wrote to tell her so. She (and or
could almost believe her name ws
Ruth took the treasured nugge