The midland journal., 1946-03-15

"A BOOu Ill tilC VI q COI-
rupt and confused age-such is the
life of Ruth in the awful chaos of
the time of the judges. One is re.
minded of the poets words:
"How far that little candle
throws its beamsl
So shines a good deed in
naughty world"
1t is refreshing to have a glimpse
into the home life of God-fearing
people who live right in spite of the
low standards around them.
Ruth knew life's sorrows and its
bitter disappointments. She was
widow, destitute of all she held most
dear. Yet she, because of the
sweet purity of her life and her de-
votion to God and those she loved,
became an example for others.
AS we read our lesson we first
hear how logic speaks, then love re-
plies, and finally a life says the
final word.
/. Logic (vv. 8-13).
Tragic misfortune had visited
Naomi, who with her husband and
two sons had gone from Bethlehem
to Moab in a time of famine. Not
only had her husband died but also
her two sons, who had married
Gentle women, leaving three wild
ows in one family to mourn togeth-
er. Naomi craved the fellowship of
her own people in her hour of trial,
and she arose to return to her own
land.
Her departure brought out in the
two ughters-in-law the expression
of kindness and loyalty which should
exist in every family, but which is
all too often lacking. Her own testi-
mony concerning these girls of Moab
is that they 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, protesting their
loyal purpose to 60 with her all the
way.
Naomi met their kind offer with
the only sensible answer. There was
no point in leaving their homes
and loved ones and going with her
to another country.
Logic is so conclusive and so final.
Yes, and sometimes it reaches the
wrong conclusion. Love has some
thing to say about the matter.
Let us listen to its voice.
III. Love ". 14).
Orpah loved her mother-in-law.
That is evident. She wept at the
thought of parting, and was affec-
tionate in her final farewell. We
must not be too quick to censure
her. She did what Naomi told her
to do. She responded to her love
for home and kinfolk. She gave
up reluctantly, but she did give up
and turn back.
How glad we are that Ruth
showed a deeper love. "Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth
clave unto her." There is a differ
ence. Such love cannot be denied.
1t is the most precious possession
that man can have, apart from
his fellowship with God. The love
of devoted father or mother, of
noble helpmate, or of a little boy
or girl, these are the things that
really make life worth while.
Life has put into the hands of
many of us the opportunity of show
ing just that kind of love in these
postwar days. A boy comes home
crippled and disabled and loyal
sweetheart shows her undiminished
love for him, even though he can
never again be what he had expect
ed to be. That is love. A mother
and father take to their hearts a
promising young son who returns
from overseas with a shattered
nervous system, and give their lives
anew to him. One could 60 on
and on with such illustrations, but
what we are saying is that it takes
more than kiss and some tears to
express real love. "Ruth clave unto
her." Such love expresses itself in a
Ill. Life (vv. 15-17).
Literature knows no more beauti-
full declaration of faith and devotion
than these words, and nothing could
improve an it. Lord Tennyson said
of the book of Ruth that mo art
can improve on it." And of these
verses another said, "We cannot
hope to contribute to literature a
sentence so exquisite and thrilling as
that into which Ruth poured the
full measure of a noble heart, but
we can initiate her devotion" (Wil-
liam Jennings Bryan).
The conclusion of the story finds
Ruth married to Boaz, her kinsman-
redeemer, and Giving happily ever
AFTER" as a true romance should
end. God gives happy endings.
Here we find the right attitude
toward marriage, something which
needs emphasis in our day. Above
all, as we remember that Ruth was
an ancestress of Jesus, we see anew
the importance of clean, noble, god
ly living. What will the generations
to come be able to say about our
Hves2