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International £esson Commentary JBesson Outline and Exposition ¿Blackboard Outlines golden JEext Illustrations Ghildren’s ‘Division ^ B y JJ- &• ¿faderquist B y I- §■ S to ff ¿By -/ IItin eS*. ¿Pearce ‘B y Sdith Jzillian ¿Young
mon grief while they were deciding whether to journey together or part for ever. V. 10. We will return with thee. Both seemed to love Naomi intensely. There was no difference in their depth o f feel ing. III. Separation ( 1 :14, 15). V. 14. [Verses 11-13 tell of Naomi’s further argument and advice to the daughters-in-law to turn back.] Orpah kissed her mother-in-law. She loved Na omi ; she desired to be with her; she wept much; she kissed her, but she turned back. Up to this point Ruth and Orpah looked alike—the final choice was what counted. Ruth clave. The true test of character is not in outward expressions of affection but in cleaving when leav ing would be easier to the flesh. Ruth de cided against the claims o f self. Orpah followed her natural desires. V. 15. Gone back. Ruth’s loneliness was the greater because of her sister-in-law’s choice. This was the final test. Her peo ple . . . her god. Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, could not be worshipped in Israel. The claims o f natural affection and religion must be crucified by Ruth if she would follow Jehovah. Return thou. This was Naomi’s final appeal. IV. Ruth’s Choice (1:16-18). Vs. 16, 17; Entreat me not. Ruth had withstood every appeal, met every test. Her choice was final and irrevocable. Her choice is described first negatively: she will not leave Naomi; she will not return to her land. Then it is told in direct and positive terms: she will be a fellow- traveler with Naomi, become one of her people and a worshipper of her God. It is a complete break with the past and a fixed resolution for the future. Jehovah do so.- This oath in the name of Jehovah not only was a positive expression o f her choice, but incidentally declared that she had broken with the religion of Chemosh. V. 18. I^eft off speaking. Naomi ceased pleading when she saw that Ruth’s heart was fixed and her face set steadfastly to go to Bethlehem. V. Back to Bethlehem (1:19-22). V. 19. To Bethlehem. This town was six miles from Jerusalem. The women had a long and hard journey. The city was moved. In a small village the news of Naomi’s return quickly spread. Is this Naomi? Ten years of affliction had greatly changed her appearance. She was also changed in disposition. Trials had subdued and chastened her. V. 20. Call me not Naomi. Her name means “pleasant.” Call me Mara. .This word means “bitter” (cf. Ex. 15:23-26). Hath dealt very bitterly. This is not a criticism of God’s dealings, as the follow ing words show.
content to remain in Moab. Had visited. The word “visit” is used in the Old Testa-
August 3, 1930 Naomi and Ruth (A Study in Racial Relationships) Lesson : The Book o f Ruth. ( Lesson Text'. Ruth 1:6-10, 14-22.) Golden Text'. “And he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). * * * L esson in O utline I. Leaving Modb (1 :6, 7). 1. The three travelers. 2. The lure—bread in the homeland. II. The Parting of the Ways ( 1 :8-10). 1. Naomi’s appeal and argument. 2. Professions of love and faithful ness. III. Separation (1:14, 15). 1. Orpah leaving Naomi—preferring her own people, her own god. 2. Ruth cleaving to Naomi—choos ing Naomi’s people and Naomi’s God. IV. Ruth’s Choice (1:16-18). V. Back to Bethlehem (1 ¡19-22). 1. The city moved—in sympathy. 2. Naomi’s bitterness. * * * A pproach to the L esson rPHE story o f Ruth belongs to the time of the Judges, although the book was written at a later period. The book of Judges shows a cross-section of the po litical life of the nation, whereas the book o f Ruth gives a beautiful picture of fam ily life. The scene opens in Bethlehem. A devout Hebrew family left their village because of famine and found refuge and food in the land of Moab. This was scarcely a proper place for an Israelite, although the story suggests no criticism. Moab was under a special ban because of opposition to Jsrael on their way to Canaan (cf. Deut. 23:3). In Moab the two sons of Elimelech de parted still further from Jehovah by mar rying heathen wives. Thereupon sorrow after sorrow pursued the household. Elimelech and the two sons died. The triple sorrow caused Naomi to determine to make her way back to the homeland. * Hi * H eart of the L esson I. Leaving Moab (1:6, 7). V. 6. She arose. Naomi had lived in Moab ten years, but it was not home; it could not be a place of blessing for a He brew. From . . . . Moab. This land was south and east o f the Dead Sea. Had heard. Doubtless the news came through travelers. Perhaps the famine in Bethle hem had long since passed. The family apparently were comfortably settled and
m e n t to describe e i t h e r Jehovah’s blessing or the out stretching of H is hand in affliction. Giving them bread. Bethlehem me a n s “t h e h o u s e of bread.” The village
was again true to its name. V. 7. Went forth. Naomi was drawn back by her home ties and by re-awak ened loyalty to Jehovah. Two daughters- in-law. A happy relation existed between the three women. Evidently the two younger widows went with Naomi volun tarily because they loved her. II. The Parting of the Ways ( 1 :8-10). V. 8. Go, return. They were near the border o f the two lands. A step for ward or backward would settle the future coursés o f their lives. Naomi did not speak unkindly, but she put the truth fully before the young widows. If they departed from their native land, they would leave behind all prospects o f a home of their own. To a young woman of the orient, this meant both hardship and disgrace. Jehovah deal kindly. This was a prayer, beautifully sympathetic and unselfish. V. 9. Ye may find rest. She would spare them the unhappy lot o f an oriental widow. Kissed them . . . and wept. A more pathetic scene can scarcely be im agined : three widows, desolate, homeless, hopeless, mingled their tears in a com
A Prayer for Strength Thou seest my feebleness, Jesus, be Thou my power ,— My help and refuge in distress, My fortress and my tower. Give me to trust in. Thee; Be Thou my sure abode: My hor.n, and rock, and buckler be, My Saviour and my God. Myself I cannot save ,— Myself. I cannot keep, But strength in Thee I surely have, Whose eyelids never sleep. My soul to Thee alone, Now therefore I commend: Thou, Jesus, love me as thine own, And love me to the end. ■—Charles Wesley.
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