403 Israel in Egypt and sent them a mes sage (Ex. 3:16; 4:29-31; Prov. 30:8; Isa. 55 :10 ). This is a companion picture to th a t of th e prodigal in Luke when he says, “ In my F a th e r’s house th ere is bread enough and to spare.”' The first step of th e backslider away from God is fatal, bu t th e outstretched arm s of the F ath e r and th e remem brance of th e blessings in the homeland, are designed of God to bring him back. There may be trials and tem ptations in the homeland life of the believer, but He H imself is th ere always. B etter never stray away. (2) TEST OF AFFECTION, vs. 8-15. The th ree women have journeyed to gether for a little season, when Naomi urges them to retu rn , each to her m other’s house, and asks a blessing upon them , giving them a p arting kiss. She loves them , but they are aliens— Moabites— and th e re was a special ban upon the Moabites, (Deut. 22 :3 ). “A n A m m o n ite o r a M o a b ite s h a ll n o t e n te r in to th e c o n g r e g a tio n o f th e L o rd ; e v e n to h is t e n t h ' g e n e r a tio n s h a ll th e y n o t e n te r in to th e c o n g r e g a tio n o f th e L o rd fo r e v e r.” She has no hope for them in Israel, no prospects for husbands for them , and in th e bitterness of her soul she says, "The hand of the Lord is gone out against me.” (Judges 2 :1 5 ). Orpah yields to the pleading and re turns. R uth cleaves to her mother-in- law. No promise or hope is held out to Ruth. The tests pqi, to her are those th a t are pu t to every believer who will follow Christ (Mark 8 :3 4 ). “W h o s o e v e r w ill c o m e a f t e r m e , le t h im d e n y h im s e lf, a n d t a k e u p h is c ro s s , a n d fo llo w me.*’ (Luke 9 :6 2 ): “ N o m a n h a v in g p u t h is h a n d to th e p lo u g h a n d lo o k in g b a c k , is fit f o r th e k in g d o m o f G od.” To go w ith Naomi she must die to her own kindred, to her own interests, and to any hope of a husband. She must have in expectation sorrcvy and suffer ing. This is th e te st th a t comes to th e sinner when he accepts Christ as Saviour. I t means th e back upon th e
T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S Rutli choosing; R uth gleaning; R uth resting ; R u th rewarded. The book exhibits th e grace of God in th e m idst of evil. The book of Judges is full of dark, d reary scenes, aw ful tragedies, w ars and bloodshed. The book of Ruth is like a landscape a t eventide, the quiet country domestic life; th e field; th e courtship; the m ar riage. God is interested in th e fam ily affairs of His people. In th e m idst of apostasy some remained faith fu l to God. In type, we have the calling fo rth of the Gentiles. The heroine is a Moabitess,— a mod est, faithful, strong, pure woman. The scene is. in Bethlehem , sacred to the memory, of Ruth, of David, of Mary, of Jesus. (1) TIDINGS FROM THE HOME LAND, vs. 6 , 7. A fter the death of Elimelech and Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi came to herself and determ ined to re tu rn to her own home, for she had heard “how th a t th e Lord had visited His people in giving them bread .” Naomi is a penitent backslider. She is honest. She makes a full confession. She tells th e whole tru th . She has suffered for her sins. She is poor. She is needy. She has nothing to offer but herself. There are no prospects for th e girls, from h er standpoint. She has in her h ea rt an unselfish love, and she urges them to retu rn . There are serious lessons fo r th e backslider, (Jer. 2 :1 9 ). “ T h in e o w n w ic k e d n e s s s h a ll c o r r e c t th e e , a n d t h y b a c k s lid in g s s h a ll re p ro v e th e e ; k n o w , th e r e f o r e , a n d s e e t h a t i t is a n e v il th in g ; a n d b itte r , t h a t th o u h a s t 'f o rs a k e n th e L o rd t h y G od, a n d t h a t m y f e a r is n o t in th e e , s a it h th e L o rd G o d o f h o s ts .” He has to learn th a t it is an evil and b itter th ing to forsake th e Lord, and th is was th e condition of Naomi. It is always good news to know th a t God has blessings in store for those who retu rn . The Lord saw th e affliction of
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