CONTENTS
The book of Ruth opens in this Chapter with the relation of a certain
family leaving Bethlehem in consequence of a famine, and sojourning in
the country of Moab. The distressing events which followed: the death
of the husband and his two sons; and the return of the widow, with one
of her d... [ Continue Reading ]
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was
a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to
sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
(2) And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife
Naomi, and the name of his t... [ Continue Reading ]
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was
Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about
ten years.
What miseries spring out of original transgression! When Elimelech
left Bethlehem-judah, he left it only for a little while, according to
his intenti... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left
of her two sons and her husband.
How reviving is the thought to the people of God, amidst the
devastations and ravages of death, that Jesus ever liveth: and as he
ever liveth, so he ever loveth his people. And doth he not say, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from
the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that
the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
Reader! may we not, without violence to the history, conceive this to
be no unapt representation of the re... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two
daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the
land of Judah.
Here we may learn that resolutions formed in grace lead to practice.
Had Naomi simply sent forth a wish to return to Bethlehem, when she
heard t... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of
her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and
wept.
There is somewhat very interesting in this account of the parting of
Naomi and her daughters-in-law. Even on the score of natural feelings
it is not with... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy
people.
There is something captivating, even to natural affections, in the
first view of religion. Nature, as in the case of these two Moabitish
daughters, could not but feel a desire to be among God's people. But
alas! though nature... [ Continue Reading ]
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them
from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for
your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
They who attend only to the mere letter of the history will discover
nothing more in it than the affe... [ Continue Reading ]
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her
mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
What a striking evidence is here, in these two character's, of the
wonderful difference between nature and grace. While both Orpah and
Ruth felt the tender affections, and were melted at Naom... [ Continue Reading ]
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people,
and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
This verse throws a light upon the real design Naomi had in view in
all her discourse, when seemingly persuading her daughters-in-law to
go back. For when she talked of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do
so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
In what sweet and engaging language hath the Holy Ghost been pleased
to convey to the church, the pious and unalterable resolution of this
poor Moabite. No doubt Naomi... [ Continue Reading ]
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she
left speaking unto her.
An oath for confirmation (saith an Apostle) is to them an end of all
strife. Ruth had solemnly protested the firmness of her resolution of
accompanying Naomi; and this the other accepted, as a thing now
set... [ Continue Reading ]
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass,
when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about
them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
Such is the surprise whenever a sinner is brought home to Jesus! It
excites the wonder and astonishment of man, in beholding th... [ Continue Reading ]
I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why
then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and
the Almighty hath afflicted me?
Such language is suitable to a sinner. It is the highest evidence of
grace, when the soul is led to see the hand of God in our aff... [ Continue Reading ]
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with
her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to
Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
All souls, both Jew and Gentile, when brought home to the Lord, will
always find it a harvest-day whenever they return.... [ Continue Reading ]