Things Written Aforetime For Our Learning - The Story Of Ruth

by N. D. W. MILLER | Category: For Young Believers | Feb 1933

CHAPTER 1.

Viewed suggestively, the Book of Ruth sets forth God's dispensational dealings as unfolded in the New Testament. The departure of the Jaw, as seen in Elimelech, leads, in the sovereignty of God, to the bringing in of the Gentile, as seen in Ruth. Then the union of Christ and the Church, as seen in the union of Boaz and Ruth. After which Israel comes in for Millennial blessing. This again is beautifully foreshadowed in Naomi, whose last days were her best days-for Jehovah did not leave her without a near kinsman, who was unto her a restorer of life, and a nourisher of her old age (chapter 4. 14, 15).

But it is the more practical teaching we wish to consider- things we all need, if we are faithfully to tread the disciple path.

Names in Scripture have a definite meaning, and are often significant. Especially is this noticeable with the names in the Old Testament. For example, Beth-lehem-judah, with which this story is associated, Beth-lehem means the " House of Bread." This surely would suggest the very opposite of famine. The famine, at that particular time, was doubtless one of God's chastisements, which Israel, by their conduct, had brought upon themselves. When we think of the significance of Bethlehem as the House of Bread, how marvellous it is to contemplate that moment when Christ was born-when He "the Living Bread which came down out of heaven," was seen as a tiny Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger! Truly, "Thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah." For all, whether sinner or saint, it is gloriously true of Him Whom the Father sent-" he that cometh to ME shall not hunger"; and "if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever" (John 6.).

"And it came to pass in the days when the Judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons."

In this way Ruth opens. We try to picture the days prior to the famine-the green pastures of the well watered plains of Beth-lehem, and this peaceful couple living in the enjoyment of life with all its comforts in their own inheritance (the inheritance given of God); with house, and, more than likely. oliveyard and vineyard-blessings which the good hand of God had provided. There they lived with their two boys.

The name of the man was Elimelech. This, very significantly, means, "My God is King." How suggestive this is! "In those days there was no king in Israel." But Elimelech had only to remember the meaning of his own name, to be comforted with the thought-" My God is King." Alas, instead of that, God was evidently forgotten.

"Naomi," his wife, means "pleasant." She was in many respects a great woman, and her greatness is seen more in the latter end than at the beginning. She was one of God's chosen ones-chosen and refined in "the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48. 10). She experienced much of life's bitterness; but the "furnace" gradually removed all that, and left the real "pleasantness" which marked her closing years. Naomi's last days were her best days.

There, then, in their own little world, they lived, along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, hoping, no doubt, that those same two boys would be their comfort and their stay in years to come.

Mahlon-strange to say-means Sick. And Chilion means Pining.

The day soon came when the clouds of adversity began to gather around that fair and pleasant scene. Life in the home became overcast. The showers were withheld; the crops failed: the little store laid by was growing less and less; and dread famine began to stalk through the land. All suffer-the very cattle languish. And why all this? It is God's voice-a Voice so often, and so long, unheeded.

The natural impulse is to find a way out of the trial. Faith, on the other hand, would rather bring God into the trial. Isaac, in his day, was told, "Dwell in the land" (Genesis 26.). And that great truth is enunciated again and again--e.g.-" Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on

(Psalm 37. 3., R.V.M.). "What if some were without faith? Shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God? God forbid."

Listen to what a man of faith once said-

"Though the fig tree shall not blossom,

Neither shall fruit be in the vines

The labour of the olive shall fail,

And the fields shall yield no meat;

The flock shall be cut off from the fold,

And there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation."

(Habakkuk 3. 17, 18.)

It is always easier to rest in the comforts we have, than in the God who provides them. And it was evidently so with Elimelech and Naomi. The famine did not cast them upon God: it inclined them to move to another land. With God forgotten, there was no one from whom to obtain counsel. "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Thus did Elimelech. Let us beware of the first false step-it leads to a second, even as one lie must needs have another to cover it up. They may escape the famine, but what if they lose God. David's cry was so different-" 0 God, Thou art my God ... my soul thirsteth for Thee; my flesh longeth for Thee, in a dry and weary land, where no water is" (Psalm 63.).

To sojourn in Moab till the famine was past was quite evidently their intention. But in "selling up" and departing, they were, alas, turning their backs upon the "House of Bread." No doubt they found Moab undisturbed by famine, a much more congenial place than Bethlehem in the time of dearth; for they "continued there" ; and they "dwelled there about ten years." For a time all seemed to be well.

But, alas, disaster came with startling suddenness. "Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons " (chapter 1. verse 3).

This was surely a louder voice than the famine. The arm of flesh had failed: the bread winner is no more. Did Naomi wish she had never left Bethlehem? We cannot say. But to return seemed impossible-it was a case of settling down and making the best of it though the land of Moab was not the land of Israel; nor were the Moabites Israelites. There was no synagogue there where "Moses" might be listened to and enjoyed; no Altar-no Place of the Name.

The death of Elimelech doubtless brought back many memories of bygone days--like Job, "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me" (Job 29. 2)-but alas, things soon got down to the dead level of all around.

Among the Moabites attachments were formed which, in themselves, were calculated to draw them farther and farther away from Israel's God. "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes "-Elimelech-that is precisely what he did in the matter of going to Moab; and now we read that Mahlon and Chilion "took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth" (verse 4). Their father did what he thought right- -why should not they? The power of example is very great. Think of God's displeasure when marriage entails the unequal yoke-that which has blasted so many promising lives. Where is the testimony for God now! Gone.

Years, a few brief years, rolled on, and again God has to speak-this time with even louder voice still. Sickness overtook Mahlon; and Chilion began to pine; and soon the cold and relentless hand of death visited the widowed home of Naomi, once more, and alas! "Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband" (verse 5).

Surely no artist could portray desolation more complete. Every prop gone. Empty-Naomi's own word, describes the scene. Oh how empty Moab had become! How empty the life, bereft of husband and two sons! Truly, "clouds instead of sun were over many a cherished plan," and the plight of Naomi looked like one of utter hopelessness. Home in "dear old Bethlehem"; and the very resources of life in Moab-Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion-All gone. Is there no one to care? Is there none to deliver? Ah yes ! God cares-God can deliver. How patiently He had borne with the family--" forgetting ne'er, though oft forgot." So now, at last, the heart-sore, and torn, and broken-turns to a long forgotten and neglected God.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,

And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,

Thou hast not left me, oft as 1 left Thee;

On to the close, 0 Lord, abide with me.

Can we not think of Naomi amidst her sore grief and poverty breathing out something akin to this ?- When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh abide with me.

It is now, with nothing to shew for her ten years' sojourn in Moab save her two daughters in law-who in themselves as daughters of Moab, were but evidence of sad departure from God-that a report reached a cross the border into dark Moab that God had visited His people.

Then, weary, and worn, and sad, and bereft of all she had formerly enjoyed, 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" (verse 6). How true it is, that

Afflictions, tho' they seem severe,

In mercy oft are sent

They stopped the prodigal's career,

And caused him to repent.

N. D. W. MILLER | Feb 1933
For Young Believers