Things Written Aforetime For Our Learning - The Story Of Ruth

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

CHAPTER 1. continued

On the strength of what she heard Naomi "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" (verse 7).

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon, she came to prove him. "As we have heard, so have we seen ... in the city of our God," is a great truth (Psalm 48.). God's things will stand the closest scrutiny; His Word the keenest test. Sheba's queen was no ordinary woman. Living in the uttermost parts of the earth, and wielding queenly sway over her people, she was rich in gold, and precious stones, and spices of incomparable value. She had heard the fame of Israel's king: was he such as she had heard? Let the cost of the journey be what it may she will never rest until, with queenly dignity, she puts his kingly fame to the test.

And journey she did, "with a very great train, and camels,"

until at last her retinue passed through the gates of the city of the great king. Has he glory? Is he a king? I have glory, I am a queen! But ah! As she drew near and communed with Solomon--heard his wisdom--and saw his glory--she grew less and less in her own eyes, until "there was no more spirit in her." And in an outburst of praise and admiration she said to the king, "It was a true report that 1 heard in mine own land ... Howbeit I believed not ... until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half ... was not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard" (2 Chronicles 9.).

Thus it was, and so it should be. What she saw, confirmed what she had heard. If she were sceptical at first, her scepticism was honest, and she took pains to test the truth of what she had heard.

It is a wonderful moment when the soul becomes interested in, and occupied with, the truth concerning God.

When Naomi went forth from Moab, her two daughters in law went with her -all three set off for the land of Judah. This is instructive, for it seems to indicate that whatever the failures associated with the family, and their sojourn in Moab, the LORD'S Name and His doings were not altogether forgotten. "They shall utter the memory of Thy great goodness" would seem to me a fitting word to associate with Naomi during the ten years exile in Moab, and especially when toward the end, she was sitting solitary and disconsolate. It is difficult to suppose that she would never speak of God, nor tell of His greatness and His goodness in the ages past. His glorious power made manifest in Israel's deliverance; His unwearied care and provision for them during forty long years in the wilderness; the good land which He gave to their fathers; and how the children of men can find refuge under the shadow of His wings; such things she could tell of Israel's God. And not only so; but that He loveth the widow and the fatherless, and the stranger too, in giving him food and raiment.

If, as I suggest-and it seems to me most reasonable-that Naomi did speak often of the God of Israel, He who made heaven and earth; we may be sure she found a ready listener in Ruth. Ruth would treasure all she heard, and such was the lively faith begotten of God in her toward Himself--in His inscrutable purpose and grace, that when the moment of her opportunity came for deciding her course she could say--" Thy God shall be my God." God was the glorious Object of her quest-a place under the wings of the God of Israel her desired haven (Ruth 2. 12). Not so with Orpah; perhaps there is something suggestive in her name, which according to some authorities means "declining." Young, however, gives the meaning as, "Youthful freshness." Ruth means "friendship." or "beauty."

It is sad to think of Naomi pointing in the wrong direction. If we would

point others aright, we must be right ourselves. "Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you ... 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. And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people." Their natural affection for Naomi was deep and genuine; but, under the circumstances, had there been no more than this, then Ruth as well as Orpah, would have been persuaded to go back. Naomi painted a dark and dismal picture-the prospect was made to look black and uninviting.

Some have generously said of Naomi, that, in speaking as she did, she was

merely applying a test to Orpah and Ruth. But I cannot accede to that. It seems to me that in her condition of soul at that time, she did not relish the prospect of returning to Beth-lehem with a Moabitess on either hand, so she would get rid of them however great the wrench might be; for were not her two daughters in law in themselves evidence of sad departure?

So she pleaded-first with Orpah, although she knew well that there was no rest in Moab-that the only true rest was under the wings of the God. of Israel.

This is one of those living and intense scenes with which the Word of God abounds. There they are-three widows- by the wayside. Naomi, careworn and sad; Orpah, highly strung and emotional but possessing that "youthful freshness" which longs for that which is merely natural; and Ruth, spiritually-minded and virtuous, "friend" indeed, and possessing in character, a beauty which made her price far above rubies. There they stand on the road that led from Moab to Beth-lehem. Oh how much was involved! The opportunity of a lifetime, carrying with it eternal issues. For each of those two young women it was the moment of decision. There they stood, and Naomi pleaded. Emotions were stirred to their utmost depths, and the hot

tears flowed. Behind them lies Moab, with home and kith and kin; but besides these, darkness, and the withering blight of idolatry.

And what lay before? Canaan, the Land of Promise. And,. to faith-GOD-and all that that Name conveys. "The God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God," whose love is an everlasting love. His house too, was there-though dark were the days. And His people were there-" whose is the adoption,. and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, Who is over all, God blessed for ever" (Romans 9. 4, 5).

"Turn again, my daughters, go your way," entreated Naomi,

"the hand of the LORD 1S gone forth against me. And they lifted up their voice and wept again." Poor Orpah! The pleadings of Naomi had already made such inroads upon her, that, at last-she yielded. Slowly, and sadly, "Orpah kissed her mother in law "-turned about-and walked toward Moab. She had made her choice. Her back was now toward the only true God. Fatal choice! "Behold," said Naomi, "thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister in law" (verse 15).

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee." After listening to the intreaty of Naomi, and seeing its effect upon Orpah, Ruth could not trust herself, or rely upon her own strength. Ruth clave unto Naomi; her mind was made up; her heart was fixed. Let the cost be what it may, Ruth will follow the inner conviction of the "still small voice" of God

-she will go with Naomi.

"Intreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God : where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her" (verses 16-18).

What self-sacrificing love and devotion! But there was more than that, "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God," was the kernel of Ruth's noble confession. It was a choice according to God's heart. And what will God not do in the behalf of such as make Him their choice? Ruth exemplifies the truth-" Them that honour Me I will honour." How this became true of Ruth our story will tell. And as for Orpah she goes back into dark Moab never more to be mentioned, on the holy page of Scripture.

"So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem." It is a touching scene that follows; for we read that "All the city was moved about them," while-perhaps in undertones, "the women said, Is this Naomi ?" Is it possible ! is this the woman whom many thought fortunate ten years ago to get away from the famine with her husband and her two sons? Ah, said Naomi, "Call me not Naomi (Pleasant), call me Mara (Bitter) : for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me ?" (verses 19-21).

Here is Naomi's confession (It is very unlike Ruth's), and perhaps there is a reflection upon God in Naomi's bitter words, but God is ever good-He is the Almighty, "El Shaddai" -the Pourer forth of blessings both spiritual and temporal. And Naomi herself will prove this before the story ends. "I (with a Capital I) went out full," is her side of the picture; "Home again" (sweet words) is the other side-this was from the LORD. Full (in one sense perhaps, of self and all that satisfies self) when she left God's side. Empty when she returned home again, yet at length to find her rest and her joy in Him Who alone can satisfy the longing soul, and fill the hungry soul with good (Psalm 107.).

"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 Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest."

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