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Ruth
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 The scene of the second Star Point is laid in Bethlehem of Judea, which is situated some six miles south of Jerusalem, and also in Moab beyond the Jordan, bordering on and east of the Dead Sea. During the reign of the Judges a grievous famine spread throughout the land of Judah. Elimelich, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Maholon and Chilton, determined to immigrate into the country of Moab beyond the Jordan River. There seems to have been no absolute necessity for this sojourn. Others continued to remain in Judea and tided over the period of distress.
While it would seem that upon their arrival in Moab they were well received by Eglon, the King of Moab, yet they did not prosper. The two sons married daughters of Moab. Mahlon, the eldest son, married Ruth (some writers say that Ruth was the young daughter of King Eglon), and Chilton married Orphah. Both women appear to have been model wives. Within ten years, however, Elimelech and his two sons died childless, and were buried in the land of Moab. Noami was left in destitute circumstances. Her heart and her spirit were broken. She felt that God had deserted her -- the last link which bound her to earth was torn away. "The heart knows it sown bitterness." Thus, apparently, she is alone. What does the human heart dread more that to be utterly alone! Loneliness, how can we define it? One must experience it to know its real depth. "Kings and priest, warrior and maiden, philosopher and child -- all must walk those might galleries alone." Naomi yearned for her old home and the home friends and resolved to return to Bethlehem again.
This story is the classic example of true and tried friendship between two women. It is often compared with David and Jonathan, and Damon and Pythias. It is the passionate love of a girl for her mother-in-law. |
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From Moab's hills the stranger comes,
By sorrow tried, widowed by death;
She comes to Judah's goodly homes,
Led by the trusting hand of faith.
Ye friends of god, a welcome lend
The fair and virtuous Ruth to-day;
A cheerful heart and hand extend.
And wipe the widow's tears away.
She leaves her childhood's home, and all
That brothers, friends and parents gave;
The flowery fields, the lordly hall,
The green sod o'er her husband's grave;
Ye friends of God, a welcome lend
The fair and virtuous Ruth to-day;
A cheerful heart and hand extend,
And wipe the widow's tears away.
She leaves the gods her people own --
Soulless and weak, they're hers no more;
Jehovah, He is God alone,
And Him her spirit will adore.
Ye friends of God, a welcome lend
The fair and virtuous Ruth to-day;
A cheerful heart and hand extend,
And wipe the widow's tears away.
- Rob Morris |
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When we learn to give up idols,
Worship just the God of Truth,
Walk the hard road of endurance
With our uncomplaining Ruth,
Then our patience will grow greatly,
And our love will be complete;
As we humbly glean together
To obtain our Sheaf of Wheat.
We entreat her not to leave us,
But to serve with us, in Truth;
Then our God, and all our peoples
Will be One, who serve with Ruth. |
(Unless stated, written by Mark Keller/Dianna Gillard (Mass. Grand Chapter). Printed by permission).
The Story of Ruth & Boaz
"The story of Naomi, Ruth, & Boaz is one of the gems of sacred literature - so beautiful that it is not surpassed in any writings of fiction or fact. The incidents of the story are among the most fascinating of the entire Bible, marked with poetic beauty and simplicity. The climax is reached in the romance and marriage between Ruth and Boaz. But the events of some years prior must be read for one to fully appreciate this beautiful and happy climax.
Ruth the heroine of the story, was a lovely maiden of Moab, while Boaz was a nobleman and wealthy citizen of Israel. The Moabites were aliens to the Israelites, idolaters, and intermixture of the two races was forbidden by Jewish law. Mutual enmities existed between the two races.
For economic reasons Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and their two sons had migrated to the land of Moab from the little Hebrew town of Bethlehem. Some of the Moabite people were wholesomely influenced by the piety, devoutness and religious strictness of this family. Ruth became the wife of one of the sons, and quite evidently a proselyte to the Hebrew religion. Tragedy came to this Hebrew family in a strange land. Elimelech and the two sons died , and three lonely widows were left desolate. When Naomi decided to return to Israel and to her native town of Bethlehem, Ruth refused to sever her attachment to Naomi and accompanied her. The depth of her love for her mother-in- law and her devotion to the Hebrew religion were given expression in these immortal words:
'Entreat me not to leave thee,
Or 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, I will 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 providing for the material needs of herself and her mother-in-law Ruth followed a law and well established custom in Israel which provided the privilege of gathering fragments of grain behind the reapers at harvest time. This was a humiliating and arduous form of employment followed only by the very poor and needy. The nobility, industrious disposition, and frugality of Ruth were impressively manifest in this menial engagement.
Through the strange workings of divine providence it happened that Ruth was gleaning scattered grain in the wheat fields of the nobleman Boaz, a distant relative of her deceased husband. While making his usual rounds of observation among his reapers, Boaz was attracted to this young woman, and inquired about her identity and sought other information about her. He made himself known to her as the owner of the farm and extended unusual courtesies and favors to her. He invited her to have lunch with him, and the acquaintance soon blossomed into an enchanting romance. Genuine love for each other throbbed in the hearts of both. According to the customs in Israel under the circumstances in which both Ruth and Boaz related, Ruth must take the lead in presenting her claims for marriage, This she did with timidity and modesty under the guidance of her mother-in-law Naomi and in accordance with the customs of Israel. The love and esteem which Ruth manifested for Boaz were fully reciprocated, and the nobility of his character shined in superb brilliance and glory. He took the necessary legal steps to remove all the barriers to marriage between himself and Ruth, and she soon became his bride. There was born to them a son whom they named Obed who was later the father of Jesse who was the father of David. Boaz and Ruth became the ancestors of a long line of kings who ruled over Israel and Judah, and of the Messiah-Savior."
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Ruth