November 25

Ruth I.—1. 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 Bethlehem-judah went to sopourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

3. And Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4. 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 dwelt there about ten years.

5. And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

8. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead and with me.

9. 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.

10. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? . . . Nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much, for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

14. And they lifted up their voice, and wept

again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15. 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.

16. And Ruth said, 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:

17. 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.

18. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19. 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?

20. And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi; call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21. 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?

22. 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.

In all the literature of antiquity, there is not a more beautiful gem than this city of Ruth and Naomi. "As a singular example of virtue and piety in a rude age, and among an idolatrous people: as one of the first-fruits of the Gentile harvest gathered into the Church; as the heroine of a story of exquisite beauty and simplicity; as illustrating in her history the workings of Divine Providence, and the truth of the saying, that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous; and for the many interesting revelations of ancient domestic and social customs which are associated with her story, — Ruth has always held a foremost place among Scripture characters."

The country of Moab lay along the rich highlands east of

the Dead Sea, and was the most fertile district upon that side of the Jordan. It was about three days' journey from Bethlehem, and, though there was a standing ford between Moab and Israel, famine led this Jewish family to seek refuge in a hostile country. Love, which is stronger than political enmities, or prejudices of race and religion, soon brought about an alliance between the sons of the Abrahamic covenant and the daughters of an alien people; and the virtues of Naomi so won upon the filial piety of Ruth, that, when both were widowed, Ruth joined herself to her, in life and in death, with a pathos which every heart adopts for its own expression of constant, complete, undying devotion.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 58, 59, 68.

O God, who art everywhere present! may it be our joy so to realize thy presence, that we shall ever abide with thee! Thou leadest us in ways that we knew not, and sometimes in ways of darkness and of sorrow; but thou hast promised never to leave us nor forsake us. When troubles come, when billows of sorrow roll over us, may we still trust in thee, and look forward to our rest! May our citizenship be in heaven, and we of the company of thy saints who declare plainly that they seek a better country! May we glorify thy name in the midst of an evil and gainsaying world!

We look to thee, O Lord! this day, for daily

bread. All thy creatures wait upon thee. That thou givest them they gather. Thou openest thine hands; they are filled with good. Oh! fill us this day with good things. [Bless every member of this family, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and all our kindred: may each, in the several relations of life, fulfil all the offices of love, doing good to one another as thou givest opportunity!] Prosper the labors of industry; bless the earth with abundant harvests; bless our land with health, peace, plenty, righteousness; and save the world which thy mercy has spared, for Christ's sake.

Amen.