November 26

Ruth ii. -2. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi. Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6. And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 8. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And, when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11. And Boaz answered and said unto her, It

bath fully been showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

12. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13. Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thy handmaidens. 14. And Boaz said unto her, At meal-time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers; and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 15. And, when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not; 16. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them; and rebuke her not. 17. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned; and it was about an ephah of barley.

We may be sure that Naomi did not conceal the virtues of her daughter-in-law. Such a treasure she might well be proud of, and such an example of domestic fidelity and religious devotion in an alien was worthy to be proclaimed among her own kinsmen and townspeople. Bethlehem was so small a place, that everybody could know the affairs of everybody else; and the story of Naomi's return, and of the beautiful, loving, and pious Moabitess she had brought with her, was talked over at the city gates, at the fountains where all the maidens went for water, till "all the city was moved about them."

By a humane requirement of the law of Moses, the gleanings of the harvest were to be left for the poor; and, as Naomi had returned penniless, she sent Ruth to gather a few ears of corn in the field of a rich relative. Her modest behavior, confirming the story of her virtue and piety, won favor in the eyes of Boaz; and he gladly took advantage of a provision of the Moshe law, and, as he was of kin to her husband, made her his wife. And so the poor stranger, who had made herself an exile that she might care for the widowed mother of her husband, came to a home of plenty and honor, and became the ancestor of David and of Christ.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 11, 15, 32.

Thy mercies, O Lord! are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. We bless thee for life and health and reason; for the use of our limbs and powers; for our food and raiment and habitation; for labor and reward; for friends and kindred; for freedom from suffering, infirmity, and pain. By the remembrance of thy goodness, awaken in our hearts, O God! a purer love and devotion to thee. Inspire us with a true and childlike trust in thy faithfulness and mercy. So stay our minds on thyself, that we shall be anxious about nothing. May it ever be home with us where we can feel that God is nigh! for we can fear nothing, lack nothing, when thou art our portion.

O God! since thou hast opened our eyes to see

the light of another day, be pleased to prosper us with thy blessing in all its duties and engagements. Keep us from sin, temptation, and danger. Help us in all things to show forth thy glory by a life and conversation becoming thy children. May it please thee to bless all whom we love, and grant unto them the healthful spirit of thy grace! Have compassion on all the children of toil and sorrow and suffering; look in mercy upon the afflicted and the dying. Bless this household with such favors as thou seest to be good for us; and teach us to desire and seek only that which is good in thy sight. Help us to walk by faith, that, by a patient continuance in well-doing, we may come to glory and honor, through Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.