Women in white raiment

by John Lemley

At the end of ten years, and having heard that there was plenty again in Judah, Naomi resolved to return to Bethlehem. Orpah and Ruth also purposed to accompany her. We can imagine the sad farewell visit to the graves of the beloved dead, and then together set out on foot for the land which the Lord had blessed.

After they had gone on their way for some distance, Naomi, with heartfelt acknowledgment of their fidelity to her, endeavored to persuade them to return to their own kindred. But they both declared that they would cleave to her. And so they trudged on until probably the borders of Moab were reached, when Naomi once more urged them to return to their people. Orpah this time yielded to Naomi’s urgent request, and giving her a kiss of farewell, returned to her people. Ruth, however, still clave to Naomi, with self-sacrificing love. Pointing to the form of Orpah, Naomi entreated Ruth to follow her sister’s example.

This was the crisis in Ruth’s life, on which her future destiny was to turn. But the clinging nature of Ruth refused to be separated from the warm heart of Naomi, and no one can fail to be moved by the pathos of her reply, “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 aught but death part thee and me.” This tender loyalty and undying love must have touched the strong, brave heart of Naomi, for Ruth’s noble plea covered every possible condition in life through which they might be called to pass, and refused to be separated even in death.

RUTH THE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

The decision was so firmly, so solemnly stated that there was nothing more to be said, and Naomi, doubtless glad in her loneliness to retain the treasure of such a true and loving heart, made no further effort to alter her purpose, and so the two journeyed on together towards Bethlehem.

There were two things in conflict, one with the other, at this stage in the experience of these women. 1. Ruth had learned to know and to love the true God, and we must believe she loved him with the intensity of her nature. The opportunity was offered, and she determined to forsake her heathen idols, and to unite herself with the people of Jehovah, and to rest within the shadow of the wings of the God of Israel, regardless of trials or poverty that might await her in the future. 2. On the other hand, Naomi was brave to take Ruth with her, for she knew the law that excluded the Moabite, and it is marvelous that Ruth was received into the Hebrew nation, for her people were specially interdicted, and doubtless this was the reason why Naomi sought and urged Orpah and Ruth to turn back.

At length, after days of travel, the two lone women, weary and footsore, arrived at Bethlehem, and all the city was moved about the event, and as they looked into the face of the elder woman and saw the deep lines of sorrow, they said, “Is not this Naomi?” Yes, it was Naomi (which means delightsome), in her youth, before her life became blasted with sorrow and want. In her destitution her name seems to her to be a mockery, and she exclaims, “Call me Mara!” that is, bitterness. She went out with her husband and sons full of hope, now she has returned with only the bitter recollection of three graves in the land of Moab, and herself in abject poverty.

No one seemed to have helped Naomi in her sorrow and distress. But Ruth, true to her declaration, clung to Naomi, and bravely took it upon herself to provide for both. It was the time of the barley harvest, and the brave girl went out into the fields to glean after the reapers, a privilege that the law of Moses allowed to the poor of the land.

“Her hap” was to enter the field of Boaz. It was a “hap” so far as Ruth was concerned, but back of it was the ordering of Him who is the husband of the widow and the Father of the fatherless. Boaz came into the field, and after the good manners of those times, exchanged pious and kindly salutations with his reapers. Now Boaz was a near kinsman of Ruth’s deceased husband, and a man of wealth and consideration, but of course knew nothing about this Moabitess. However, having learned that she was the companion of Naomi, he generously permitted her to glean among the sheaves, and instructed his reapers to let drop a handful now and then on purpose for her.