It
is a sad story to follow Elimelech (meaning “My God is King”) from the fields
of Bethlehem (“The House of Bread”), out from the Land of Israel, to the land
of Moab. It is sad indeed to see one of the people of God leave the place where
He reigns, to take shelter under the rule of a stranger (Ruth 1:1). But the
verse before Ruth 1:1, reads: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every
man did that which was right in his own eyes.” And it looks very much as though
Elimelech, in spite of his name, was following the general custom of the
country, and doing what was right in his own eyes.
Indeed,
to take such a serious step, as to leave his native land, would seem to tell us
it was not the first time that he had done what was right in his own eyes; and
the names of his two sons, Mahlon meaning “Great Weakness”; and Chilion means
“Pining, or Consuming, or Consumption”, would tell us that the fruit of his own
way had brought weakness and sorrow into his family. His feeble sons, and now a
famine in the land, should have made him stop, and “consider his ways”. But it
was not so.
And
so it came about that Elimelech forsook the land where God was at least
supposed to rule, and went to the land where Balak once reigned, and where the
prophet Balaam had once sought to curse Israel. It seems a strange place for
one bearing the name of “My God is King”, Elimelech, to seek refuge; but where
will we not go, when we do what is right in our own eyes? And the father should
have remembered that it was not so many years since the daughters of Moab had
been the means of bringing a terrible snare, and an awful destruction, on the
people of God; one would have thought he would have hesitated to take his two
sons to the spot where they would meet the daughters of Moab again.
But
when once we set our hearts on doing what is right in our own eyes, the blessed
stories and warning of Scripture are easily swept aside, and we go forward
boldly in the path of our choice. The inevitable result followed, both boys
chose girls of Moab to be their wives; and the law of Israel was clear, the
Moabite was not to enter the land of Israel, no, not to the tenth generation
(Deuteronomy 23:3). But the Word of God had lost all power in their souls,
Elimelech had forgotten that God was his king, and their only thought was to do
what was right in their own eyes.
Then
Death comes. God has ways of speaking that will force us to listen, if we
persist in turning away from the Still Small Voice. May God grant that this
dread Messenger may not be needed with you, my dear ones, in order that the
Almighty may get your ear. The father, and both sons, are claimed by the King
of Terrors, and Naomi is left, brokenhearted and alone. And yet not alone for
she has her two Moabitish daughters-in-law. We know not how long the girls had
lived with their Mother-in-law; probably some years, for the family had lived
in Moab about ten years. But this we do know, that in those years they had
learned to love this one who was a stranger in their land. Her chaste
conversation had won the hearts of her daughters-in-law. (1 Peter 3:1). And
Naomi rises up to go back to her native land, both girls go with her; a sweet
reward for a consistent life. God is not unrighteous to forget such a walk,
even though it be in the land of strangers; nor will He ever turn away one,
even a Moabite, who comes to Him in faith.
You
know the story as well as I do, and I must not take space to tell it again, no
matter how much we love it; but I cannot resist quoting Ruth’s magnificent
answer to her Mother-in-law’s appeal to follow Orpah back “unto her people, and
unto her gods.” (Oh, Naomi, how could you utter such words? How could you seek,
and succeed in your efforts, to drive away one who was ready to follow you to
the land where the true God reigns as King?) But Ruth would not be moved. The
bonds of love were too strong, and the hearts of countless millions have
stirred at her grand 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, will I die, and thee will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and
more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Glorious
words! A rich reward for a quiet, consistent life at home, the true result of
“chaste conversation”. How the Spirit of God delights to record such an
utterance, coming from the lips of a Gentile stranger! What a cheer to Naomi’s
heart! How that sad, broken heart must have thrilled to hear those words. “Thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Evidently the choice had never
been made before, but now the gods of Moab are to be left behind forever, and
the Lord God of Israel is to be her God to the end.
How
this story comforts the hearts of parents who see with agony a son or daughter
becoming enamored with one whom they well know is unsuited as a life partner.
How helpless is the parent in such a case. God is our only resource, and what
relief to turn the whole matter to Him in prayer; and if, as may indeed be the
case, this false step is only the fruit of sin and failure on the part of the
parent; what comfort to turn to these holy pages and drink in such a story; and
see how once again our Gracious, Loving, Patient, Mighty God turns our failure
to His Own glory, and makes the eater again yield meat, and the strong once
more give sweetness.
There
may indeed be an agony of remorse at such a time. Bitter sorrow may, and
doubtless will, follow; so that the aged mother asks that her name “Naomi”
(“Pleasant”) be changed to “Marah” meaning “Bitter”. And can there be help in
such a calamity? Yes, the story of Ruth brings back to the broken hearted
parent both faith and hope.
And
Grace crowns all; Grace gives the young widow another husband: Boaz,
“Strength”, in place of Mahlon, “Great Weakness”; a husband whose own Mother
was a Gentile, and who can enter as none other could into all the innermost
thoughts of her heart, and understand. Grace gives a little babe to that girl
who so recently had been a poor, lonely, childless, hopeless, young widow; and
Grace comforts the heart of the sad, lonely, bitter, old widow, also. And that
little child is the Grandfather of David, perhaps the brightest ornament of all
Jewish history; until came “great David’s Greater Son.”
Soft the
voice of mercy sounded,
Sweet as
music to the ear,
“Grace
abounds, where sin abounded;”
This the
word that soothed our fears.
Grace, the
sweetest sound we know,
Grace to
sinner here below.
Grace, we
sing, God’s grace through Jesus;
Grace, the
spring of peace to man;
Grace,
that from each sorrow frees us;
Grace too
high for though to scan;
Grace, the
theme of God’s own love;
Grace, the
theme all themes above.
(T. Kelly)