^ A. Lewis.
220 A WOMAN'S CHOICE
of its form simply — though even in our English Version it sounds like a sweet and noble music — but because it expresses, in a worthy form and once for all, the utter devotion of a genuine and self -conquering love. It is the spirit which informs and breathes through these melodious words that makes them so precious to us, and that also renders it impossible to utter any fitting com- ment on them. They shine most purely in their own light. " Intreat me not to leave thee, and 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 there will I be buried : the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." One wonders where the woman found breath to utter such words as these as she lay weeping on Naomi's breast, and that her voice did not break into inarticulate sobs and sighs under the weight of so impassioned a tenderness.^
Our subject is a woman's choice. We may consider — I. How she made it. II. What it was.
How EUTH MADE HER CHOICE.
Euth chose to cast in her lot with Naomi out of the love she had for Naomi herself. But that was not all. Orpah also loved Naomi. There was evidently more than human affection in the choice which Euth made ; there was love Divine. She knew and loved Naomi ; she also knew and loved Naomi's God. And there was a third element. There was decision of the will. Under the emotion of love to Naomi, under the constraint of love for Naomi's God, Euth made choice, and it was a deliberate act of the will.
^ One may say. How came Euth to know who was the God of Naomi ? I answer : As God said of Abraham, I know that Abraham will instruct his children ; so may one confidently say of Naomi: I know that Naomi had catechized and instructed her daughter-in-law, and often taught her that the God of the Israelites was the onely true God, who made Heaven and Earth, and that all others were but Idols, the workes of men's hands. Yet as the Samaritans beleeved our Saviour first upon the relation of the woman that came from the Well, but afterwards said unto her, John iv. 42, " Now we beleeve, not because of thy saying ; for
» S. Cox.
RUTH I. i6, 17 221
we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." So happily Euth was induced first to the liking of the God of Israel, upon the credit of Naomies words, but afterwards her love of him proceeded from a more certaine ground, the motions of God's holy Spirit in her heart.^
1. Ser affection for Naomi. — The words of the text speak to us of rare devotion, of unwavering decision. " As an expression," says one writer, " of the tenderest and most faithful friendship, they are unrivalled." "The words in which the resolve is uttered," says another, "constitute the most determined, the most decisive, the most unhesitating confession of love, in all literature." " It may be doubted," writes a third, " whether in all the crowded records of womanly heroism and self-sacrifice we anywhere meet a courage and devotion surpassing this." This is high praise, and yet we feel it is not too high, for this one utterance would set Euth on a pedestal by herself, making her worthy to stand near the front rank of that great company of witnesses whose words and example have proved an inspiration to succeeding generations.
Euth's attachment to her mother-in-law opens up the possi- bilities of human love : the might of a true and noble attachment : that love to the individual which may overcome the more general love even to relatives, friends, and country. It is an illustration of the power that one heart may have upon another. Think of it ; it is one of those things that add glory and solemnity to human life. This personality of Naomi's was everything that a human personality could be to Euth. Euth knew that if Naomi had never come to her land her life would have been a very different life — in its thoughts, purposes, and realizations — from what it was now.
^ Whilst I was making preparations for my journey, Kachi Earn entered the tent. He looked frightened and perplexed. " What are you doing, sir ? " inquired he hurriedly. " The doctor says you are going to leave alone to-night, cross the mountain range, and go to Lhassa by yourself."
" Yes, that is true."
" Oh, sir ! the perils and dangers are too great ; you cannot go."
" I know, but I am going to try."
" Oh, air ! then I will come with you." » Thomas Fuller.
222 A WOMAN'S CHOICE
"No, Kachi, you will suffer too much — go back to your father and mother now that you have the opportunity."
" No, sir, where you go, I will go. Small men never suffer. If they do, it does not matter. Only great men's sufferings are worth noticing. If you suffer, I will suffer. I will come." ^