The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 32

to buy. Sh_e is coming home "empty," as many have done since Naomi did, in 1ill the generations. Be1;1t, and sad,. and grey, her worn dress te_lls of her poverty, her garb bespeaks the widow. All ma few years; all crowded mto these few opening verses. The pathway of the past is an avenue no,v, along which she looks to the opening_ days_, when the light flo?ded her.steps, and she walked in the _warm g-low of compamonshtp and love. Is this Naomi? And have not we had this to say again and again concerning those whose early days we knew ? There we heard the merry shout of children, and there we saw manhood in its strength and prime. Naomi it cannot be : that the face we knew as a bride and as a mother I Never I Yet so it is. They went out full and came home empty. Yet not empty, if, like Naomi they keep their fellowship with God. ' I. NAOMI rs A RETURNING PILGRIM. Home has been but a tent life, and the cur- tains have been rent by sorrow and death. She tells us the old, old story. Here have we no continuing city. Beautiful was the land to which she returned and in that dear land of promise there never wn.<1 a fairer time than barley-harvest.' Mariy and many a harvest-time bad come and gone since Naomi went forth, and many a reaper's song was silent evermore. AR she passed the vines and the oleanders fringing the broad fields, bronzed and bright-eyed faces were directed towards her· and he:e, in the distance, w:19 Bethlehem, its little white houses dotting the gree~ s}opes, its well by th~ wayside._ Bethlehem-home I Oh I that strange longing to hve through the closmg years m the country places where we were horn ! It is a common instinct. The Chinese have it, and will be buried nowhere else. It is a beautiful instinct too -to look with the reverent eyes of age on the tomb- stones we used to spell out in the village, to hear the old rush of the river, the old murmur of the sea. Strange thoughts fill this woman's mind, as the old picture is there with a new peopling of forms and faces. Yet not all new. The workers turn to the passing figure, and a gleam of recognition, doubtful at first, lights up their eyes. And then the word passes from one to the other, Is this Naomi ? It is the same world in which we live to-day. There is also something to remind us that we are pilgrims and strangers, that unresting time will not wait one hour for us. The unseen angels hurry us on through love and grief and death. Happy for us if we say plainly that we seek a country, for the only escape from the ennui of life is the satisfaction of the immortal thirst within us by the gospel revelation of eternal life through J esue Christ our Lord. II. NAOMI IS A GODLY PILGRIM. Travel-worn and weary, with sandaled feet, she is coming to a city sanctified by the faith of her fathers. She had lived in a baa.then country so devoutly, that Ruth could say, "Thy God shall be my God "-a beautiful testimony to Naomi's fidelity, to her victory over idolatrous usages, to her own personal influence over others. Thy God I How serious the eye, bow sober the mien, of this woman as she comes into the city. She bas had a battle of life to fight, and she has fought it well. How brave and noble and faithful a woman she is I ls this Naomi? H there is not so much of what the world calls beauty in her face, there is character there, experience there. The young Christian starting on bis pilgrimage is cheerful enough. His armour is bright and new, his enthusiasm is fresh and keen. He goes forth full of enterprise and hope. Do not be surprised if in the after years you ask, le this Naomi? How careful, how anxious, how depend- ent on God alone I What bright visions once filled bis soul, bow ready he was to criticise Christian character, how determined and unflinching he looked I Well, it was a noble promise, and where would the world be without the enthusiasm of youth ? Be not surprised now if be looks worn and weary. He bas had battles to fight that the world knows not of. He bas made strange discoveries in the continent of hie own heart; he has been well-nigh overcome, and casting himself entirely on bis Lord, he says," By the grace of God I am what I am." Look at that weary heart. ls that Luther? Loolr at that faithless spirit. le that Peter? Look at that worn soldier. Is that Paul ? But the Lord 1s with them I Empty, indeed, in a human 11ense was Naomi. Call me not Naomi, she said; it bas lost its meaning. Life is no longer pleasant. Cii.ll me Mara, for life is bitter. True-hearted soul I She knew that it was bitter, indeed, though it was God's will ; "for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." Very bitterly I And are we to cover over that? Can we sing-  en r. 15--22.] THE BOOK OF RUTH. 27