Vera. 13-22.-.Litele Obed. A birth, and in particular a first birth, in the homes of the "excellent of the earth" is always an interesting and exciting event. What multitudes of beginnings there are in childhood I What multitudes of buds and beautiful rose-buddings I What possibilities and uncertainties ! What wonderful littlenesses of hands and feet, and other organs, all so marvellously harmonised and complete I What wondrous and wondering eyes, looking, and still looking, as if they would really read your very heart I What winsome smiles and early recognitions ! l. LITTLE OBED WAS A FORTUNATE CHILD. He had three great privileges. He had a good father, a good mother, and a good grandmother. What a blessing 1 His father was one of the most upright, most honourable, most gracious of men. His mother was "one among a thousand." She had a large heart, full of singular affection and self-denying devotedness. His grandmother was a woman with bold outline of character, but with a capability of yearning and attachment unfathomably deep. II. If little Obed grew up, as is likely, IN ~•HE FEAR AND FAVOUR OF GoD, then what was long afterwards said of Timothy might by some one be said of him, " I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt at first in thy grand- mother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am pereuaded in thee also" (2 Tim. i. 5). III. FROM BIS VERY BIRTH BE WOULD BE CRADLED IN LOVE, the threefold love of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi, intertwined into a delightful unity of affection. IV. GREAT WOULD BE THE REJOICINGS OVER BIS ADVENT. 1. Ruth would think of Machlon, and rejoice. 2. Naomi would think of Elimelech, and rejoice. 3. Boaz would think of both the deceased, and rejoice that their names were not to be cut off from among their brethren. Then again (1) Ruth would rejoice for her husband's sake, whose home would be brighter now than ever. .And she would have peculiar joy for Naomi's sake, whose fondest wishes and hopes and plans had been so happily consummated. (2) Boaz would rejoice over the joy and consolation of Ruth and Naomi; and he would drink from anotherfountain of joy as he realised that he himself, instead of being the terminal link in the genealogical chain, might now have a place in the line of future generations. (3) Naomi would rejoice because her deepest desires bad been brought up into the light, and crowned with the blessing of the Almighty. No longer was He the embitterer of her lot (eh. i. 20). Her name was true, and not to be exchanged for Mara. She was herself again "Naomi," for "sweet is Jah." His character is "sweet," his thoughts, his feelings, his plans, his ways, all are " sweet." V. In another respect would there be peculiar rejoicings over Obed's advent. HE WAS THE MUCH LONGED-FOR HEIR OF 'l'WO DISTINCT ESTATES. Let us hope that be would be trained up to think of the responsibilities as well as of the privileges that would come to him in virtue of being born into a good position in society. VJ. HIS NAME WOULD BE BEAUTIFULLY SIGNIFICANT TO HIM IN PROPORTION AS BIS MIND UNFOLDED AND EXPANDED. He would have various ministries to fulfil A ministry to his grandmother. A ministry to his mother. A ministry to his father. A ministry to his dependents. .A ministry to his frie1:1~s and neighbours, an_d countrymen in general. .Above all, he would have a mm1stry to the God of his fathers and of their children's children. It would be his business to be OBED in all relations. Even Jesus, out of all compare the greatest of his descendants, became OBED, and took upon himself" the form of a SERVANT," and took far more than the form ; he came " not to be ministered unto, but to minister." VII. It was the hope of the congratulatory matrons who fondled the welcome child that he would be to his grandmother " o. restorer of life" and " a nourisher of h~r old age" (ver. 15). High is the privilege of children al)d grand-children GS THE BOOK OF RUTH. [cu. 1v. 1-22.
!hus to brighten to the aged the e'\'ening of life, when the long shadows are stretch• mg_far away. Happy th_ey who count th_is a privilege I ,, III. ~at a charm 1s th~own over mf8;Ilt life by the ~ction of Obed's great descendant m reference to children. He said, "Suffer the httle children to come unto me, an<l forbi.d them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He took them up in his arms, laid his hand upon their heads, and blessed them (Matt. xix. 14 · Mark x. 14-16). ,, At another time he called a little child to him and set him in th~ midst of his ambitious disciples, and said, " Except ye be converted and become as little _children, y~ shall !1ot enter into t~1e kingdom of heaven" (M~tt. xviii. 2, 3). In this _lov~ _for httle ,~h1ldren Jesus, as ID so many other respects, was II the image of the mvis1ble God. He shows us exactly what is the heart and what are the heart _affecti~:ms1 ?f God. Such as was the visihle Je,sus in feeli~gs and character such is the i1w1,sible God. He, thereforo, he, even he, is a lover of little children, ""ithout distinction or_ exception.