Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1 · Verse 21
Verſe 21. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home againe empty: Why then call ye me Naomi, ſeeing the Lord hath teſtified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
NAOMI goeth on in her ſpeech to the people, ſo ſpeaking of her, as is before noted: firſt ſhewing how the Lord had dealt bitterly with her, and then why they ſhould not call her Naomi, for that the Lord had teſtified againſt her, and afflicted her: thus ſhee complaineth and amplifieth the ſame by contraries.
I went out full.] Shee here ſpeaketh of her former eſtate, when ſhee went from among Gods people. The word is taken from a full veſſell; and this is to be vnderſtood of her outward eſtate, in which ſhee felt no want, no more then there is want in a full veſſel; for ſhee had an husband and two ſonnes, and no doubt other things ſufficient: for the words imply ſhee went not for want, but for feare of want. If the words be vnderſtood of her fulneſſe in her husband and children, it noteth, that a good woman feeleth no want, while ſhe hath a louing husband and obedient children; for ſhe taketh ſuch contentment in them, as ſhee cannot feele want; neither will ſuch an husband and children ſee her to want. When women are thus happy, let them bleſſe God for their full eſtate. If the words be vnderſtood of fulneſſe for outward things withall, and yet could not abyde at home, wee may learne, that in preſent fulneſse and plenty Eccleſ. 4. 8.there may want contentment, either through a greedy deſire which neuer hath enough, or through a diſtruſtfull heart fearing to want, with which theſe were ſo troubled, as it made thē leaue Gods people for ſauing of their goods, and to goe among heathen Idolaters: For whither will not diſtruſt of God, and louelove of riches, leade men? They erre therefore, which being in a poore eſtate, thinke contentment to be found in riches, and fullneſſe of theſe earthly things, when Salomon Eccleſ. 5. 10.telleth vsus the contrarie, and daily experience from the Rich and wealthy of the world doth apparently ſhew it.
And the Lord hath brought me home againe empty.] It is not ſaid that the Lord ſent her out full, but ſhee went out of her ſelfe, and he brought her home againe, but yet empty, ſhee loſt what ſhee hoped to keepe. This good woman in this ſpeech giueth vsus to know, that ſhee tooke notice of a fault in voluntarily leauing Gods people, to ſaue her goods, for which the Lord corrected her, yet in-mercy brought her home againe, though with loſſe. Note hence theſe things:
I. That it is a fault, voluntarily for ſafety of goods through diſtruſt, to leaue Gods people, and goe to liue among Idolaters; for ſuch louelove their bodies better then their ſoules, they expoſe themſelues to great dangers, and depriue themſelues of the publike and ordinary meanes of life and ſaluation. If ſuch hauehave warrant, as the woman had by Eliſha; they2. King. 8. 1, 2. may hauehave hope: but if they, voluntarily diſtruſting God, take ſuch a courſe, they may rather looke for a curſe, then expect a bleſſing.
II. That there is no certainty in worldly wealth: For here is mention of fulneſſe and emptineſſe in Naomi; and this may we ſee in the former examples of Iob, of Haman: ſo in Salomon and hisEſay 23. 9. Ezec. 27. 2, 27. ſonne Rehoboam, in Babylon and Tyre; for the preſeruation of outward eſtates, is not in the hands of the poſſeſſours, nor within their power, but in God who is the Giuer: and againe, man in his abundance doth forget God, and ſo cauſeth the Lord to take it from them, as he did the Kingdome from Saul; the tenne Tribes from Salomons houſe, the gouernement from Ieroboam, and the Empire from Belſhazzar. Wee are not then to ſetIer. 9. 23. our hearts on our outward proſperity, Pſal. 62. 10. neither to glory in our riches: for outward glory is but as a fading flowre, and as the warme ſunneſhine in a cold winter day, ſoone gone, and all the delight thereof.
III. That oftentimes the way and meanes which men take to preuent want, by the ſame they bring it vponupon them, as it fell out here with Naomi, whoſe husband left Gods people, to goe into Moab, to ſaue their eſtate, and there loſt all, ſo as Naomi returneth home in very great want, who went out full. The like befell Lot in leauing Abraham for this worldly goods, and going to dwell in Sodom, where he left and loſt all, and was glad to eſcape with his life: for if the meanes we vſe be not good, it is farre from helping or preſeruing vsus, as by Gods curſing thereof, it turneth to our ruine; for Ieroboam by his policie loſt his kingdome. Therefore in ſeeking to vphold, or to get an eſtate, looke to the meanes whether good or euill, leſt we come ſhort of that we doe looke for. It is ill to leaue the meanes of the ſoules ſafety, for theſe worldly commodities; after which we muſtProu. 21. 5. and 28. 22. not make haſte, leſt we come to want; neither may we vſe vnlawfull courſes to get them: for the treaſures of wickedneſſe profit not, but ſhallPro. 21. 6, 7. & 10. 2. come to an ill end; as they are gotten, ſo in time commonly are they ſpent.
IV. That ſuch of Gods children as goe aſtray, he will bring home againe, but yet with correction, as he here doth Naomi; and as he did the Prodigall ſonne: which he doth in mercy, to make them to know their error, and to walke afterwards more warily. It is comfort that God will in mercy ſeeke vp his children, and not loſe one of them;Luk. 15. 4. Iohn 17. but yet feare to goe aſtray: for ſurely he will ſcourge them for their outroads, when he bringeth them home, though it be a Dauid, a Iehoſaphat, or a Ioſias.
Why then call ye me Naomi?] Hence learne, that the humbled and afflicted take no pleaſure to be remembred of their former proſperity by names and titles; for it but increaſeth ſorrow, and affordeth no comfort. What comfort might it be to tell Haman of his former honor, when he was going to hanging? What ioy to Herod to heare of his glory & the applauding of him before, when now the iudgement was vponupon him, and he eaten with wormes, for his vaine glory and pride? The afflicted are not hereby comforted, for Naomi taketh no pleaſure in that name, whilſt ſhe is by her eſtate Marah. It is in vaine to mention to the heauie-hearted what they hauehave beene, except vponupon certaine hope of recouerie to the ſame againe; but their ſorrow muſt be eaſed by better meanes of comfort, by ſhewing them the cauſe, the end, and benefit of Gods Fatherly chaſtiſements, and ſo forth.
Seeing the Lord hath teſtified againſt mee.] Note hence:
I. That mans comfort is nothing able to allay the bitterneſſe of Gods diſcomforts vponupon vsus. Their calling her Naomi could doe her no good, while ſhe knew her ſelfe called by the Lord, Marah, and whilſt hee did witneſſe againſt her. What can it profit a woman of place, whileſt ſhe is in the bitterneſſe of her ſoule, and afflicted by ſome grieuous croſſe, to be called Lady, Madame, and to be ſpoken vntounto with tearmes of honour, whileſt vnderunder Gods hand? This ſhould make the greateſt therefore take more delight in ſeeking to pleaſe God, and to enioy his fauour and countenance, than to be dignified with the moſt higheſt titles: for theſe will afford no comfort, when God will not afford it.
II. That afflictions are commonly the Lords witneſſes againſt vsus, for ſome thing amiſſe in vsus: for the firſt cauſe of them is ſinne, and the Lord threatneth them for ſin, which the godly in affliction apply vntounto themſelues. In affliction let vsus ſearch out our waies and repent of our ſinnes, as did Dauid, Rehoboam, and as the Parable of the prodigall ſonne teacheth, and the exhortations to repentance vponupon the Lords afflicting of his people. We may not be like thoſe in Ezechiels daies, who murmured againſt the Lords hand vponupon them, as not being the guilty parties, but that others had ſinned, and they vniuſtly puniſhed.Ezech. 18. 2.
And the Almighty hath afflicted me.] This ſheweth how God did witneſſe againſt her, euen by afflicting her. He witneſſeth againſt vsus by his Word written, by his Meſſengers expounding and applying the Word, by our own conſciences accuſing, and by his corrections, and rod puniſhing. By all which waīes God ſpeaketh actually vntounto vsus, for our amendment; and the godly heare him ſpeake vntounto them; they together with the correction, applying the Word vntounto themſelues for their inſtruction, doe make the affliction profitable vntounto them. The concluſion which hence I will note, is this: That the godly doe aſcribe all their afflictions to the Lord, as Naomi doth here, and as Iob did, Chap. 1. and 6. 4. and 30. 11. becauſe they know that nothing is by chance, but by his prouidence, Amos 3. 6. 2. Chro. 15. 6. Eſay. 45. 7. Things fall not out by meere naturall cauſes, Iob 5. 6. but as the Lord will. And therefore ſhould we learne patience, ſeeing that afflictions come from God. This did worke patience in Ioſeph, inGen. 45. 7. Iob. 1. 2. Sam. 16. 11. Iob, and in Dauid; and ſo it will in all ſuch as feare the Lord, and ſubmit themſelues to his good will and pleaſure, as our Sauiour did in the Garden, ſaying to his Father; Not as I will, but as thou Mat. 26. 39.wilt.