Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1 · Verse 22
Verſe 22. So Naomi returned; and Ruth the Moabiteſſe her daughter in law with her, which returned out of the Countrey of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of Barley harueſt.
THe concluſion of this Chapter, and an introduction into that which followeth. This is a briefe ſumme of their iourney, ſhewing who, from whence, whither, and at what time of the yeere it was.
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabiteſſe her daughter in law with her, which returned out of the Countrey of Moab, and they came to Bethlehem.] Of Naomi and Ruth, and their louing iourneying together before hath beene ſpoken. Yet note how the holy Ghoſt, in naming Ruth, omitteth not to ſhew againe her Countrey, and that ſhee was a Moabiteſſe, and not an Iſraeliteſſe by birth, and but daughter in law to Naomi, yet ſhe came with her to Bethlehem, and that in ſafety. Whence note,
I. That grace can vnite, where all outward meanes are rather hinderances than furtherances thereto, as country education, & age. Ruth was of Moab, ſhe was othervviſe brought vp than Iſraelites vvere, as a Moabiteſſe vvoman; ſhee vvas young, and Naomi old, and but daughter in lavv to Naomi, yet ſhee held on to the end. Labour vvee for grace, which can make vsus good, and acceptable to God, what otherwiſe ſhall bee wanting vntounto vsus in worldly reſpects.
II. That they trauell ſafely, whom God conducteth; for Naomi ſaith before, that the Lord brought her home; and here is ſhewed their Countrey. So Iacob paſſed vvell on to Meſopotamia, and returnedGen. 28. 15. vvith ſafety, becauſe God vvas vvith him. So did Iſrael iourney to Canaan, in vvhichwhich they vvere ſafely ſeated, becauſe the Lord vvas vvith them. For he loueth thoſe vvhom he taketh care of, he neuer ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth, and hee is almighty, euer preſent alſo to helpe them. Let vsus then get him for our Guide. And this vvee ſhall doe, if we vndertake a lawfull iourney, if we pray with Moſes, that the Lords preſence would goe with vsus, and beleeue, as he hath promiſed, that he will neither faile vsus, nor forſake vsus.
III. That ſuch as be attent to their iourney, and deſire to come to the end, make no outroads. Theſe came from Moab to Bethlehem, they had no idle vagaries that we read of. Old Naomi deſired to ſee her countrey, and young Ruth was not wantonly diſpoſed, but conſtantly kept her company. Theſe two may bee types of the beleeuers, Iew and Gentile trauelling to heauen, and may teach vsus to attend our iourney, and beware of by-paths, and idle outgoings, but to keepe on ſtraight, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, but to remoue our feet from euill.
In the beginning of barley harueſt.] This circumſtance of the time and ſeaſon, doth argue the truth of the Story, for ſhewing the certainty of that, which Naomi had heard before, verſe 6. and alſo to be an introduction to that which followeth in the next chapter. This harueſt was in part of March, and part of Aprill: for ſo much ſooner is harueſt there than here. This harueſt time is that, which is the time promiſed to all the earth, Gen. 8. but yet not at one time to all. Now note here this vvith verſe. 6. and we may ſee that harueſt is called Gods viſiting his people with bread. Whence we learne, That harueſt is Gods bleſsing, in his mercy giuing bread to ſuſtaine mans life. This is his common bleſſing, Gen. 8. 22. and promiſed to the obedient with plenty, Leu. 26. 5, 10. for times and ſeaſons are in the Lords hand; and this time is the appointed time to reape and gather in the corne for food, by which man liueth. Therefore firſt, let vsus acknowledge God, to be the Lord ofMat. 9. the harueſt, as hee calleth himſelfe, and confeſſe this bleſſing to be from him. Secondly, to pray toPſal. 147. 14. Pſal. 144. 13. Exo. 23. 16. and 34. 22. Deut. 16. 16, 17. Pro. 10. 5. & 6 8. him for it, ſeeing it is from him. Thirdly, to bee thankefull when wee enioy this bleſſing, and to pay the due allotted for the Lords ſeruice in teſtimony of thankes. In old time none appeared before the Lord empty. Fourthly, to labour diligētly at this time, ſeeing it is the appointed time to gather in Gods bleſſings: and be not ſlothfull, the Ant will teach thee diligence. Fifthly, to take it as a puniſhment from God, when this harueſt is taken from vsus, which is done diuers waies, as by curſing the fruit that it proſper not, or byDeut. 28. Ioel. 1. 11, 12. 2. Sam. 12. 17. Pro. 26. 1. ſending vnſeaſonable weather to deſtroy the fruits. Laſtly, note hence, that it was in the very beginning of Barley harueſt, which was before their Wheate harueſt, for they had both wheate harueſt, as Gen. 30. 14. and 15. 1. and heere Barley harueſt, and this alſo firſt, as 2. Sam. 21. 9, 10. So that Naomi neglected no time, but tooke the very beginnning, as ſoone as euer ſhee heard of the Lords gracious viſitation and mercy towards her people. Thus can wee prouide for the body; let vsus care alſo for the ſoule, that it want not the foode which endureth to eternall life. And thus much for this firſt chapter.
CHAP. II.
THis Chapter ſetteth out how Ruth was intertained after ſhee came among God people, how ſhee behaued her ſelfe, and what fauour ſhe found at the hands of the chiefeſt man of the place, where ſhee abode with her mother in law.