Ruths Recompense, Commentary on Ruth · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
Verſe 7. Wherefore ſhee went forth out of the place where ſhee was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on their way to returne vntounto the Land of Iudah.
IN the former verſe, was Naomi her preparation for her iourney; here is her ſetting forward: noting from whence, with whom, and whither.
Wherefore.] That is, becauſe ſhe heard of plenty in her countrey: which giueth vsus this to vnderſtand, which before I noted, that the Churches welfare procureth friends, and draweth her old acquaintance to her: for proſperity is of an attractiue vertue, and men are affected with it; this will make Abimelech to ſeeke to Iſaac, Gen. 26. 26. and Iobs friends gather vntounto him, Iob. 42. 11. This ſhould make vsus ſeeke the Churches proſperity; yea and make men frugall to preſerue their eſtates: for proſperity gets friends (though not a few counterfeit:) and aduerſity maketh men to bee forſaken; and yet many which might liue well, bring themſelues by prodigality and lewd courſes vntounto miſery: vnworthy they bee of pitty.
Shee departed out of the place where ſhee was.] In what particular place of Moab ſhee was in, is not named, though here to bee vnderſtood by the name place. There was food here, as well as in Iudah, yet ſhee would not ſtay though ſhee was an old woman, hauing poore and weake attendance, the iourney ſomewhat long for her, her eſtate waſted, and therefore was ſhee to returne in a baſe eſtate, which other perhaps might caſt in her teeth for leauing Iudah, and going into that idolatrous Moab; but all theſe things did not withhold her from her godly purpoſe. And two reaſons may be giuen for this; the louelove of her owne Countrey, and her piety, eſteeming highly of the means of ſaluation. Whence may be noted:
I. That there is a louelove naturally in eueryevery one to their owne Countrey; See it in Iethro, Exo. 18. 27. Num. 10. 29, 30. and Barzillai, 2. Sam. 19. 27. Iacob would returne into Canaan out of Meſopotamia where he had gotten great riches. And this louelove vntounto their Countrey, made men to aduenture their liues in defence thereof, 2. Sam. 10. 12. Therefore ſuch are vnnaturall, who will ſeeke the deſtruction thereof.
II. That corporall meanes cannot keepe the truely religious from the place where God is worſhipped, if they may enioy the meanes of life in a poore meaſure. Naomi would not ſtay in Moab, though ſhee in Iudah had nothing to maintaine her, but her hands, and that Ruth muſt gleane for bread, when they came thither. What a change Moſes made, wee all doe know: a cruſt of bread for the body is better with the food of the ſoule, than all carnall abundance without it. And therefore if the choyce of our dwelling be, either where bodily plenty is, whithout the Word, or a poore eſtate for the body, and plentifull inſtructions for the ſoules ſafety, let vsus chuſe this, rather then the other. Seeke, ſaith our Sauiour, for the foodIohn 5. which endureth vntounto eternall life, which periſheth not.
And her two daughters in law with her.] This their accompanying of her, argueth Naomi her ſingular good carriage towards them, while her ſonnes liued: for if ſhee had beene proud, froward and vnkind, as ſome mothers in law hauehave beene, they would hauehave deſpiſed her, and ſhaken her off; but we ſee: firſt, how good carriage procureth louelove: and ſecondly, how true louelove ſheweth it ſelfe in the aduerſity of a friend, Pro. 17. 17. for theſe 2. forſake not poore & old Naomi in this her contemptible eſtate. Thus Ionathan ſhewed his louelove in Dauids trouble, and Iobs friends, when they ſate downe by him; for true louelove is not tyed to outward reſpects: ſuch louelove is falſe and hollowhearted; the louelove of theſe times. We muſt imitate God in louelove, to louelove euer, and chiefely in aduerſity; for either louelove them, or not at all. Be not as the Shadow which ſheweth it ſelfe only in ſunne-ſhine; nor as the Swallow which chatters, and ſings ouer thy chimney in warme Summer, but cannot be ſeene in Winter. Friends onelyonly in appearance, ſhape their louelove like to the Deuill, who onelyonly maketh a ſhew of louelove to man, and is euer ſiniſter in the intendement.
And they went on their way to returne to Iudah.] It ſeemeth by this, that the two women came out to returne with Naomi, who onelyonly is properly ſaid to returne, becauſe ſhe came out of Iudah, and they had a purpoſe to goe thorow with her to the end, and to leaue their own natiue ſoile, their parents and friends, which was a great degree of louelove, but yet we may reade that Orpha afterwards gaue ouer. To begin well, and to make an onſet to goodneſſe, is eaſie to many, but to go on to the end, is of ſpeciall grace. Cain began and made an onſet to godlineſſe, ſo did Ioaſh King of Iudah. Iehu did valiantly for a while. Iudas ſeemed to bee approued by his fellowes, and to liue without ſuſpicion for a time. The ſame may bee ſaid of Ananias and Saphira, of Simon Magus, of Demas, Hymeneus, Alexander, and Philetus, with many moe; but their calling was not effectuall: called they were, but not elected: their hearts were full of hypocriſie, which wil at length breake out. Therefore let none thinke well of themſelues for faire beginnings, becauſe they that continue to the end, ſhall onelyonly be ſaued.