Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ruth
Book: Ruth
Chapter: 1
Overview:
Elimelech and his sons die in the land of
Moab.
(1-5) Naomi
returns home.
(6-14) Orpah stays behind, but
Ruth goes with
Naomi.
(15-18) They come to
Bethlehem.
(19-22)
1-5 Elimelech's care to provide for his family, was not to be
blamed; but his removal into the country of
Moab could not be
justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family.
It is folly to think of escaping that
Cross, which, being laid
in our way, we ought to take up. Changing our place seldom is
mending it. Those who bring young people into bad acquaintance,
and take them out of the way of public ordinances, thought they
may think them
Well-principled, and armed against
Temptation,
know not what will be the
End. It does not appear that the women
the sons of
Elimelech married, were proselyted to the Jewish
religion. Earthly trials or enjoyments are of short continuance.
Death continually removes those of every
Age and situation, and
mars all our outward comforts: we cannot too strongly prefer
those advantages which shall last for ever.
6-14 Naomi began to think of returning, after the
Death of her
two sons. When
Death comes into a family, it ought to reform
what is amiss there.
Earth is made
Bitter to us, that
Heaven may
be made dear.
Naomi seems to have been a person of
Faith and
Piety. She dismissed her daughters-in-
Law with
Prayer. It is
very proper for friends, when they part, to part with
Prayer. She
dismissed them with afection. If relations must part,let them thus
part in
Love. Did
Naomi do
Well, to discourage her daughters
from going with her, when she might save them from the
Idolatry
of
Moab, and bring them to the
Faith and
Worship of the
God of
Israel?
Naomi,
No doubt, desired to do that; but if they went
with her, she would not have them to go upon her account. Those
that take upon them a profession of religion only to oblige
their friends, or for the sake of company, will be converts of
small value. If they did come with her, she would have them make
it their deliberate choice, and sit down first and count the
cost, as it concerns those to do who make a profession of
religion. And more desire "
Rest in the
House of a
Husband," or
some worldly settlement or earthly satisfaction, than the
Rest to
which
Christ invites our souls; therefore when tried they will
depart from
Christ, though perhaps with some sorrow.
15-18 See
Ruth's resolution, and her good
Affection to
Naomi.
Orpah was loath to part from her; yet she did not
Love her
Well
enough to leave
Moab for her sake. Thus, many have a value and
Affection for
Christ, yet come short of
Salvation By him,
because they will not forsake other things for him. They
Love
him, yet leave him, because they do not
Love him enough, but
Love other things better.
Ruth is an
Example of the
Grace of
God, inclining the soul to choose the better part.
Naomi could
desire
No more than the solemn declaration
Ruth made. See the
power of resolution; it silences
Temptation. Those that go in
religious ways without a stedfast mind, stand like a door half
open, which invites a thief; but resolution shuts and bolts the
door, resists the
Devil and
Forces him to flee.
19-22 Naomi and
Ruth came to
Bethlehem.
Afflictions will make
great and surprising changes in a little time. May
God,
By his
Grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great
change!,
Naomi signifies "pleasant," or "amiable;"
Mara,
"
Bitter," or "bitterness." She was now a
Woman of a sorrowful
Spirit. She had come home empty,
Poor, a widow and childless.
But there is a
Fulness for believers of which they never can be
emptied; a good part which shall not be taken from those who
have it. The
Cup of affliction is a "
Bitter"
Cup, but she owns
that the affliction came from
God. It
Well becomes us to have
our hearts humbled under humbling
Providence. It is not
affliction itself, but affliction rightly borne, that does us
good.