"Spirits rest in duty, in the interchange of the communications and ministries of thought and love."-Baldwin Brown.

"The recording of these small matters showeth how dear to God are His saints, and how He is taken with everything they say or do, if not sinful."-Trapp.

"They are rich who have friends. There is no living without friends."-Portuguese Proverbs

"And whether a man be poor or rich, caressed of fortune or crushed under difficulties, if he be homeless in this sense, if he have no loved ones caring for him and not for his substance, sympathizing in his trials and rejoicing in his successes, the veriest dog that has a kennel to creep in out of the cold wind at nights, is to be envied more than he."-B.

"Piety, however, does more than indulge in curiosity. The natural heart would have rejoiced, received, enjoyed, and inquired just as Naomi did, but withal with no thought except of self. She, on the contrary, before her inquiries are answered. induced simply by the abundance of the gifts and the manifest happiness of Ruth, blesses the giver."-Lange.

"The blessings of grace also are scattered abroad in the gospel field in the greatest abundance, but they must all be gathered in a diligent use of the appointed means. Sovereign grace could, if infinite wisdom saw meet, save its object without the intervention of means; and so might Boaz have given Ruth the handfuls unscattered, but he did not choose to do that, neither does grace choose to do this. God has therefore bound

"If the rich can exchange their alms with the poor for blessings, they have no cause to complain of an ill bargain. Our gifts cannot be worth their faithful prayers: therefore it is better to give than receive; because he that receives hath a worthless alms: he that gives receives an invaluable blessing."--Bishop Hall.

"If we would but recollect that life is a mosaic, made up of very little things, and that the very smallest and meanest well done, is as thankworthy as the greatest."-Anon.

"Before even her question can be answered, and moved simply by the manifest happiness of Ruth in the abundance of her gleanings, she blesses' the man who has given her this happiness. For this she does not need to know who he is. Whoever had been kind and bountiful to Ruth must have meant to show that he appreciated her virtues and felt for her misfortunes."-Cox.

"For the last ten years I (Gambetta) have made a pledge with myself to entirely avoid introducing the name of God into any speech of mine. You can hardly believe how difficult it has been, but I have succeeded, thank God!' (Dieu merci!'). Thus the name so sternly tabooed rose unconsciously to his lips at the very moment when he was congratulating himself on having overcome the habit of using it."-E. D. Pressense.

VERSE 20.

Theme.-KINDNESS TO THE Living and the Dead.

"Those that he loved so long, and sees no more,

Loved and still loves-not dead, but gone before.”—Rogers.

"The dead are like the stars by day,
Withdrawn from mortal eye,

Yet holding unperceived their way

Through the unclouded sky."-Bernard.

Blessed be he of the Lord [Jehovah] who hath not left off His kindness to the living and the dead.

It is just possible these words apply entirely to Boaz. New favours cause a fresh remembrance of former courtesies (Fuller). Memory is busy, and Naomi may see in the kindness of to-day only a continuance of similar acts to the dead Elimelech done years ago. If so, she recognises in this the habit and spirit of his life. The new benefactor is the benefactor of old. He "hath not left off," &c. Note. Benevolence grows upon men. One deed of charity leads to another, fosters the spirit, forms, or helps to form, the habit. Characteristic of a good man that he has not "left off" those deeds of kindness which bring down lifelong blessings and benedictions upon him [cf. Job xxxi. 16-2; xxix. 11-16.] While some give from impulse merely, and others from ostentation, he gives from a heart permeated by the spirit of love, and so he is always ready to respond to

the wants of those around him. Note. What a noble and spontaneous testimony " to the worth of Boaz, if the words are to be so employed and applied. 1 Again, the phrase is a very significant one as to the whole action and scope of the book. Among the Hebrews kindness to the widow, duties performed to and for the bereaved were looked upon as done to and for the dead. This one of the fixed ideas in Naomi's mind seemingly hopeless at first [see on i. 11-13; p. 46] as to any outward accomplishment, but now to be seen as beginning to shape itself in another way. Note. There is a sense in which we may be kind to the dead to his memory, to his loved one [see on ch. i. 9, p. 40; Fuller's remarks.]

The very close relationship, however, between the name of Jehovah and the following sentence seems to intimate that it is the Divine Mercy as bestowed upon the living and the dead which is filling her heart with a gratitude not to be concealed [cf. Crit. and Exegetical Notes.] She thinks of God, not so much of Boaz as the author of this new kindness. It is, "Jehovah who hath not," &c. Note. Naomi recognizes this even more profoundly than Eliezer. (Gen. xxiv, 26.) (Lange.)

May be looked upon if taken in this way. I. In the sense of the unbroken continuance of the Divine favour throughout the ages, to children, and children's children. He is the God of Abraham and of Isaac, and of Jacob. He blesses Ruth to-day, even as He blessed her husband yesterday. To each new generation there is this revelation of new mercies, for He is the God of each "succeeding race." Men there are whose charitable deeds are as rare as an eclipse or a blazing star (Fuller). Not so with Him. He ceaseth not. "He hath not left off," &c.

Note. The pious have recognised this in all ages. Moses saw Him as, keeping covenant to a thousand generations (Deut. vii. 9) and as, "the dwelling-place" of His people in all generations (Ps. xc. 1). David conceived Him as keeping mercy for ever (Ps. lxxxix. 28), and as not suffering His "faithfulness to fail" (33). Isaiah speaks of Him as hearing and preserving and establishing His own (Is. xlix. 8). Jeremiah says, "His compassions fail not-they are new every morning" (Lam. iii. 22, 23). This unchanging faithfulness and compassion of God (1) Comes from the Divine Nature (Is. xlix. ; 1 Cor. i. 9; 1 Thes. v. 24). (2) Endures with the Divine existence [cxlvi. 3]. (3) Shows itself in the Divine action at all times.

It may be looked upon II. In that completer sense in which God controls the unseen world as well as this. The dead are with Him even as the living are, and this thought may possibly have been in Naomi's mind. For how can mercy be shown to such as exist no longer? (Lange). Would never occur to speak of that as mercy [kindness] to the dead, which is mercy to the living and nothing more (Ibid). [See Critical and Exeg. Notes, and Lange in loco]. Certainly the dead held a very conspicuous and important place in Naomi's speech and thoughts [cf. i. 8.21], as well as in that of the Hebrews generally [iv. 5. 10]. And can we imagine this as side by side with the conception that they had ceased to exist for ever? To do so is to commit the error of the Sadducees, who erred, "not knowing the Scriptures." All the light of subsequent revelation has not made the dead one whit more real to us, more clearly identified with ourselves, than we see them here. Why, then, refuse to believe that Naomi saw her loved ones as resting even then in Abraham's bosom? Where otherwise is the force of Christ's appeal (Matt. xxii. 31, 32), "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living?" Blessed thought if taught here! He comforts us to-day, and He comforts those who are no longer with us but with Him. Death has not removed them from the sphere of His kindness. Separation from us does not necessarily mean separation from Him; rather it means, with the righteous, to come more completely within the scope of His love (Rev. xiv. 13). They serve and we serve (Rev. vi. 15). He feeds them (17) and He feeds us. He strengthens the heart of the mourners here, and He wipes away all tears from their eyes yonder. He hath not left off, etc. Note. The dead and the living are linked together still in the eyes of God and of good men. Not so much two worlds as one, that the other side of this and God over all blessed for evermore. Parted only by a thin and

perhaps, from their side, transparent veil (Braden).

LESSONS. (1) Kindness to the living may be, and is sometimes, kindness to the dead. (2) As health is the poor man's patrimony, so prayers are the poor man's requital (Trapp).

Bernard on "Blessed be he of the Lord." (1) That prayer in and by every true member of the Church hath been only made unto God. (2) That it is the Lord who doth bless and make happy. (3) That the Lord will bless the merciful. (4) That the poor's reward unto the rich for their work of charity is only their prayer to God for them.

E. Price on this: - God's Blessing. (1) In its nature, it is "kindness "-the very soul of tenderness to the God-fearing among men. (2) In its continuance. He can't "leave off" making His children happy. (3) In its application to both worlds-to the "living" as the song of a Ruth may testify; to the "dead," as the hope of a Naomi must imply. Both are in the covenant of the God of Israel. And (4) in its expression. He knows how to prepare some lip to give it adequate expression before the world. The old shall ever confirm the faith of the young.

"It is kindness to the dead as well as to the living. The natural human protectors are gone, but the Almighty Father has taken their place. It is what Elimelech and Mahlon would have desired, and it is kindness to them. Can we not imagine that those who have passed from earth, leaving poor disconsolate ones behind to struggle with life's difficulties, often find, in their glorified condition, fresh and continuous reasons for rejoicing, because they see how the ever-watchful love of God is constantly shown towards beloved ones, whose comfort was their desire and endeavour?"Braden.

"Though old Barzillai be incapable of thy favours, let young Chimham taste of thy kindness. Though the dead cannot, need not, have thy mercy, yet may they receive thy kindness by a proxy-by their friends that still are living.

•

"Mercy, then to the dead, makes nothing for the Popish purgatory, and yet no wonder if the Papists fight fo for it. In a word, were purgatory taken away, the Pope himself would be in purgatory, as not knowing which way to maintain his expensiveness." - Fuller.

"Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplex thyself abont anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy into good."-Arabian Nights.

bad fortune

"The Lord is the fountain from whom all blessedness flows. Indeed, Jacob blessed his sons; Moses, the twelve tribes; the priests, in the law, the people: but these were but the instruments, God the Principal; these the pipe, God the Fountain; these the ministers to pronounce it, God the author who bestowed it."-Fuller.

"The dead. So silent now. Never to come back for us to touch imperfectness into riper good; never to charm away with pleasant thoughts the dull hours; never to fill with

deeper meanings of love the half empty words;
never to make more divine the common ser-
vice of life; never to put the best interpreta-
tion upon conduct; never to lift the leaden
crown of care from the anxious brow; never
to help to transfigure the mean and lowly with
heavenly hopes and aspirations. Gone! What
a world of vacancy and silence and subtle
mystery! Is it strange we should wish well
to those who were kind to the dead? And
Naomi links her own being with them still.
With true hearts they can never

be disassociated." - Statham,
"Oh, ye beloved ones!

Though speechless, though unseen,
Love's bond is strong to-day,
As love has ever been.
"Deathless the memories,

And though unspoken now;
Dear names and tender words,
Binding as lover's vow.

"Tender and true ye were,
All passionless ye lie
Beneath the churchyard grass,
The weird wind wanders by.

" We speak, the murmuring wind
Wanders earth-born above;
They rest below;-that calm,

Speaks God's best gift of love."-В.

"In the wonderful providence of God which made Ruth find a friend in Boaz, the rich relative of her husband, she feels herself justified to find an indication that God is once more gracious to her, and has not left off his kindness. If now it was through the fault of her dear departed ones that she had hitherto experienced distress, then it also follows that, since God's goodness again manifests itself so conspicuously, his anger against those must likewise be come to an end. For that reason she speaks of his kindness, not only to the

Come, lest this heart, etc.-Jean Ingelow.

And Naomi said, the man is near of kin etc. unto me also, etc.

And Ruth said, He said And Naomi said, it is good, my daughter, etc.

In this exquisite dialogue Ruth goes on, we can imagine, to relate and unfold at greater length than is here written the goodness of Boaz. She is evidently pleased to speak well of him and his. Then comes out in reply what has all along possibly been in the mind of Naomi. She had been no boaster of her rich friend and kinsman, as many, and that only to be disappointed at last. But the right moment for speech has arrived. It is not merely "by chance" that this Good Samaritan has come along. She sees that Providence has been playing its part in the unfolding of events, and the loneliness and bitterness of spirit which found expression in her cry, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara," is already a thing of the past. It is no casual helper who has come forward to relieve their necessities, but one of the goelim. "The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."

Notice I. That this nearness of kinship gives the right to redeem. (a) A principle underlying the whole Jewish economy to be seen alike in the patriarchial and Mosaic systems. Everything centred from the family centre. Kinship the very cement of their society.

The law has, however, a wider application, (b) kinship is a natural and so a Divinely ordained institution. The principle as true to-day as when laid hold of by Naomi. When kindred show themselves kind they only follow and satisfy the law of nature. The apostle says, " If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel" (1 Tim. v. 8). So that men even standing aside from the claims of God, allow and respond to these claims.

Again (c). The law touches a deeper realm still, that of spiritual and eternal things. Christ Himself must conform to it when He came to redeem. (1) There was a necessity for this, a needs be. In all things "it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren," says the apostle (Heb. ii. 16, 17). (2) There was a reason for it. Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He Himself took part of the same, that through death He might destroy, &c., and deliver them who through fear of death, &c. Note. Christ is the kinsman-Redeemer of all men. [cf also on iii, 2, 4; iv, 9.]

II. This nearness of kinship points out and emphasises the direction in which to look for help. Naomi saw their safety secured by this intervention, their wants provided for, therefore she says in effect, "Cling to the deliverer thus providentially pointed out." So God often, and still opens up the path of safety and plenty in life (1) suddenly, (2) unexpectedly, (3), unmistakably.

"It is good," she says, immediately and prospectively. Usual both in the Old and New Testament to put the positive for the comparative in this kind. [Mary hath chosen the good part, i.e. the better part, Luke x. 42. It is profitable for thee; i.e. more profitable, Matt. v. 29.] (Fuller). Note. God not only gives us providential directions, there are special moments when He opens our eyes to see them as such. Such a moment comes when the scales fall from our eyes and we see Jesus as our kinsman and our all (cf. Luke xxiv. 31; John xi. 40; 2 Kings vii. 7). It came to doubting Thomas, and he cried, "My Lord and my God."

Again, mark that just as natural affection, and the Levirate law alike, bound Boaz to render this help: they laid the obligation upon both Naomi and Ruth look to him for it. He had opened the way to aright relationship between them, and now there can be no excuse on their side. Note (1) How exactly this illustrates Christ's position towards us. He has taken the first step-given invitations which are unmistakable; now it is ours-under charge of the blackest ingratitude if we refuse to respond. (2) It is a discourtesy where we are beholden to alter our dependency (Bishop Hall). Generosity dislikes to have its gifts slighted or its sincerity doubted (Thomson). Ruth evidently felt that because the kindness of Boaz was so great her obedience and dependence should be complete, while Naomi encouraged her thus to regard his orders as obligatory.

IMPROVEMENT. (1) Follow Providential guidances as they unfold in life. (2) Fall in with the natural and Divinely-appointed way of redemption. (3) May we not say that these words express the duty of the spiritual Ruth to labour in Christ's fields and believe steadfastly in Him, and not to stray from His presence into other fields even till the end of the world (Wordsworth).

"So suggestive is this figure, which was not a mere random selection, but an institution designed to foreshadow a great truth, that it is constantly referred to in the Word of God. We all recollect the touching case of Job. In the depth of his affliction, when all seemed desperate, he said, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' [Heb., 'My Goel liveth']." - Dr. Cumming.

"Christ came into our home, breathed our air, clad Himself in our dress, wept our tears, and was penetrated and pierced with more than all the accumulated sorrows that humanity is heir to, that we thus there being no other process in the world besides might be rescued from our sins, and might hear, ringing in the depths of our hearts, with the opening of the prison doors to the captive, 'There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." -Dr. Cumming.

"I have seen the twine-thread of a cordial friend hold, when the cable-rope of a rich kinsman hath broken. Let those therefore be thankful to God, to whom God hath given means to be maintained of themselves, without

dependance on their kindred. Better it is to be the weakest of substances to subsist of themselves, than to be the bravest accidents to be maintained by another." Fuller.

"Our blessed Saviour is our Goel; it is He that hath a right to redeem. If we expect to receive benefit by him, let us closely adhere to Him, and His fields, and His family; let us not go to the world and its fields for that which is to be had with Him only, and which He has encouraged us to expect from Him. Has the Lord dealt bountifully with us? Let us not be found in any other field, nor seek for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. Tradesmen take it ill if those that are in their books go to another shop. We lose Divine favours if we slight them." - Matt. Henry.

"Even the lump of clay, when it was placed near the rose, according to the beautiful Persian proverb, caught some of its fragrance. It is the direction of Him in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, 'Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherd's tents."-A. Thomson, D.D.