Shall I not seek rest for thee?
Rest for Ruth
I. the object of Naomi’s solicitude. Poor Ruth: a destitute, forlorn, bereaved, homeless, portionless widow. Think of the destitute circumstances of a bereaved sinner, when awakened to find out how deplorably he is ruined and utterly undone under the fall. She was between the two countries. Just the position of a soul awakened. Yet further, see the character of Ruth portraying thy condition yet more strongly. You remark, that she had escaped from Moab and refused to go back again. There was a decision of character, there was a distinction, there was the plain mark of belonging to God. Do mark, I beseech you, here, the importance of steadfast perseverance in the Christian character.
II. the nature of Naomi’s solicitude. It was rest she wanted for her daughter-in-law: “Shall I not seek rest for thee?” I wish to give some description of this rest.
1. And the first idea is tranquillity; a sacred calm, a blessed believing satisfaction. For when the poor soul is first awakened by the Spirit of God there is anything but tranquillity; it is tossed to and fro in a state of uncertainty, a state of perplexity, a state of wretchedness. “Shall I not seek rest for thee?” Shall I not tell thee where it is to be had? Shall I not point out the fact that it is to be found only in Ruth’s determination--“Thy God shall be my God,” a covenant God--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Get to know Him, get to serve Him with decision, and thou shalt have tranquillity.
2. But I pass on to mark, in addition to the tranquillity sought, it was desired that she should have an inheritance, and an inheritance of great value too. Now what says the apostle to this?” Blessed be God,”we have got an inheritance.
III. the end of this solicitude. And a very blessed one it was. (J. Irons.)