Good News from the Far Country
Ruth 1:6
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab…


I. GOD WILL CERTAINLY REVIVE HIS PEOPLE WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FROM HEAVEN WHEN THEIR HEARTS ARE ALMOST DEAD WITHIN THEM UPON EARTH (Proverbs 25:25). This cheered up her drooping spirit, that was almost dead within her by her manifold afflictions. This is one of God's methods, first to kill and then to make alive (1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 18:16; Psalm 90:3); the good news God sent concerning the weal of Zion to His people as they sat weeping by the waters of Babylon (Psalm 137:1, 2) was a little reviving to them in their bondage (Ezra 9:8); and when His people were humbled He then granted them some deliverance (2 Chronicles 12:7). Heaven is called a far country (Matthew 25:14); good news from thence brought in by the Holy Spirit. Oh, how welcome should that be to us and how unspeakably comfortable! (1 Peter 1:8).

II. GOD HATH HIS VISITING TIMES AND SEASONS IN RELATION TO HIS OWN PEOPLE.

1. Sometimes God visits their sins (Jeremiah 14:10), and then He fulfils His word of threatening evil against them. This is called God's visiting in His anger (Job 35:15), but He retains not His anger for ever (Psalm 57:11).

2. He sometimes also visits in mercy (2 Samuel 24:16). This is that visit which David begs, "Oh visit me with Thy salvation" (Psalm 106:4).

III. GRACE AND BOUNTY FOLLOW WANT AND PENURY THROUGH DIVINE GOODNESS TO HIS PEOPLE. After a long scarcity (of ten years) God visits them with plenty. This holds true both in the temporal and spiritual famine (Amos 8:11).

(C. Ness.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

WEB: Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.




God's Dealings with His People
Top of Page
Top of Page