Reflect Upon Naomi's Plight

Recommended Tune: Haydn, attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn
Meter: 86 86 D

Reflect upon Naomi's plight:
a widow far from home.
Before the harvest time her sons
had died, left her alone.
She dearly loved the wives they left,
yet could not still her heart.
She said to Orpah and to Ruth:
"The time has come to part.

May God help you to be secure,
find husbands, start anew."
She kissed them, but they plead with her:
"We want to go with you.
Soon tearful Orpah gave a ring
to Ruth and turned away.
But Ruth vowed she would never leave;
forever she would stay.

When they arrived in Bethlehem
The fields were ripe to glean . . .
The owner welcomed Ruth and said:
"I hold you in esteem."
Naomi heard this news with joy
for Boaz was her kin.
"He shows great kindness unto us.
Blessed be our God for him."

At harvest home Naomi planned
to help Ruth look her best.
"Go, celebrate with them tonight.
Lie close to him and rest."
Ruth stayed with Boaz till the dawn,
then left the threshing floor.
Naomi saw her, heard the news
that they had grain to store.

Then Boaz bought Naomi's land,
took Ruth as wife, and she
bore Obed who would be the link
to David's ancestry.
Through Ruth Naomi was fulfilled.
To her God's love was shown.
This child delighted her old age.
She would not be alone.

Edith Sinclair Downing's photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.

Copyright © 2007 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Permission to copy this text for use in a church bulletin, etc., must be obtained from Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. unless the church has a license from CCLI, OneLicense.net, or LicenSing.