RUTH, THE MOABITESS In Bethlehem-judah in the time of the Judges A severe famine caused to move to Moab the family Of Elimelech, an Ephrathite, his two young sons Mahlon And Chilion and his beautiful wife Naomi. They came to this strange land and stayed there a while. Elimelech died soon after - his sons found Moabitish wives; The name of one was Orpah and the other was Ruth. For ten years in Moab they carried on with their lives. Soon both Mahlon and Chilion died leaving the women alone. The Lord appeared hard in His dealing with Naomi. When she heard that things were better in Bethlehem-judah She decided to leave Moab and return to her own country. The daughters in law loved Naomi more than anything. Naomi pleaded with each to stay with her own family. Orpah and Ruth lifted up their voice and wept bitterly; Orpah stayed with her people but Ruth clave unto Naomi. Then she uttered the most endearing, immortal words ever: "Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. There will I be buried, where thou, my mother in law, diest." Naomi and Ruth came to the land of Bethlehem-judah In the beginning of the country's barley season; The town folk was moved about them and asked: "Is this Naomi?" "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for I have my reason." Naomi had a kinsman, a mighty man of wealth named Boaz. To his field came Ruth, the Moabitess, to glean some barley. Upon seeing her, he asked his servant: "Whose damsel is this?" "She's the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi." Boaz had been told all that Ruth had done to Naomi-- Leaving her father and mother and the land of her nativity To come to a strange land and a people she did not know; He said that full reward would be given her by God Almighty. Ruth had found favor in the sight of Boaz who commanded His young men to purposely leave sheaves of grain for her to glean; He wanted her not to glean from another's field and invited Her to eat bread and there was plenty of water for her to drink. There was a custom in Israel regarding kinsmanship-- Naomi instructed her daughter in law exactly what she should do; She did all that she was told by her mother in law for Boaz said he would do what was required in Israel too. A nearer kinsman was found but he relinquished his rights To purchase, to redeem, to raise up the name of the dead; So to Boaz fell this kinsmanship responsiblity and he purchased All that was Elimelech's, as we have from the Holy Bible read. Boaz took Ruth to be his wife and she conceived and bore a son Whom they named Obed who then became the father of Jesse; And Jesse was the father of David and through this mighty Patriarch Came the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary. Sometimes when we are tempted to think that God is uninvolved With the affairs of this world past, future, or present; He is at the helm and in complete control for He is silently And patiently working out the counsels of the Great Omnipotent. Copyrighted © Lydia Haga 2004 ~ ~ ~ The following are the lyrics of the song Whither Thou Goest I Will Go  but I couldn't find the midi to match it. The midi you are hearing is O, Perfect Love, no doubt a perfect substitute. Whither thou goest, I will go. Wherever thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people will be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go! For as in that story, long ago, The same sweet love story, now is so, Thy people shall be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go! Whither thou goest I will go, Wherever thou lodgest, I will lodge, Thy people will be my people my love, Whither thou goest I will go. . . For as in that story long ago, The same sweet love story now is so, Thy people shall be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go I will go . . .          O Perfect Love Midi