Have we not many Orpahs? Horatius
Bonar Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth insisted on
staying with Naomi. Ruth 1.14 Orpah was not prepared
to leave Moab. The ties between her and it were
still unbroken, though for a time a little loosened. Moab was still
Moab to her, the home of her kindred, the centre of her affections,
the dwelling-place of her gods. Thus millions are not ready to
leave the world, though often in some measure broken from it.
They cling to their old haunts of vanity, foolishness, pleasure,
lust, or literature. They cannot think of forsaking
these. No, they soothe their consciences
with the argument that it would not be right to break off from
all these. To them the world is still the
world, attractive and excellent. They cannot think of crucifying
it or themselves to it. They have been born in it, lived
in it, their friends are in it. Why should they leave it? Their
hearts are still here, their treasure is here, and they linger
in it, though at times they feel the necessity of leaving it.
What would life be to them without the novel or the ballroom, the
theatre, the gay assembly, the banquet, the revel, the folly,
the wine-cup, and the song? For the sake of Moab, Orpah was
willing to part with Naomi. She was not without longings
after Naomi and her city, and her kindred, and her God. But
her old longings and ties kept her back, and in the end prevailed. Yet she wished to part in peace,
to bid a decent farewell to her mother-in-law. She kissed that
she might not cleave. Her kiss was a farewell, a farewell
to Naomi, her land, and her God. Have we not many aupers They
would sincerely have both Israel and Moab. They would rather not
part with either. Their heart is divided. They
would sincerely cast in their lot with God's people and obtain
their inheritance. They are not scoffers. They are
not openly godless. They are not reckless pleasure-seekers,
but half and half Christians, or rather not so much. They would
be religious up to a certain point, to the point when a choice
must be made, and then their heart speaks out. They give up
Christ and turn back to the world. Yet they do so quietly and kindly,
as it were. They kiss at parting, but will
that kiss avail them? Will God accept the kiss as an
excuse for turning back, or as a substitute for the wholehearted
service which He desires? God will not accept the divided
heart. He abhors vacillation and compromise. If you prefer Moab, then go dwell
there. Enjoy its pleasures and worship
its gods. If you choose Israel, pitch your
tent there and take Jehovah for your all. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law
goodbye, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. Ruth chapter
1 verse 14