Ruth 1, The Choice

The Choice: 1:1-5.  When a famine strikes Israel, the family of Elimelech and Naomi move to Moab.  There, in violation of Mosaic law, their two sons marry Moabite women.  There too the father and sons die.

Return to Bethlehem: 1:6-22.  When Naomi hears that the Lord is again blessing Israel, she decides to return.  One daughter-in-law, Ruth, refuses to be left behind.  Ruth makes a firm commitment:  “your people will be my people, and your God my God” (16).

3 Would ye tarry [2] for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat [3] me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.


[Memo]

After her husband died, Ruth did not leave her old mother-in-law who did not have anything to offer to her.  She was faithful to her marriage commitment and reaffirms it by saying “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

I want to think of Ruth’s faithfulness today.  As the way she was faithful to the commitment she had made, I want to be faithful to my faith in the Lord and be obedient to the Word of God even if doing so makes me subject to ridicule, rejection and persecution.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Cannon saying3 019