"Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me."
--Ruth 1:16-17 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 7, 2013 of Psalm 88; Mark 9:33-50; Ruth 1-4.
Elimelech took his wife, Naomi, and his two sons from Bethlehem in Judah, because of the harsh famine there, to make a new home in Moab. After some period of time there, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Because this was their new home, the sons took wives of the women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. About ten years passed and then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth completely alone. In those days, a woman could not survive long without a husband or close family nearby. Since the famine in Judah had passed, Naomi decided to return home to seek help from her and her husband's families. She told Orpah and Ruth that they should also return to the homes of their fathers and begin a new life of their own. Orpah did so, after bidding a tearful goodbye. But Ruth refused to leave Naomi's side, instead pledging her commitment to her mother-in-law that we see in today's focus verses. Together they returned to Bethlehem, where Ruth eventually became the wife of Boaz, a rich man and a relative of her late father-in-law.
These beautiful words that Ruth spoke to her mother-in-law are often repeated today by soon-to-be husband and wife during their marriage vows as they pledge their love and devotion to one another, just as Ruth expressed her love and devotion to Naomi. We could also repeat the first of these words, each of us that follow Christ, to Jesus as a pledge of our commitment, our love, and our devotion to our Lord and Savior. We should show the same devotion to Jesus as Ruth showed Naomi. The roles may be reversed - Naomi needed Ruth yet Ruth was devoted to Naomi, whereas we need Jesus and should be devoted to Him - but our commitment should be just as great, if not greater. Daily, we should renew our vows of devotion to our Lord.
One of the more interesting aspects of today's study is what comes at the end of the book of Ruth. We learn that the union of Boaz and Ruth produced a son who was named Obed. Obed bore a son named Jesse. And Jesse bore a son named David, who became a king. (Please see Ruth 4:13-22.) So our Lord Jesus, who worked so hard to expand the community of faith and the kingdom of God by carrying the word and His message to the Gentiles, and to us, came from the earthly lineage of a Gentile. For His earthly father, Joseph, was of the house of David and hailed from Bethlehem, where he and Mary traveled for the census, where Jesus was born into this world. God our Father works in wonderful and awesome ways to offer us all His grace and salvation. Amen.
Dearest Jesus, may we never leave You, or ever turn back from following after You. Wherever You go, may we go. Wherever You are, may we be. Your people are our people, and Your Father is our Father. And when we pass from this earthly life, may we live with You forever in the house of our Father, at Your side always. In Your wonderful name, O Jesus we pray. Amen.
These beautiful words that Ruth spoke to her mother-in-law are often repeated today by soon-to-be husband and wife during their marriage vows as they pledge their love and devotion to one another, just as Ruth expressed her love and devotion to Naomi. We could also repeat the first of these words, each of us that follow Christ, to Jesus as a pledge of our commitment, our love, and our devotion to our Lord and Savior. We should show the same devotion to Jesus as Ruth showed Naomi. The roles may be reversed - Naomi needed Ruth yet Ruth was devoted to Naomi, whereas we need Jesus and should be devoted to Him - but our commitment should be just as great, if not greater. Daily, we should renew our vows of devotion to our Lord.
One of the more interesting aspects of today's study is what comes at the end of the book of Ruth. We learn that the union of Boaz and Ruth produced a son who was named Obed. Obed bore a son named Jesse. And Jesse bore a son named David, who became a king. (Please see Ruth 4:13-22.) So our Lord Jesus, who worked so hard to expand the community of faith and the kingdom of God by carrying the word and His message to the Gentiles, and to us, came from the earthly lineage of a Gentile. For His earthly father, Joseph, was of the house of David and hailed from Bethlehem, where he and Mary traveled for the census, where Jesus was born into this world. God our Father works in wonderful and awesome ways to offer us all His grace and salvation. Amen.
Dearest Jesus, may we never leave You, or ever turn back from following after You. Wherever You go, may we go. Wherever You are, may we be. Your people are our people, and Your Father is our Father. And when we pass from this earthly life, may we live with You forever in the house of our Father, at Your side always. In Your wonderful name, O Jesus we pray. Amen.
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