In a world where people
separate from each other with the complications and situations that
arise in life, we might think that Naomi and Ruth had ample reasons
to part from each other. However, even though Naomi lost her husband
and two sons to death, and her daughter-in-law suffered the death of
one of those sons as her husband, these two ladies were not to be
separated. Ruth shared her resolve with Naomi in yesterday's verse
when she declared, “for where you go, I will go; and where thou
lodge, I will lodge: your people [shall be] my people, and your God
my God:” and today Ruth continues her pleading words to Naomi
in chapter one and verse seventeen where it reads:
Where you die, will I
die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also,
if anything but death part you and me.
As Ruth
continues her words to Naomi, she first declares, “where you
die, I will die, and there I will be buried.” When we begin to
talk life and death, we are talking about commitment, and thus Ruth
has shown her level of promise to Naomi. Ruth is purposed that she
will stay with Naomi no matter what her future holds whether good or
bad. This is the kind of vow and resolve that is needed to insure
that relationships stay together. The marvel of this is that Ruth was
willing to give up what was familiar for that which was unknown. Not
only was Ruth deliberate in her statements, but her life followed
true to her words. Death would be the only thing that would separate
her from Naomi.
Next as
a greater emphasis Ruth states, “the LORD do so to me, and more
also, if anything but death part you and me.” These again are
words that are often used in weddings. The words, “till death do us
part” are rooted in this phrase. With this vow of purpose and
resolve Ruth places herself under an oath before the Lord that binds
her to her words. She is avowed to be with Naomi not only in travel,
lodging, and culture, but now also in death and her own burial. This
is commitment at the highest degree.
With so
many people having frivolous commitments today, these verses serve
not only to instruct us in marriage, but also in our relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ. For a person to truly accept Jesus as
their Lord and Savior, they must have a profession of more than mere
words. The idea of “the Lordship of Jesus Christ” means that
where He goes, we will go; Where He lodges, we will lodge; Whomever
His people are, they are our people too, and His God is our God. This
commitment to Jesus means that wherever Jesus leads us, even though
it may lead to tragedy, we resolve to die with Him, and be buried
where He is buried. Sometimes this death is spiritual and involves
the crucifixion or our fleshly nature, but it may mean the death of
our bodies as well. The idea is that we vow to be in a relationship
with Him no matter what. Perhaps this is where we should meditate
upon our study for today.
Next
time we shall discover Naomi's response to this wonderful vow of
Ruth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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