It used to be very common for couples to include in their wedding vows, the wonderful words of loyal commitment found in Ruth 1:16. Do you remember these romantic words?
"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
Of course Ruth did not say these words to her second husband Boaz. Rather this commitment is made to her mother-in-law, Naomi. In one sense it always did seem a little funny that couples would repeat these words to each other rather than to their new mothers-in-law. On the other hand it would have seemed stranger still if they had done so.
Yet these words voiced by Ruth are certainly an impressive example of commitment. In 1:4 it indicates that Naomi's husband and their two sons had all died within about ten years of arriving in Moab. So we can assume that at the most, Ruth had been part of that family for less than ten years. Yet she expresses this great loyalty to her mother-in-law who had come from a foreign country and now was returning.
She was willing to leave her family or origin, her familiar home and culture because of her loving relationship with Naomi. What a great example for married couples. What a great example for those who may feel called to serve God in another country. Love for God and love for a spouse should be exclusive loves. They involve "commitment to", which involves leaving others behind.
On another note, the book of Ruth provides a wonderful story of romance between a young foreign woman and an older wealthy man. But of course you have to really appreciate the culture of that day to fully appreciate the story. I won't tackle that in a blog.
"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
Of course Ruth did not say these words to her second husband Boaz. Rather this commitment is made to her mother-in-law, Naomi. In one sense it always did seem a little funny that couples would repeat these words to each other rather than to their new mothers-in-law. On the other hand it would have seemed stranger still if they had done so.
Yet these words voiced by Ruth are certainly an impressive example of commitment. In 1:4 it indicates that Naomi's husband and their two sons had all died within about ten years of arriving in Moab. So we can assume that at the most, Ruth had been part of that family for less than ten years. Yet she expresses this great loyalty to her mother-in-law who had come from a foreign country and now was returning.
She was willing to leave her family or origin, her familiar home and culture because of her loving relationship with Naomi. What a great example for married couples. What a great example for those who may feel called to serve God in another country. Love for God and love for a spouse should be exclusive loves. They involve "commitment to", which involves leaving others behind.
On another note, the book of Ruth provides a wonderful story of romance between a young foreign woman and an older wealthy man. But of course you have to really appreciate the culture of that day to fully appreciate the story. I won't tackle that in a blog.
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