Ruth 1:14-17 "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 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."
The book of Ruth is a wonderful love story in the Bible. It begins with a struggle in the homeland of Elimelech and Naomi. "There was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons." The beginning of this story reminds me of the movie, "Grapes of Wrath," concerning the time of the Dust Bowl when people had to leave their homes in order to find a place where they could make a living and feed their families. Elimelech and Naomi took their two sons into the land of Moab in order to exist during this time of famine. While there, the two sons married women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. As time went on, Elimelech and the two sons died, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth. When Naomi heard that the famine had ended back home, she decided to go back. She heard "... how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread." Before she left, Naomi was giving both daughters-in-law the opportunity to stay in Moab where they could find husbands again and live a prosperous life in their homeland.
We take up our text at that point. Orpah decided to stay in Moab, "but Ruth clave unto her." She loved her mother-in-law and would not leave her. Ruth made a beautiful commitment to Naomi that she would stay by her side and not leave her. As you read through the book of Ruth, you see that God honored her commitment and blessed in ways that could not have been imagined. We will look further at this beautiful relationship, but for today I want to think about Ruth's decision to honor her mother-in-law. This particular passage in Ruth that we read today is often used in marriage ceremonies. This beautiful commitment requires dedication and faithfulness. While living in a time when commitments are not always honored, our Lord calls for us to be faithful to our commitments. It is a very serious matter and should never be taken lightly.
1 All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
2 All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. [Refrain]
3 All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me. [Refrain]