Remaining Loyal

KEY VERSE: “Ruth said, Entreat 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.” —Ruth 1:16

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1-8, 16-18

THE EVENTS DESCRIBED in the Book of Ruth took place during the era of the Judges. This was a period spanning the time that Israel entered the land of Canaan—after their bondage in Egypt—to the anointing of the first king of Israel, Saul. It was during this time that a famine in the land caused Elimelech, an Ephratite, to leave Bethlehem in Judah to escape the hardships. He went to Moab, taking his wife, Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Shortly after arriving in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and her two sons in that foreign land. Meanwhile, her two sons married Moabite women—one named Orpah, and the other Ruth. The sons, too, did not live long, but died after ten years in the land of Moab.

Naomi received news after these events that the days of famine had ended in Judah, and decided to return. Her two widowed daughters-in-law decided to go with her, which speaks well for Naomi’s character. Both were very considerate and kind to Naomi because she was a good mother-in-law to her sons’ wives. But Naomi knew that the future for these two young widows might not be as attractive in Judah as it could be if they stayed in Moab with their own families.

So, she encouraged them to return to their land and families, and sought the Lord’s blessing on them for their many kindnesses to her sons, to herself, and to her husband, for, indeed, they had been good daughters-in-law. In these days of instability and incompatibility in marriages, how good it is to read of such beautiful relationships between husbands and wives, mother-in-law and daughters-in-law. Naomi knew that they would make good wives for some men of Moab. Naomi kissed both in parting, and the feelings were so deep that they wept. Then both Orpah and Ruth could not do as she advised, and insisted on returning with her to Judah.

Again Naomi reasoned with them, saying, “It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has gone out against me.” (Ruth 1:13, NIV) Perhaps she felt that the Lord was displeased with her family because they had left Judah to go to Moab. She gave vent to such feelings when she returned to Bethlehem and was greeted by her former friends. Orpah yielded to Naomi’s reasoning and again wept as she kissed Naomi farewell and returned to her family in Moab. On the other hand, Ruth begged Naomi not to entreat her to leave, and said that she would stay with Naomi until she died.

The loyalty manifested by Ruth to Naomi involved the worship of the true God. When Elimelech left Judah to go to Moab, he took the worship of Jehovah with him. There is no doubt that religious practices of Israel were maintained by this family, and had a deep impression upon Ruth. This is why she said to Naomi, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Ruth 1:16 Heretofore, she had known only the gods of Moab, and a return to Moab and her family would mean a return to these gods as well.

An important lesson for us is that the privilege of being the Lord’s people brings responsibility. We should so live that others can clearly see and know of our deep conviction, love, devotion and worship of God. Such was the reason for Ruth’s love for Naomi, and the God whom she worshiped.

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