“The Story of Ruth and Naomi” by Ruth Weisburg

This passage is precious. It is so romantic and has been used in many weddings, probably for centuries! And I love the words in the old English King James. They are so poetic. Some words in life should be poetic…

And 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:

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. (Ruth 1:16-17).

But the biblical and historical context has nothing to do with romance or marriage. It is from a young widow to her mother-in-law. That alone is astonishing… that a young woman would so love her mother-in-law that she would give up her own family, country, language, and culture to be joined to her deceased husband’s people. 

But the deeper context is that the widow, Ruth, glimpsed goodness, love, and eternity in the Jewish God and in the lives of those who worshipped Him. This is what captivated her heart so much that she chose to cling to the people who worshipped and knew the God of her dead husband and her mother-in-law.

I believe this is a glimpse of how Gentile believers are to connect with Jewish believers. Our connection should be deep, commited, and eternal. The Jewish God has become ours! His people have becomes ours! Nothing but death should separate us. We are blessed to be included into the circle. We are eternally grateful.

Still it’s a romantic idea though…

“Entreat me not to leave thee… “