Study of Ruth 1:14-18

Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”

But Ruth replied:

“Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
— Ruth 1:14-18


This passage reveals Ruth’s extraordinary loyalty and love for Naomi. While Orpah makes the understandable choice to return to her family and culture, Ruth clings to Naomi, making a profound declaration of commitment. Ruth not only pledges to stay with Naomi but also embraces Naomi’s people and God as her own, demonstrating a deep faith and willingness to leave behind her old life.

Ruth’s vow is a powerful expression of love, faith, and determination, showing her readiness to face uncertainty and hardship for the sake of her relationship with Naomi. It marks a turning point in the story, as Ruth’s decision sets the stage for her role in God’s redemptive plan.

In the present day, Ruth’s commitment challenges us to consider the depth of our loyalty to those we love and to God. Her words also remind us that faith often calls for courage and a willingness to step into the unknown, trusting that God will guide us.


Questions

1. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi is a powerful example of selfless love. How can we show similar love and faithfulness to the people in our lives?

2. Ruth chose to embrace Naomi’s God as her own. How does this inspire us to live out our faith in ways that draw others to God?

3. Have you ever made a decision that required leaving behind something familiar or safe to follow God’s leading? What did you learn from that experience?


Prayer

Loving Father,

Ruth’s words inspire us with their boldness and love. Teach us to love others selflessly, as she loved Naomi, and to trust in You with the same faith and courage. When You call us to step into the unknown, help us to follow You, knowing that You will guide and sustain us. May our lives reflect the kind of faith that draws others closer to You and Your purposes.

I pray in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.

-

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lamentations 3:22-23 – Even Through the Bad, God is Faithful

Image
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. --Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB The most significant thing about this wonderful passage is where we find it in the Bible. The Book of Lamentations tells of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, which took place over 587 and 586 BC when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar overran the city. The surviving inhabitants either fled to other countries, were carried away to Babylon as slaves or remained under the brutal rule of an occupying force. Lamentations does not name its author, but it is generally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. For many years Jeremiah had warned the people and their leaders about their unfaithfulness to God. Jeremiah knew that being chosen by God did not translate to a free pass. He knew that actions had consequences. If God's people were not faithful to God's instructions, bad things would happen. But even...
Read more

Study of James 5:19-20

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins. — James 5:19-20 James concludes his letter with a final exhortation, emphasizing the importance of restoring those who have wandered from the truth. He speaks to the responsibility believers have toward one another—not only to encourage and strengthen the faithful but also to help those who have drifted away from God’s path. James acknowledges that believers can stray, whether through sin, doubt, or deception. Rather than judging or condemning them, he urges the church to pursue them with love and compassion, seeking to bring them back to the truth. The one who helps restore a wandering soul is participating in a redemptive work, covering a multitude of sins. This phrase reflects the biblical theme that love and grace bring reconciliation, both between individuals and ...
Read more

Bible Study: Lydia

On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together. A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us. — Acts 16:13-15 WEB* On his second missionary trip, Paul visited the Roman colony of Philippi (FILL-uh-pie) along with Silas, Luke and Timothy. Philippi was on the famous Egnatian Road—a trade route from Asia to Rome. The city was important during the New Testament due to its agriculture, location, functioning gold mines, and Roman status. Lydia was a businessworman whose name may have come from the Hellenistic district where the town of Thyatira (thigh-uh-TIE-r...
Read more