City Life Starter

I. The Word: Ruth 1:16-18 (ESV)

16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For
where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people,
and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the
Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when
Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

II. Study Questions

1. What is Ruth sacrificing by saying this?

2. How would you feel if someone told you these words?

3. Do you show honor and care for your elders?

Where are we?

The Book of Ruth relays the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Naomi is an Israelite widow, Ruth is her Moabite (non-Israeli) daughter-in-law, and Boaz is a relative of Naomi’s late husband who redeems the family name by marrying Ruth. It takes place when judges were still ruling over Israel before kings were established. Notably, Ruth is the great-grandmother of David, which also makes her part of Jesus’ genealogy.

What does it say?

This text occurs after both Naomi and Ruth have been widowed. They are currently living in Moab, which is Ruth’s native country. Naomi is an Israelite and has no reason to stay in Moab after the death of her husband. She makes the choice to return to Israel and instructs her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and find new husbands. Orpah, her other daughter-in-law, obliges, but Ruth responds with the powerful statement in today’s passage. She tells her that she will stand by her and walk through life with her until death does they part. Even more so, Ruth will leave her nation, join the nation of Israel, and worship their God. Finally, she asks for God to hold her accountable to this vow.

What does it mean?

Ruth shows outstanding sacrificial loyalty to Naomi; she is denying her security to honor someone who isn’t her biological parent and can’t provide for her. In their culture, an unmarried widow has a vulnerable and limited lifestyle. And, it’s because of this cultural context that Ruth is a gleaming image of Christ. He left his comfortable home to join our world and bear our burdens, even when that meant death; and, Ruth is doing the same in her relationship with Naomi. Ruth’s steadfastness not only mirrors God, but she even denotes Him as a central figure in her commitment. This passage teaches: 1) God wants to be the God of all nations, as he accepts Ruth even though she is not Israeli by blood, 2) Relationships inspired by God will be sacrificial, and 3) There is honor in caring for your elders at the expense of your own comfort.

Application

Yes, there are notable things about Ruth other than “she waited for her man”. We often only use her story to pacify the romantic insecurities of single women, which leaves its strong message of sacrificial loyalty in the dust. I think her example can be applied both broadly and specifically. Broadly, we should pursue all relationships (familial, friendly, romantic, professional, etc.) with sacrificial intent because God first did so for us. Specifically, God places us all in a community of our elders, and we should not pursue our adulting goals so fervently that we ignore the needs of those who raised us. God instructs us to honor our father and mother, and that command doesn’t become void because we’re legally allowed to vote. Furthermore, I think this instruction extends to any authority the Lord has placed in your life. Honor does not mean blindly agree with and unwisely obey, but it does mean cherishing their well-being and viewing their place in your life as God’s wise design. This only becomes hard when caring for them threatens your comfort and security, and it was in that moment that Ruth shined bright.