“Wherever you go I will go,
wherever you lodge I will lodge.
Your people shall be my people
and your God, my God.
Where you die I will die.”
Ruth 1:16-17 (NAB)
The words in this verse were spoken by Ruth to her mother in law, Naomi, but it’s also a popular scripture verse used at wedding ceremonies. They are words of love and loyalty, revealing Ruth’s commitment and devotion to Naomi, after they all suffered a family tragedy.
In Hebrew culture a name can define a person’s character. The name Naomi, means sweet or pleasant. Naomi’s life was sweet and pleasant until the day her husband died suddenly, leaving her with her two sons. After her two sons grew to adulthood and married, they both died suddenly as well. The scriptures never reveal how her husband and sons died, only that Naomi was left with no one, except her two widowed daughters in law, without any grandchildren.
In her grief, Naomi thought that the Lord was punishing her, and she even told someone to call her Mara, which means bitter, instead of Naomi, meaning sweet. She said farewell to her daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah, assuming they would want to return to their home towns, to remarry and begin new lives.
Naomi prepared to relocate to Bethlehem, where she had relatives who would care for her, since that was the headquarters for her tribe of Judah. There were no government aid programs in ancient Israel to support aging widows who were without family, so the custom was for the nearest blood relative to take her in and care for her.
As Naomi departed, Orpah kissed her goodbye and left, but Ruth just clung to her. Naomi tried to send her away, but Ruth was determined to stay with her, vowing to go wherever she goes. Sometimes in the most broken moments of life, God sends someone special to be at our side during our grief. It’s as if God is loving us through them, and to say that He is still with us. Ruth was that person for Naomi.
Ruth stayed at Naomi’s side, all the way to Bethlehem, and she went to work in a large harvest field, along with other young women in the town. Ruth was a Moabite and an outsider among the Hebrew population, but she quickly won the respect of others, especially one of Naomi’s blood relatives, named Boaz.
According to custom, a young widow was often matched with an available male relative, referred to as the “kinsman redeemer.” Boaz was impressed with Ruth, because of her loyalty to Naomi, and if we let our imagination enhance the story, he probably fell in love with her. Ruth was surprised to learn that Boaz was not only a blood relative from Naomi’s tribe, but the owner of the large wheat field that she worked in. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer ended up marrying Ruth, which was like a shower of blessing and healing for both women.
Boaz and Ruth were married, becoming Naomi’s newest family. They had a baby boy named Obed, making Naomi a proud grandmother. Obed grew up and became the grandfather of King David, and was also part of the ancestry of Jesus. Naomi found a new era of sweetness through her new family life, with Ruth, Boaz and baby Obed.
Sometimes the greatest lessons of hope come after the most tragic losses. The story of Naomi and Ruth is a story that many can relate to, in any type of loss. God teaches us that He is the only one who can restore our hope and joy, and turn the bitter into sweet.
Jesus is like our kinsman redeemer who owns the field we toil and live in every day of our lives. He clings to us and we cling to Him, as He stays with us through both the bitter and the sweet times. He wants to bring a new era into our lives, of blessing, security, love, family and church community.
Lord, we pray that you will turn all the bitter into sweet. By faith, we cling to you, as you lead us into a new era of many blessings. Amen
