Engulfed in grief’s treacherous and deep waters, Ruth made an unwavering decision. At the pinnacle of uncertainty and depravation, she determined to travel down an unfamiliar path to seek asylum under the wings of refuge.
Ruth must have felt the earth spinning on its axis all 350,000 miles per hour as she grieved the loss of her husband, brother-in law and father-in-law while living in her homeland of Moab. A land far, far away from the heart of God. Now, along with her heavy heart, she was left alongside two widows.
How does one go on with such defeat and weariness from the weight of the world? Deep sadness settles in dark places and so often hands rise to heaven not for praise but to shake fists at tribulation that creeps in unannounced and unwelcomed. Great plans cease, dreams are broken and the ruins of life seem to crumble in the face of tragedy. It’s hard to see beyond the despondency left in ruins wake.
What are we to do when chaos abruptly takes the place of peace? This place where joy, the very meaning of her husband’s name, dies? This place where music, the meaning of her brother in law’s name, ceases to soothe the soul? How are we to respond?
We choose hope.
Naomi, now “bitter” as a widow and without sons, purposed to go home, where God brought harvest to famished land. She urged and tried to persuade her daughter-in-laws to return to their roots, despite their pagan traditions and false gods.
“Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.” Ruth 1:14
Orpah clung to false hope.
Ruth clung to true hope.
Ruth's pillar of faith firmly stood tall as she pledged her life to Naomi and the true living God. The Hebrew word for “clung” is used to describe the sacred relationship in a marriage. In covenant fidelity, Ruth vowed to remain with Naomi when times become bitter, when joy dies and the music stops playing. Against the odds, Ruth clung.
“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.” Ruth 1:16
In this, I catch an image of union and holy matrimony.
When defeat and the heaviness of the spinning world throws us off our axis or when life is emptied and it seems we have nothing to give, we choose hope.
We vow to remain together when times become bitter, when joy dies and when the music stops playing. We’ve navigated these rough waters already and still, we choose to cling to each other. Bound in this promise is making an oath before God to be steadfast and devoted no matter how difficult circumstances become.
This is the heartbeat of a faithful marriage.
