With Leddy Hammock and Sue Riley. The story of Ruth is well known and provides a frequent reading at weddings. It is a beautiful story of friendship, devotion, and love between a woman and her mother-in-law. When Ruth could have taken the easier road by abandoning Naomi, she refused to do so, throwing their destinies together and, by hard work and unfailing enthusiasm, eventually creating a beautiful life for both of them. Ruth would not let go of her dream! There is so much more to this story than “wherever you go, I’ll go with you” and we cannot wait to share it with you.
Song: “Don’t Ask Me to Give Up This Dream” written and performed by Sue Riley
RESPONSIVE READING: Zeal / Enthusiasm – Ruth
“sympathetic companion; delightful; friendship” (third woman listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
“Ruth said, ‘Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God my God …! Naomi then ceased to urge her, for she saw she was determined to go with her” [returning to Bethlehem, “house of Bread,” Naomi’s home] (Ruth 1:16-18).
Do not ask me to give up my dream.
I am determined to go wherever Spirit leads me.
“Boaz [“quickness” – kinsman to Naomi – “my sweetness, my beloved”] said to Ruth,… ‘Do not go to glean in anyone else’s field; you are not to leave here. Stay here …. You … have come to a people whom you did not know previously …. May you receive a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.’ Boaz instructed his servants … even to let drop some handfuls and leave them for her to glean without being rebuked …. So she stayed …” (Ruth 2:8-23).
I am no stranger to work.
I serve with staying power and the Presence of the Lord watches over me.
Naomi told Ruth to ask Boaz to be her protector by marrying her according to the duty of a new kinsman. Boaz said that if the closer relative “does not wish to claim you, as the LORD lives, I will claim you myself …. Stay ….” Then, all the people blessed the union, saying, ‘May your house become like the house of Perez, who Tamar bore to Judah’” (Ruth 3:1-4:11).
In strong, positive consciousness, I act quickly and enthusiastically,
knowing that a breakthrough of blessings is sure to come.
When a son was born to Boaz and Ruth, ‘”the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the LORD …! His mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you. She is worth more to you than seven sons …. And the neighbor women gave him his name, at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi. They called him Obed [“working, serving” andobedient]. He was the father of Jesse [“strong; upright; he will give,” or God is], the father of David” [“well beloved”](Ruth 4:14-17).
I am God’s OBEDient servant, for I know that God is and God loves me!