“Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you;
for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything
but death parts you and me.”
Is that beautiful, or what? It inspires me to read it and I wish I could hear someone say it or read it out loud.
At first glance, one might guess it is part of a marriage vow and it is often used in that manner. In fact, I was at a wedding this past Friday and that was where I was reminded of it’s beauty from literature.
Is this an expression of love between two lovers? Actually no, it is stated between two women, a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law. And found of all places, in the Bible, in Ruth 1:16-17
Both the husbands of Naomi, the mother-in-law, and Ruth, the daughter-in-law had died, and they were left alone. Naomi tried to send Ruth away to return to her people so that she might be cared for in her life, but Ruth would not leave.
Do you, do any of us, have a relationship like that? I am feeling a bit dramatic today, so the phrase, “where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried” really got all inside of me.
Is it possible that we could even cultivate friendships or family ties this strong? I have two daughters who will one day have mother-in-laws. Given the same circumstances I wonder if my daughters would express a similar vow. Just curious but I hope they would.
But for tonight. Do any of us have a relationship in our lives, either spouse, family or friends who feel this strongly about us? And feel is not even the appropriate word. Do we have anyone in our lives that would not only express but commit to and remain faithful to this vow?
Wanna read it again as you consider the relationships you are encircled by?
Ask God to develop in your life at least one, if not more, people who would make this same vow, and consider to whom would you make such a vow.
Here it is again.
“Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you;
for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything
but death parts you and me.”
JHH
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