Posted: 22 September 2023

From a sermon given on 17 September 2023:

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
(Rurh 1:16)

This remains one the greatest possible commitment in the ancient world. She sealed it with a self - imprecatory oath, taken in the personal name of Naomi's God, Yahweh. Naomi's response to this moving speech was remarkably curt: She stopped talking to her. (Holman Study Bible, NKJ)

Decisions have consequences. Ruth had already made up her mind. She was not going to be dissuaded from accompanying Naomi back to Bethlehem. She was going to be cut off completely from her people. She was going to lodge with Naomi and she would even die and be buried where Naomi was. As a result of this decision, Ruth eventually begot Obed and Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David.Christian friends, we are the sum total of the decisions we make. Some of the pains and turmoils could have been avoided if we made the right decisions. We must always endeavor to be led by the Holy Spirit before making any decision. Like Ruth, if we will be successful, Yahweh must take the center stage in our decisions. When we make decisions that please the Lord, it shall be well with us and our generations.

Further Readings:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
(Joshua 24:15)

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

(1 Kings 18:21

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
(Daniel 3:18)