by John O’Malley
“So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law” (Ruth 2:23).
There is something special about a promise made between two people. It is more than the words of commitment; it is the bond that comes between the one promised and the one who made the promise.Ruth had made a distinct promise to Naomi her mother-in-law. Many things had changed in Ruth’s life since she had made the promise to Naomi; yet none of these changes dissuaded her promise.
Just one chapter earlier, Ruth made six promises to Naomi: “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: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).
She made a promise of following: Naomi would have Ruth wherever she would go. She gave a promise of fellowship: anywhere Naomi would live, she would live with her. Ruth made a promise of family: Ruth was replacing her people with Naomi’s people. She determined that God’s people would be her people. Ruth made a promise of faith: Naomi’s God would now be her God. Ruth gave a promise of finishing: Ruth would stay until death, and then follow Naomi in death. Lastly, Ruth made a promise of a funeral: she would not be seeking to be buried by her husband or people of her birth in Moab; she committed to a funeral that would bury her in Israel.
Many believers today err in their commitments to the Lord. Many have never offered the Lord the promises Ruth offered Naomi. Have you promised to follow, fellowship, and replace your family with His family? Have you promised to live by faith? Have you promised to finish the row in His harvest He has assigned to you? Have you promised faithfulness until death?
Reader, have you noticed the tendency to only make promises that are comfortable, convenient, and cost nothing? May God help you to keep all the promises you have made to Him.