Verse
Context
Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi
15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.” 16But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And Ruth said - A more perfect surrender was never made of friendly feelings to a friend: I will not leave thee - I will follow thee: I will lodge where thou lodgest - take the same fare with which thou meetest; thy people shall be my people - I most cheerfully abandon my own country, and determine to end my days in thine. I will also henceforth have no god but thy God, and be joined with thee in worship, as I am in affection and consanguinity. I will cleave unto thee even unto death; die where thou diest; and be buried, if possible, in the same grave. This was a most extraordinary attachment, and evidently without any secular motive. The Targum adds several things to this conversation between Naomi and Ruth. I shall subjoin them: "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee," for I desire to become a proselyte. And Naomi said, We are commanded to keep the Sabbath and other holy days; and on it not to travel more than two thousand cubits. And Ruth said, "Whither thou goest, I will go." And Naomi said, We are commanded not to lodge with the Gentiles. Ruth answered, "Where thou lodgest, I will lodge." And Naomi said, We are commanded to observe the one hundred and thirteen precepts. Ruth answered, What thy people observe, that will I observe; as if they had been my people of old. And Naomi said, We are commanded not to worship with any strange worship. Ruth answered, "Thy God shall be my God." Naomi said, We have four kinds of capital punishment for criminals; stoning, burning, beheading, and hanging. Ruth answered, "In whatsoever manner thou diest, I will die." Naomi said, We have a house of burial. Ruth answered, "And there will I be buried." It is very likely that some such conversation as this took place between the elders and those who were becoming proselytes. This verse is famous among those who strive to divine by the Bible. I should relate the particulars, but am afraid they might lead to a continuance of the practice. In my youth I have seen it done, and was then terrified.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee,.... Do not make use of any arguments to persuade me to go back: or "do not meet me", or "be against me" (h); do not meet me with objections, or be in my way, or an hinderance to me, in going along with thee; do not be against it, for to be against that was to be against her inclination, desires, and resolutions, and against her interest: for whither thou goest I will go: let the country she was going to be what it would, though unknown to her, and though she should never see her own country any more: and where thou lodgest I will lodge; though in ever so mean a cottage, or under the open air: thy people shall be my people; whom I shall choose to dwell among, and converse with; whose religion, laws, and customs she should readily comply with, having heard much of them, their wisdom, goodness, and piety, of which she had a specimen and an example in Naomi, and by whom she judged of the rest: and thy God my God; not Chemosh, nor Baalpeor, nor other gods of the Moabites, be they what they will, but Jehovah, the God of Naomi, and of the people of Israel. So a soul that is truly brought to Christ affectionately loves him, and heartily cleaves unto him, resolves in the strength of divine grace to follow him, the Lamb, whithersoever he goes or directs; and is desirous to have communion with none but him, and that he also would not be as a wayfaring man, that tarries but a night; his people are the excellent of the earth, whom to converse with is all his delight and pleasure; and Christ's God is his God, and his Father is his Father: and, in a word, he determines to have no other Saviour but him, and to walk in all his commands and ordinances. (h) "ne occurras mihi", Vatablus, Rambachius; "ne obstes me", Tigurine version; "ne adverseris mihi", V. L. Drusius; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:16-17 Ruth swore an oath in the name of the Lord to seal her firm commitment to Israel’s God (cp. 2:11-12) and to Naomi.
Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi
15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.” 16But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Writings
By William MacDonald1.4K45:15WritingsRUT 1:16PSA 19:1PSA 121:1PRO 3:5ISA 26:3MAT 6:33JAS 2:17The video is a sermon on the preaching of the word of God. It emphasizes the importance of using short sentences and words, varying sentence patterns, and incorporating human interest to make the message more engaging. The speaker encourages the use of sanctified imagination and colorful descriptions to captivate the audience. The sermon also highlights the need for emphasis and a strong call to action in Christian writing.
Ruth - Part 2
By John McGregor82435:42RuthCommitment to GodDecisionsRUT 1:16John McGregor explores the profound decisions made by Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah in Ruth chapter 1, emphasizing the significance of returning to God and the community of faith. Naomi's decision to return to Judah reflects a longing for restoration despite her bitterness, while Ruth's unwavering commitment to Naomi and her God showcases true conversion and loyalty. In contrast, Orpah's choice to return to Moab symbolizes a superficial commitment that lacks depth and transformation. The sermon highlights the importance of making life-altering decisions that align with God's will and the welcoming nature of the people of God. Ultimately, it encourages listeners to reflect on their own decisions regarding faith and community.
Distress of Elijah
By W.F. Anderson77042:42GEN 24:14RUT 1:161KI 18:211KI 19:181CO 2:3GAL 6:2JAS 5:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of leaving biblical history as it is and not spiritualizing it. He encourages listeners to see the working of God in ordinary, everyday human life. The speaker also mentions the Mount of Transfiguration as a mountaintop experience that disciples had only once, but emphasizes the importance of obeying what was learned there. The sermon also references a story from the Bible about a servant looking for a wife and highlights the qualities he was seeking, including a hard-working and courteous woman.
Trophies of His Grace
By Steve Mays57127:20GraceGEN 38:24RUT 1:16ISA 1:18MAT 6:33JHN 14:6HEB 11:31In this sermon, Pastor Steve Mays shares a personal anecdote about his grandson wanting to go to the zoo but not having enough time. He then transitions into discussing how sometimes in life, we feel like we've been set up or treated unfairly. He emphasizes that God is not embarrassed by the challenges we face and encourages listeners to come to God just as they are. Pastor Steve also explores the idea of ancestry and how God chose to restore and use flawed individuals in Jesus' lineage to bring forth the Savior of the world.
When Small Is Great
By Stewart Ruch14727:46Christian LifeJDG 21:25RUT 1:16MAT 6:33MAT 22:39ROM 12:2JAS 1:271JN 4:19In this sermon, the preacher introduces the book of Ruth as a profoundly important story for today. The sermon is part of a series called "The Power of Small" and focuses on the significance of love and being loved. The preacher emphasizes that even though the story takes place in ancient times, it is still accessible and relevant to us today. The sermon also highlights the idea that small acts and lives can have great significance in the eyes of God.
When God Writes Your Story
By Stewart Ruch12627:34Christian LifeRUT 1:16RUT 2:12RUT 4:13MAT 6:33MAT 16:24MAT 23:37JHN 21:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of small and how every person's life is small until it becomes significant through Jesus. He uses the story of Ruth as an example of how submitting our lives to God's story can give us a meaningful and profound significance. The preacher also shares a real-life story of a pilot who had a miraculous experience when his parachute got tangled in a tree, saving him from certain death. Through this experience, the pilot witnesses the power of God and becomes a follower of Jesus, eventually becoming a missionary pilot in Colombia.
Entering God's Kingdom
By Duane Troyer0RUT 1:16MAT 7:21JHN 3:3PHP 3:8TIT 3:5Duane Troyer preaches about the importance of entering the kingdom of God by being born again and forsaking all to follow Christ. He emphasizes the need to start over, re-think everything in light of Christ's teachings, and commit to a new way of living in God's kingdom. Using examples from the Bible like Ruth's complete transformation and Jesus' teachings on the kingdom, he warns against seeking life in the wrong places and highlights the necessity of accepting Jesus' words as the way to live by for true salvation.
The Message of Ruth
By G. Campbell Morgan0FaithGod's SufficiencyRUT 1:16G. Campbell Morgan explores the profound lessons from the Book of Ruth, emphasizing that true saintship is not defined by circumstances but by faith and loyalty to God. He highlights the characters of Ruth and Boaz, who exemplify courage and integrity amidst adversity, demonstrating that God is sufficient for those who trust Him. Morgan asserts that both characters, despite their different backgrounds and challenges, serve as instruments of God's purpose, ultimately leading to the lineage of David and the coming of Christ. The sermon encourages believers to recognize the value of their lives in God's plan, even when the outcomes are not immediately visible. The message is a call to persistent faith and the understanding that God can use anyone, regardless of their circumstances.
No Fear on the Journey
By Mary Wilder Tileston0DEU 20:3RUT 1:16MAT 16:24PHP 4:132TI 1:7Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of following Jesus wholeheartedly, even in the face of fear, trembling, and uncertainty, urging believers to trust in God's strength and guidance. She emphasizes the need to overcome cowardice and hardness of heart, asking for the Lord's help to subdue any resistance to following Him. Tileston highlights the challenge of anticipating the consequences of following Christ, drawing parallels to the experiences of Peter and the sacrifices made by true disciples who are willing to go wherever Jesus leads, regardless of the difficulties and dangers.
Our Kinsman Redeemer; Lessons From the Book of Ruth
By A.B. Simpson0Faith and InheritanceRedemptionRUT 1:16ISA 54:5A.B. Simpson explores the profound lessons from the Book of Ruth, emphasizing the themes of loyalty, divine providence, and redemption. He highlights Ruth's unwavering commitment to Naomi and her boldness in claiming her rights under the Levirate law, which ultimately leads to her marriage with Boaz, a type of Christ as our Kinsman Redeemer. The sermon illustrates how God orchestrates events for His divine purpose, transforming sorrow into blessing, and how Ruth's faith and actions resulted in her becoming part of the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus Christ. Simpson encourages believers to recognize their inheritance in Christ and to boldly claim the blessings that come from their relationship with Him. The message culminates in the reminder that our Maker is our Husband and Redeemer, calling us to embrace our identity in Him.
Jesus Wants the Best for His Bride
By David Wilkerson0God's ProvisionTrust in God's PlanRUT 1:16RUT 2:3PSA 50:10ROM 8:28EPH 5:27PHP 4:6David Wilkerson emphasizes that it breaks the Lord's heart when we doubt His ability and desire to provide the best for us, as illustrated through the story of Ruth. Ruth's unwavering love and trust in God led her to a divine appointment with Boaz, showcasing God's meticulous care and provision. Wilkerson reminds us that just as God orchestrated Ruth's life for her good, He is equally committed to His bride, the Church, ensuring that all circumstances work for our benefit. He encourages believers to rest in the assurance of God's love and provision, free from worry and doubt. Ultimately, the sermon calls us to embrace our identity as the beloved bride of Christ, who is always attentive to our needs.
True Preparation for Christmas (Part 2)
By Erlo Stegen0The Birth of JesusHumility and SalvationGEN 35:19RUT 1:16MIC 5:2Erlo Stegen emphasizes the profound significance of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant town that became the birthplace of the eternal Ruler. He explains that understanding God fully is impossible, as He transcends human comprehension, much like a child cannot grasp advanced concepts. Stegen illustrates the Trinity with relatable examples and highlights the transformative power of Jesus, who elevates the humble and makes something of those who are nothing. He recounts the rich history of Bethlehem, including the stories of Ruth and David, culminating in the birth of Jesus, who came to identify with the lowly and offer salvation. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace the eternal life offered through Jesus, the bread of Bethlehem.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And Ruth said - A more perfect surrender was never made of friendly feelings to a friend: I will not leave thee - I will follow thee: I will lodge where thou lodgest - take the same fare with which thou meetest; thy people shall be my people - I most cheerfully abandon my own country, and determine to end my days in thine. I will also henceforth have no god but thy God, and be joined with thee in worship, as I am in affection and consanguinity. I will cleave unto thee even unto death; die where thou diest; and be buried, if possible, in the same grave. This was a most extraordinary attachment, and evidently without any secular motive. The Targum adds several things to this conversation between Naomi and Ruth. I shall subjoin them: "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee," for I desire to become a proselyte. And Naomi said, We are commanded to keep the Sabbath and other holy days; and on it not to travel more than two thousand cubits. And Ruth said, "Whither thou goest, I will go." And Naomi said, We are commanded not to lodge with the Gentiles. Ruth answered, "Where thou lodgest, I will lodge." And Naomi said, We are commanded to observe the one hundred and thirteen precepts. Ruth answered, What thy people observe, that will I observe; as if they had been my people of old. And Naomi said, We are commanded not to worship with any strange worship. Ruth answered, "Thy God shall be my God." Naomi said, We have four kinds of capital punishment for criminals; stoning, burning, beheading, and hanging. Ruth answered, "In whatsoever manner thou diest, I will die." Naomi said, We have a house of burial. Ruth answered, "And there will I be buried." It is very likely that some such conversation as this took place between the elders and those who were becoming proselytes. This verse is famous among those who strive to divine by the Bible. I should relate the particulars, but am afraid they might lead to a continuance of the practice. In my youth I have seen it done, and was then terrified.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee,.... Do not make use of any arguments to persuade me to go back: or "do not meet me", or "be against me" (h); do not meet me with objections, or be in my way, or an hinderance to me, in going along with thee; do not be against it, for to be against that was to be against her inclination, desires, and resolutions, and against her interest: for whither thou goest I will go: let the country she was going to be what it would, though unknown to her, and though she should never see her own country any more: and where thou lodgest I will lodge; though in ever so mean a cottage, or under the open air: thy people shall be my people; whom I shall choose to dwell among, and converse with; whose religion, laws, and customs she should readily comply with, having heard much of them, their wisdom, goodness, and piety, of which she had a specimen and an example in Naomi, and by whom she judged of the rest: and thy God my God; not Chemosh, nor Baalpeor, nor other gods of the Moabites, be they what they will, but Jehovah, the God of Naomi, and of the people of Israel. So a soul that is truly brought to Christ affectionately loves him, and heartily cleaves unto him, resolves in the strength of divine grace to follow him, the Lamb, whithersoever he goes or directs; and is desirous to have communion with none but him, and that he also would not be as a wayfaring man, that tarries but a night; his people are the excellent of the earth, whom to converse with is all his delight and pleasure; and Christ's God is his God, and his Father is his Father: and, in a word, he determines to have no other Saviour but him, and to walk in all his commands and ordinances. (h) "ne occurras mihi", Vatablus, Rambachius; "ne obstes me", Tigurine version; "ne adverseris mihi", V. L. Drusius; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:16-17 Ruth swore an oath in the name of the Lord to seal her firm commitment to Israel’s God (cp. 2:11-12) and to Naomi.