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Celebration of Love in the Book of Ruth

Olive Thambi, Ph.D.
Shanthi Nehemiah, M.A., M.Phil.

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" (Tolstoy, 3)

Love Does Not Need a Language

Nothing in the world compares to love. Love is a beautiful feeling which cannot be defined and understood logically. True love transcends barriers and touches lives in a profoundly significant manner. Love does not need a language but it always makes its presence known. Love goes the extra mile to brighten up someone's world. It defies all reason and yet conquers all!

The story of Ruth is not just the story of Ruth. It is the story of binding love between Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. It is also the story of great responsibility and clinging on to hope despite all adversity. It is a sublime story that moves our heart and instills us great faith in the goodness of our Lord. It is also the story of how we all choose our ways of life and reap what we sow.

Ruth and Her Mother-in-Law

Ruth of the Bible has fascinated people down the ages. To this day, her extraordinary decision to stand by her mother-in-law despite all odds remains an enigma to many. But, nevertheless, Ruth's bold moves strike a cord in the hearts of those who can identify with her closely. The story of Ruth is in fact a celebration of love.

As the story of Ruth unfolds, we understand that Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law had lost both her sons besides her husband. Bereft of hope and solace, she urges both her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah to go back to their homeland. Orpah goes but Ruth clings to her mother-in-law, knowing fully well the challenges ahead of her. The love which Ruth has for the family continues even after the death of her husband. Her love for Naomi is so great that she sticks to her at any cost.

But Ruth said:

"Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. (Ruth 2 : 16-18)

Ruth chose to stay back with her mother-in-law to help her in her grief, even though she could have easily returned to her place of birth and to her parents. Ruth was not of the same ethnic group as her mother-in-law. This fact in itself would have driven away any woman from her mother-in-law in those days of ethnic rivalry and animosity. Ruth's determination to share in the grief of her mother-in-law and to help her even with her hard labor to earn a living should be seen in the background of her age. Ruth was still young, she could go back to her parents as was the custom, and could hope to begin a new family, getting married once again. She seemed to have no concern for all these possible comforts, but chose to be a great comfort herself to her mother-in-law, a woman who had lost everything and had nothing to offer to Ruth.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Olive Thambi, Ph.D.
Department of English
Karunya University
Coimbatore - 641 114
Tamilnadu, India
olivphilip@gmail.com

Shanthi Nehemiah, M.A., M.Phil.
Department of English
Karunya University
Coimbatore - 641 114
Tamilnadu, India
sahayarani13@gmail.com

Evangelism and Growth of the Assemblies of God Churches in Tamilnadu, India - From 1989 - 2003 | Africans into World Missions? | Am I the Keeper of My Sister? | Manhattan Declaration - A Call of Christian Conscience | Lloyd C. Douglas' Ministry through His Novels | Light | An Evaluation of the Growth and Expansion of the Protestant Missionary Movement in the United States | The Way Forward in Missions -- New Wine in New Wineskins | Celebration of Love in the Book of Ruth | You Are Valued! | The Light of Christmas | Jesus Christ | Freedom in Jesus Christ - Our Lord's Ministry | HOME PAGE of December 2009 Issue | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR


ISSN
1548-7164


Vol. 5 : 9
December 2009

Board of Editors

Dr. Tan Kok Beng

Olive Rajesh, Ph.D.

Stan Schmidt

Steven Wakeman

Sudhir Isaiah, Ph.D.

Sundar Singh, Ph.D.

Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

Vasanthi Isaiah, M.A., B.Ed.

M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D., Managing Editor


© Copyright 2009 M.S.Thirumalai. All rights reserved.