Words about the Word - Loyal Love
“Loyal Love”
By Michael Atmar - Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church
Who is the most loyal friend you have ever known? If you have someone that immediately comes to mind, you are very blessed indeed. Friendship that is centered on the Lord Jesus and that stands the test of time is a precious gift from God that should not be taken lightly. I was reflecting on this recently while reading through the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament with some of our high school students. Do you remember Ruth’s story?
Ruth was from Moab and was the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi also had another daughter-in-law named Orpah. We learn in Ruth 1:1-5 that all three of these women lost their husbands, who passed away in the land of Moab. At this time, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem in the land of Judah to her people (since her family had been sojourning in the land of Moab due to a famine). In Ruth 1:14, Orpah “kissed her mother-in-law” and decided to return to her people in Moab. However, Ruth 1:14 goes on to say that “Ruth clung to her.” She would not leave Naomi. She was determined to stay with her to the end. That’s faithful, loyal love.
Naomi tried to persuade Ruth to return to her people and her gods in Moab, but Ruth would have none of it. She loved the LORD and she loved Naomi too much to take the easy path. In Ruth 1:16, we read, “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where 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. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you” (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth exemplifies the steadfast love of the LORD as she clings to Naomi in their time of grief. She demonstrates tremendous faith in the LORD that He will take care of her as she takes care of Naomi.
As we continue to read through the rest of the book, that is exactly what the LORD did. He took care of Ruth by raising up a “worthy man” (see Ruth 2:1) named Boaz to marry her as a “kinsman redeemer” (see Deuteronomy 25:5-6). They had a son named Obed, who fathered Jesse, who fathered David (see Ruth 4:21-22). Naomi’s bitterness at the loss of her husband and two sons is turned into joy as she holds this baby in her arms (Ruth 4:16). This baby boy who was born in Bethlehem is called a “redeemer” who is a “restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age” (Ruth 4:14-15).
Do you see how this story points us to Jesus? In the midst of a dark season in the life of the people of Israel, in the midst of grief and tragedy, in the midst of uncertainty, God raised up a redeemer. A baby was born in Bethlehem who would redeem His people. Jesus comes from the line of David, who was the great-grandson of Ruth. Jesus came to free us from the slavery of sin and to secure His Church as His Bride forever. His love is steadfast, loyal, and faithful. If you are in the midst of a dark and painful season of your life, look to the Redeemer. See Him loving you at the cross, laying down His life for you and crying out “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Your Redeemer is so strong that He conquered the grave by rising on the third day. Let His loyal, redeeming love for you stir your heart to be loyal in your love for Him and for others. His love heals our broken hearts and makes us whole again.
