Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
People will often ask what my favorite books in the Bible are...
Psalm 119:105
People will often ask what my favorite books in the Bible are...
My two favorites are Esther and Ruth. Both are stories about the lives of two women who were champions of courage, along with being wonderful examples of love, loyalty, and great faith.
Esther was miraculously placed into a position where she would step forward at great personal risk to herself, and thereby save her entire race from annihilation. While today, many centuries later, Jews around the world honor Esther's act of bravery by celebrating the holiday known as Purim.
As for Ruth, she was a Gentile who was so devoted to her mother-in-law Naomi who was Jewish, that the widowed Ruth vowed never to leave her mother-in-law's side. Instead, she chose to follow Naomi into the land of Israel to begin a new life not knowing what awaited her.
One of the most famous passages of Scripture that reveals the ultimate expression of Ruth's faith in God and devotion to her family, was when Ruth turned to her mother-in-law and said, "For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God will become my God" (Ruth 1:16).
While in the next verse Ruth carried her pledge one step further declaring, "Where you die, I will die. Where you will be buried, I will be buried." She then added, "May the Lord do so to me, and more, until death does us apart" (Ruth 1:17). And could this be where the tradition comes from during marriage ceremonies when a newlywed couplepronounces, the words, "Til death do us part."?
Esther and Ruth were two of a kind. I'm looking forward to the day when I will actually meet these fine ladies and have the opportunity to thank them for their faithfulness. Their stories give me hope.
D. B.
Esther was miraculously placed into a position where she would step forward at great personal risk to herself, and thereby save her entire race from annihilation. While today, many centuries later, Jews around the world honor Esther's act of bravery by celebrating the holiday known as Purim.
As for Ruth, she was a Gentile who was so devoted to her mother-in-law Naomi who was Jewish, that the widowed Ruth vowed never to leave her mother-in-law's side. Instead, she chose to follow Naomi into the land of Israel to begin a new life not knowing what awaited her.
One of the most famous passages of Scripture that reveals the ultimate expression of Ruth's faith in God and devotion to her family, was when Ruth turned to her mother-in-law and said, "For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God will become my God" (Ruth 1:16).
While in the next verse Ruth carried her pledge one step further declaring, "Where you die, I will die. Where you will be buried, I will be buried." She then added, "May the Lord do so to me, and more, until death does us apart" (Ruth 1:17). And could this be where the tradition comes from during marriage ceremonies when a newlywed couplepronounces, the words, "Til death do us part."?
Esther and Ruth were two of a kind. I'm looking forward to the day when I will actually meet these fine ladies and have the opportunity to thank them for their faithfulness. Their stories give me hope.
D. B.
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