Kissing or Cleaving?

From Our Pastor's Desk

Ruth.1:14 - “And they lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved unto her.” Most of us, if not all, know this story. The woman called Naomi went with her husband, Elimelech, and their two children from Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, in search of the proverbial “greener pastures”.

Unfortunately, fate dealt a hard blow on her; she lost her husband and two sons to the chilly hands of death. All she was left with were her daughters-in-law, who, unfortunately, were not fortunate enough to have children before their husbands died. Eventually she decided to go back to her own country.

Orpah and Ruth, the two daughters-in-law, after pledging to go with Naomi to her home country, later responded differently after she told them of what will await them.

Ruth 1:14 highlights their individual responses. Orpah gave a parting kiss to her mother-in-law and went back “unto her people, and unto her gods” (Ruth1:15) but Ruth cleaved un-to her mother-in-law with the firm pledge, “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.

Though kissing and cleaving are two actions denoting affection, but one is superior to the other. Cleaving is to love, honor, respect, celebrate, dignify, glorify someone.

When you cleave to someone, you don’t dishonor, betray, disregard or disgrace such a one. But, from Biblical accounts we understand that kissing may not always be as noble as it may appear.

The Lord will help us to cleave to, honor & respect our God, spouses, parents & parents-in-law, especially those of the household of faith, in Jesus Name.

Amen You will have good success this 2018. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.