Standing Strong |
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Ki Teitzei— When You Go (marriage teaching) Continued... |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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The other explanation is based upon principle.
Naomi took Ruth in knowing she was a Moabite. Boaz married her knowing she was a Moabite. Ruth should have been rejected as in violation of the law of Moses. G-d has punished people immediately throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament) for breaking his law, but He does not punish Naomi or Boaz. Boaz and Ruth have the child Jesse from whom we have David, a man after G-d’s own heart, as a descendent. Why was this allowed? The Moabites are excluded because of the way they treated the children of Israel on their way out of Egypt - not just because they are Moabites. They are excluded because of an attitude that they and their descendants share. It follows then that a Moabite who doesn't have that attitude is not to be excluded. “And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her G-ds: return thou after thy sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy G-d my G-d:” Ruth displayed a completely non-Moabite attitude. She rejected the people and G-ds of Moab, accepting the G-d of Israel. She didn't display the attitude that lead to exclusion, so she was not excluded. The law that prohibited Moabites from joining the Israelites had a much deeper meaning; it was about excluding those who had a certain attitude, not those who had a certain ancestry. The knowledge of G-d lead to mercy, the mercy that was shown to Ruth and her descendants. By the letter of the law, Ruth, Jesse, David, and Solomon would all have been excluded from the congregation of Israel.
Marriage was to be entered into with respect of G-d’s people; it was to be something of which time and thought was taken before making the covenant; it was protected from violation from another man through severe punishments, and was to be enjoyed by mankind. As stated in Deut. 24:5, when a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business, he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.
Yes, men, it is a man’s job to see to his wife’s happiness. It is one of the commands of G-d’s laws about marriage. Just as G-d looks out for our happiness we are to look out for the happiness of our wives.
Selah. |