The story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi is a familiar one from scripture, with Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, despite their mutual loss of Mahlon (Ruth 4:10), standing out in the first chapter (1:16-18). The devotion exceeds what one would expect since Ruth has not only connected with Naomi and her people, but also with Naomi’s God. I’m always moved when I read Ruth 1:16-17, since to me it’s one of the most intense declarations of devotion and faith in scripture.
But there’s another declaration strikingly similar to Ruth’s that has been overlooked, in my opinion: that of Ittai to King David in 2 Sam. 15:21 (context is vv. 18-22). When David and his supporters flee Jerusalem for fear of Absalom, David’s bodyguard of foreign warriors, “the Cherethites, and…the Pelethites, and…the Gittites” (v. 18), accompany him. One of the recent recruits, Ittai the Gittite (see v. 19), cleaves to David in the same manner that Ruth does, with an equally deep declaration of devotion and resolve in verse 21:
“And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.”
Wow! And this coming from another Gentile like Ruth. (A few other affirmations from faithful Gentiles: Uriah’s refusal to relax on leave in 2 Sam. 11:11, the centurion’s demurral in Mt. 8:8-10, Rahab’s testimony in Josh. 2:9-11, etc. ) Also, isn’t it amazing that both Ruth and Ittai are steadfastly devoted to individuals who are in straits; what a testimony to their faith!
Right Words 
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