I think he was extrapolating from the Ruth and Naomi story to talk about family bonds, which I think is legitimate. (And yes, I was very conscious during the whole service that I hear "Ruth and Naomi" and immediately think "closest Scripture gets to canon f/f!" and was making a real effort to think about how normal people read the text -- 'cause despite the fact that the declaration is used in many marriage ceremonies, it is a real stretch to sexualize this cross-generation in-law relationship.)
While the text starts off with Naomi, I think it is really the story of Ruth (she gets rewarded for her decision to follow The One True God, etc.), so it's difficult to maintain the argument that it is a very mutual relationship.
And Naomi definitely rocks the "woe is me" even if she isn't necessarily a nursing home candidate.
From Chapter 1 (NIV, c&p-ed from biblegateway.com):
11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!"
[...]
20 "Don't call me Naomi, [b] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [c] because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted [e] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."
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Date: 2006-02-09 06:13 pm (UTC)I think he was extrapolating from the Ruth and Naomi story to talk about family bonds, which I think is legitimate. (And yes, I was very conscious during the whole service that I hear "Ruth and Naomi" and immediately think "closest Scripture gets to canon f/f!" and was making a real effort to think about how normal people read the text -- 'cause despite the fact that the declaration is used in many marriage ceremonies, it is a real stretch to sexualize this cross-generation in-law relationship.)
While the text starts off with Naomi, I think it is really the story of Ruth (she gets rewarded for her decision to follow The One True God, etc.), so it's difficult to maintain the argument that it is a very mutual relationship.
And Naomi definitely rocks the "woe is me" even if she isn't necessarily a nursing home candidate.
From Chapter 1 (NIV, c&p-ed from biblegateway.com):
11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!"
[...]
20 "Don't call me Naomi, [b] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [c] because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted [e] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."