Love Stories

We are going to read the following to each other in our wedding ceremony.

As we join together our lives, we feel especially connected to and strengthened by two stories of our tradition, those of David and Jonathan and of Ruth and Naomi. We are inspired by the unparalleled commitment, sacrifice, and love that they recount. We offer this reading with gratitude that the stories are a part of our tradition.

And the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Naomi said to Ruth: Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods. Return after your sister-in-law.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
But Ruth said: Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, and even his sword, and his bow, and his girdle.
Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
And Jonathan, the son of Saul, delighted much in David.
Thus may God do to me, and worse, for death alone shall part us.
Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever your soul desires, I will do for you.
When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem.
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
So Boaz married Ruth and God enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver.
And they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
The neighbor women named him, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.
And the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Sources: I Samuel 18: 1, 3-4; 19:1; 10:4; 20:17; 20:41. Alternating with Ruth 1:15-18 and 4: 13-22. Inspired by a reading created by a member of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco.


Other gay Bible stories can be found at this blog entry: http://guydads.blogspot.com/2008/05/good-news-of-marriage-equality.html