Devotions From the Heart: Clinging to God

by Pastor Derek Gitsham

"But you that did cleave unto the Lord your
God are alive every one of you this day" (Deuteronomy 4:4)

At the end of Deuteronomy the 30th chapter
and verse 20, Moses instructs Israel to cleave
unto the Lord, for “He is thy life and the
length of thy days, that you may dwell in the
land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give
them.” A cleaving heart is a clinging heart.
It is a love word which speaks of one desiring
to be with the one it loves. How forceful a
phrase this is!

The Bible includes a book in it called Ruth.
It is a wonderful story of a daughter-in-law(Ruth)
who after the loss of her husband, her
sister-in-laws husband and mother-in-laws husband
decides to stay with her mother-in- law rather
than remain in her own country. She is a Moabitess,
Naomi is an Israelite. The Book of Ruth is replete
with wonderful detail and caring love for her
mother-in-law. The dedication of Ruth and her
utter selflessness, speak so powerfully in the
story, and her ultimate union with Boaz, a rich
and wealthy landowner who is after the lineage of
King David. Because of her bonding to Naomi, her
cleaving, her utmost dedication, all that follows
in the story is a result of this one act.

How true it is when saints of the Lord cleave
unto Him that things are like still waters
within us. You are alive this day because you
cleave unto the Lord. In Joshua, the great battle
book, more victories are recorded here in the
25-year period of Israel’s life than anywhere
else in Israel’s history. At the end of Joshua’s
life he tells them to cleave unto the Lord if
they want the victories to continue. Joshua 23:8
“Cleave unto the Lord, as you have done this day.”
There cleaving to the Lord was the reason for their
victories. Hang on tight, dear saint, never let
Him out of your sight by prayer or fellowship
for herein lies the secret of success.


Pastor Derek Gitsham
Deuteronomy 4:4
cleave unto the Lord