WEBVTT

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 it's my joy to be with you all again to bring God's word to you we're going to be starting a

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 new sermon series in the book of Ruth and that's all I'm going to say at this moment before I

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 introduce the book I want to start with a question this question is specifically for the kids among

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 us now this is a silent question so I'm just asking you to think you don't have to say anything

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 out loud but my question is this why do your parents read out loud to you

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 why do your parents read out loud to you why do they take time sometimes to share stories with

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 you some that are old from their own childhood and some perhaps that are new that they didn't know

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 when they were your age there's a lot of different answers we could think of perhaps some of it's just

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 the joy of being together and sharing a quiet time outside of all the rush of life perhaps some of it's

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 the excitement that we get from the idea of a journey and a challenge but I hope among all of

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 that there's another reason as well and it's true both for children and adults who read stories and

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 it's this that when we read a story we get to experience things that we ourselves have never done

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 and especially when we're young it's an opportunity for us to learn about places and people and things

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 that otherwise we wouldn't know about and most importantly it's a chance for us to become wise

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 that as your parents read stories to you they're hoping that as you hear about the mistakes of a

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 character you are learning without having to suffer the consequences yourselves and that as you read about

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 their successes you are able to see the result of things like hard work and perseverance and so it's out of

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 your parents love for you that they want you to become wise wiser than your years that they read stories to you

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 now we as adults often read stories for the same reason it's important for us to know things about

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 people and cultures that we would not otherwise encounter but as we grow we sometimes read stories

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 not to know about people who've experienced things differently than us but to read about people who've

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 experienced the same thing so that we know as we go through something in life that we're not alone

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 we're not the only person who has seen or done or heard the things that we've gone through in our

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 lives as we come to the book of ruth someone asked me recently why is it that we're studying the book of

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 ruth and it's for those same reasons the book of ruth is going to touch on suffering and so there's some of us

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 in this room who have not experienced a lot of suffering in our lives and there's some of us who have

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 it's a book about widows it's going to be a book about two widows in particular and there are many

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 among us here today who are widows

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 it's a book about people who have to live in a place that they weren't born

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 and there's many here this morning who live in a place where they were not born

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 and it's a book about suffering and there's many of us who have not experienced the things

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 that we encounter in this book but it's a book for everyone who lives in a world that is broken

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 and bleeding from the results of sin and so that is all of us here and so god

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 like a good and gracious father or mother wants those of us who have walked through suffering

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 to know that we're not the only ones

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 and he wants those of us who have not walked through the kind of suffering that we'll see

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 in this book to learn and become wise

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 if you've not suffered the things that we're going to talk about this morning and in the book of ruth

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 there are two things we need to keep in mind

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 one if we're not suffering now we're surrounded by people who are

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 that all you need to do is look around the room and you can see people and faces here among us

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 who have walked through incredibly difficult things and are walking through some of them right now

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 and the other thing to keep in mind is that if you're not suffering right now

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 if the lord gives you the grace to live long enough one day you will

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 and so god like a loving father wants to prepare us

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 he wants us to know and understand and be prepared for the things that come along in our lives

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 and so like a loving father or a loving mother he wants to tell us a story

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 and so we're going to see that as we come to the book of ruth

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 i'm going to say two other things as we we start

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 first of all as we're talking about suffering it's something that's incredibly complicated

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 complex and it's incredibly messy

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 and so i am not going to say everything about suffering this morning

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 if we were to say everything that could be said we would be here into the afternoon

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 we would skip the announcement from the pulpit search committee and we would be here into the evening

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 and then we would have to come back again on monday morning to continue

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 and so i'm not going to say everything but we will just begin and say something

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 not everything but something

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 second i know that as we talk about some of these things those of us who have walked through them

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 it will bring up memories for us

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 and so i want to remind you as i have before that most importantly as that happens

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 the lord is for you and he is with you

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 and of much less importance i am for you and with you as well

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 and so with that we're going to turn to the book of ruth

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 we're starting in ruth chapter 1 at verse 1

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 remember that this is god's word

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 and god tells us that his word is more precious than gold

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 even the finest gold

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 and it is sweeter than honey

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 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb

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 and so we're going to read it now starting in verse 1

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 in the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land

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 and a man of bethlehem in judah went to sojourn in the country of moab

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 he and his wife and his two sons

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 the name of the man was a limeleck and the name of his wife naomi

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 and the names of his two sons were malin and chilian

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 they were aetherophytes from bethlehem in judah

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 they went into the country of moab and remained there

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 verse 3

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 but a limeleck the husband of naomi died

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 and she was left with her two sons

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 these took moabite wives

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 the name of the one was orpah

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 and the name of the other ruth

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 they lived there about 10 years

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 and both malin and chilian died

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 so that the woman was left

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 without her two sons

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 and her husband

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 verse 6

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 then she arose with her daughters-in-law

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 to return from the country of moab

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 for she had heard in the fields of moab

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 that the lord had visited his people

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 and given them food

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 please pray with me as we come to this portion of god's word

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 dear father in heaven

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 we thank you that you are a loving father

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 that you want to teach us and instruct us

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 you want us to become wise

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 you want to comfort us and encourage us

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 and you need to challenge us

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 so we ask that you would do all of those things for us this morning

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 that you would send your holy spirit among us

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 so that our eyes would be opened

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 our ears unstopped

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 our minds clear

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 and our hearts would be softened

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 so that we would see and hear and believe

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 everything that is written about you

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 in your word

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 amen

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 when i had first

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 graduated from college

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 had a few months off

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 because i of course had the summer break

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 but i quickly got a job teaching at a small school

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 in eastern virginia

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 and one of the first people i met as i began teaching there was a woman whose name was alice chidzero

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 alice had had a very long history in her life

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 she was originally from zimbabwe

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 she had grown up in the british colony of rudicia

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 during the time when the freedom fighters were fighting for them to be free

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 and fully become part of zimbabwe

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 and i didn't know her whole story

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 but i knew enough to know that she was a woman who had suffered tremendously

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 and as i started at the school

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 she was the one who told me on my first day

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 or second day of helping with the car line

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 that i was 22 fresh out of college

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 in her words a kidult

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 which i wore with honor and as a badge of honor in some ways

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 as i began to know a little bit more about alice and her story

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 and she would share sometimes in our chapel services at school

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 and she would tell dramatic stories about the way that god had provided for her

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 and his faithfulness to her

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 and this past january

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 many of alice's students she had taught at the school for a while

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 encouraged her over and over again

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 that she had to write a book to tell her story

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 and so she didn't consider herself a writer

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 but after a lot of trepidation and work and struggle she finally did

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 and so i was able to get a hold of a copy of her book called when the brook runs dry

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 my journey from africa to america and back a few times

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 just came out this january and i've been reading it as i prepared for this sermon series

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 and alice goes through many of the things that we learn just in these first five verses about ruth and naomi

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 and yet she spends a whole book going through them

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 her experiences and the things that she felt as she walked through times of tremendous difficulty

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 and so i'm just going to read you a few quotes as we begin

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 first of all alice suffers the death of her father and her young daughter

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 her young daughter has a blood infusion that goes terribly wrong

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 and so as she thinks through both of those she says this

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 the nightmare just seemed to be growing bleaker

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 everything around me felt black

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 there were no grays

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 later on alice is going to travel all the way from zimbabwe to the united states

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 which is where i met her

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 long before i met her though while she was in the united states

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 her husband developed a tumor in his brain and he was given only six months to live

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 after he passed she was unable with her family to afford to ship his body back to zimbabwe

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 and so after his cremation friends of hers in the united states gathered around to buy a suitcase for her

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 so that the ashes of her husband could be taken back to his home country

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 and so in one of the most tragic scenes in the book her her son is walking with her through the airport carrying this suitcase

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 she says this

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 it was heartbreaking to think that my son would soon carry his father's remains from the usa to africa

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 we would fly out of boston on january 11th

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 now that we were about ready to board the plane i was nervous about going home

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 i dreaded facing my family and my late husband's family all alone

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 i felt stripped of my covering

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 since leaving zimbabwe in 1996 felix that's her husband

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 had been unable to return home

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 now we were bringing him home in the form of ashes

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 of course i knew it was not my fault

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 but i still felt responsible for not bringing my husband home alive

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 i think i know

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 how naomi felt

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 once again it felt as though i were dreaming

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 and i would wake up

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 at some point

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 the brook had grown dry

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 and i couldn't fathom how i'd get through the next day

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 not to mention

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 the rest of my life

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 after a while my response seemed mechanical

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 aside from the times i broke down and wept

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 two days later jet lagged and weary

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 and simply filled with grief

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 we held felix's funeral and his ashes

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 were buried

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 if only i could lie down and sleep

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 and wake up to find that i had dreamt everything

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 that had happened over the last few months

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 as a mother of a two-year-old however

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 i had no choice

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 but to pull myself

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 together

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 i won't ruin the rest of the story for you

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 but i bring that to us not

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 out of a sense of just wanting to find the most tragic situation

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 but to highlight what's happening here in very fast time

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 in verses one through six

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 much like alice

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 ruth and naomi are experiencing the same thing

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 especially for naomi

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 she's in a country that's not her own

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 a country where she's not been born

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 and in quick succession

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 she too experiences tremendous loss

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 and she comes

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 like alice as well

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 from a country that knows

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 its own history of turmoil

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 we're told in verse one

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 that this is in the days when the judges ruled

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 if you remember from the story of the bible

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 you know that the time of the judges

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 was after the exodus from egypt

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 it was after god's dramatic deliverance of his people

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 after their time in the wilderness

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 but it was before the reign of the kings

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 it was before david and solomon and saul

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 were in israel

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 and it was a time that was tumultuous

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 israel was often under the rule of other nations

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 it was a time of rebellion

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 where they were constantly going from god

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 and returning to him

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 and as you read the book of judges

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 you notice that

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 the world around them continues to unravel

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 as things become more and more chaotic

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 to the point that there's this question

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 near the end of the book

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 this statement that in israel there was no king

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 which raises a question of

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 where is the king

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 and on top of that we see in verse one

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 there was a famine

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 and so there's chaos in the home country

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 and a famine

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 forcing them to go to a new land

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 they go from judah to sojourn in the country of moab

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 now remember the moabites were the people that were descended from lot

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 lot in genesis was

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 i believe the nephew of abraham

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 and he had chosen to

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 go to the land that was rich and plentiful

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 rather than the land that god had promised

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 and so this was now a land where people worship

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 not yahweh not the one true god

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 but they worshiped false gods

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 like baal and chemosh

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 and so here we have god's people

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 in god's land

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 having to leave for a foreign country

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 for the sake of food

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 by the way

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 do you know what the city bethlehem

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 bethlehem do you know what that word means

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 means house of bread

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 and so in the house of bread

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 there is no bread

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 and so god's people

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 are leaving

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 we find out the name of the husband in verse two

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 the name is elimelech

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 and the name of his wife naomi

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 and then they have these two sons

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 and they go and they dwell

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 in moab

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 by the way the sons names roughly in hebrew

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 translate to weakling one

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 and weakling two

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 and then in verse three

00:15:24.640 --> 00:15:28.759
 much like we heard from the testimony of alas chidzero

00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.860
 but elimelech the husband of naomi died

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:34.720
 and she was left with her two sons

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.620
 these two took moabite wives

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.879
 the name of the one was orpah

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.200
 and the name of the other ruth

00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.580
 they lived there about ten years

00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:44.000
 and both malin and chilian died

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.259
 so that the woman was

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:47.300
 left

00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:49.320
 without her two sons

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.080
 and her husband

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.980
 and the author is intentional here

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.240
 in verses three and five

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.480
 of using that word twice

00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.280
 the word of left

00:15:55.280 --> 00:15:55.759
 by the way

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.940
 just as a teaser

00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:58.400
 for the rest of our series

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:59.900
 we won't talk about this anymore today

00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:01.520
 but there are many words

00:16:01.520 --> 00:16:02.860
 in the book of ruth

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:04.139
 that only appear twice

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:07.600
 and the first occurrence

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.800
 and the second occurrence

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:11.020
 will have great significance

00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.919
 that's all i'm going to say

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.699
 okay

00:16:13.699 --> 00:16:16.960
 and so we see this great tragedy

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.419
 the emotions that alas shares

00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.100
 in her story

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.120
 we can imagine what's going on

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.360
 for naomi especially

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.360
 she's returning to a land

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.340
 with no sons

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.500
 and no husband

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:31.500
 she's too old

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:33.379
 to have more children

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.319
 to provide for her

00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:38.120
 most likely her parents have died

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:42.679
 unable to remarry

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.279
 and probably without

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.240
 any kind of skill

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.720
 to provide for herself

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:49.759
 and so she finds herself here

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.620
 in the midst

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.340
 of tremendous

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.519
 and intense

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.580
 grief

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:58.240
 but much like alas said

00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.980
 naomi too

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.820
 has to keep moving

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:04.339
 and so we see in verse six

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.539
 then she arose

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.279
 with her daughters-in-law

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.359
 to return from the country

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:07.799
 of moab

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.639
 for she had heard

00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.700
 in the fields of moab

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:11.000
 that the lord had visited

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.559
 his people

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.599
 and given them food

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:17.940
 now as i've thought about

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:19.819
 this sermon

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.720
 and this sermon series

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.759
 and talking about suffering

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.700
 as i mentioned before

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.399
 it's it's an overwhelming

00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:25.619
 topic to think about

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.379
 and to talk about

00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:28.399
 because there's so many things

00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:29.599
 we can and do

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.099
 and could and should say

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:34.720
 and so with this passage

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.440
 before us

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.600
 to be able to say

00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.200
 not everything

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.900
 but something

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.240
 we're going to have

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.100
 one question

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:43.079
 and one answer

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:46.000
 from these six verses

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.819
 one question

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:48.400
 and one answer

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.400
 i mentioned the names

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.839
 of some of these characters

00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.100
 but i did not tell you

00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:57.420
 the name of a limelight

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.059
 what it meant

00:17:58.059 --> 00:18:01.940
 the l at the beginning

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.879
 is the same l

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.539
 that shows up

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.240
 in god's name

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.059
 el shaddai

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.279
 which means god the almighty

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:08.419
 and so the l means god

00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:10.179
 the melech shows up

00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:11.139
 in other biblical names

00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:11.599
 that we see

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.440
 like a bimelech

00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:14.639
 and it means king

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:17.799
 and so elimelech

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.940
 literally translates

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.619
 to god

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:21.319
 is my king

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.379
 god

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.200
 is

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.099
 king

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:28.519
 and so indirectly

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.599
 this text

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.240
 is asking us

00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.719
 a question

00:18:31.719 --> 00:18:34.659
 if the house

00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:35.099
 of bread

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.919
 has no bread

00:18:35.919 --> 00:18:39.039
 and god's people

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.519
 have a famine

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.240
 but the pagans

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.619
 don't

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:44.139
 and if god

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:44.899
 is my king

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.519
 is dead

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.579
 is god

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.579
 still

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.439
 the king

00:18:49.439 --> 00:18:53.179
 if god

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:54.079
 is my king

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.559
 is dead

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.599
 is god

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.419
 still

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.539
 the king

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:02.019
 is god

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.500
 still

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.139
 at work

00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:04.519
 in the dark

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:08.679
 it's a question

00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.679
 that naomi and ruth

00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:10.419
 have to ask

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:12.279
 and it's a question

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.399
 that we ask

00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.319
 as well

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.659
 is god

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.419
 still the king

00:19:17.419 --> 00:19:20.059
 if my spouse

00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:20.919
 and i both said

00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:21.480
 i do

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:24.019
 and then a decade

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.420
 later

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.420
 one of us

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.779
 says

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.819
 i don't

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:30.319
 is god

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:30.759
 still

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.539
 the king

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:34.440
 if the relationship

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.940
 that i

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:36.000
 hoped and dreamed

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.940
 would end in marriage

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.779
 ends in heartbreak

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.740
 instead

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:43.759
 is god

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.720
 still the king

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.880
 if a father

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.460
 has a daughter

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:49.120
 and he grows

00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:49.900
 up with dreams

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.400
 of walking

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.799
 her down

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.240
 the aisle

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:53.059
 and he has

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.759
 to bury her

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.660
 instead

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:58.960
 is god

00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.460
 still

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.259
 the king

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.600
 if it feels

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.299
 like my life

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.920
 is filled

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.840
 completely

00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.799
 with scheduling

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.579
 and attending

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.860
 doctor's appointments

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:10.440
 is god

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.079
 still the king

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.779
 if someone

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.380
 who should have

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.120
 protected me

00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:14.880
 and watched out

00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.340
 for me

00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.779
 hurt me

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.220
 instead

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:20.599
 is god

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.119
 still the king

00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.660
 if i get up

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.139
 in the morning

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.960
 and i cry

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.059
 and i go to bed

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.379
 at night

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:25.940
 and i cry

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:28.039
 and i know

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.700
 all too well

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.039
 why

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.200
 or perhaps

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.639
 even more

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.240
 frighteningly

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.339
 i don't know

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:33.639
 why

00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:37.440
 is god

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.079
 still the king

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.799
 when my mom

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.319
 or my dad

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.079
 has to go off

00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.240
 for another

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.099
 deployment

00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:46.480
 and is god

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.679
 still the king

00:20:47.679 --> 00:20:49.500
 if a chaplain

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.000
 comes

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.339
 and knocks

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.859
 on my door

00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:59.919
 and it's a question

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.759
 that if we're honest

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.480
 about the reality

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.819
 of living in this world

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.379
 that every single

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:04.859
 one of us

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.500
 if we have not

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.539
 had to answer it

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:08.099
 will have to answer it

00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.919
 one day

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.920
 so that is why

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.100
 god has given us

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:12.480
 here

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.400
 his word

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:15.460
 is god

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.160
 at work

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.019
 in the dark

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:19.240
 it's a question

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.840
 that we ask here

00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:20.440
 in this room

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:21.440
 inside the church

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.300
 and it's a question

00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:23.000
 that people outside

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.380
 the church

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.420
 are asking as well

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.019
 i've met folks

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.680
 in this city

00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.320
 and other cities

00:21:27.320 --> 00:21:27.640
 who

00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.820
 when it seemed

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.779
 that things were dark

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.660
 they decided

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.120
 that god

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.980
 was not the king

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.819
 and so they walked

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.799
 away from him

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.339
 and his church

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:41.559
 can there be

00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.460
 hope

00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.579
 in the dark

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:49.039
 i told you

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.339
 there was going

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:49.900
 to be one

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.559
 question

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.140
 and one answer

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:55.039
 that's our question

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:57.319
 but this very same

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.160
 text is going

00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:58.839
 to provide us

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.519
 with our answer

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.380
 as well

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:02.440
 we're going to

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.460
 go back to verse 1

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.000
 in the days

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.539
 when the judges

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.120
 ruled there was

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.559
 a famine

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.120
 in the land

00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:09.460
 there's only

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.259
 two other times

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.900
 that that phrase

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.940
 appears in the bible

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.820
 there was a famine

00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:13.920
 in the land

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:16.160
 and both of them

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.559
 are in the book

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.240
 of genesis

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:20.320
 genesis chapter 12

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.539
 and genesis chapter 26

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.620
 speaking of abraham

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.640
 and isaac

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.440
 who had to leave

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.000
 where they were

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.220
 because of a famine

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:28.680
 and if you're familiar

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.360
 with those stories

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.220
 you know that god

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.000
 took them there

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.920
 and then he brought

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.380
 them out

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.640
 with even more

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.359
 than they originally

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.740
 had

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:38.579
 and so as an israelite

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.119
 is listening

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.940
 he's hearing those

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.940
 phrases and thinking

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:43.900
 what is god going

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.380
 to do

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.599
 with this famine

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:48.279
 we've seen his

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.000
 faithfulness

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.960
 in the past

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:52.220
 we've seen the way

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.940
 that god works

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.680
 that famines

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.160
 are something

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.160
 that he often uses

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.300
 to bring blessing

00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:57.620
 on his people

00:22:57.620 --> 00:23:02.740
 we also see

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.900
 an inability

00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.700
 to have children

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.720
 the author doesn't

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.220
 state this

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.800
 but we're told

00:23:07.800 --> 00:23:08.320
 that there was

00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:08.920
 ten years

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.540
 that passed

00:23:09.540 --> 00:23:11.320
 and so the question

00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.320
 that is not

00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:13.120
 explicitly raised

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.560
 is where are

00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:14.080
 naomi's

00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:15.160
 grandchildren

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:17.720
 why did they

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.259
 not appear

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:21.120
 and the original

00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:21.700
 hearers would have

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.140
 thought again

00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:22.860
 back to genesis

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.579
 of sarah

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:25.319
 who was unable

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.000
 to have children

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.740
 and yet god

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.519
 used for a great

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.379
 lineage

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:32.679
 and so we're

00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:33.459
 seeing small

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.219
 notes here

00:23:34.219 --> 00:23:34.979
 of god being

00:23:34.979 --> 00:23:35.439
 at work

00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.039
 in the midst

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.799
 of this tragedy

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.839
 as we hear

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.539
 echoes

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.740
 of stories

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:39.979
 that have

00:23:39.979 --> 00:23:40.539
 come before

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.459
 but then

00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:43.419
 what is implicit

00:23:43.419 --> 00:23:44.659
 becomes explicit

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.040
 in verse 6

00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:48.279
 then she arose

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.920
 with her daughters

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.240
 in law

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.920
 to return

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.620
 from the country

00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.200
 of mohab

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.440
 for she had

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.040
 heard in the

00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:53.759
 fields of moab

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.320
 that who

00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:56.880
 the lord

00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.000
 had visited

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.680
 his people

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.560
 and given

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.580
 them food

00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:03.460
 she heard

00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.140
 in the fields

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.779
 of moab

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.480
 that the lord

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.140
 had visited

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.200
 his people

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.160
 and given

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.019
 them food

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:12.180
 and so we see

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:14.080
 that even

00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:15.000
 in the midst

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.960
 of tragedy

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.060
 god

00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:19.120
 is still

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.039
 at work

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:22.299
 even in the

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.360
 darkest of times

00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.400
 god is still

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.279
 providing for

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.860
 his people

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:27.160
 and protecting

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.519
 them

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.660
 he's providing

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.400
 for ruth

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.000
 and naomi

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.640
 as he brings

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.420
 food to their

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:32.799
 homeland

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.220
 and he's also

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.960
 guiding them

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.960
 ruth and naomi

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.460
 know

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.059
 what their

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.940
 next step

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.620
 is

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:41.000
 and so

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.620
 indirectly

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.660
 god's

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.120
 providence

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.720
 is leading

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.240
 them back

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.840
 to the

00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:45.160
 land

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.019
 of israel

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:51.019
 so we

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.259
 have our

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.640
 question

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:53.740
 is god

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.460
 still

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.259
 the king

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:58.220
 the answer

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.000
 is yes

00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.600
 even

00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.140
 in the

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.460
 darkest

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.559
 of times

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.900
 god

00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.240
 is still

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.220
 at work

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:08.579
 the answer

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.319
 is yes

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.819
 even

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.360
 in the

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:11.680
 darkest

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.600
 of times

00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.660
 god

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.680
 is still

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.519
 at work

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.259
 he's at

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.480
 work

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:17.900
 leading

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.500
 his people

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:20.079
 he's at

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.259
 work

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:20.860
 providing

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.400
 for them

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.299
 and he

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.680
 is at

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:22.960
 work

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.559
 guiding

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:23.900
 them

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:26.360
 that doesn't

00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:26.740
 mean that

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.059
 he's going

00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.700
 to remove

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.660
 every obstacle

00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.539
 it doesn't

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.120
 mean that

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.519
 everything

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.279
 in this

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.880
 life is

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.240
 going

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.819
 to be

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.140
 made

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:34.700
 whole

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:36.640
 but god

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.400
 is leading

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.259
 and guiding

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.319
 and providing

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.680
 even

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.880
 when life

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.059
 goes dark

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:45.980
 god is

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.340
 leading

00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:47.220
 and guiding

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.140
 and providing

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:48.980
 even

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.000
 when life

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.980
 goes dark

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:54.000
 the readers

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.500
 of this story

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:54.900
 would not

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.620
 only know

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.360
 about god's

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.880
 acts in the

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.480
 past in the

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.779
 book of

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.100
 genesis

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.620
 the way

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:58.940
 that he

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.240
 works

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.500
 and the

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.980
 patterns

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.519
 that have

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.880
 been laid

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.220
 down in

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.660
 their stories

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:01.920
 but they

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.380
 would also

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:02.740
 remember

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.259
 that he

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.680
 was the

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:03.980
 god

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.700
 of the

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:04.980
 covenant

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.220
 now

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.539
 covenant

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:06.759
 is a

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.319
 big word

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.759
 there are

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.299
 many different

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.720
 ways to

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.140
 define it

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.480
 but the way

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:09.740
 i'm going to

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.099
 define it

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.500
 this morning

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:10.980
 is this

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.519
 the covenant

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.200
 is god's

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.819
 promise

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.380
 it's his

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.980
 promise that he

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.700
 made in places

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.980
 like ezekiel 37

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.039
 and leviticus 26

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.839
 and his promise

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.359
 is this

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.380
 i will be

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.120
 your god

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:24.480
 and you

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.279
 will be

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.059
 my people

00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:28.000
 and i

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.380
 will dwell

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.059
 with you

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.200
 forever

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.340
 forever

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:33.840
 you

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.200
 i will

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.460
 be your

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.779
 god

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.819
 you

00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.059
 will be

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.539
 my people

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.880
 and i

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.660
 will dwell

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.220
 with you

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.860
 forever

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:41.519
 and so we

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.140
 see here

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.960
 that same

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.460
 god

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:45.600
 in the

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:46.100
 midst of

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.620
 the death

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.259
 of loved

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.620
 ones

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.340
 coming

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.519
 and remaining

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.019
 faithful

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.660
 to his

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:51.960
 people

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:54.000
 and so we

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.600
 as well

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:56.240
 can look

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.940
 to god

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.420
 knowing

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.940
 that he

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.400
 has not

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.160
 given up

00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.960
 on us

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.720
 if we

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.259
 are part

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.759
 of god's

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.140
 family

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.299
 then the

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.680
 presence

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.420
 of tragedy

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.860
 in our

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.259
 lives

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.700
 does not

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.100
 mean that

00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.360
 god

00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.079
 is absent

00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.460
 the presence

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.039
 of tragedy

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.420
 in our

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:12.779
 lives

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.340
 does not

00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:13.579
 mean

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.360
 that god

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.539
 is absent

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:18.440
 the characters

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.779
 of this

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.440
 original story

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.920
 could look

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.200
 to the

00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.519
 character

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:20.960
 of god

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.279
 they could

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.700
 look to

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.200
 the ways

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.519
 that he

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.019
 had provided

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.299
 in the

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:23.680
 past

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.840
 and they

00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.299
 could look

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.980
 as well

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.180
 to verse

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.600
 six here

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:27.920
 that the

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.420
 lord had

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:28.779
 visited

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.740
 his people

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:33.660
 brothers and

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:33.980
 sisters

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:35.859
 the lord

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.720
 has visited

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.220
 us

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.420
 in a

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.980
 much more

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.460
 great

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.839
 dramatic

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:43.180
 and miraculous

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.680
 way

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:45.559
 because unlike

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.420
 those in the

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.039
 old testament

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.819
 who looked

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.539
 back to god's

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:49.940
 redemption

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.640
 from exodus

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.440
 we can

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.319
 look now

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:53.720
 and know

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.400
 even more

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.920
 about his

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.380
 character

00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.059
 than they

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.359
 did

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:58.579
 because we

00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.059
 know that

00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.759
 his promise

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.619
 to be our

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:00.979
 god

00:28:00.979 --> 00:28:01.339
 and be

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.139
 with us

00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:03.259
 was fulfilled

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.119
 in christ

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.619
 that it was

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.099
 christ who

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.779
 came and

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.319
 took on

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:07.759
 the body

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.240
 of a man

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.019
 and lived

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.779
 among his

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.119
 people

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:12.899
 we just

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.519
 finished the

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.000
 gospel of

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.399
 matthew

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.740
 you remember

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.319
 in the very

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.099
 first chapter

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.599
 of matthew

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.339
 jesus is given

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.839
 a name

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.859
 do you remember

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.779
 what it is

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:24.119
 it's emmanuel

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.919
 which means

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:27.019
 god is

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.659
 with us

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:29.279
 and so we

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.899
 now can see

00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.480
 even greater

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.019
 proof

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.379
 and a down

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:32.919
 payment on

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.519
 god's goodness

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.519
 and his

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.859
 love

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:37.779
 and like a

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.319
 good leader

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:41.159
 jesus was

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:41.759
 willing to

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.259
 suffer

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.459
 more

00:28:43.459 --> 00:28:44.639
 than us

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:48.060
 and so the

00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:48.680
 question of

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.200
 why

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.240
 god allows

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.820
 suffering

00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:54.580
 is going to

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:56.060
 go unanswered

00:28:56.060 --> 00:28:58.300
 but instead

00:28:58.300 --> 00:28:58.960
 we have the

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.500
 assurance that

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.160
 in the midst

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.880
 of suffering

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.380
 he is with

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:02.780
 us

00:29:02.780 --> 00:29:05.020
 he is with

00:29:05.020 --> 00:29:05.480
 us and we

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.200
 know that we

00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.080
 can trust him

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:08.560
 we know that we

00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.140
 can trust him

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.660
 because he

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:09.980
 and his

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.580
 providence has

00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.340
 ordained suffering

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:12.560
 but he ordained

00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.259
 the most

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.360
 for himself

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:16.279
 that as

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:17.099
 painful as it

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.699
 is to be

00:29:17.699 --> 00:29:18.479
 separated from

00:29:18.479 --> 00:29:19.039
 someone that

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.539
 you've been

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.779
 intimately connected

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.740
 with for decades

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:23.779
 imagine how

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.899
 painful it is to

00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.719
 be separated from

00:29:25.719 --> 00:29:26.479
 someone that

00:29:26.479 --> 00:29:26.819
 you've been

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.240
 perfectly connected

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.199
 to from all

00:29:29.199 --> 00:29:29.619
 eternity

00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:33.039
 and so that

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.039
 christ in his

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.859
 sufferings is the

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.500
 greater and

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.779
 fuller revelation

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.179
 of god visiting

00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:39.819
 us as he did

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.199
 the people of

00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:41.500
 israel

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:46.319
 when i was

00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:46.960
 growing up

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.359
 i was at a

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.799
 small church

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.099
 in this

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.619
 denomination

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.339
 and i knew a

00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.000
 family there

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.220
 they had a

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.440
 farm a long

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.039
 way away and

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.460
 that was where

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.319
 i i believe i

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:56.799
 rode a horse

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.240
 for the first

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.160
 time and got

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.059
 to experience a

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.000
 different life

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.559
 than a general

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.220
 suburban life

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.819
 that i grew up

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:03.380
 in and that

00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.160
 family had had

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.839
 a very difficult

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:09.019
 past there was a

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.779
 time before i

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.519
 met them where

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:12.639
 they experienced

00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:14.539
 a traumatic car

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:16.460
 accident so the

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:16.920
 mother and the

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.579
 children the father

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.139
 was at home

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:20.980
 and when the

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:22.440
 police informed

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.940
 him of what had

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.420
 happened they

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:25.240
 said your family

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:27.559
 has been in a

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.299
 devastating car

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:30.500
 accident and we

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.299
 have sent them to

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.099
 two separate

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:34.319
 hospitals because

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.119
 there's no one

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.900
 hospital that would

00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.660
 be able to save

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.319
 all of them

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:39.960
 and when we put

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.359
 them in the

00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.559
 ambulance they

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:44.639
 were alive but

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.319
 we cannot give

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.099
 you any guarantees

00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:46.679
 of how they're

00:30:46.679 --> 00:30:50.279
 doing now and

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.059
 taking that news

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.939
 the father had no

00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:53.319
 idea what to do

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:55.240
 he would share his

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.299
 testimony many times

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.839
 and he said that

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.579
 at that moment he

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.539
 was unsure whether

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.659
 to visit his wife

00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:01.619
 whom he'd vowed to

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.659
 forsake all others

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:04.539
 for or to visit the

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.200
 hospital that his

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:05.919
 children were in

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.460
 because they were

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.100
 without a parent

00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:10.420
 and he was afraid

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.019
 at the same time

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.680
 that he would visit

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.600
 the wrong one

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:15.080
 that he would go to

00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.019
 the one with the

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.580
 dead and not the

00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:18.980
 living and in that

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.560
 moment he felt

00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:20.300
 lonelier and more

00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:21.160
 isolated than he had

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:21.940
 ever been and he

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.860
 realized that there

00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:24.360
 was no one in the

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:26.820
 whole world who knew

00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:27.840
 what he was facing at

00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:29.740
 that moment and there

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.539
 was no one who

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:33.539
 understood and then

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.300
 the next thing he

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:35.619
 remembered and thought

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:37.839
 was that Jesus

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:41.220
 understood remember

00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.579
 that Jesus had given

00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.619
 up even more and

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:45.059
 suffered even more

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.139
 than he was even in

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:48.720
 that moment and he

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.680
 remembered that Jesus

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.879
 loved him and had

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:53.099
 died for him and in

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:56.240
 that moment that was

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.539
 the only thing he had

00:31:57.539 --> 00:32:00.799
 that Jesus was faithful

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.000
 to him and in that

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.859
 moment while no one

00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:05.680
 else understood Jesus

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:08.059
 was with him caring

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.380
 for him providing for

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.500
 him and guiding him

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.819
 and that Jesus

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.359
 understood when no one

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.660
 else did

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:17.579
 brothers and sisters

00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:20.259
 Jesus is our great and

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:23.059
 mighty king and so we

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:25.660
 can follow him and we

00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:28.400
 can trust him even in the

00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.700
 darkest of times

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:32.140
 please pray with me

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.860
 dear father in heaven

00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:37.019
 we thank you that you

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.420
 are the king of kings

00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.580
 and the lord of lords

00:32:39.580 --> 00:32:42.160
 we thank you that in

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:44.200
 your sovereignty you

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:46.200
 gave yourself the greatest

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.660
 suffering in this world

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:50.400
 and so even when we don't

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.840
 know why we know that you

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.840
 are with us

00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:55.360
 that you're guiding us

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:57.400
 you're protecting us and

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.420
 you're providing for us

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:59.500
 we ask that you would

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:01.279
 remind us of that now

00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.660
 here this morning we

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.580
 ask all of this not

00:33:04.580 --> 00:33:05.519
 because we have earned

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.519
 it but because your son

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.620
 has earned it on our

00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:10.279
 behalf and so we ask it

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.860
 in his name amen

00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:22.899
 god

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.299
 you