WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:07.980 Well, good evening. It is a privilege to be able to share the Word of God with you this evening. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:14.140 Like Ian this morning, I am afraid I have to apologise. I am not the person who was built in for tonight. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:21.519 And if you want to hear Graham speak, you'll have to come next week and hear him open up our next series in Titus. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:26.019 But for the moment, we're in Ruth chapter 4. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:39.960 Before we think of Ruth 4 anymore, I want to take a moment, and for us to take a moment together, to consider how God is at work in each of our lives. 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:51.079 Perhaps for some of us, we are sceptical. Maybe we don't believe in God at all, or perhaps you think that he is some distant person. 00:00:51.079 --> 00:01:01.039 Having set the universe in motion, he now sits back and watches from afar, impersonal, unmoved, uncaring. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.640 Perhaps you're struggling to see God's hand in your life at all. 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:15.680 Maybe there's a lot of mess, a lot of tragedy, and you're just confused about what God is up to. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:19.780 Or perhaps your life is just plain comfortable. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:24.200 You're busy, and you really aren't sure what God is up to. 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:29.660 And if we're really brutally honest with ourselves, that's just an intellectual question. 00:01:30.720 --> 00:01:32.840 Work comes and goes day by day. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:39.840 And what God is doing in our lives is perhaps just a thought, and not a reality. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:45.500 I suppose if you wanted to twist the question around, we could ask this. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:56.740 Do we believe that God cares and is intimately involved in both the big story and in our little stories? 00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:02.560 And if we keep that in the back of our minds, we'll return to that idea later on. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.439 Let's recap where we've been. 00:02:05.859 --> 00:02:11.120 We've come to the last chapter in Ruth, chapter 4. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:21.719 And over the past four weeks, we have seen how Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons left Bethlehem for Moab. 00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:26.860 Disaster after disaster befalls our little family. 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:33.020 And after ten years in a foreign land, only Naomi has survived. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:41.040 And with one Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, she travels back to her native home. 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:47.260 We find her at the end of chapter 1, bitter, discouraged, hurt. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:50.720 And without much hope, it would seem. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:59.099 In chapter 2, we see how Ruth goes and seeks to provide for herself and Naomi, her mother-in-law. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:04.680 She works hard and she gets noticed by one of the extended family. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:12.259 And through the kindness of this man, Boaz, Ruth and Naomi are well provided for in the short term. 00:03:12.259 --> 00:03:22.879 And behind the scenes, I hope that we have began to see how God is at work through his care and providence, but also through his people. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:30.579 In the third chapter, we found Ruth and Boaz following God despite questionable circumstances. 00:03:30.580 --> 00:03:37.440 And coming to the end of the chapter, we see again Boaz providing for Ruth and for Naomi. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:44.280 And he promises that he will be their provider and redeemer if at all possible. 00:03:45.140 --> 00:03:46.840 But there's a complication. 00:03:47.880 --> 00:03:50.680 And we left it on something of a cliffhanger. 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:54.620 Someone else has the right to redeem if he wants to. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:04:00.719 And we left these two widows waiting to see how their situation would work out. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:07.039 For Ruth, this must have been particularly nerve-wracking. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:11.080 She knew she would have a prospective husband by the end of day. 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:13.680 The only question was, who would it be? 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:19.120 Just before we go any further, let's pray together. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:26.500 Father, and as we dig into chapter 4, let's see what God has to say to us. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.220 Let's pray. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:39.040 Father, if we are honest with ourselves, we realise that we need your insight and clarity this evening. 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:48.459 We need you, by your Spirit, to enable us to see your care and providence for us. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:57.759 And so, as we come to this incredible chapter of your word, would you give us ears to hear, eyes to see, 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:05.680 and would you equip us to live for you this day, this week, and for the rest of our lives. 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:09.180 Father, we need you and you alone. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.699 And so we pray, would you speak in power this evening. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.259 In Jesus' name. 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:16.540 Amen. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:16.680 Amen. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:20.980 Let's jump to the end of the chapter. 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:24.160 Verses 16 to 22. 00:05:24.540 --> 00:05:26.280 We'll just read it again just now. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:30.220 And we'll see that God caused the king's story. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:32.480 Verse 16 says, 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:47.540 This then is the family line of Perez. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:49.900 Perez was the father of Hezron. 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:51.719 Hezron, the father of Ram. 00:05:52.039 --> 00:05:53.659 Ram, the father of Aminadab. 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:55.819 Aminadab, the father of Nashon. 00:05:56.239 --> 00:05:57.839 Nashon, the father of Salma. 00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:59.739 Salma, the father of Boaz. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:01.579 Boaz, the father of Obed. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:03.579 Obed, the father of Jesse. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:07.159 And Jesse, father of David. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:15.800 As we've come through the story of Ruth, we've seen a continual thread through the story. 00:06:16.460 --> 00:06:22.120 Interwoven throughout, we've seen that God has been working behind the scenes. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:38.699 And although the narrator never even mentions God, he makes amply clear through so-called coincidences, through the interactions of the characters and through the structure of the book, that nothing here is happening by chance. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:46.000 And in these verses, at the end of the story, we see what this book is really all about. 00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:52.639 We see why it's actually included in the Bible at all and what its primary purpose is. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.899 We're given a genealogy from Perez to David. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.039 And I wish I could say with a clear conscience that I love genealogies. 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:07.039 That every time I come to one, I start, you know, just getting wet at the mouth. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.000 But sadly, that's not true. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.180 I struggle to read through these lists of names. 00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:20.960 But if we're paying attention to this genealogy, suddenly this book begins to fit into the bigger picture of the Bible. 00:07:22.080 --> 00:07:31.540 Where at the start of the book we found ourselves in the days of the judges, we now see that this book is a bridge right back from the patriarchs of Israel. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:39.180 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his 12 sons right through here to the beginning of Israel's monarchy. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.520 About 800 years of history are represented here. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:55.419 And what we could so easily read as a vaguely interesting but ultimately irrelevant fable about the hardship of a widow's life in Israel 00:07:55.419 --> 00:08:05.000 is actually the vital link in the Bible to teach us where God is going to bring his chosen king from. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:13.439 Boaz is going to be the great grandfather of the greatest king in Israel's history. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:17.819 And Ruth is going to be David's great grandmother. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:23.620 But there's been a lot of intricate planning for this to fall into place, hasn't there? 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:26.839 Ruth has moved nations. 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:33.100 She's converted from the idols of Moab to having true faith in Yahweh. 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:35.659 She's proven her faithfulness. 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:39.960 She's caught the eye of this obscure farmer from Bethlehem. 00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:45.779 And I hope that we don't look at that all and go, well that's wonderful chance. 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:51.560 I hope that we see clearly that God is behind all of this. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:57.860 Despite the plans of questionable merit or outright disobedience. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:04.539 Despite all the social problems, the personal hardships that we find in this little story. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:10.480 And despite all of the general immorality and chaos in the background of this book. 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:12.379 Despite it all. 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:17.200 God caused the king's story. 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:20.600 God had a plan for his people Israel. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:24.080 And that plan involved the king called David. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:29.680 And this was a little part of that incredible tapestry of events. 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:35.360 That led to King David being God's choice as king of Israel. 00:09:36.660 --> 00:09:41.500 That ought to be such a comfort to us here this evening as Christian people. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:48.800 To know that our God has everything under his complete control. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:52.919 And that he is able to bring together his plan. 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:56.799 In an utterly unexpected and surprising way. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:59.000 From our point of view. 00:09:59.439 --> 00:10:02.259 From within the story it all looks like a mess. 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.919 There's national problems. 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:05.939 There's insecurity. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:08.019 There's family tragedy. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.639 And there's personal struggles. 00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:13.879 And sometimes we look at from within our lives. 00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:18.559 And maybe the words of Naomi in chapter 1 are all too fitting for us. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:20.819 Life is better. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:28.419 And we cannot see how anything good will come of our hurts. 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.699 And of our worries. 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.099 And of our struggles. 00:10:32.359 --> 00:10:34.159 Don't misunderstand me. 00:10:34.579 --> 00:10:37.059 I'm not making light of our pain. 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:38.639 And of our hardship. 00:10:39.719 --> 00:10:42.439 But we can be utterly confident. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:45.339 That God is in control. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:49.660 That he does have his grand plan in hand. 00:10:49.660 --> 00:10:52.019 He is building his church. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:55.019 And nothing will stand in his way. 00:10:57.060 --> 00:11:02.220 But perhaps all this isn't actually the struggle in our minds here this evening. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:08.840 Maybe we trust that God is able to work on the grand scale of human history. 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:12.740 Yes, he can deal with kings and important people. 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:18.300 Yes, we can picture him as some sort of divine chess player. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:24.279 But we struggle to see how God is at work in our lives. 00:11:26.099 --> 00:11:29.599 And so we find a second theme in our story. 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.959 God not only caused the king's story. 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:35.519 But he also cared for the widow's story. 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:39.139 God cared for the widow's story. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:43.379 In our passion to skip to the bigger story. 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:46.159 Sometimes we can do what I've already done this evening. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:49.220 We skip over the story, the narrative. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:53.600 And we get right into what we think is the meat. 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.199 And we miss out the people. 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:59.439 We miss out their circumstances. 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:03.759 And in our quest to get to the kernel of truth. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:07.759 We forget that there are people involved. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.220 But God cares for the widow's story too. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.879 How did he care? 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:18.399 How did he show his care for these two ladies? 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.080 He isn't really mentioned here much at all. 00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:24.720 Well, we see that God cared for the widows through a man. 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:27.559 Here are these two widows. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:31.360 And they await the news of what is going to happen to them. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.720 And so the story continues. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.460 Continues as we've read. 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.860 Boaz goes up to the town gate. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.980 And remember that this is like the town hall. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.960 This is where all the legal proceedings of the day would happen. 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.879 And Boaz gathers all the necessary parties. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:49.840 He gathers the other relation. 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.860 The quorum of elders. 00:12:52.040 --> 00:12:52.620 The witnesses. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.420 And then Boaz. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.240 This righteous man. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:59.720 He makes a business proposition to his friend. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.960 Here's land. 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:04.720 And it doesn't have a legal heir. 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:06.879 It's a great investment. 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:10.639 It's real prime property estate. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:14.820 And initially the other relation jumps at the opportunity, doesn't he? 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:16.680 But wait. 00:13:17.400 --> 00:13:18.560 There's a snag. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:22.420 There's a duty that comes with the land. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:27.600 Boaz is just a little bit crafty in how he puts it all across, isn't he? 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:31.240 Yes, you'll have to marry Ruth. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.240 Ruth the Moabite. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:36.440 He's very explicit in that. 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:41.620 And what he's saying to this other fellow is that this definitely isn't kosher. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:46.379 He'd be investing in this land. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:52.759 He'd be investing in this land only for the child of this foreigner to inherit a double portion of his own estate. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:14:02.360 What began looking like a great investment turns out to be awkward socially and makes very little business sense. 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:06.819 And this other redeemer cannot redeem this land. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:13.000 Have you ever noticed that this other man's name is never mentioned? 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:17.340 I love how the writer puts this across. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:20.440 This man, he's concerned with his estate. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.700 He's concerned about his name. 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:26.720 But he's always referred to as just the kinsman redeemer. 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:32.840 I'm not saying that this man was a bad person from what little we have. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.080 I conclude he's just an ordinary man. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.240 Just a normal guy. 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:38.159 Just playing it safe. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:42.759 He's following his head and he's probably following his heart as well. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.940 What's presented to him is not an attractive offer. 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:52.820 And so we start to see that this whole interaction is dripping with irony. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.759 This man is unnamed. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:57.360 He's the kinsman redeemer. 00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.860 But he isn't. 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:02.220 He's the kinsman redeemer. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.360 But obviously he isn't the kinsman redeemer. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:07.320 Because he doesn't redeem anyone. 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.399 He has a name but no substance. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:16.579 And without the name he fades into obscurity. 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:21.199 Through his safe choices and his good investment plans. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:24.640 But Boaz buys the land. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:27.180 He takes on this care of duty. 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:32.940 And there's all sorts of weird and wonderful things happening with sandals. 00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:36.400 I was going to wear a pair just to show you. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:38.580 But I decided that was too much for anybody. 00:15:40.140 --> 00:15:44.940 And through Boaz we see that God cared for what happened to these widows. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:51.260 God had provided laws which enabled Boaz to redeem them. 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:55.300 And their land and to give them security as part of his family. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:16:01.200 But laws don't work without people who are willing to put them into action. 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.980 And Boaz here takes the initiative. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:09.360 And he is God's instrument for caring for Naomi and Ruth. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:18.700 And perhaps here we need to take a moment to think about how we are carrying out our Christian duty to care for the people around us. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:25.159 We all know that God has this incredible plan, don't we? 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:31.360 We know that God has this plan primarily to save people from their sin. 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:34.199 And to bring them into relationship with himself. 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:40.579 But God has chosen the weirdest way of giving legs to his plan possible. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:49.279 He has chosen to use us, his people, to make this known to the entire world. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:55.980 God has thousands of angels at his control. 00:16:57.199 --> 00:17:01.839 But each one of us is the ambassador of Jesus Christ. 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:06.200 And we have been entrusted with this incredible good news. 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:09.859 But if we don't make this good news known, 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:16.220 we act more like the nameless man in this story than like Boaz. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:18.299 Think of it this way. 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:24.599 If we believe that every Christian has the calling on their life to go and to make disciples, 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:29.859 how often is it irony that I would be called a Christian? 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:35.059 How often do I look at the investment required, 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:37.579 or to the loss of my name, 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:40.419 or to the social awkwardness of the situation, 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:46.259 and rather than show true care and love for the people around me, 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:50.720 people who desperately need the gospel that I have, 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:54.180 how often do I stay quiet and play it safe? 00:17:54.180 --> 00:18:00.360 God cares for the widows, 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.820 for the poor, 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.880 for the oppressed, 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.160 and for the needy. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.019 He cares for the abused, 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.120 and the marginalized, 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:07.980 for the hurt, 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.100 and for the broken. 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:12.580 And he has provided us as the church 00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:14.880 with the necessary message, 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.160 and manpower, 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.060 and above all else, 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.359 his spirit within us 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:20.419 to go and to act in his name. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.259 So we must reflect. 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:26.220 We must reflect, 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:28.539 personally and corporately, 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:32.079 how are we fulfilling God's call on our lives? 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:40.179 God cared for the widows through a man. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.259 But we see that God cared for the widows in a son. 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:50.939 We read this blessing from the elders of the town. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:55.019 May God make this woman like Rachel and Leah 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:57.759 who built up the house of Israel. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:02.579 These two women were wives to Jacob, 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.480 the first man who was called Israel, 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:07.500 about 500 years or so before 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:10.099 in Boaz and Ruth tie the knot. 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:13.519 And this was the highest compliment 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.980 that you could get in Israel as a woman. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.859 This was the highest compliment 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.319 that could be paid to Ruth. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:23.680 She's gone from being the Moabites 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.839 to being one of, 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.220 blessed as one of the matriarchs of Israel. 00:19:29.959 --> 00:19:31.779 This incredible turnaround. 00:19:34.699 --> 00:19:37.699 And it seems odd to us. 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.379 It seemed odd to me 00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:41.179 because I looked back to the story 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:45.139 and the story is filled with strife and contention. 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:47.539 And for about a week I wondered, 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.720 was this really a blessing 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.879 or was this a curse? 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:54.960 But we look back to the opening verses of Ruth 1 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:59.800 and we find that Ruth was married for 10 years before in Moab 00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:01.320 and there were no children. 00:20:02.260 --> 00:20:05.500 And maybe we start to see a little bit of a parallel 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.020 between Ruth and Rachel, 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:09.940 a woman who was barren for many years 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:12.860 and who cried out countless times to God. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:19.559 God cared about Ruth and about Naomi. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:24.339 These women who have suffered through so much tragedy. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:28.779 And we read these incredible words about Ruth. 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:31.559 The Lord enabled her to conceive 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:34.199 and she gave birth to a son. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:37.779 What joy there must have been 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:40.960 in the household with the birth of this little one. 00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:43.700 The ladies of the town gather together 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:45.360 to bless Naomi now. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.700 And it's interesting how much further 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.120 they're willing to go than the men. 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:52.420 The men say, 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:55.120 oh, we hope that you'll do well in the local area. 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.460 The ladies say, 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:59.259 we hope that this person's famous in all of Israel. 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.860 They have the knack for blessing people. 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:08.839 And Naomi takes this child 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:11.799 as if it were her own son. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.099 And they speak of this child 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.519 as if he is the redeemer. 00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:20.179 As if this infant was the one 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:22.299 who would save Naomi from her situation. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.139 This grandchild gave her the hope to keep on going. 00:21:27.979 --> 00:21:29.839 He renewed her vigor for life 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:32.659 and would care for her in her old age. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:37.799 And you can see the joy 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:39.740 and we can wonder in it. 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:42.299 But sometimes when we read a story like this, 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:44.219 we think quite mechanically, don't we? 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.579 At least I know I do. 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:50.099 And we need to remember 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:52.279 that nothing would undo the tragedies 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:54.019 that Naomi has already gone through. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:59.039 This child doesn't replace Elimelech, 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:01.160 Mahlon and Kilion who died. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:04.480 And we need to be careful not to think 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:07.339 that the tragic Moab years 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.799 would have been erased from the mind 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:12.000 with this child being born. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:14.420 But it does point forward 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:16.039 to a new beginning for this family. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:20.400 We see a hopefulness in this. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:23.119 A looking forward to better times. 00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:25.799 And a reprieve from the sadness 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:28.299 that has marred so much 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:30.480 of these ladies' lives. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.579 I'm sure there's many of us 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:36.759 that can look back 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.140 and we can see God giving us 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.579 similar reprieves 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.700 through the hardships. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.120 Perhaps we didn't recognise them 00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:46.140 at the time. 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:50.140 But God has been quietly providing us 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:52.420 with the hope and the joy 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.420 even in the middle of darkness. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:59.259 Maybe in our case it looks very different 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.600 to how it does here. 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:04.560 But again, what comfort we can take 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:07.519 in knowing that God cared for these widows 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.380 through a son. 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:18.279 As we begin to pull everything together here, 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:22.320 as we begin to conclude this chapter, 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:25.220 we need to come back out 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:27.200 from the little story 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:30.460 and look again at the big story. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.839 I'm sure that Ruth and Boaz 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.879 would have been surprised enough 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:37.319 to know they were great-grandparents 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.939 to a great king. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.799 If we remember the law, 00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:44.240 a Moabite wasn't even meant 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.740 to enter the temple 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.819 or into the tabernacle 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:50.119 for ten generations. 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:53.319 And yet their great-grandson 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:55.219 would build the temple. 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.599 But little did they know 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:02.199 that they appear 00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:04.599 in an even greater king's pedigree. 00:24:05.739 --> 00:24:06.579 In Matthew 1, 00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:08.819 we find the genealogy of Jesus Christ. 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.519 And we find that 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.739 this little story of Ruth 00:24:12.739 --> 00:24:14.939 was a link in the chain 00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:17.279 of God's eternal grand plan 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.279 to bring his son into the world 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.879 to freely give salvation 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:23.339 to all people 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:25.299 who would accept him. 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.819 And as we think back 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:29.599 to our initial questions 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.720 about God caring 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.599 for both the big picture 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.980 and the little picture, 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.920 ultimately we find our answers 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.259 to these at the cross, 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.779 don't we? 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:43.139 rather than seeing God 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.980 as some impersonal 00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:47.359 cosmic chess player, 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:50.139 one who cares nothing 00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:52.200 to sacrifice a few pawns 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.119 to win the game, 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:56.819 we find that he cares so much 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:58.839 that he sends Jesus 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:00.599 into this world 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:03.460 that is so broken. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:05.799 And he suffers 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:07.160 all the pain 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.079 that we deserve 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:10.039 to enable us 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.840 to come into 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:12.400 an intimate relationship 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.640 with himself. 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:15.960 You see, 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.100 God's big story 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.480 had a purpose. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.340 And that purpose 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.819 is to break into 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:23.380 each and every one 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:25.160 of our little stories, 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:27.799 so marred by all our sin 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.940 and folly. 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:31.519 and to care 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.100 and to provide 00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:34.160 for us 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:36.700 and to redeem us. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.019 God cared. 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.519 God caused 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.680 the king's story 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:44.080 and God cared 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:45.460 for the widow's story. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:49.779 And God brings it all together 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.100 in the end 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.920 at the cross. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.420 And so, 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.759 I would invite you 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.720 just to take a moment 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.660 as we finish 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:59.920 and consider again, 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.500 how is God working 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.779 in your life? 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.880 And how is that knowledge 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.300 going to change 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:08.160 your attitudes 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:10.320 and how you live 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.460 this week? 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.620 Amen.