WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.100 Have you ever had that joyful feeling of being set free? 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:13.240 Earlier in the week, Alyssa's parents came and picked up our three kids. 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:20.480 Yes! Freedom! Freedom of the bondage of snotty noses. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:27.480 Freedom from the bondage of being woken up at 6.30, if not earlier, every single day. 00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:30.260 Freedom from fights over dinner. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:36.340 I remember a similar feeling once I'd finished university and started working full-time. 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:44.439 I didn't have this burden on my shoulders of always having another exam or assignment or something coming up. 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:49.900 That feeling of freedom when you first get your driver's license. 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:52.659 And you can go anywhere. 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:57.439 And invariably, at my time, we just all went to Macca's. 00:00:58.339 --> 00:01:04.239 That feeling when maybe the first feeling when lockdown happened a couple of months ago 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:11.140 and there wasn't the daily grind to get out of the door with kids or to go places and we could just stay at home. 00:01:11.259 --> 00:01:16.479 Or maybe that freedom when the restrictions opened up and we could go out again. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.939 How wonderful is that feeling of being set free? 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:26.659 Unfortunately, all of those freedoms I mentioned were fairly temporary. 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:28.880 We picked up our kids yesterday. 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:32.659 I did really miss them, but we've got them back. 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:36.659 You know, the full-time job that you get gets busier than just the nine to five. 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:39.780 Moving out of home brings all kinds of burdens. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:44.239 And you just wish you had, you know, mum and dad to cook and clean for you again. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:49.040 Well, we can get a taste of freedom and long for it. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:54.859 God's good news for us is that he offers us the most wonderful freedom. 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:57.579 It is called redemption. 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:01.819 We are set free from the bondage of sin and death. 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:03.460 Our debt is paid. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:07.239 Our sin and shame are covered in the blood of Jesus. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:09.299 And this freedom is not short-lived. 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:11.459 It is eternal. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:14.780 And whilst we only see it dimly now, 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:19.979 we will enjoy this freedom to be the people that we have been made to be. 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:25.840 And I think this is the most wonderful thing that we can be rejoicing in. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:32.500 But I wonder if we can take this redemption, this freedom for granted. 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:38.020 I wonder if we can forget how amazing this freedom is. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:41.000 And I wonder if we can chase bondage too quickly. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:45.760 Today we are finishing our short series in the book of Ruth. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:51.760 And as we have seen Naomi and Ruth, they have gone from ruin to refuge. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:55.100 And now they are heading towards redemption. 00:02:55.099 --> 00:02:59.479 They moved from Bethlehem in Israel into Moab. 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:05.039 Naomi's sons found wives. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:10.099 But Naomi's husband and sons died. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:16.759 And so Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law, came back to Bethlehem with Naomi and Ruth, 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:19.719 you know, their tails between their legs as they came back. 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:21.539 They aren't slaves yet. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:30.359 But these two women were within touching distance of being forced to sell themselves to just stay alive. 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:36.160 As we look at the conclusion of this short story about God's people, 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.840 we will see three things this morning. 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:44.420 We will see a Redeemer sought, a Redeemer found, and a Redeemer born. 00:03:44.920 --> 00:03:51.420 And we will be reminded of the joy that we have today in our redemption that God has given us. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:55.900 So first of all, we're going to see the Redeemer that is sought. 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.960 Ruth has been picking grains in Boaz's field. 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:04.460 He has been very kind and very generous with her. 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:09.420 And Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, has just found out that it's Boaz. 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.460 Boaz is a family member. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:19.780 And in Jewish law, a family member could redeem a person stuck in debt or stuck in slavery. 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:24.180 So Naomi devises a plan. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.720 A plan to get herself and Ruth out of their situation. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:30.900 Please have your Bibles open. 00:04:31.020 --> 00:04:32.900 Ruth chapter 3 verse 1. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:36.260 You can be in the app following these points and reading along in the Bible. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.220 But we're going to start in Ruth chapter 3 verse 1. 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:41.920 And Naomi said, 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:45.699 My daughter, I must find a home for you where you will be well provided for. 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:50.000 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.480 Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 00:04:53.780 --> 00:04:57.000 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:59.800 Then go down to the threshing floor. 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:03.939 But don't let him know you were there until he has finished eating and drinking. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:07.719 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:10.639 Then go, uncover his feet and lie down. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:12.439 He will tell you what to do. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:17.560 And so Ruth goes down to the threshing floor where they have just brought in the harvest. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:20.319 And Boaz, he's in good spirits. 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:22.920 The grain has been harvested. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:24.680 It's been brought in. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.840 And maybe out of a desire to protect the grain and protect his earnings, 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:33.639 he goes and lies down at the end of his pile of grain. 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:35.060 Verse 8. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:38.600 In the middle of the night, something startled the man. 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:42.240 He turned, and there was a woman lying at his feet. 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:43.439 Who are you? 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:49.060 Which I think is a fairly small exclamation to just find a woman lying at your feet when you're asleep. 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:50.460 Who are you, he asked. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:53.360 I am your servant Ruth, she said. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:06:00.819 Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian redeemer of our family. 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:02.939 Poor old Boaz. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:05.759 There's women plotting to get him married. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:10.259 But Ruth's actions can seem very strange to us. 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:16.960 And it's important to note here that there's not even a hint of sexual inappropriateness. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:21.720 Ruth lies down at his feet, not by his side. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:28.100 But in this situation, Ruth is claiming a new relationship, a new level of intimacy. 00:06:29.540 --> 00:06:34.160 In chapter 2, when she first met Boaz, Ruth said to Boaz, 00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:36.520 Why are you being so kind to a foreigner? 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.160 I'm not even your servant. 00:06:38.320 --> 00:06:39.940 Why are you being kind to me? 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:43.639 But now, Ruth's language has changed. 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:47.639 She describes herself as your servant Ruth. 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:50.399 Spread your garment over me. 00:06:50.719 --> 00:06:53.360 Protect me, because I am your family. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:57.379 Boaz is someone who can redeem her. 00:06:57.720 --> 00:06:59.180 Someone who can save her family. 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:00.639 And she's putting that to him. 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:03.480 Please, save my family. 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.540 I really love this. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:07.080 It's like a love story. 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:08.460 It's really great. 00:07:08.840 --> 00:07:10.800 And Boaz responds, verse 10, 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.240 The Lord bless you, my daughter. 00:07:14.080 --> 00:07:17.100 This kindness is greater than which you showed earlier. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:21.340 You have not run after younger men, whether rich or poor. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:24.520 Boaz says that she is being kind, 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:29.139 because it seems that there were younger men that Ruth could have approached. 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:32.259 And he's inching towards a problem. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.899 There is a closer relative. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:40.180 There is a redeemer closer in law and in the family 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:42.620 that should have been the first to redeem. 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:44.319 Verse 12, 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:48.779 Although it is true that I am a guardian redeemer of our family, 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:52.819 there is another who is more closely related than I. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:54.519 Stay here for the night. 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:57.759 And in the morning, if he wants to do his duty as your guardian redeemer, 00:07:57.899 --> 00:07:59.620 good, let him redeem you. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:05.199 But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives, I will do it. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.719 Now, I really love this interaction between Ruth and Boaz, 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:13.379 because it comes across as a love story, 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:17.639 but it doesn't play like a normal Hollywood love story. 00:08:18.259 --> 00:08:20.360 Usually in your Hollywood movie, 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:22.620 you know, two people, star-crossed, 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.900 Romeo and Juliet types, 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:25.660 they would fall in love, 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:28.120 they would profess their love to each other, 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:32.519 and then they would fight at all costs to be together. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:35.120 You know, they would go off on a lope, 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:35.940 they will do anything, 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.779 they'll fight any battle, whatever, 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.919 just so that they can be together. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.180 But that's not Boaz and Ruth. 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:47.100 Boaz and Ruth are both far too godly people for that. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:51.980 Boaz says, well, look, there's somebody else who's got the first responsibility. 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:54.700 And if he does that, that's fine. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.379 I'm not going to fight. 00:08:57.420 --> 00:09:01.180 I might love the idea of being married to you and caring for you, 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:03.420 but he's got first rights and that's okay. 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:06.139 But if he is not willing, 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.779 as surely as the Lord lives, I will do it. 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:13.699 That is a very large oath to make. 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:17.220 I really love this story because 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:20.399 Boaz wants to do things in the right way. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:21.980 He wants to obey God. 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:25.059 He wants to honor God and he wants to obey the Lord. 00:09:26.199 --> 00:09:29.139 And so Ruth has sought a redeemer. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:33.500 But Boaz needs to go and speak to the other one, 00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:35.179 to the other redeemer who is closer, 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.379 so that we can see the redeemer that is found. 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:41.320 Boaz goes to meet the man who is closer 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:44.600 and we see the wonderful godly character 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:46.439 as the redeemer is found here. 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:50.080 He doesn't just, you know, take Ruth off 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:51.519 and they don't just elope somewhere. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:54.919 He doesn't sneakily redeem her on the side 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.320 and then deal with the consequences. 00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.659 He's not creeping around in the dark. 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:03.179 He went to the town gate and met with the other redeemer. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:03.940 Verse 2. 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:08.820 Boaz took 10 of the elders of the town and said, 00:10:09.280 --> 00:10:09.920 sit here. 00:10:10.380 --> 00:10:11.180 And they did so. 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:13.340 Then he said to the guardian redeemer, 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:15.320 Naomi, who has come back from Moab, 00:10:15.380 --> 00:10:17.900 is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative, 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:18.440 Elimelech. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.300 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention 00:10:21.300 --> 00:10:23.420 and suggest that you buy it 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:25.440 in the presence of these seated here 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.820 and in the presence of the elders of my people. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:29.960 Boaz, again, obeying the law, 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:30.920 wanting to honor God, 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:34.620 he is giving this closer relative the right to redeem it. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.079 And the man agrees. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:37.000 All right. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.399 I will redeem it. 00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:43.639 But Boaz has very cleverly hidden one piece of information. 00:10:44.199 --> 00:10:44.799 Verse 5. 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.419 Then Boaz said, 00:10:46.419 --> 00:11:00.039 The man says, 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:04.159 I can't redeem it because it will endanger my own estate. 00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:06.879 Now, this could be because he's already married. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.659 Maybe he already has a wife and children 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:11.320 and he needs to take care of them. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.500 He doesn't want to add on another wife 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:18.379 and potential rivalries of inheritance. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.320 And so the man says, 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.120 You buy it yourself. 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:21.860 You redeem it. 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.480 And he takes off his sandal. 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:25.939 I thought about taking my shoe off, 00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:27.399 but, you know, that's a bit annoying. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.480 So he takes off his sandal 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:32.100 and hands it to Boaz as a sign. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.320 And Boaz says, 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:38.960 Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:42.379 all the property of Elimelech, Kilian, and Marlon. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:46.720 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Marlon's widow, 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:50.580 as my wife in order to maintain the name of the dead 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:51.500 with his property 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:53.760 so that his name will not disappear 00:11:53.760 --> 00:11:55.960 from among his family or from his hometown. 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:58.200 Today you are witnesses. 00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:00.720 Then the elders and all the people of the gate said, 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:02.620 We are witnesses. 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:04.899 May the Lord make the woman 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.320 who is coming into your home 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.080 like Rachel and Leah, 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:11.019 who together built up the family of Israel. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:14.919 It's a really strange but exciting development. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:18.560 It's not the usual response to an engagement. 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:19.600 You know, there's, 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:21.000 I don't know if there was cheering. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.419 It's not the kind of, you know, 00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:25.720 I've gone to my parents 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:27.259 and I've told them I'm engaged 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.299 and there's, you know, 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:30.120 cheering and celebration. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:34.519 But there is a blessing that is made here. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:39.080 And again, Boaz is shown to be a man of standing, 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:41.360 a godly man who obeys God. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.600 He cares for the poor. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:44.580 He loves and he shows mercy. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:47.139 I just want to take a very brief aside 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.460 to talk about how great Boaz is. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:54.940 When people see men or boys doing the wrong thing, 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.440 being buffoons or idiots, 00:12:57.900 --> 00:13:00.120 people often have a saying, 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.980 boys will be boys. 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:06.860 And I think that can be really dangerous 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:08.740 that we just allow boys to get away 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.740 with doing dumb things 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.560 and don't hold them accountable. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.480 But I want to suggest a new phrase. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.860 Boys should be Boaz. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.060 It's not quite as catchy, 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.920 but I think there's something good about it. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.500 The genealogies in the New Testament 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:27.920 aren't something that we spend a lot of time on, 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:30.399 but there is some really interesting detail. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:33.220 Boaz is the son of Salmon. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.519 We see that at the end of Ruth. 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:37.860 He's the son of Salmon and Rahab. 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:42.340 Rahab is one of the four significant women 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.879 in Jesus's genealogy. 00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:46.000 Boaz's mom, Rahab, 00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:48.120 she was a prostitute 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:51.459 who helped the spies get into Jericho. 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:55.419 When Israel was coming through into the promised land 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:59.439 to defeat the stronghold of Jericho, 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.240 Rahab helped them 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.780 and then she joined the people of God 00:14:03.780 --> 00:14:06.000 as they were heading into the promised land 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.300 and she became part of the people of God. 00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:12.120 I wonder what kind of mother she was. 00:14:13.780 --> 00:14:15.540 Was she someone who had seen 00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:18.100 the kindness and mercy of God, 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.640 who had raised her son 00:14:20.640 --> 00:14:23.000 to show that same kind of mercy? 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:28.000 And here we see how merciful and kind Boaz is. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:30.120 He's portrayed as a good boss. 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:33.639 He goes above and beyond 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.000 what is needed to do to protect Ruth. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.960 Ruth came to get food at harvest time 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.879 where the harvest would have been very high. 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:45.679 The wheat, the barley would have been very high. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:49.099 This means that it actually would have been 00:14:49.099 --> 00:14:51.659 very possible for Ruth 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.379 to be taken off into one of the fields 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.559 and raped by one of the workmen. 00:14:57.059 --> 00:15:00.399 But Boaz told the men not to lay a hand on her. 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:03.259 He placed Ruth with the other female workers. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.500 He gave her a blessing. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:08.519 Boaz is a really wonderful, godly man. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.840 And even when Ruth lays at his feet, 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.159 he doesn't take advantage of a woman 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.379 being there in the middle of the night 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.840 asking for help. 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:22.120 He wants to do things in the daytime, 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.639 in the morning, to do things legally. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.179 And remember, this is in the midst 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.279 of the period of the judges. 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.379 The period of the judges 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:33.720 was when there was great moral failure, 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.980 so great that God would send armies 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.939 against his people 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:39.740 to bring them back into dependence upon him. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:43.920 But here, Boaz stands out 00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:46.180 as a model of godly character 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.300 for us to copy. 00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:49.220 So let's see if we can get that 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.400 as a catchphrase, 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.220 that boys should be like Boaz. 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:57.920 So Boaz has been found to be the redeemer. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:00.820 But this is not the end of the story. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.800 Redemption comes fully 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:05.840 from the birth of a child. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.720 This is our third point today, 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:10.180 that we see a redeemer is born. 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:13.540 And verse 13 sums things up nicely. 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.200 Verse 13, 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:17.259 So Boaz took Ruth, 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:19.000 and she became his wife. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.620 When he made love to her, 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.259 the Lord enabled her to conceive, 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:24.940 and she gave birth to a son. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:25.920 Isn't that wonderful? 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.660 It's easy to think this book 00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:29.759 is just about this couple, 00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:32.160 how God has brought them together 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.059 and their family. 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:35.600 But it's not just about them. 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.100 In one sense, 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.779 it's actually more about Naomi 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.659 than Ruth, 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:41.439 even though the book is called Ruth. 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.419 Verse 14, 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.779 The women said to Naomi, 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:48.379 Praise be to the Lord, 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:51.360 who this day has not left you 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.500 without a guardian redeemer. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.659 May he become famous throughout Israel. 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:58.659 At the start of this book, 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.539 Naomi was cursing God. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.079 Cursing God, 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.799 saying that he had brought calamity upon her. 00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:07.740 But now she can see 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:09.659 that God is to be praised. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.480 She has blessed God, 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.740 and now people around her are blessing God, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.799 because how God has cared for her. 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:19.259 And she was not left without a redeemer. 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.339 Verse 15, 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:22.139 He will renew your life 00:17:22.139 --> 00:17:24.720 and sustain you in your old age 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.819 for your daughter-in-law, 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.419 who loves you 00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:30.039 and who is better to you 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.079 than seven sons, 00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:32.240 has given him birth. 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:34.399 And whilst having a son 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:36.480 and grandson will continue the family 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.879 and be good for Naomi, 00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:39.740 the women have just said something 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.599 really interesting. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.459 They have used the word love 00:17:43.459 --> 00:17:45.720 for the first time in this book. 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:48.439 For what can at first 00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:50.039 seem like a love story, 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:52.639 this is actually the first time 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:54.419 the word love has been used, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.339 and it's used to describe 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:59.059 Ruth's love of her mother-in-law, 00:17:59.619 --> 00:17:59.919 Naomi. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.240 The word love wasn't used 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.699 of Elimelech and Naomi. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:05.319 The word wasn't used of 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.059 Marlon and Kili and the sons 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.939 for their wives. 00:18:08.659 --> 00:18:10.519 It's not even used to describe 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.500 Boaz and Ruth. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.579 But Ruth loved her mother-in-law, 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.019 Naomi. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.799 At the start of this book, 00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:20.159 Naomi was filled with too much grief 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.060 to see Ruth, 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.400 who had stayed by her side. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.000 When Naomi comes back 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.720 into Bethlehem, 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:27.440 she says, 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.340 my life is empty. 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:30.800 God has brought calamity 00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:31.460 against me. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.960 She couldn't even see 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.000 the value of Ruth. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.180 She, 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.440 who is worth more than seven sons, 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:40.140 a perfect number of sons. 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:43.400 This is a relationship 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.900 that goes beyond 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.980 the letter of the law. 00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:47.620 Ruth could have left 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.360 her mother-in-law, 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.500 but she chose 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.460 to show kindness 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:53.100 and faithfulness, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:55.680 like the God of Israel. 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:57.600 It is as if 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.480 Naomi is the main character 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.220 of the story, 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.500 and everyone else 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.780 is used by God 00:19:02.780 --> 00:19:04.200 to show blessing 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.240 and kindness. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.799 Boaz and Ruth, 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.039 and even their baby 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.920 that is born, 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.200 Obed, 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.059 show kindness 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.759 and God's blessing 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.339 to Naomi. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.440 This conclusion 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.160 of the story 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.400 points to the love 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:18.960 of God, 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.099 not from a story 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.859 about a man 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.339 and a woman 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.099 loving each other, 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.620 but the love 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.440 of a foreigner 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.359 to her aged 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.460 Israelite mother, 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.980 her mother-in-law 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:31.039 who never fully 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.819 appreciates her. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:34.279 It shows the supernatural, 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.960 other-person-centered 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.819 love of God 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:38.059 that has worked out 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.579 the redemption 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.240 of Ruth and Naomi. 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:42.539 Now, we can be left 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:44.039 wondering what the point 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.079 of this little story 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.720 is in the Old Testament, 00:19:47.419 --> 00:19:48.399 but the conclusion 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.439 makes it very clear. 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.679 Verse 17, 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.480 And they named him Obed. 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.879 He was the father 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.480 of Jesse, 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.079 the father of David. 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:59.480 This book is the prequel 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.639 to the great King David. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.799 Boaz and Ruth 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.819 are the great-grandfather 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.539 and great-grandmother 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:09.579 of the most significant 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.879 king of Israel. 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.379 Ruth and Naomi 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:15.079 have been set free 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.779 by the birth 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.740 of their son, 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.079 but all of Israel 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.119 would be redeemed 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.779 and saved 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.500 by the birth 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.299 of David, 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:23.039 who would be king. 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:25.740 This little genealogy 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.259 points to the much 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.259 larger genealogy 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.700 of Jesus, 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:32.039 where we see 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.559 that the birth 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.980 of that king, 00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:34.960 that king Jesus, 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.920 would bring redemption 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:38.100 for all people, 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.920 the son who would lead 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.720 to the salvation 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.799 of all of us. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.200 The book of Ruth 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.539 is a really sweet 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.700 little part of history 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:50.980 contained in four 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.660 short chapters. 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.640 We've seen Naomi 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.180 and Ruth go from ruin 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.740 to refuge 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.200 and to finally 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.320 be redeemed. 00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:01.519 They've been set free 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.560 as they are brought 00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:04.000 into Boaz's family. 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.140 He has shown them 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.180 so much kindness. 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.360 And this is a wonderful picture 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:09.500 of the redemption 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.420 that God offers for us. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.500 But we don't need 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.960 another person 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.960 to be set free. 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.340 And I think this is 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:18.960 one of the unhelpful things 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:21.180 I hear in our culture today, 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:23.060 that we need to find 00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:24.240 someone to be set free. 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:24.880 You know, girls, 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.860 you need to find a man 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.680 like Boaz 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:28.120 and then you can be happy. 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:31.080 He is a wonderful model 00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:32.060 of a godly man. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.720 He is great. 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.880 He is a man 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.840 that all men 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:36.400 should see 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.660 and be encouraged by. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.100 But marriage 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:40.660 is not our path 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.279 to redemption. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.440 I'm trying to teach 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.400 my five-year-old daughter 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.720 this. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.299 She's grown up 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.340 on a steady diet 00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.180 of Disney princesses. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:51.880 And they teach you 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.500 much about 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.220 how you need 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.120 to find a man 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.060 to save you. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.080 But there's only one man 00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:57.900 who can do that 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.060 and that is Jesus. 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.600 1 Corinthians 6 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.380 reminds us 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.799 that we were bought 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.080 for a price. 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.240 That we were redeemed 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.100 by God 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.920 at the cost 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.080 of Jesus' blood. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.779 A costly, 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.380 incredible gift 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.840 that we can never repay. 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.820 Far more significant 00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:18.100 than being redeemed 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.639 from a life 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.139 of struggle 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.179 and poverty 00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:21.559 for a widow 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.579 like Ruth. 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:24.519 God has redeemed 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.240 his enemies 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.839 and shown 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:28.119 his loving kindness 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.319 to us in Jesus. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.459 And in the every day 00:22:31.459 --> 00:22:32.659 that he allows us 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.799 to continue to live 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.959 and to follow him. 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.299 Let me encourage 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.139 us all 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.219 not to sell 00:22:39.219 --> 00:22:39.879 ourselves 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:41.079 into slavery 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.639 again. 00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:43.379 For us 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.059 in Sydney 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:45.019 we probably 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.719 don't see 00:22:45.719 --> 00:22:46.419 the impact 00:22:46.419 --> 00:22:47.179 of slavery 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.960 that much. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.400 The work 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.360 of IJM, 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.160 International Justice 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.580 Ministries, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.120 do some amazing 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.680 work 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.980 seeing people 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.980 in slavery 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.019 be set free. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.019 But for many 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.580 of us 00:22:59.580 --> 00:23:00.759 we are not 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.380 that kind 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.000 of slave. 00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.620 We can be 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.080 a different 00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:04.940 kind of slave. 00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.660 We can have 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.019 a different 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.880 kind of slavery 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.519 that we need 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.160 to be redeemed 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.460 from. 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:11.380 We can sell 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:11.820 ourselves 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:12.620 into slavery 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.300 of things 00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:13.720 that will 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.500 make us 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:14.880 happy. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.680 We allow 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.420 other things 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:17.920 to capture 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.660 our hearts 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:20.120 and to enslave 00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:20.840 us again. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.240 We can be 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.340 slaves to our 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.100 work thinking 00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.920 that pursuing 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.000 work will 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.040 bring us 00:23:27.040 --> 00:23:27.480 happiness 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.400 and set us 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:28.759 free. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.980 We can be 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.800 slaves to social 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.160 media. 00:23:32.540 --> 00:23:33.519 Getting attention 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.140 and responses 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.019 to posts 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.600 that we make 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.319 it's really 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.859 addictive. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.579 It rewires 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.559 our brains 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.619 and we 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.980 can think 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.419 that we need 00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:44.759 to have a 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.399 certain amount 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.099 of clicks 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:47.259 to show 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.719 that we have 00:23:47.719 --> 00:23:48.579 self-worth. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.619 But again 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.579 that is just 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.419 another kind 00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:52.219 of slavery. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.000 Our self-worth 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.579 was shown 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.539 in the cross 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.519 that Jesus 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.319 would redeem 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:57.799 us. 00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:58.699 That he would 00:23:58.699 --> 00:23:59.659 set us free. 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.299 So don't 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.980 enslave 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.240 yourself again. 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:04.980 There are 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.839 so many 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.579 idols that 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.179 can capture 00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:08.259 our hearts 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.480 that we 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.099 can become 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.960 enslaved to. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.000 I'm not 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.579 going to be 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.419 exhaustive 00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:13.960 and list 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.579 them here 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.699 but there 00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:16.439 are so many 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:17.079 things that 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.699 can fill 00:24:17.699 --> 00:24:18.119 up our 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:18.599 hearts 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.819 and replace 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.879 our God. 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:21.799 Our band 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.119 is going to 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:22.740 come up 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.960 and sing 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.259 for us 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.799 in a moment 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.639 but there's 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.099 another issue 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.460 that we can 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:27.899 have 00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:29.399 which is 00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:29.919 ignoring 00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:31.419 when people 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:33.019 share a 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.579 difficult word 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.960 for us. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.599 If you've 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.099 ever had a 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.599 friend say 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:35.839 to you 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.279 oh look 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.639 friend 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.559 James 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.839 I wonder 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.319 if this 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.579 is an 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:40.759 issue. 00:24:40.919 --> 00:24:41.339 I wonder 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.679 if you're 00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:42.000 pursuing 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.459 your career 00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:42.839 too much. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.579 I wonder 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.059 if you're 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.539 on social 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.799 media 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.419 too much. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.500 If our 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.159 response to 00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:47.639 that is 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.000 to get 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.500 defensive 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:50.379 it probably 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.139 is an 00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.699 issue of 00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:52.359 idolatry. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.399 God has 00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.039 redeemed us. 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.459 He has 00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:55.959 bought us 00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:56.879 for a price. 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.419 We are 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:58.759 his. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.759 We need 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.159 to remember 00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.919 that all 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.420 all that 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:01.820 God has 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:02.240 done for 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.380 us 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:02.940 but also 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.820 be people 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:04.700 like Boaz 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.700 who offer 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.259 redemption 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.080 and forgiveness. 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.320 One of the 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:10.140 issues I have 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.400 with our 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.140 current culture 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.620 is the 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:13.160 culture of 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.200 cancelling 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:14.560 people. 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.060 It's called 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.840 cancel culture 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:17.380 where people's 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.320 past sins 00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:19.100 things that they 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:19.539 have said 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.080 may be an 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:20.480 inappropriate 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.000 joke 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.160 they get 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.680 brought up 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.039 and people 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.400 just get 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:23.840 cancelled 00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.880 and there 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.300 is no 00:25:25.300 --> 00:25:25.980 way forward. 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:27.660 It is a 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.259 way of saying 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.519 that there 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.140 can be no 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.620 forgiveness 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:31.440 no redemption 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.140 because you 00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:32.680 have made 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.360 a mistake 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:35.160 but that 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.500 is all 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:35.960 of us. 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:37.980 God 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:39.220 offers all 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.640 of us 00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.140 redemption 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.220 and forgiveness. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.220 Let's not 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.720 be people 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.120 that just 00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:45.040 push others 00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:45.580 away but 00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:46.440 continue to 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.240 offer redemption 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.980 and forgiveness 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.320 even when that 00:25:49.320 --> 00:25:49.840 is incredibly 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.280 hard. 00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:51.880 Ruth 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:53.140 and Naomi 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.700 have 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.200 finally been 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.820 redeemed. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.620 They have 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.259 been set 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.680 free 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.720 but the 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.200 redemption 00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.720 that we 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.120 have been 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:00.500 offered 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.600 is far 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:01.920 better. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.799 And we're 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:02.980 going to 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.319 sing about 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.740 that now.