WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:05.960 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:09.060 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:10.120 Join us. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:15.660 We had a great week at VBS. 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:21.080 It was so much fun to get to talk about God's Word, talk about trusting God with our kids. 00:00:21.580 --> 00:00:23.519 And we're going to keep talking about that this morning. 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:27.060 They learned lots of great Bible stories this week. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.820 We're going to talk about a great story this morning. 00:00:30.959 --> 00:00:34.219 It's one of my favorite stories in all of God's Word. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:35.539 It's the story of Ruth. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:38.780 We're going to look at the whole book. 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:42.079 It's not a long book, so we'll make it through. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:44.599 And we're going to talk through that story as we go. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:47.060 It might be helpful for you to have your Bible open. 00:00:47.820 --> 00:00:49.039 It's toward the beginning. 00:00:50.099 --> 00:00:53.159 Joshua, Judges, Ruth, right before all the first and seconds. 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:58.879 If you get a Bible out of the pew in front of you, it's on page 222. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:03.399 Or on your phone, it's page Ruth. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:07.799 You can just type Ruth in, I think, is how that works. 00:01:07.939 --> 00:01:08.700 It's really easy. 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.719 But let's pray together, and then we'll look at God's Word. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:21.200 Father, thank you for being faithful to us. 00:01:21.539 --> 00:01:24.299 Thank you for meeting with us even this morning. 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:30.219 Now, as we open your Word, might we hear your voice clearly? 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:31.439 That's what we need. 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:38.120 Might we know your heart more deeply as we look at your Word? 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:43.659 Would you speak to us, Holy Spirit, that we might hear and know and follow? 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:46.319 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:46.439 Amen. 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:55.259 The book of Ruth does, of course, feature a woman named Ruth and her story. 00:01:55.259 --> 00:02:03.179 But the first person on stage, as the curtain opens, the last one on the stage as the curtain 00:02:03.179 --> 00:02:06.259 closes is a woman named Naomi. 00:02:07.619 --> 00:02:13.479 And the story begins for Naomi in very mournful tones. 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:18.619 In the days when the judges ruled. 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:25.479 Now, many of God's people in those days when the judges ruled were wandering from God, doing 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:26.879 whatever they wanted. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:34.939 And sure enough, as we look at the beginning of Ruth facing famine, Naomi and her husband, 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:39.060 Elimelech, wander away from God's promised land. 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:45.159 And whenever that happens in the story, whenever God's people leave the land that He's taken 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:50.319 them to without a direct command from Him, it's not good news. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:51.479 It's a bad sign. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:58.280 Sure enough, as the story goes, just a little while later, Elimelech dies. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:04.480 And then the two boys, Malon and Chilion, marry Moabite women. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:10.699 But then those boys both die. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:19.819 And so we get to verse 5, and it tells us about the woman who has started the story here on 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:20.439 stage. 00:03:20.839 --> 00:03:22.219 Where does she find herself? 00:03:22.799 --> 00:03:30.359 The woman, Naomi, was left without her two sons and her husband. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:33.259 Tragic, right? 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:39.579 As you might imagine, there's a lot of weeping in the first chapter. 00:03:40.179 --> 00:03:52.099 Naomi is faced with this terrible suffering, this deep grief, widowed, childless, isolated, 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.199 and away from friends and family and community. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:00.979 Many of us know those feelings, don't we? 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:08.199 When we were in seminary, Christy and I were so excited to find out we were expecting our 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:08.819 first child. 00:04:08.899 --> 00:04:09.719 We'd been praying for this. 00:04:09.799 --> 00:04:11.039 We were overjoyed. 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:19.620 And then a few weeks later, we were equally devastated to find out that we'd suffered a 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:20.300 miscarriage. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:22.680 And we were crushed. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:24.779 What's happening? 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:25.699 What do we do? 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:27.539 We'd never walked through this before. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:36.360 The loss of a child and the joy and the hope that comes with children is so painful. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:43.180 Others of you share this particular grief with us, with Naomi. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:49.939 Naomi, all of us have suffered pain and grief in one way or another, haven't we? 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:57.379 And we can imagine at least a bit as we put ourselves in Naomi's shoes what she must have 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:00.280 been feeling here in this situation. 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:04.360 Tearful, weeping over and over. 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:12.080 I don't know what has caused all of your tears, but we've cried them, haven't we? 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:13.480 We've been there. 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:18.259 It could be you've prayed and prayed and still lost a child. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:27.040 Maybe you've heard the word cancer and felt the fog and the darkness just kind of move in 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.639 and seem to settle over you. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:36.199 Maybe you've tried to love and forgive and to do everything God tells you to do and you've 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.899 still found yourself in the midst of a painful divorce. 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:42.819 And it's hurt. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:53.199 In the darkness or pain of any of these situations, many others, it's easy to look around and conclude 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.639 what Naomi concludes here. 00:05:55.639 --> 00:06:02.479 Listen to what she tells her friends when she gets home to Bethlehem, verse 19. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:09.800 When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them and the women said, 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:10.939 Is this Naomi? 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.879 And she said to them, Do not call me Naomi. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:21.219 Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:25.280 I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty. 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:32.680 Why call me Naomi when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.120 upon me? 00:06:35.820 --> 00:06:38.440 God is against me. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:45.700 The tragedy and suffering in her life has led her to that conclusion, hasn't it? 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:49.259 His presence seems distant. 00:06:50.479 --> 00:06:53.120 His promises seem false. 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:56.500 His character seems undesirable. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:06:59.599 Can you blame her? 00:07:01.539 --> 00:07:04.060 Have you felt that way too? 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.360 I've trusted you. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.039 God, I've tried to follow you. 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:15.040 I've wanted to hold on to hope, but... 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:22.540 And so what happens in Naomi's story through the rest of the book of Ruth is that God demonstrates 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:30.460 that despite the very understandable feeling that God is against her, quite the opposite is 00:07:30.460 --> 00:07:32.160 actually true. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:37.540 God is actually full of faithful love. 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:41.480 God is still with Naomi. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:49.760 His character is trustworthy, and His promises are greater than she could even imagine and 00:07:49.760 --> 00:07:50.480 for her. 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:54.280 But right now, she's bitter. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:07:58.660 Don't even call me Naomi. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:00.939 It means pleasant. 00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:04.360 Call me Mara. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:06.700 It means bitter. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:09.939 That's where she is. 00:08:10.640 --> 00:08:16.240 And yet, even in the midst of her bitterness, there's already another name through which 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:20.420 God is giving a glimpse of His faithful love to Naomi. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:25.560 It's Ruth, which means comfort. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:33.399 By all accounts, Naomi should have come home to Bethlehem completely alone. 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:40.220 But something amazing, unexpected, startling to God's people reading this has happened in 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:42.620 the heart of this Gentile woman. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:49.220 It's not merely that she deeply loves her mother-in-law, which many cite as one of the top Old Testament 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.620 miracles through the whole thing. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:53.460 It's not true. 00:08:55.460 --> 00:09:02.399 But more than just loving her mother-in-law, she loves Yahweh, the God of Israel. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:07.620 She's willing to follow Him into what is a seemingly hopeless future. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:09.799 What's ahead of her back there? 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:10.820 There's nothing. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:15.860 She's got a family probably back home, and she could have stayed there. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:19.700 But she goes with Naomi back to Bethlehem. 00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:23.919 Naomi understands how unreasonable this decision is. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:28.799 She tells Ruth the only wise thing is for Ruth to remain in Moab. 00:09:29.579 --> 00:09:31.659 And the other daughter-in-law does that. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:40.719 But Ruth clung to her, verse 14, and says, verse 16, 00:09:42.099 --> 00:09:47.500 Do not urge me, Naomi, to leave you or to return from following you. 00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:52.000 For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:57.100 Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 00:09:57.460 --> 00:10:00.240 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:07.740 May the Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:10.019 Isn't that beautiful? 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:16.580 One of the Bible's great statements of loyalty, of faithful love. 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:18.980 In the mouth of Ruth. 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:26.480 The words indicate, even better than we can translate them, a profound faith in Israel's God. 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:35.340 And her actions, Ruth's actions, the way she treats Naomi, demonstrate a profound covenant commitment. 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:40.279 Like the God of the covenant who sticks with His people no matter what, 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.519 Ruth will not let go of Naomi. 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:52.679 Naomi, comfort is returning with Naomi to the promised land and the God of the promise. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:11:04.500 But as she comes back, reconnects with her friends, the pain of the suffering, the story she has to tell, is too much. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:10.419 The shouting of her grief in her heart is still too loud for Naomi to hear comfort. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:14.080 God still seems against her. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:22.960 In any case, Naomi and Ruth settle back into Bethlehem with pretty dim prospects, right? 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.080 Think about it for a minute. 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:25.980 No land. 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:31.100 No man to provide and harvest the field. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:35.540 No income source for either of them. 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:43.439 But God is about to show His faithful love to them, this time through Boaz. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:56.279 Boaz enters this story because Ruth goes looking for favor, the word means grace, from someone, gleaming in someone's field. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:12:04.740 And she just so happens, chapter 2, verse 3, to end up in a field belonging to Boaz. 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:11.240 Now, it's important to understand what's going on to know what gleaning was in ancient Israel. 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:22.620 Gleaning is something that God provides for and establishes in His law that He gives to His people in order to provide for the widow, for the poor, for the foreigner. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:28.960 What it is, is when you harvest your field, God says, you're to leave bits around the edges. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:38.440 That these who don't have can come and gather for themselves, glean, gather these extra portions for themselves. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:51.299 God's loving law is designed specifically to provide for the material needs of those on the margins of society like Ruth and Naomi. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:13:03.519 And Boaz well represents the heart of his God by meeting her, speaking to the men working in the field to provide protection for her, 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:07.919 and then telling them to make sure she gets extra, all that she needs. 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:11.320 Drop some extra bits behind you when she's nearby. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:12.080 Leave some more. 00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.519 Let her go wherever she wants. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:17.460 The heart was not just, well, see how much you have to leave on the edge. 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:22.500 The heart of God's law was, Boaz knew it, care for those like this. 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.720 Provide for them. 00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:25.660 And Boaz demonstrates that, doesn't he? 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:34.280 Listen to what he tells Ruth when she comes and asks and has been gleaning in his land. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.900 She says, why? 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.500 Why are you being so nice to me? 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.340 My translation. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:45.720 Boaz answered her, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:50.899 How you left your father and mother in your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 00:13:51.280 --> 00:13:53.720 She doesn't know what this people and their God are like. 00:13:54.800 --> 00:14:01.320 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:05.660 under whose wings you have come to take refuge. 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:11.679 Boaz says, I've seen you demonstrate faithful love like Yahweh's, like our God's. 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:16.279 And I'm now going to show it to you as well. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:21.179 This is what it's like to be under his wings. 00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:23.480 Boaz says, don't miss this, Ruth. 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:27.719 I want you to know what it's like to live under Yahweh's good care. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:32.899 In fact, as you read through the story, he sends her home with barley more than once. 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:37.120 And the amounts of barley she goes home with are intentionally laughable. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:42.919 The people in that day would have known how much it was, and it would have been hard to imagine Ruth carrying them. 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:45.439 She might have struggled under the weight of so much barley. 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:48.860 You never came home from gleaning with barley like that. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:54.379 But Boaz insists in chapter 3, when he's loading Ruth up with barley again, 00:14:54.379 --> 00:15:00.879 he says, you must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law. 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.600 What's happening? 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.700 What's God doing? 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:13.899 God is showing Naomi that she is empty, as she said, in order that he may fill her. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:18.639 That's the kind of faithful love he has. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:21.240 We dare not minimize her emptiness. 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:30.000 But we dare not overlook God's full provision, as he has faithfully demonstrated his loving care for her. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:33.279 And she actually begins to hear it and see it. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:35.679 She doesn't miss it entirely this time. 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:40.120 Verse 20 of chapter 2, she says to Ruth, when she comes back with all this barley, 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:50.080 may he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:57.159 His, Yahweh's, faithful love has not left her empty or alone. 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:03.820 But at this point in the story, we've got to ask, are Ruth and Naomi just going to survive? 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:10.960 Eking by on the gleanings they can get and some occasional generosity from the guy who owns the field, 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:14.720 God has an even greater provision for them. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:17.940 Relational on top of the material provision. 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.580 Again through Boaz. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:26.620 Again through the loving nature of God's law that Boaz embraces from his heart. 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:32.260 Now I need to say this, Ruth chapter 3 is not dating advice. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:42.360 I have three young daughters, and I would never encourage any of them to find a husband through the methods used in Ruth chapter 3. 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:44.860 That's not the point of Ruth 3, okay? 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:47.120 I want them to listen carefully to that. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:57.139 But much of what develops as you read through Ruth 3 is connected to a part of God's law that provides for something called a kinsman redeemer. 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.299 What does that mean? 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:02.679 Basically, it's more than this, but here's the essence of it. 00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:11.599 This idea that God has designed of a kinsman redeemer is for someone to bring help to a relative who's about to lose his land, 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.579 which is a huge deal, right? 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.919 Someone who needs an heir. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:21.700 Someone who's died and left a widow uncared for. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:26.180 And in this case, all of these apply, don't they? 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:28.840 And Naomi knows it. 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:33.640 She knows what her only chance is to live in this land. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:41.279 She knows Boaz is one of those relatives who could redeem them, and so she concocts a plan. 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:43.880 That's what chapter 3 is having going on. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:50.520 She's sending Ruth back to Boaz, anxiously hoping that maybe this would work out. 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.700 It's a poignant scene in chapter 3. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:58.220 Ruth sneaks up on a sleeping Boaz, lies down at his feet. 00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.460 Verse 8, 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:05.860 Doesn't happen every day. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.220 He said, 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.559 It's dark. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.000 She answered, 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:20.799 It's that word for that part of God's law we were just talking about. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.019 And he said, 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:24.240 May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:27.059 You have made this last kindness greater than the first, 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.740 and that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:32.480 And now, my daughter, do not fear. 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:35.000 I will do for you all that you ask. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.240 For all my fellow townsmen know that you're a worthy woman, 00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:40.779 and now it is true that I am a redeemer. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:45.440 Yet, there is a redeemer nearer than I. 00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:49.940 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you good, 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.440 let him do it. 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.539 But if he's not willing to redeem you, 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:56.140 then as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.740 Rest. 00:18:58.080 --> 00:19:00.420 Lie down until morning. 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:03.240 He reassures her again, right? 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:08.600 But Boaz is committed to following God's law in this matter. 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:11.900 He finds the man who is the closer relative, 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:16.420 and it looks like maybe this sweet romance between Ruth and Boaz 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:18.200 is not going to work out after all. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.420 There's another guy, and this guy is very interested 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:24.200 in taking on the responsibility of the kinsman redeemer. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:28.980 The whole conversation exchange at the beginning of chapter 4, 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:33.080 they take sandals off, and they strike deals with each other. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:40.000 Primarily, what it's highlighting is the costliness of Boaz's redemption. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:49.039 The other guy is interested, but he decides he can't afford to take on the land and two widows. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:54.559 He backs down, and Boaz steps up. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:58.400 He will marry this Moabite widow. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:03.279 He will continue to provide for Ruth and Naomi. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:08.440 He will see to it that they experience faithful love. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.460 So Boaz and Ruth get married. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.359 Soon they have a son. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:16.359 Naomi's family line will continue. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:22.960 The boy that she holds in her arms and sweetly that she gets to help raise and care for 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.099 is clearly a gift from God. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:29.839 But he doesn't erase the pain of the boys Naomi lost, 00:20:30.679 --> 00:20:34.899 but he does remind her that God has not abandoned her in that pain. 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:42.240 Listen to what good friends Naomi has who help her realize that important truth. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.259 Chapter 4, verse 14, 00:20:44.259 --> 00:21:09.259 Do you have friends like that in your life? 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:15.640 Friends who listen to your lament without judgment as far as we can tell? 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:22.259 And who also rejoice with you in God's faithful love and help you see it when you struggle? 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:25.140 God has not left you, Naomi. 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:29.059 He will restore you in your old age. 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:29.980 Remember Ruth? 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.759 What a gift. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:36.099 And now this boy, God will redeem. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:42.839 Don't we all need friends in the body of Christ to speak into our pain 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:45.500 and remind us that God's love is real? 00:21:46.939 --> 00:21:49.179 Shouldn't we all be such friends? 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:53.139 It's not perhaps the main point of the book of Ruth, 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:57.099 but can we just stop and realize what a great privilege it is 00:21:57.099 --> 00:22:02.899 that God would allow us to be demonstrations of instruments 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:06.860 of His faithful love to others who are hurting? 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:15.420 Ladies, I think this story in particular reminds us that God has specifically gifted 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:21.460 many of you with the ability to reflect His image and His character 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.280 in doing this well. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.759 I'm so grateful for that. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:30.500 Ruth reflects God's faithful love. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:34.559 Boaz reflects God's faithful love. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:41.400 Naomi's friends, the women of the town, reflect God's faithful love. 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:47.799 We see the faithful love of God demonstrated by persistent presence in the midst of pain. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.839 Ruth wasn't going anywhere. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:54.059 She wasn't going to let Naomi weep alone, was she? 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:59.940 See it through practical help at the point of need. 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:08.539 Boaz wasn't going to let a widow remain empty when he had any power to care for her. 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:13.700 We see it by words of hope that point others to God. 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:18.940 Naomi's friends weren't going to let her miss God's faithful love in her life. 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:21.779 Who needs you to love them like that? 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:27.880 That's part of why we're gathering tomorrow night, to talk together about grief. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:32.700 Because it's so easy to grieve alone and we need each other. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:38.940 It's a big part of what we get to do day by day as we share life together in small groups 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.080 throughout the year. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:47.359 Because our culture pushes us toward individualism and isolation and we need each other to experience 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:55.819 the faithful love of God through the presence and the help and the encouragement of His people. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:24:00.799 Christi and I needed that when we suffered the miscarriage. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:08.359 And many brothers and sisters in that seminary community came and cried with us and cared for us 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:13.099 when we struggled through grieving together, didn't know how to handle it, needed help. 00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:15.839 And it was such a gift to us. 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:22.240 Christi and I have needed that here more recently in the midst of anxiety and fear. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:26.859 And so many of you have loved us so well, shown us Jesus. 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:27.899 Thank you. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.000 Who needs you to cry with them? 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:37.779 Who needs a meal, a babysitter, a surprise gift? 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:43.299 Who needs you to point them to God's faithful love in their lives so they don't miss Him 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:49.279 or forget that He really is for them despite all the evidence to the contrary that they see? 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:55.980 One of my favorite pictures of God working in our lives during hard times 00:24:55.980 --> 00:25:03.160 is a picture of God weaving a beautiful tapestry together with both light and dark colors, 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:06.039 joyful and sorrowful times. 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:12.240 On this side of heaven, though, we stand behind the tapestry 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:19.579 and usually see only the knotted ends, the frayed edges of what God is doing. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:25.019 If we could just get on the other side of the tapestry, we could see God doing something beautiful. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.980 But that's not our place. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:36.119 We live on the underside with painful circumstances where God's purposes are unclear. 00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:40.079 Here's an example where you look on the right 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:46.099 and you see this beautiful picture of the repentance of the prodigal son. 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:51.719 And then on the left, the backside of this tapestry, 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:57.419 you see all these strands and it's actually kind of confusing. 00:25:57.719 --> 00:25:59.179 If you didn't have the picture on the right, 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.399 you wouldn't really know what you were looking at, would you? 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:04.679 If you're just looking at the left side, 00:26:04.719 --> 00:26:07.099 if you're just standing behind the tapestry, 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:09.740 you might well be confused or discouraged. 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:13.959 This image of two sides of a tapestry 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:18.539 comes from a poem of unknown origin popularized by Corrie Ten Boom. 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.740 Let me share it with you. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:25.500 My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.380 I cannot choose the colors. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.240 He worketh steadily. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.279 Oft times he weaveth sorrow. 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:37.000 And I in foolish pride forget he sees the upper 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:39.599 and I the underside. 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:44.099 Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:47.740 shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:53.240 The dark threads are as needful in the weaver's skillful hand 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:57.160 as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned. 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.039 He knows. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.859 He loves. 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:03.099 He cares. 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.399 Yeah. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.139 That's the message, I think, to Naomi. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.299 Over and over. 00:27:11.719 --> 00:27:13.419 And to us, I know. 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.379 I love. 00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:17.119 I care. 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.619 He knows. 00:27:19.959 --> 00:27:20.519 He loves. 00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:21.819 He cares. 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:24.059 Nothing this truth can dim. 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:28.879 He gives his very best to those who leave the choice with him. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:35.919 God is the loving weaver in all of our stories. 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:40.839 Always faithfully working even when we can't see what he's doing. 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:46.039 Maybe in your story you're seeing a lot of knotted ends 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:49.879 and frayed edges from where you sit right now. 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.599 It's often where we find ourselves. 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:57.019 God often doesn't give us a glimpse at the front side. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:01.419 Rather, he gives us a glimpse of himself, 00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:04.439 like what you get this morning in his word. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:10.619 Himself weaving away with faithful love for us. 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:14.319 Notice this one last glorious time for Naomi. 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:17.899 Naomi couldn't possibly see what God was up to, 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:20.039 where he was taking her and her story. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:25.279 In fact, she never knows in this life the full outworking of his gracious, 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:28.359 glorious purposes through all of this. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:34.779 Ruth's son, whom Naomi cares for, is Obed. 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:41.019 He was the father of Jesse, the father of King David. 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:44.259 That's how Ruth ends. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:46.119 Salmon fathered Boaz. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.140 Boaz fathered Obed. 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.940 Obed fathered Jesse. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:53.339 And Jesse fathered David. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.740 David. 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:57.160 At the time Ruth is written, 00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:02.240 the greatest Israelite you could have claimed in your family tree. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:05.480 And then we know now, 00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.980 on this side of things, 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.059 that eventually, 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.559 in that family line, 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:12.440 would come Jesus himself. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:16.339 From an empty, bitter widow, 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:20.740 from a Gentile daughter-in-law 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:23.039 who desperately needed a Redeemer, 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.839 comes the great Redeemer. 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:28.279 See, God works to meet our needs 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:31.720 even beyond what we realize we need, doesn't he? 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:37.099 Naomi knows that she desperately needs a Kinsman Redeemer. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:41.019 She was utterly desperate for Boaz to come through. 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:45.039 But actually, she needed much more than that. 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:48.220 God used the first one, Boaz, 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:53.819 to bring the Kinsman Redeemer Naomi really needed, 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:56.879 who would pay an even costlier price 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:59.179 to provide for her forgiveness 00:29:59.179 --> 00:30:02.039 and eternal security 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:07.339 that Boaz was only a momentary picture of for her. 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:10.599 What a faithful and loving father we have. 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:12.240 Naomi couldn't have seen that. 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:16.439 We can't see what God is up to. 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:17.839 Jesus, though, 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:21.720 as the ultimate expression of God's faithful love, 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.319 steps into our pain. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:27.659 Comes around to the backside of the tapestry, 00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:29.299 as it were, with us, 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:34.419 and endures every knotted, frayed strand 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:36.639 so that he can assure us 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:41.099 that the weaver is full of faithful love 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:45.200 and that he's doing gloriously beautiful things. 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:48.720 He doesn't tell us why the bad things happen 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.259 or where it's all going, 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:54.440 but he wants us to know he loves us 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:56.759 and we can trust him. 00:30:58.119 --> 00:31:00.960 I know you may not see the beautiful front side, 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.500 but do you see the weaver? 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:10.279 He's been faithful and loving for a long time. 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:16.779 And he's still today the faithful, loving God, 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:19.440 weaver of your story. 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:20.619 Let's pray. 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:27.399 Father, thank you for showing us that picture 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:33.000 entering into the lives of these widows 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.799 several thousand years ago. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:38.220 Father, you've been loving faithfully 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:40.379 for a long time. 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.480 And you haven't stopped. 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.579 And we're so grateful. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.680 Teach our hearts to trust you 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:53.579 that we might find your love 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.839 to be better than life 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:58.200 and that it might enter into our pain 00:31:58.200 --> 00:32:01.860 and as it encourages our tears 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:03.180 might also bring comfort 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:06.740 in who you are and how you love. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.900 Thank you in Jesus' name. 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.720 For more information, 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:16.319 visit us online at southwood.org. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.319 Thank you.