WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.280 morning. It's my joy to be with you all again and bring God's Word to you. If you've been with us 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:13.419 over the last several weeks, you know that we are in the book of Ruth. And we're in Ruth chapter 2, 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:17.719 kind of at the middle point. We're going to be starting at verse 14 this morning. 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:26.480 Now as we start, if you live in Colorado Springs, I'd imagine that like me, you see a lot of cyclists 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:35.079 on the road. And they're usually doing one of two things. They're either going up or they're going 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:40.460 down. Because that's most of the options. In fact, that's not just cyclists. That's most of us here 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:44.760 here in Colorado Springs. We're either going up something or down it. And I'm not saying 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:50.439 completely there. There are some flat places. But if you're a hiker, you're probably not hiking flat. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:57.179 You're going up. You get to see a beautiful view. And then you go down. And I've been telling you 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:02.820 for the last several weeks that Ruth is a book about suffering. And I've told you that it's a book 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:09.079 about suffering because it's a book about widows and because it's a book about those who live in a 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:15.259 country where they weren't born. But that is just one half of the story. I've been holding back on you 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:21.780 a little bit. That has just been the uphill climb. It's not just a book about suffering. 00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:29.960 It's also a book about redemption. And it's a book about redemption because it's about God 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:35.719 caring and sustaining people who are in the midst of suffering. And so for the last several weeks, 00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:43.380 we've been doing the very hard work of hiking uphill on a steep grade. We've had to talk about 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:48.500 very serious suffering week after week after week. And I'm here to tell you that we are now 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:54.739 at the glorious view that we've been waiting for. We've made it to the lookout. And if you're a 00:01:54.739 --> 00:01:59.479 cyclist and you make it to the very top, you know that the steeper the climb is, the more frightening 00:01:59.479 --> 00:02:04.699 and fast the descent. That sometimes you have to hold on to your handlebars and make sure to see if 00:02:04.699 --> 00:02:09.439 you can actually make it down without wrecking. At least if you're an inexperienced cyclist like me. 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:12.960 Grant doesn't do that. He takes his hands off the wheels when he's going downhill. 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:19.359 And so we've done this uphill climb all the way up of seeing this intense suffering through chapter 00:02:19.359 --> 00:02:25.539 one and part of chapter two. And now we're going to get to see the payoff. We're going to get to see 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:33.840 not just the Ruth and Naomi of chapter one, but the Ruth and Naomi of chapters two and three and four. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:41.800 And as one of my friends puts it, when we're in chapter one in our lives, we have to remember the rest of 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:48.640 the book. We have to remember chapters two and three and four. If you've been with us, then you're 00:02:48.640 --> 00:02:54.820 familiar with the story. You know that at the beginning we met a woman named Naomi. Naomi lived 00:02:54.820 --> 00:03:00.240 in the country of Israel, the land of Israel. And there was a problem. There was a famine. So Naomi 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.560 and her husband, the Limelech, and their two sons moved from the land of Israel to the land of Moab. 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:10.900 Now the land of Moab was not God's promised land. It was not filled with God's people. And so 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:16.560 they left God's people for a land where there was worship of other gods, the worship of Baal and 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:22.259 Chemosh. But they left there because there was a famine. While they were there, both their sons 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:30.340 were married to two women, Ruth and Orpah. And after 10 years without any children, all the men die. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:38.000 Elimelech dies as well as his two sons. And so Naomi and her two daughters-in-law are left to 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.039 return from the land of Israel, or excuse me, from the land of Moab to the land of Israel because they 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:50.659 hear at that very time God has finally visited his people with food. On the way back, Orpah and Ruth are 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:57.280 both going with Naomi, but Naomi urges them as strongly as she can not to stay with her. So Orpah chooses to 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.900 return, but Ruth, making an incredible vow in chapter 1 verses 16 and 17, says that she will stay with 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:10.800 Naomi no matter what. When they return, Naomi is filled with her own grief and bitterness. And despite 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:16.399 all the ways that God has been caring for her and sustaining her, she accuses God of making her empty 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:23.939 when she had been full. And in all of this, more than suffering and redemption, we have seen 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:29.759 God's love. Remember I told you about the Hebrew word hesed, which roughly translated by the Jesus 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:37.439 Storybook Bible means God's never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:44.139 And so what we've seen up to this point could be broken into two things. God's hesed towards us, 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:53.100 God's unbreaking, unstopping love towards us. We see that love towards Ruth and Naomi as he provides food 00:04:53.100 --> 00:05:00.180 in their homeland for them. We see it to Naomi specifically as he provides Ruth. We see it as they come to 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:05.900 the land of Israel right at the time of harvest, at the exact time when they need to come to be able to eat. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:12.760 But we don't just see God's steadfast love to his people, we also see his people's steadfast love to each other. 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.540 We saw Ruth's commitment to Naomi. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:22.360 We saw that faith commits to those who suffer even when there's nothing to gain. 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.160 And we saw Ruth's continued commitment at the beginning of chapter 2. Remember last week, 00:05:28.460 --> 00:05:31.939 we asked a question, how do we sustain the life of faith? 00:05:33.320 --> 00:05:36.240 How do we keep up our love towards other people? 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:43.240 And we saw that it just so happened that Ruth came to the right field at the right time. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:49.500 We saw that the way that we sustain our faith is that God sustains us. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:56.139 That when God's people go on God's mission, he is the one who motivates and sustains. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:06:04.019 We've been focusing heavily on Ruth, and even with last week's reading, I didn't point out many things about Boaz. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.979 But now we're going to be turning from Ruth to Boaz. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:12.779 And we're going to ask the question, what does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:19.039 If God supports his people when they go on his mission, then what is that mission? 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:24.060 We've seen part of it with Ruth, we've seen her commitment to Naomi who was suffering. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:27.540 And now we're going to continue with this character called Boaz. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:32.620 Now, I'm confident that some of you are disappointed at this point in the series on Ruth. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:37.040 Because I have not addressed an incredibly important topic. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:38.920 And it's this. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:42.819 What are the 12 ways to find your Boaz? 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:47.180 You can laugh. It's a joke. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.519 We are unfortunately not going to be discovering 12 ways to find your Boaz. 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:57.620 But we are going to look at Boaz as part of our answer for this question. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:00.379 What does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:07:00.719 --> 00:07:07.399 If it's true that what we learned last week, if it's true that God's people have God's support when they go on God's mission, 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.319 what is that mission? 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:12.779 So we are in Ruth chapter 2. 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.399 We're picking up at verse 14. 00:07:16.299 --> 00:07:17.979 Remember that this is God's word. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:23.220 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.240 Even the finest gold. 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:28.180 And that it is sweeter than honey. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.900 Even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:34.400 And so we're going to turn to it now. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.780 We're in Ruth chapter 2, starting at verse 14. 00:07:36.779 --> 00:08:01.879 Verse 16. 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:36.759 Verse 16. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:09:06.759 Verse 17. 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:12.600 Verse 22. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.740 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:22.120 It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:28.500 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:30.679 And she lived with her mother-in-law. 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:32.679 And she has been with her husband, lest in ut店. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:33.439 And she bleeds into their ziehen. 00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:34.539 And she even healed. 00:09:34.599 --> 00:09:35.079 And so we said to you, 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:35.460 God's word. 00:09:37.900 --> 00:09:39.160 Dear Father in heaven, 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:42.320 we thank you that you have given us 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.940 the gift of your word 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:46.139 and that it is for our good 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.840 and your glory. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.300 We ask that you would help us 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:52.860 because when we open your word, 00:09:53.040 --> 00:09:54.340 we are trying to do something 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.820 that is impossible without you, 00:09:57.180 --> 00:09:59.020 which is to hear you speak. 00:10:00.040 --> 00:10:02.620 And so we ask that you would speak to us today, 00:10:02.900 --> 00:10:05.040 that you would open up our ears 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:06.740 so that we can hear. 00:10:07.699 --> 00:10:09.139 You'd open our eyes so that we can see, 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:10.599 that you would soften our hearts, 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:12.219 that we would be willing to hear 00:10:12.219 --> 00:10:14.179 and believe everything 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.219 that is written in your word. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.799 We ask this in the name of your son. 00:10:18.719 --> 00:10:19.000 Amen. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:24.059 Remember, we're asking the question of 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:27.299 what does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.899 And we're focusing on the character of Boaz. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.980 We saw a little bit from Boaz last week, 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:35.379 if you remember in verses 8 and 9, 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:37.960 he showed this incredible generosity 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:39.600 to Ruth as she was gleaning. 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:42.060 He says to her in verse 8, 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:42.879 Now listen, my daughter, 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.519 do not go to glean in another field 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:45.220 or leave this one, 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.820 but keep close to my young women. 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:49.779 He gives her special status as a gleaner 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:52.120 and has her keep close to his personal staff 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:54.620 so that she can have the first pick 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.360 of the gleanings. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.779 And then in verse 9, 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:09.199 And so he doesn't just give her special access 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:10.620 to the gleanings, 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.539 but he gives her special protection as well. 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:15.799 And he gives her a special water source 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:18.079 that instead of being a woman 00:11:18.079 --> 00:11:19.339 who draws water for men, 00:11:19.339 --> 00:11:21.659 men are going to draw water for her. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:25.039 This same generosity continues even more. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:25.980 If that were not enough, 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:28.399 it grows in this section that we just read. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.379 In verse 14, 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.659 he invites her to the company lunch table. 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.959 And so she's not left for 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:37.039 what she may have brought on her own. 00:11:37.099 --> 00:11:37.860 And not just that, 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.639 she gets to take a doggy bag home with her. 00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:41.699 Did you notice that? 00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:46.659 They pass her the roasted grain in verse 14, 00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:48.059 and she ate until she was satisfied 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.339 and since she had some left over. 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.360 And then you'll notice later on, 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.560 she gives that to her mother-in-law. 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.220 So verse 18, 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:57.639 She also brought out and gave her 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.779 what food she had left over 00:11:58.779 --> 00:11:59.759 after being satisfied. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:03.000 And so Ruth is not just gleaning 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.060 an excessive amount. 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:06.860 She also gets a free lunch 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:09.060 for her and Naomi, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:09.940 who isn't even there. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:14.700 So Boaz's generosity here is overflowing. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.779 In fact, he gives her even greater access 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:18.800 in verse 16 and 15. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:19.959 It says, 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.719 Let her glean even among the sheaves 00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:22.699 and do not reproach her. 00:12:23.479 --> 00:12:24.919 Remember that the practice of gleaning 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:26.419 was one where someone would follow 00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:28.519 after the reapers during the harvest, 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.539 and what was dropped, 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:31.359 they would be able to pick up. 00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:32.879 They were essentially the cleaning crew. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.459 But here he's saying, 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:35.659 she doesn't have to just be 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.120 the cleanup crew behind the reapers. 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:40.099 She can come after the sheaves have been stacked. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:42.419 She can have a second go through, 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:44.219 something that none of the other gleaners 00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:45.259 would be given access to. 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:47.519 And they're even going to pull out 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.259 extra for her. 00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:50.679 So it's not just going to be 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.100 what's been accidentally dropped, 00:12:52.319 --> 00:12:54.679 it's going to be what's purposefully dropped. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.220 And so if Boaz's generosity 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:01.340 seemed large last week, 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:04.879 it's even more this week. 00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:06.819 It's even greater. 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:09.200 It's almost too much to believe. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.580 And so that's why Naomi 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:12.139 has the response that she does. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:16.720 So what does it mean 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.240 to go on God's mission? 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:22.699 We saw several weeks ago with Ruth 00:13:22.699 --> 00:13:24.460 that she had nothing to give 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.259 but her commitment. 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:27.439 And so that's what she gave. 00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:30.819 She committed to Naomi no matter what, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.679 even though she had nothing to gain from it. 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:36.319 But now Boaz models to us 00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:39.279 incredible generosity. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:44.039 Boaz models incredible generosity 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.259 and it's not just generosity to anyone. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.199 Remember I pointed out last week 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:52.579 that Ruth had a new name. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.059 In chapter one, she was just Ruth, 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.699 but all throughout chapter two, 00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:59.839 she is Ruth the Moabite. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.319 Because now that she's in a new land, 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.220 she is a foreigner. 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.419 And she's a foreigner 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:07.699 with all the liabilities 00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.740 that come along with it. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.399 And so Boaz, 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.539 he's not showing generosity 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.699 to his daughter. 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.000 He's not showing generosity 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.779 to his neighbor. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.500 Boaz is showing generosity 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:23.720 to one of the most vulnerable women 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.279 in all of Israel. 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.220 She's vulnerable 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.220 because she has a widow. 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.539 She doesn't have a husband 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.240 to care for her. 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:36.019 Her father-in-law has died. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.779 Her brother-in-law has died. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.600 There is no man to stand up for her. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.279 And on top of that, 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.220 she is a foreigner. 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.419 There are certain things 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.600 she probably doesn't understand, 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.519 certain things she doesn't get. 00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:48.419 This is all what we talked about last week. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.079 And Boaz, 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.720 of all the people 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.079 he could show generosity to, 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:54.240 he shows generosity to her. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:59.659 So my question for us this morning 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.600 is this. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:04.039 Who is gleaning from us? 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.180 Who is gleaning from you? 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:14.199 What type of person 00:15:14.199 --> 00:15:15.500 is gleaning? 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.839 Who, because of your, 00:15:20.599 --> 00:15:21.479 whether it's your power 00:15:21.479 --> 00:15:22.379 or your wealth 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.659 or your ability 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.639 or your status, 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:27.959 how are those things 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:29.679 helping those 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.859 who are the most vulnerable 00:15:30.859 --> 00:15:32.399 and the most marginalized? 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:38.279 Because what Boaz is showing us 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.319 is that God's mission, 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.039 it's so big 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:42.740 that it's not just 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.299 the commitment 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.259 that Ruth models, 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.019 but it's the generosity 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.779 that he models. 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.240 And it's not just 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.919 any generosity, 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:49.720 but generosity 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.340 to remember our New Testament 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.199 reading this morning 00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:52.779 from James. 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.439 True religion is what? 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.379 To care for orphans 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:57.779 and widows 00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.319 in their distress. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.840 And so we get to continue 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.820 to turn the diamond 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.320 of Ruth 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.520 and see all the different 00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:05.660 aspects of God 00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:07.760 and his love towards us 00:16:07.760 --> 00:16:10.040 and our love for others. 00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:13.560 Now I'll give some caveats here. 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.560 She's gleaning, right? 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.120 This is not a handout. 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.660 But Boaz has provided her 00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:21.160 with work in his fields. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.520 You know, I found out 00:16:23.520 --> 00:16:24.380 a few weeks ago, 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.160 I continue to find out 00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:26.980 things about you all, 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:29.440 things about our congregation, 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:31.060 and brings me joy 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.480 when I do. 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.720 I found out a few weeks ago 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.120 that people in this congregation 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.379 have made jobs for each other 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:38.259 when they needed it. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.279 People who own businesses 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.300 and establishments 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:44.279 created opportunities for work 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.940 for people who are like Ruth, 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.620 who are vulnerable, 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.159 who are on the margins. 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.940 It's the reason why 00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:53.000 we have a diaconate here 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.539 as a church. 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:55.819 Because we want there 00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:57.399 to be gleaning from us. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.139 We're not just here 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.120 for our own sake, 00:17:01.219 --> 00:17:02.399 for our own edification. 00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.159 We're here 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.599 as part of God's mission. 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:06.759 And that's not all 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.339 of God's mission, 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.500 but it's a large part of it 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.680 that God wants us 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.319 to care for the widow 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.859 and the orphan, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.659 for the foreigner, 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.359 in generous, 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.159 in shocking ways. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.740 And so God wants us 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.440 to ask not 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.960 how much do I have to give, 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:25.840 how much am I able to give? 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:28.480 Not what's the lowest amount 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.240 that I can give, 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.220 but what's the greatest? 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.560 What's the greatest amount 00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:33.340 that I can give 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:35.200 to help those in need? 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.519 Because the gospel, 00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:41.000 it's for us to use 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.800 our resources 00:17:41.800 --> 00:17:43.380 to lift other people up 00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:45.279 rather than to push them down. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.700 And we live in a world 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.440 where we're told 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.700 that as we are given 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.779 resources and ability 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.379 and power, 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.440 we're able to use it 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.460 to push ourselves up. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.180 We've had a lot of scandals 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:56.819 in our society 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.619 this last year 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:58.339 from people who 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.399 took their power 00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.799 and they used it 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.879 to push other people down 00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:03.740 rather than to lift them up 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:06.259 in all kinds of ways. 00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.519 You see what Naomi says 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.220 in verse 20? 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:16.720 Naomi has her first positive word 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.180 in the whole book of Ruth. 00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.259 And Naomi said 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.019 to her daughter-in-law, 00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:22.019 May he be blessed 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.740 by the Lord 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.140 whose kindness 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.779 has not forsaken 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.880 the living or the dead. 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.400 Remember, 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.519 it's that word kindness 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.339 that we translate 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.539 as God's never stopping, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.240 his never giving up, 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.059 unbreaking, 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.460 always and forever love. 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.519 And so Naomi, 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.480 for the first time, 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:42.400 through Boaz's generosity, 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:44.220 is able to praise God. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.500 And for the first time, 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.819 she's able to finally see 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.819 a glimmer of hope 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:52.380 that what we've been seeing 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.019 all along, 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.140 Naomi finally sees 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.920 that God has been 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.799 at work in the dark 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:57.799 and God has been at work 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.079 behind the scenes for her. 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.680 And so would our generosity 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.819 have the same result 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.400 that people would be able 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.339 to say like Naomi, 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.839 may he be blessed 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.459 by the Lord. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.599 What kind of Lord? 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.439 The Lord whose kindness 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:14.419 has not forsaken 00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:15.480 the living and the dead. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.019 And his kindness 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.740 that forsakes 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.519 not the living 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.179 nor the dead 00:19:19.179 --> 00:19:20.220 in practical ways 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.319 through God's people. 00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:23.199 We'll see this more next week, 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:23.959 but God ministers 00:19:23.959 --> 00:19:25.000 through his people 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.159 to his people. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.119 He ministers 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.099 through his people 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.240 to his people. 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.379 And so Boaz here 00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:32.159 is the instrument 00:19:32.159 --> 00:19:33.639 of God's redemption. 00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.779 Then we find out 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.559 in verse 20, 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.099 the man is a close relative 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.539 of ours, 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.500 one of our redeemers. 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.179 What does it mean 00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:43.919 to be a redeemer? 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.259 Well, if you remember 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.379 the Old Testament story, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.159 you know that God 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:50.179 delivered his people 00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:51.559 from slavery in Egypt. 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.559 And he tells them 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:55.119 in Leviticus chapter 25 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.399 that because he delivered 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.240 them from slavery, 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.839 he never wanted them 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.960 to be slaves again. 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.299 And so if there was ever 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.899 an Israelite 00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:03.639 who was in trouble, 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:05.339 if they had to sell 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.000 their property, 00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:08.199 if they had to sell 00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:09.639 themselves into slavery 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:11.839 because they were destitute, 00:20:12.959 --> 00:20:14.459 that there should be 00:20:14.459 --> 00:20:15.119 a relative, 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.179 a redeemer, 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.599 who would come 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.199 and pay the price. 00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:20.659 That redeemer 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.559 would buy back 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.000 the land, 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.899 they would buy back 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.480 their relative 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.259 from slavery, 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.579 and so that God, 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.579 because of his great 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.659 redemption of his people 00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:28.839 by bringing them 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.539 out of Egypt, 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.199 wanted his people 00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:32.740 to act as lesser redeemers, 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.839 redeeming each other 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.500 out of slavery. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.599 That he had redeemed 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.259 them out of slavery 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.959 and he wanted them 00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:39.000 to stay that way. 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.059 And so a redeemer 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.000 was simply someone 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.139 who paid the price 00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:43.759 for another person's freedom. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.720 Someone who paid the price 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.439 for another person's freedom. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.399 You might think of 00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:52.740 some examples today, 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.939 just to help us understand, 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.659 redemption might be 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.939 if your car is impounded, 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.000 you are going to have 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.059 to redeem that car 00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.679 from slavery. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:20:59.740 slavery. 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.460 You have to pay the price. 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.600 If someone gives 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.320 a piece of property 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:07.240 to a pawn shop 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.519 because they need 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.900 the money, 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.620 that has to be redeemed. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.660 Someone has to pay 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.240 the price 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.240 to bring it out 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.840 of the slavery 00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:15.740 of the pawn shop. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.340 And so we see here 00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.200 that Boaz 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.940 doesn't just fulfill 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.259 the office 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.900 of a redeemer, 00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:24.580 he overflows it. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.039 We find out 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.539 in verse 20 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.220 that he's a redeemer, 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.799 but in a sense 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.759 we already knew that. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.079 We already knew that 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.980 just by his actions. 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.160 He was willing 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.799 to sacrifice 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.620 his own resources 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.319 to buy people 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.460 out of slavery 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.360 to help Ruth 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.339 and Naomi. 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.339 Now we could 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.079 end the sermon here. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.500 I could say, 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.319 Boaz models 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.279 generosity for us 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.120 so go and be generous. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.559 And some of you 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.460 would be able to do that 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.160 for a little bit 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:58.340 and you might 00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:59.460 become incredibly proud 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:02.040 in all the ways 00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:02.480 you've been able 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.279 to be generous. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.440 And some of you 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.140 would go out here 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.560 and you wouldn't 00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.340 be able to do it 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:09.120 and you'd be crushed 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:11.620 because you wouldn't 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.300 be able to meet 00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:14.259 this great expectation, 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.540 this thing that God 00:22:15.540 --> 00:22:16.180 is telling us 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.900 about generosity 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.580 to people who are 00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:18.140 on the margins. 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:20.960 And so what do we 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.500 do with that? 00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:26.180 Why was Boaz 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:28.380 of all the men 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.100 in Israel, 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.660 why was Boaz 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.640 the one that showed 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.560 generosity to Ruth 00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.000 and Naomi? 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.080 Do you think 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.660 he just happened 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.680 to be a worthy man 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.340 as we found out 00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:41.020 in chapter 2, 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.600 verse 1? 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.380 Why was it Boaz 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.280 and not someone else? 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:49.519 Do you know 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.859 who Boaz's mom 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.460 was? 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.920 Boaz's mom 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:59.759 was Rahab. 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.099 Rahab, 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.039 if you remember 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.899 from the story 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.420 of Israel, 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:07.059 was a prostitute 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.680 and she was a pagan. 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.019 And she lived 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.519 in the city 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.200 of Jericho. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:14.920 She was someone 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.259 who was vulnerable 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:18.080 and destitute. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.140 She was a foreigner. 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.660 And when the spies 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.380 came in 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.100 to look into 00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:25.039 the promised land, 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.819 they met Rahab 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.380 in the city 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.980 of Jericho 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.080 and they made 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.680 a deal with her. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.160 They said, 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.799 if you'll betray 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:33.100 the city of Jericho 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.779 and leave it behind, 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.620 you can come 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.340 and be a foreigner 00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:38.240 who joins God's people. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:42.460 And so Rahab 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.640 is a scandalous 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:45.920 prostitute 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.640 in a pagan city 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:50.740 who comes 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:52.500 and joins 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.200 God's people. 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.400 Who does that 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.000 sound like? 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.859 Ruth's not 00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.859 a scandalous woman, 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.839 but she is 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.279 a foreigner. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.420 She has come 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.440 to join God's people. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:08.140 So Boaz 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.059 is not just 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.320 some rich man, 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:13.120 but he's 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.820 a rich man. 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.360 If there's 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.100 any man 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.200 in all of Israel 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.559 who's going 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.120 to know 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.600 anything, 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.340 something 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:19.279 about what 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.820 it's like 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:21.720 to be a foreign 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.460 and helpless 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.100 woman among 00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:24.799 God's people, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.720 it's probably 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.299 Boaz. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.440 I don't know 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:29.840 for sure, 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.539 but I would imagine 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.120 as Boaz 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.580 grew up, 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.100 his mother 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:33.080 must have told him 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.720 something about 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.279 her past 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.900 and her history. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:37.420 Hopefully she 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.980 shared some 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.700 of her struggles 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.799 joining God's 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.360 people with 00:24:40.360 --> 00:24:41.660 her past 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.100 in a different 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.580 nation, 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.380 a foreigner. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.360 And Boaz 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.000 himself 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.500 carries her 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:48.880 blood. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.460 And so this 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.080 isn't just 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.059 a rich man 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.240 showing 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.840 generosity. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.340 This is a 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:57.700 foreigner 00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:00.059 helping a 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.360 foreigner. 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:00.399 foreigner. 00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:03.079 And this 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.599 is a man 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.419 who knows 00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:06.179 from his 00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.539 mother 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.919 that God 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.319 is a 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.759 God with 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.240 a heart 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.559 for the 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:10.859 foreigner, 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:13.059 who welcomes 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.099 foreigners into 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.599 his people. 00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.199 He knows 00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.679 that this is 00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:16.139 a God 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:17.119 of never 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.619 stopping, 00:25:18.199 --> 00:25:18.879 never giving 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.259 up, 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.339 unending, 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.000 unbreaking, 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.579 always and 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.279 forever love. 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.319 love. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.139 And so 00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.420 because Boaz 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:30.899 knows he's a 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:31.500 foreigner who's 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.980 been brought 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.299 in, 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.519 I would 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.359 imagine this is 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.539 why he of all 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.160 the men in 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.220 Israel is the 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.920 one who shows 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.639 this incredible 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.599 generosity. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.679 generosity. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.919 And so 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:48.439 how do we 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:49.199 avoid 00:25:49.199 --> 00:25:51.659 being proud 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:53.639 because we 00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:54.059 can show 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.599 generosity 00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:56.259 or broken 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.759 because we 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.119 can't? 00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.379 What 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.319 motivates us 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.740 to show 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.199 God's 00:26:02.199 --> 00:26:02.939 never stopping, 00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:03.699 never giving 00:26:03.699 --> 00:26:04.039 up, 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:04.879 unbreaking, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.459 always and 00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:06.119 forever love? 00:26:09.679 --> 00:26:10.659 We have 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:11.359 to understand 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:13.099 when we 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.919 understand that 00:26:13.919 --> 00:26:14.619 we are 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.240 foreigners 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.819 that have 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.299 been brought 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:19.099 in to 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.419 God's 00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:19.779 family. 00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:22.059 And we 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.759 are foreigners 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.119 that have 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.659 been brought 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.259 with a 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.639 price. 00:26:26.219 --> 00:26:27.059 Imagine that 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.679 not many of 00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:28.179 us here 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:28.859 today are 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.219 Jews. 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:29.559 We're not 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.019 part of 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.919 some of 00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:32.439 us perhaps 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:32.879 but most 00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.139 of us 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.399 not. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.959 We're not 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:35.279 part of 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:35.639 God's 00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:35.939 original 00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:36.240 people. 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.519 We're not 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:36.740 part of 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.439 the nation 00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:37.919 of Israel. 00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:40.479 And yet 00:26:40.479 --> 00:26:40.779 part of 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.059 God's 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.559 plan was 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.879 to bring 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.500 us in 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:42.980 as well. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:45.960 Not only 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.279 that but 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.660 we're people 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.019 who have 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.399 been redeemed 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:48.799 and bought 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.039 with a 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.399 price. 00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.839 It cost 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.240 God 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.619 something. 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.559 It's not 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:53.879 just that 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.039 we're 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.500 foreigners 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.899 who've been 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.379 brought into 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:55.899 a family. 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.079 We got to 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.359 see a 00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:57.599 beautiful 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.059 picture of 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.579 that today 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.539 with Doug. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.700 But what's 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.019 true of 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.339 Doug is 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.619 true of 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:01.960 all of 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.200 us who 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.519 have joined 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.059 this church. 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.119 That we 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.460 were not 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.000 originally 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.500 part of 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.799 God's 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.240 family but 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.480 that he's 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.920 brought us 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.160 in. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.320 And so 00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:11.380 when we 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.300 understand that 00:27:12.300 --> 00:27:12.960 we are 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:14.259 foreigners that 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.720 God has 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.140 redeemed, 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.980 then we 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.720 can show the 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.019 kind of 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.820 generosity that 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.480 Boaz shows 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.480 here, not 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.160 with pride, 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.360 not with 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.000 being crushed, 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:27.120 but because we 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:27.620 know what it's 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:27.920 like. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.940 And out of 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:32.259 thankfulness and 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.960 joy and 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.620 gratitude for 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.179 what God 00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:34.779 has done 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.679 for us. 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.019 There's one 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.299 man who 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.779 describes the 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.319 gospel this 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.659 way, that 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:40.359 it's one 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:40.979 beggar asking 00:27:40.979 --> 00:27:41.659 another beggar 00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.379 for bread. 00:27:44.219 --> 00:27:45.000 We can think 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.219 of our 00:27:45.219 --> 00:27:45.839 generosity in 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.239 this way, it's 00:27:46.239 --> 00:27:47.079 one foreigner 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.979 giving another 00:27:48.979 --> 00:27:49.959 foreigner what 00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.439 they need. 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.699 Because we've 00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.979 all been brought 00:27:53.979 --> 00:27:55.000 in to God's 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.359 family. 00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:56.939 We all have, 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.519 in a sense, 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.439 Rahab as our 00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:58.719 mother. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.599 And so we 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.339 can show mercy 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.779 to Ruth. 00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:09.059 I'll close 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.519 with this, we 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.519 sang about this 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.319 just a little 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.799 bit ago, and 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.419 we sang grant, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.879 O Lord. 00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.659 Grant, O Lord, 00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:15.099 that we may 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.799 hear your people 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.759 be a witness to 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.699 your faithfulness, 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.899 faithfulness that 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.859 we've known and 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.179 seen. 00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:23.079 Skip down to the 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.599 third verse. 00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:24.459 Grant, O Lord, 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.039 that we may ever 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.980 faithful be to 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.079 you whose gift to 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.699 us is life, and 00:28:28.699 --> 00:28:29.639 in whose service 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.439 we are free. 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.559 It's when we 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.139 understand, 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:35.039 that we are 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.839 free in the 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.599 service of God, 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:38.000 and that his 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.019 gift to us is 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.220 life, that we 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.919 can be faithful 00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:41.919 to him. 00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:43.799 It's when we 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.619 understand that we 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.119 are foreigners, 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.519 that Jesus, in 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.220 Hebrews 2, we 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.919 find out he calls 00:28:48.919 --> 00:28:49.500 us his brothers. 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.559 In Romans 6, we 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.139 find out that we're 00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.919 free from the 00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:54.059 slavery of sin. 00:28:54.059 --> 00:29:01.799 God's mission of 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.980 generosity, because he 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.799 has brought us in as 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.099 foreigners and his 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.460 family. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.619 Please pray with me. 00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:12.159 Dear Father in 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:13.159 heaven, we thank you 00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.539 for your great 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.779 provision in Christ, 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:18.899 Christ, that he, as 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:20.180 your firstborn son, was 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.259 willing to bring us 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:23.019 in, that you adopted 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:25.299 us, even though we 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.440 were foreigners from 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:26.700 you. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.500 You tell us in Romans 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.259 that it's while we were 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.180 still sinners that 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.940 Christ died for us, not 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.559 when we were part of 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.200 the family, but that 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.079 because he died, he 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.639 brought us in. 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.180 We ask that you would 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.059 move in our hearts that 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.839 we would not become 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:42.319 proud or crushed, but we 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.720 would be confident in 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.759 your love for us, humble 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.660 in your grace, and 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.559 motivated by that 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.339 towards generosity 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.559 towards each other, 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.700 because you have been 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.900 generous towards us. 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.500 We ask all these 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.579 things in the name of 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:56.980 your son. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:57.960 Amen. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.319 Please.