WEBVTT

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 Good morning and welcome to St. Paul's this morning across the live stream.

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 It's now three months since we stopped gathering on site for our Sunday services.

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 So if this is the first time you've tuned in, it's great to have you here.

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 And welcome to all the St. Paul's family out there.

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 If you don't know who I am, I'm Steve Jeffrey.

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 I'm the senior pastor of St. Paul's.

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 And so it's wonderful for me to be able to kick off this brand new series in Ruth with us this morning.

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 It is the first time in just over 100 years that we have not been able to hold public services

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 and to not be able to do so for three months, not be able to meet face to face due to this pandemic has been an unusual season.

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 We are now, however, starting to slowly regather, having been scattered for three months.

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 We've been, if you like, away scattered.

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 We're now slowly regathering and coming back again.

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 This theme, which has been the theme for us over these three months of going away and coming back,

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 is in fact part of the rhythm of normal life.

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 What we do so much of it in terms of going away and coming back,

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 we don't even think that's in fact what we're doing.

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 We go to school and we come home again.

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 We go to the playground, to the shops, to restaurants, to work, and then we come back home.

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 We depart for a holiday and then we come back home.

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 We have 20-year-olds who move out and then they come back home.

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 This constant pattern.

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 In fact, I can't believe I'm actually saying this,

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 but perhaps this opera, Home and Away, is tuning into something for us in life,

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 part of the rhythms of life.

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 Home and away, it's what they do.

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 Of course, sometimes the going away is forced on us by circumstances

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 and coming back is not always possible.

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 For instance, the transition into a care facility,

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 refugees fleeing a terrible situation in their home,

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 and even death itself is a going away but not coming back.

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 This theme, this pattern, if you like, of going away and coming back

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 runs through many of the stories of the Bible.

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 In fact, one of the grand narratives of the whole Bible,

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 which begins with people being scattered from God because of sin,

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 but ends with people being gathered back to God because of his rescue plan

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 and salvation plan for them into their eternal home,

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 is the grand narrative of the Bible.

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 So many stories of salvation of the Bible carry this theme.

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 Abraham went down to Egypt because of a famine and later returned home.

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 The whole family of Israel went down to Egypt because of a famine

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 and then returned back to the promised land, their home.

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 Later on in their history, Israel again will go into exile

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 because of a spiritual famine, and God will bring them back home again.

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 And of course, what Adrian read out to us,

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 one of the more famous passages in the New Testament of the prodigal son

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 who went down away from his home to a foreign land,

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 got hit with a famine, and then came back home again.

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 So the whole Bible story is about people leaving paradise with God

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 and then God bringing them back, saving his people

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 and returning them back to himself.

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 And that means that as we open up the very first chapter of the book of Ruth

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 with this description of people leaving home and coming back again

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 because of a famine should alert us to something is big in the wind.

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 Something significant is happening in this book.

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 It's not just a Old Testament rom-com.

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 There's something deeper, bigger happening in the book of Ruth.

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 It's the old pattern of God working some act of salvation

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 when his people leave their land and his presence,

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 and then he brings them back.

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 So if you've got your Bibles there, I'd love it if you could turn to Ruth chapter 1

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 and also the St. Paul's app.

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 If you click into there, you'll see an outline for today's message.

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 I've really got two major points with a few little sub points in there,

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 but two major points, really simple, going away and coming back.

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 I considered calling it home and away,

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 but we'll just go with going away, coming back.

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 So going away to ruin is my first point.

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 Israel's ruin, according to verse 1 of chapter 1,

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 the very first verse of this book is this story of Ruth

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 takes place during the time of the judges of Israel.

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 This was a 400-year period after Israel entered the promised land under Joshua

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 and before there were any kings in Israel.

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 It's roughly about 1500 BC to 1100 BC.

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 And so verse 1 is not just a date stamp on the book

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 so we can locate it historically.

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 It is, in fact, a theological description

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 of the times in which these events of the book of Ruth take place.

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 When I preached through the book of Judges about two years ago,

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 I said you could summarise the message of the book of Judges

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 as despicable people doing deplorable things.

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 That's the summary of this time.

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 It records a history of murder and assassination

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 and massacres of immorality and lawlessness and unfaithfulness.

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 In fact, right towards the end of the book of Judges,

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 chapter 21, verse 25, it says,

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 in those days Israel had no king

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 and so everyone did as they saw fit.

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 Pretty much a description of modern society, really.

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 Everyone does as they see fit.

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 But for Israel, it was a very dark time.

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 The people would sin.

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 God would hand them over to their sin.

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 He would send enemies against them

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 and the people would cry out for help.

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 And then God would mercifully raise up a judge,

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 a rescuer for his people and deliver them,

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 bring them back to himself.

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 A repeated pattern of the nation going away from God

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 and God bringing them back home to himself.

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 And by the end of the book of Judges,

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 we have a picture of a nation

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 that has really just completely lost its way.

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 What the book of Ruth does for us

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 is it gives us a glimpse

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 into the hidden work of God

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 during the worst of times.

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 The book of Ruth is a zooming in

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 on the book of Judges, if you like,

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 and one family during these dark days.

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 From the narrative of the nation

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 in the book of Judges,

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 we now focus on one family.

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 We go from a nation in ruin

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 to a family in ruin.

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 And to, in fact, a life in ruin.

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 It was during these dark days and difficult days

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 that a man moved his family out of Israel.

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 A move that saw his family come to ruin.

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 Verse one again.

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 In those days when the judges ruled,

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 there was a famine in the land.

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 And so a man named,

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 a man from Bethlehem in Judea,

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 together with his wife and his two sons,

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 went to live for a while in the country of Moab.

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 Now the ultimate irony has occurred.

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 Bethlehem, which means

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 house of bread is a place of no food.

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 Verses one to five in chapter one

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 just moves so fast.

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 But ultimately they paint a picture of ruin.

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 First, there is a famine in Judah.

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 Then there's a decision to relocate for this family

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 to Moab, a pagan land with its foreign gods.

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 Then grief upon famine strikes

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 as Elimelech, the husband to Naomi, dies.

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 Then in verse four,

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 Naomi and Elimelech's two sons

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 take Moabite wives,

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 one named Orpah, the other named Ruth.

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 And again, the hand of God falls.

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 Verse five sums up Naomi's tragedy.

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 After 10 years of childless marriages,

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 both Marlon and Kilion also died.

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 And Naomi was left without her two sons

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 and her husband.

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 She's a foreigner, a foreign woman.

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 In a patriarchal society,

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 Naomi is bereft.

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 Along with her husband and sons,

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 she attempted to escape the famine

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 in Bethlehem.

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 I'm sorry, but all that has happened

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 is for her a descent into emptiness.

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 A grasp for hope,

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 a grasp for future,

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 resulted in emptiness.

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 The move to Moab has been disastrous.

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 Naomi has hit rock bottom.

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 She is empty.

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 She's bereft.

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 She's destitute.

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 She went there in a search of life

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 and she has become empty.

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 And the implicit question

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 in these very first verses

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 is what future does Naomi have?

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 Can she possibly recover from this?

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 Will she remain destitute and empty?

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 And then we are told in verse six,

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 Naomi gets a word.

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 And at first,

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 it appears to be a word of hope.

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 But is it hope for Naomi?

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 It says,

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 the Lord has come to the aid of his people

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 by providing food for them.

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 How was she to feel about that?

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 The Lord came to the aid of his people

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 in Bethlehem.

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 But she wasn't one of them.

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 She wasn't there.

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 Was her going away a terrible mistake?

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 She didn't just leave Bethlehem,

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 but also the people of God

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 and her God

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 and all of her hope as well.

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 She had brought shame to herself,

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 to her people,

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 to her God.

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 And so,

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 does she deserve

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 what our society

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 would call

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 getting cancelled?

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 Up to the end of verse five,

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 Naomi

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 is just like

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 the prodigal son

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 in Luke 15

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 that Adrian read out to us.

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 He thought

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 life would be better

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 in a faraway country

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 away from the rule

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 and the oversight

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 and the provision

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 of his father.

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 But like Naomi,

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 he too

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 hits rock bottom

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 and he is bereft,

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 he is empty,

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 he is hungry,

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 he is lonely.

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 What the story

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 of the prodigal son

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 is meant

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 to be

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 portraying to us

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 is the theme

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 of the Bible.

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 It is a vivid picture

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 of humanity's ruin

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 as they walk

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 away from God.

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 The Bible

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 says

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 we have all,

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 like sheep

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 have gone astray,

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 we have all

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 wandered away

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 from God

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 who has made us,

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 made all things

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 and provides

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 all good things

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 for us

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 and the Bible

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 calls it sin.

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 It's the attitude

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 that says

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 we don't need God

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 in our life,

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 we don't want God

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 in our life

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 and that attitude

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 results in actions

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 and thoughts,

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 behaviours

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 that sees us

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 as individuals,

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 as societies

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 living

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 as we

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 see

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 fit

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 in our

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 own

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 eyes.

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 Living

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 as we

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 see fit

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 in our

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 own

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 eyes

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 without

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 God

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 and it

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 always

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 feels

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 free

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 for a

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 season

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 in the

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 same way

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 that jumping

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 out of an

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 aeroplane

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 feels free

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 for a

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 season

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 until you

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 realise

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 that you

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 don't have

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 a

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 parachute.

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 In Luke

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 15 verse

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 14 we

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 read of the

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 prodigal son

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 in Jesus'

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 parable,

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 after he

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 had spent

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 everything

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 there was

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 a severe

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 famine in

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 the whole

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 country

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 and he

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 began

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 to be

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 in need.

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 His bid

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 for freedom

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 resulted

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:21.759
 in

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.920
 slavery.

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.360
 Verse

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:24.840
 15,

00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:25.820
 so he

00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.600
 went and

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.360
 he hired

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:27.879
 himself

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.440
 out

00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:29.160
 and the

00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.580
 word

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.240
 literally

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.759
 means

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.259
 he

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.139
 attached

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.980
 himself

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.560
 to a

00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:35.060
 citizen

00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:36.440
 of that

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.080
 country

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:39.920
 who sent

00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.220
 him to

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:40.820
 his fields

00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.280
 to feed

00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:41.800
 the pigs.

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.200
 This

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.840
 young guy

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.639
 has to

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.020
 sell

00:14:46.020 --> 00:14:46.420
 himself

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.300
 as a

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.100
 slave

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:49.259
 to work

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.940
 in a

00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:50.920
 foreign

00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.560
 pig pen.

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.280
 Life

00:14:55.280 --> 00:14:55.820
 hits rock

00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:56.140
 bottom.

00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:57.100
 His bid

00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.400
 for the

00:14:57.400 --> 00:14:57.940
 better life

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.400
 the free

00:14:58.400 --> 00:14:59.100
 life ends

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.440
 up in

00:14:59.440 --> 00:14:59.820
 slavery

00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:00.340
 instead.

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.000
 You see

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.540
 when you

00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:02.100
 break your

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:02.560
 attachment

00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.259
 with God

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:03.920
 you will

00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.379
 end up

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.019
 attached to

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.320
 another

00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:05.779
 and that

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.340
 attachment

00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.680
 will not

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.480
 be

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.480
 sonship

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.200
 and freedom

00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.080
 it will

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.480
 be

00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.340
 slavery.

00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:13.620
 It will

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.659
 desire

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.580
 you.

00:15:16.300 --> 00:15:16.759
 You will

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.300
 have to

00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:18.100
 live for

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.580
 it.

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.379
 It may

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.120
 be romance,

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.580
 it may be

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.080
 a career,

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.519
 it may be

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.139
 reputation,

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:23.660
 comfort,

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.060
 leisure,

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.560
 culture,

00:15:24.660 --> 00:15:24.980
 it might be

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.440
 family.

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.360
 The attachment

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:26.899
 might be

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.379
 crude,

00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:27.919
 it might

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.159
 be

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.919
 refined.

00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.580
 If we

00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:32.139
 break loose

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.759
 from God

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:34.060
 we will

00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:34.820
 be attached

00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.460
 to another

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:37.399
 and that

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.019
 other will

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.960
 require you

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:39.600
 to sacrifice

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.580
 everything for

00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:40.779
 it.

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.360
 In the

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.639
 end,

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.340
 whether crude

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.120
 or refined,

00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.840
 this attachment

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.700
 will send us

00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.020
 to the

00:15:51.020 --> 00:15:51.480
 pig pen.

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.420
 One of the

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:56.780
 key

00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:57.460
 challenges

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.340
 early in

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:58.660
 the book

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.300
 of Ruth

00:15:59.300 --> 00:16:00.680
 is trying

00:16:00.680 --> 00:16:01.440
 to work

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.000
 out

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.860
 how we

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.360
 meant to

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.060
 feel about

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.660
 the characters

00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:06.100
 of this

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.420
 book.

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.379
 Because

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:08.920
 traditionally

00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:09.660
 it's taken

00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.040
 as a bit

00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:10.220
 of an

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:10.700
 Old Testament

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.340
 rob-com

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.480
 where

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.800
 just people

00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:14.379
 of virtue.

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:18.980
 And yet

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.540
 God had

00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:19.840
 warned

00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.520
 Israel

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:20.840
 in

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.379
 Deuteronomy

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.079
 32

00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:24.100
 that he

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:24.819
 would send

00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:25.100
 them

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.779
 famine

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.879
 if they

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.340
 worshipped

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:28.899
 idols

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.559
 as they

00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:30.120
 did in

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.539
 the days

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:30.799
 of the

00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:31.139
 judges.

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.579
 You see

00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.279
 Elimelech

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.220
 had a

00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:37.840
 choice to

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.199
 make.

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.960
 He had a

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.600
 road to

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.159
 choose

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.699
 which one

00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.019
 he would

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.340
 go.

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:42.939
 He could

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.819
 stay in

00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:44.759
 Bethlehem

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.240
 the empty

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.879
 bread

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.419
 basket

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.599
 of Judah

00:16:48.599 --> 00:16:50.479
 mourning

00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:51.179
 the sin

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.399
 that

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.120
 surrounded

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.659
 him

00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.620
 in his

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.259
 society

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:54.919
 and

00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.379
 trusting

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.860
 God

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.139
 for the

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:56.519
 provision

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.379
 for his

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:57.919
 family.

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.639
 Alternatively

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.539
 he could

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.360
 leave the

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.180
 promised land

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.899
 behind

00:17:04.899 --> 00:17:06.440
 in pursuit

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.159
 of greener

00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:07.519
 fields.

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:13.019
 theologically

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:13.680
 these are

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.220
 not equal

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.700
 choices.

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.019
 This is

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.980
 not simply

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.339
 Elimelech

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.339
 choosing to

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:20.879
 move to

00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:22.299
 another city

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.059
 because he's

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.819
 got a job

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.420
 offer there.

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:27.840
 God had

00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:28.560
 rescued his

00:17:28.560 --> 00:17:29.080
 people from

00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:29.800
 slavery in

00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.320
 Egypt.

00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:31.220
 He brought

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.700
 them to

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.340
 the land of

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:33.700
 Canaan,

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.259
 the promised

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.800
 land.

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.740
 This was the

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.519
 land that God

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.200
 would dwell with

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.920
 his people in

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.880
 harmony as they

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.500
 lived out their

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.380
 relationship with

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.220
 him as a

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.620
 redeemed

00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:42.160
 people.

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.600
 However,

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.259
 these people

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.140
 rebelled against

00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:47.060
 him as we see

00:17:47.060 --> 00:17:47.800
 again and again

00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:48.320
 in the book of

00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:48.820
 Judges.

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.779
 There was no

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.779
 king in

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:54.120
 Elimelech's

00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:56.099
 life and

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.539
 therefore,

00:17:56.739 --> 00:17:57.479
 like so many

00:17:57.479 --> 00:17:57.939
 of his

00:17:57.939 --> 00:17:58.579
 countrymen,

00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.879
 he chose to

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.519
 do what was

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.339
 best in his

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.179
 own eyes.

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.059
 It's the same

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.979
 choice that each

00:18:05.979 --> 00:18:06.779
 of us face in

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.239
 life.

00:18:07.739 --> 00:18:08.419
 I live for

00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:10.399
 myself and

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.059
 do what I

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.179
 think is best

00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:13.039
 with my life

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.679
 or I follow

00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.219
 the created

00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:16.500
 God and what

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.419
 he determines

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.759
 is best

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.000
 for life.

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.619
 And the

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.059
 Bible is

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:22.539
 explicit.

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:24.559
 when you

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.259
 choose to

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.420
 live life

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.680
 our way,

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.099
 when we

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.899
 do that,

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.680
 eternal

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:32.039
 ruin is

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.000
 the future.

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.879
 So is

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:37.159
 Naomi's

00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.039
 emptiness

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:41.000
 God's

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.740
 judgment on

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.440
 her life?

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:42.480
 love.

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.600
 The

00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:46.880
 interesting

00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:47.360
 thing about

00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:47.920
 this text

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.100
 is it

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:48.320
 doesn't

00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:48.799
 tell us.

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.539
 It's not

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.940
 made explicit

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.480
 in this

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:52.980
 text in

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.580
 the way

00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.700
 that it

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.360
 is in

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:55.940
 so many

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.519
 other places

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.220
 including the

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:57.500
 book of

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:57.900
 Judges.

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.340
 The people

00:18:58.340 --> 00:18:58.740
 did that

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.140
 and God

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.920
 says I'm

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.160
 going to

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.460
 judge you.

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:00.880
 He doesn't

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.259
 do that

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.519
 here.

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:04.900
 And yet

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:08.440
 Naomi is

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.120
 in no

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.940
 doubt about

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.440
 the source

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:10.759
 of her

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.100
 ruin.

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.740
 Verse 13

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:15.000
 she says

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.420
 the Lord's

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.580
 hand has

00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:18.600
 turned against

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:18.940
 me.

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.580
 Then again

00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:21.240
 at the end

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.740
 of the chapter

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.360
 she says

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:22.759
 the same

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.059
 thing.

00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:23.620
 In verse

00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.000
 20

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.820
 the Almighty

00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:25.480
 has made

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.019
 my life

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.640
 very bitter.

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.500
 I went

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.539
 away full

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.120
 but the

00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:29.680
 Lord has

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.180
 brought me

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.299
 back empty.

00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:32.220
 The Lord

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.120
 has afflicted

00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:33.240
 me.

00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:34.000
 The Almighty

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.740
 has brought

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.900
 misfortune

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.180
 upon me.

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:39.220
 she says

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.720
 it's God

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.160
 who's done

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.360
 it.

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.700
 Now

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.220
 frankly

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.440
 I would

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.680
 take Naomi's

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.220
 theology

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.080
 here any

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:49.299
 day over

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.000
 the sentimental

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.980
 views of

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.480
 God which

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.180
 dominate the

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.539
 books of

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.180
 many Christian

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.700
 bookshelves.

00:19:57.060 --> 00:19:57.940
 Naomi is

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.600
 sure of

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.380
 three things

00:19:59.380 --> 00:19:59.920
 in this

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.279
 text.

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.560
 God exists,

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.480
 God is

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.700
 sovereign and

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.220
 God has

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.140
 inflicted her.

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:06.460
 God the

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.940
 Almighty

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.920
 reigns in

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.580
 all the

00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.180
 affairs of

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.500
 people.

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.440
 He rules

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:10.980
 the nation

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.460
 and he

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.000
 rules the

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.700
 families and

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.559
 he rules

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.500
 Naomi's

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.059
 life.

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.140
 He gives

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.799
 rain, he

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.220
 takes it

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.700
 away, he

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.320
 gives life,

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:18.799
 he takes

00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.279
 it away.

00:20:19.580 --> 00:20:20.559
 In him

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.480
 we live,

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.539
 we move,

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.259
 we have

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.160
 our being.

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.740
 He is the

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.920
 all encompassing,

00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:28.019
 the all

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.799
 pervading

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.140
 reality of

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:30.660
 life.

00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.680
 And Naomi

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.460
 was right

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:36.259
 and we

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.879
 should join

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.259
 her in

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.539
 this

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.099
 conviction.

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.059
 God the

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.500
 Almighty

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.019
 reigns in

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.200
 all the

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.220
 affairs of

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:45.579
 people.

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.339
 So Naomi

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.039
 is right

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.099
 here to

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.960
 believe in

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.680
 a sovereign

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.640
 almighty God

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.319
 who governs

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.119
 the affairs

00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.819
 and the

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.500
 nations and

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.200
 the families

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.039
 and gives

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.960
 each day

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.400
 its parts

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.359
 of both

00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.819
 pain and

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.259
 pleasure.

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.240
 He does

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.680
 both.

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.000
 But what

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.180
 Naomi needs

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:11.079
 is to

00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:12.120
 open her

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.640
 eyes a

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.180
 little bit

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.420
 more to

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.620
 the signs

00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.420
 of his

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.160
 merciful

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.319
 purposes in

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.000
 her life.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.160
 If she

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.759
 doesn't,

00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.120
 then her

00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:27.000
 theology just

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.960
 becomes

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.200
 determination

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.200
 fatalism,

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.180
 fatalism,

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.080
 an almighty

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.440
 being who's

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.180
 not personal,

00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:35.980
 not relational

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.819
 and certainly

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.380
 not good.

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.299
 While she

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.220
 can't see it

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.120
 straight away,

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.440
 it's in

00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:45.180
 fact in

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.559
 heading home

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.920
 that we

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.980
 see God's

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.000
 merciful purposes

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.900
 for her being

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.620
 worked out in

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.279
 her life.

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.980
 That's the

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.700
 second point I

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.100
 want to get

00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:56.400
 to.

00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:57.780
 In

00:21:57.780 --> 00:21:58.840
 verses 7

00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.860
 to 18

00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:00.780
 of chapter

00:22:00.780 --> 00:22:01.140
 1,

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.259
 the writer

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.840
 here devotes

00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.540
 a large

00:22:05.540 --> 00:22:06.080
 chunk of

00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:07.340
 space to

00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:08.240
 the journey

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.640
 home.

00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:09.600
 Five verses

00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:10.160
 is all it

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.480
 took.

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.580
 Five verses

00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:12.920
 to describe

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.600
 the descent

00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.280
 to Moab,

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.160
 the tragedy

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.840
 that struck,

00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:16.820
 but more

00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.380
 than double

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.100
 that on the

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:18.759
 journey back

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.519
 to Bethlehem.

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.080
 And most

00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.680
 of these

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.780
 verses here

00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:24.780
 are in

00:22:24.780 --> 00:22:25.940
 fact Naomi's

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.820
 efforts to

00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:27.420
 try and

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.380
 dissuade

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.779
 her daughter-in-laws

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:31.539
 from returning

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.059
 with her.

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:34.840
 And so

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.460
 what therefore

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.180
 stands out

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.559
 in these

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.240
 verses is

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.279
 Ruth's

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.140
 faithfulness

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.920
 to Naomi.

00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.740
 In fact,

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.559
 one of God's

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.660
 mercies to

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.120
 Naomi.

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.700
 It's quite

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.220
 amazing.

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.259
 Verse 14

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.319
 says that

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.359
 Orpah kissed

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:54.000
 Naomi goodbye

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.319
 but Ruth

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.599
 clung to

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:56.920
 her.

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.619
 And that

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.420
 is all the

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.099
 more amazing

00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.400
 after Naomi's

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.539
 grim description

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.559
 of what their

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.379
 future life

00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:04.879
 with her

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.619
 would be

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.099
 like.

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.680
 Ruth stays

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.279
 with her

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.619
 in spite of

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.099
 an apparent

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.819
 hopeless future

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:13.680
 of widowhood

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.819
 and childlessness.

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.680
 Naomi paints

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.220
 a future

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.580
 that is

00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:19.080
 black.

00:23:21.080 --> 00:23:22.019
 And Ruth

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:24.480
 took her

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.060
 hand

00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.600
 and walked

00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:27.500
 into it

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.620
 with her.

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.560
 What a

00:23:31.560 --> 00:23:31.900
 blessing.

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.580
 And the

00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:34.580
 amazing words

00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.100
 of Ruth

00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.759
 are found

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.180
 in verse

00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.700
 16.

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.180
 Have a look

00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:37.440
 at it

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:37.880
 with me.

00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:40.420
 Don't

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.040
 urge me

00:23:41.040 --> 00:23:41.880
 to leave

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.460
 you or

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:42.940
 to turn

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.660
 back from

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.000
 you.

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.800
 Where you

00:23:44.800 --> 00:23:45.480
 go, I

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.000
 will go.

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.720
 Where you

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.480
 stay, I

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.060
 will stay.

00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:48.960
 Your people

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.560
 will be my

00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:49.860
 people.

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.440
 Your God

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.940
 will be my

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.320
 God.

00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:52.220
 Where you

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.080
 die, I

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.720
 will die

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.560
 and there

00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.000
 I'll be

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.300
 buried.

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:55.700
 May the

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.500
 Lord deal

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.160
 with me.

00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.920
 Be it

00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.740
 ever so

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.220
 severely

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:02.180
 if even

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.480
 death

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.280
 separates you

00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:03.680
 and me.

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:05.860
 Now the

00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.360
 more you

00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.260
 ponder these

00:24:07.260 --> 00:24:07.760
 words, the

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.700
 more amazing

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.460
 they become.

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.779
 Ruth's

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.519
 commitment to

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.379
 her destitute

00:24:12.379 --> 00:24:12.980
 mother-in-law

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.819
 is simply

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.559
 astonishing.

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.799
 It is a

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.660
 picture of

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.700
 commitment

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.319
 which is

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.140
 God's

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.599
 commitment

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.460
 to Naomi.

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.480
 It means

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.039
 for Ruth

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.779
 here, leaving

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.279
 her own

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.019
 family, her

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.680
 own land.

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.460
 It means

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.039
 as far as

00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.960
 she knows, a

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.500
 life of

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.180
 widowhood and

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.879
 childlessness

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.980
 because Naomi

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.819
 has no man

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.460
 to give her.

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.579
 And if she

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.799
 marries another

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.900
 non-relative

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.940
 Naomi, her

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.720
 commitment to

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.140
 Naomi's

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.819
 family is

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.600
 cut at

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:39.980
 that point.

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.660
 It ceases.

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.539
 It's lost.

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.440
 It means

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.279
 going to an

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.680
 unknown land

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.480
 with a new

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.200
 people, with a

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.860
 new custom,

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.380
 with a new

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.980
 language.

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.660
 And it was

00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.220
 in fact a

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.880
 commitment even

00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.360
 deeper than

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:54.779
 marriage.

00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.380
 Where you

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:59.100
 die, I

00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:00.799
 will die

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.980
 and there

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.779
 I will be

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.220
 buried.

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.500
 May the

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.119
 Lord deal

00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.680
 with me

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.140
 be it

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:07.099
 ever so

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.900
 severely

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.220
 if even

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.019
 death

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.220
 separates

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.519
 you and

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.839
 me.

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:14.880
 In

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.619
 other words,

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.720
 Ruth says,

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.259
 I will

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.980
 never

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.380
 return home.

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.000
 Even

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.759
 when you

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.220
 die, my

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.880
 commitment to

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.480
 you is not

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.980
 finished.

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:30.980
 the most

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.500
 amazing

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.140
 commitment of

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:32.680
 all is in

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.420
 verse 16.

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.519
 Your God

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.160
 will be my

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.539
 God.

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.299
 Naomi has

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.160
 just said

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.980
 in verse

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.980
 13,

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.039
 saying,

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.720
 the Lord's

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.900
 hand has

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:47.319
 turned against

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.759
 me.

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.680
 Naomi's

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.660
 experience of

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.059
 God in

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.779
 this moment

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.640
 was bitterness.

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:55.759
 And in

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.460
 spite of

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.519
 this, Ruth

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.019
 forsakes her

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.880
 religious heritage

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:00.839
 and makes the

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.599
 God of

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.339
 Israel her

00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:03.819
 God.

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:06.120
 Somehow or

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.799
 other, Ruth

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.460
 had come to

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.279
 trust in

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.299
 Naomi's God

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.559
 in spite of

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.259
 Naomi's

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.000
 bitter

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.720
 experiences.

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.119
 That did

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.619
 not turn

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.180
 her away.

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.099
 Ruth's

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.940
 faith in

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:20.819
 God sees

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.319
 beyond the

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.839
 present

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.879
 setbacks,

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.160
 the present

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.660
 bitter

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.599
 setbacks,

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.140
 freedom from

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.779
 the securities

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.059
 and the

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.480
 comforts of

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.920
 the world

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.039
 and the

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.200
 courage to

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.799
 venture to

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.480
 the unknown

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.039
 and the

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.519
 strange.

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.240
 So what

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.339
 called Naomi

00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:44.819
 home?

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.240
 Even in

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.700
 Naomi's

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.279
 bitter talk

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.779
 about God

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.559
 punishing her,

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.120
 there is an

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.620
 acknowledgement

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:54.000
 here of

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.160
 his sovereign

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.880
 grace.

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.099
 In verse

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.759
 21,

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.339
 she

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.460
 acknowledges,

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.420
 the Lord

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.779
 has brought

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.620
 me back.

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.140
 Her

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:07.819
 husband made

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.500
 the decision

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.359
 to leave,

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.019
 but the

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.339
 Lord has

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.899
 brought her

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.339
 back.

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.259
 And while

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.599
 in this

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.240
 moment she

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.859
 thinks she's

00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.439
 coming back

00:27:16.439 --> 00:27:16.859
 empty,

00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.259
 I mean she's

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.759
 roost with

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.119
 her, she

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.939
 obviously not

00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:20.500
 focused on

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.899
 that very

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.219
 much,

00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:22.599
 she thinks

00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.039
 she's coming

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.699
 back empty

00:27:23.699 --> 00:27:24.259
 but it is

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.659
 God who

00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:26.799
 provides the

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.819
 delicate touch

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.159
 of hope at

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.859
 the end of

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.579
 verse 22.

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.019
 And this is an

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.000
 amazing word of

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.319
 hope,

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.819
 they arrived

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:36.339
 in Bethlehem

00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.700
 as the

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:39.139
 barley harvest

00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:39.859
 was beginning.

00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.159
 You see,

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.939
 it wasn't

00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.619
 just

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.439
 emptiness

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.419
 that brought

00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:48.159
 her back,

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.240
 it was

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.659
 news that

00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.119
 brought her

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.480
 back.

00:27:51.659 --> 00:27:52.259
 It was in

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.379
 fact good

00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:54.579
 news that

00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.159
 brought her

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.899
 back home.

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.980
 News about

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.039
 something that

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.960
 God had

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.679
 done brought

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:02.299
 her back.

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.839
 The Lord

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.519
 had visited

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.299
 his people

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.379
 and he had

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.099
 ended the

00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.419
 famine.

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.659
 It was good

00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:10.960
 news that

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.819
 called her

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.659
 back home.

00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.179
 She wasn't

00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.659
 just coming

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.099
 back to

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.899
 Bethlehem,

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.519
 she was

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.200
 coming back

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.559
 to her

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.099
 God.

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.659
 You see,

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.139
 like the

00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:24.519
 book of

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.179
 Judges,

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.700
 the book

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.500
 of Ruth

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.279
 is just

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.960
 pure

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.159
 gospel,

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.939
 pure,

00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:33.240
 good,

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.439
 news.

00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:36.859
 It reveals

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.539
 the God

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.319
 of mercy

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.299
 and long

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.819
 suffering

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.700
 patients who

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.439
 continually

00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.539
 works in

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.279
 and through

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.879
 and for

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.579
 his people.

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.059
 It was a

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:48.519
 truth at a

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.359
 national level

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:50.460
 and we will

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.179
 see in the

00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.839
 coming weeks

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.359
 that it is

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.700
 true at a

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.200
 personal,

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.019
 family,

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.500
 individual level

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:56.919
 too.

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.339
 God is at

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.059
 work in the

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.500
 worst of

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.980
 times.

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.360
 God

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.519
 and what's

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.019
 more,

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.599
 this sovereign

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.420
 God keeps

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:06.980
 doing it

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.740
 despite his

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:09.160
 people constant

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.720
 resistance to

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.720
 his purposes.

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.839
 God

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.860
 relentlessly

00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.980
 offers his

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.720
 grace to

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.620
 people who

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.360
 neither deserve

00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:18.640
 it,

00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:19.720
 they're not

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.460
 seeking it,

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.539
 not even

00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.640
 appreciating it,

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.200
 even after

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.539
 they've been

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.680
 saved by it.

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:29.940
 So after

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.640
 ten years

00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.340
 abandoning her

00:29:31.340 --> 00:29:33.100
 God and

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.700
 her people

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:35.240
 and her

00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.860
 land,

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.200
 what sort

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.779
 of welcome

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.019
 do you think

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.840
 Naomi should

00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:41.060
 receive

00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:42.640
 returning home?

00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:48.520
 what about

00:29:48.520 --> 00:29:49.060
 the prodigal

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.600
 son in

00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:50.320
 Luke 15?

00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.360
 How would

00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.980
 you respond

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.400
 to a

00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.460
 child who

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.340
 has basically

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:55.960
 wished you

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.460
 were dead,

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.080
 didn't want

00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.560
 anything to

00:29:57.560 --> 00:29:58.040
 do with you

00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.520
 except the

00:29:58.520 --> 00:29:59.020
 inheritance?

00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.160
 Nothing with

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.640
 you again,

00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.140
 ever.

00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:05.940
 The father

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.360
 in the

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.540
 parable of

00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:08.460
 the prodigal

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.040
 son in

00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:09.840
 Luke 15,

00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:12.000
 it is obvious

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.619
 that he is

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.240
 not sitting

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.639
 in his

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.279
 living room

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.699
 with his

00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.559
 feet up

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.659
 waiting for

00:30:16.659 --> 00:30:17.480
 his wayward

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.099
 son to

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.819
 come crawling

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.480
 through the

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.639
 door and

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.099
 his hands

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:21.559
 and knees

00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.439
 groveling

00:30:22.439 --> 00:30:23.259
 and begging

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.199
 for restoration.

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.559
 Verse 20

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.939
 tells us

00:30:27.939 --> 00:30:29.000
 that this

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.699
 man,

00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.459
 this father

00:30:30.459 --> 00:30:31.319
 ran to

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.939
 meet his

00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:32.299
 son,

00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:33.980
 embraced

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.359
 him,

00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.519
 kissed

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.279
 him again

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.000
 and again

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.779
 and again,

00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.279
 reinstates

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.879
 him to

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:41.039
 full

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.180
 membership

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.759
 of the

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.299
 family

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:45.180
 and calls

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.559
 for a

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.339
 celebration

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:50.200
 and we

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.799
 are told

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.319
 in Luke

00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.039
 15 that

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.740
 the only

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.420
 emotion

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.000
 the father

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.599
 felt was

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:55.359
 compassion.

00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:56.879
 This father

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.660
 thinks nothing

00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.019
 of his

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.980
 personal loss,

00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.399
 nothing of

00:30:59.399 --> 00:30:59.980
 his financial

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.420
 loss,

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.440
 nothing of

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.019
 the damage

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.399
 to his

00:31:02.399 --> 00:31:03.099
 reputation

00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:03.839
 in the

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.359
 community,

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.460
 nothing of

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:05.879
 his own

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.339
 personal

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.119
 shame.

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:09.899
 what an

00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:10.459
 extraordinary

00:31:10.459 --> 00:31:11.159
 welcome

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.679
 and we

00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.339
 are told

00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.079
 in Luke

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.879
 15 the

00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.559
 reason why

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.399
 Jesus told

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.179
 this story

00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:17.079
 is because

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.479
 he was

00:31:17.479 --> 00:31:17.779
 saying,

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.719
 I am

00:31:18.719 --> 00:31:19.459
 the father

00:31:19.459 --> 00:31:22.139
 who welcomes

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.799
 the son.

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:24.539
 when sinners

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.339
 turn from

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.099
 their sin

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.899
 and accept

00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:27.659
 my fellowship

00:31:27.659 --> 00:31:28.599
 as the

00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.539
 joy of

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.460
 their lives,

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.399
 they have

00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:31.940
 come home

00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.419
 to God

00:31:32.419 --> 00:31:33.079
 through me

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.940
 and God

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:36.220
 is glad

00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.599
 and he

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.019
 celebrates.

00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.039
 It's a

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.480
 wonderful

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.619
 picture of

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.279
 the grace

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.740
 and the

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.419
 mercy and

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.960
 the love

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.220
 of the

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.639
 compassion

00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.159
 of God.

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.259
 The God

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.659
 of the

00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:47.019
 Bible

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.680
 is not

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.379
 into the

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:49.839
 cancel

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.480
 culture

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.740
 that we

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.200
 currently

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.139
 exist in

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:54.619
 where you

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.359
 make one

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:55.980
 mistake

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.160
 on social

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.619
 media

00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:59.220
 and you

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:00.059
 are what?

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.019
 Your

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.460
 reputation

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.539
 is ruined.

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.160
 You will

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.740
 never live

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.259
 it down.

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:07.839
 A shame

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.299
 that will be

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:08.819
 brought back

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:09.660
 up again

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.379
 and again

00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:11.059
 and again.

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:14.919
 the Bible

00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:15.519
 tells us

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:15.940
 as far

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.619
 as Psalm

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:18.319
 103

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.220
 tells us

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.440
 in the

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.720
 Bible

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.379
 as far

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.879
 as the

00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.359
 east

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.019
 is from

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.879
 the west

00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:24.179
 so far

00:32:24.179 --> 00:32:24.720
 has God

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.399
 removed

00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:26.079
 our sin

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.579
 from us

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.099
 and Isaiah

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.819
 tells us

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.200
 he's forgotten

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.639
 them

00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:31.399
 never to be

00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:31.839
 brought up

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.279
 again

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.879
 against us.

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:34.899
 The whole

00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.700
 story of the

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.019
 Bible

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.679
 is about

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.279
 the human

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.599
 race

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.259
 going away

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.799
 from God

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.119
 and his

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:39.799
 great plan

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.519
 of salvation

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.359
 of bringing

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.799
 them back

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.160
 again

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.680
 and at

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.200
 the centre

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.740
 of that

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.139
 plan

00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:44.599
 is the

00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:44.920
 Lord

00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.339
 Jesus

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:45.960
 Christ

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.519
 because

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.160
 it is

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.960
 good news

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.819
 about Jesus

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.960
 that calls

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.339
 us back

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.700
 home to

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.000
 God.

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.160
 The good

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.579
 news that

00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.000
 calls us

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.319
 back

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.940
 is about

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.639
 something

00:32:55.639 --> 00:32:56.160
 else

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.900
 that God

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.799
 has done

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:59.759
 in Bethlehem

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.660
 again

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.619
 but for

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.180
 all of

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.759
 humanity.

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.660
 And it's

00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.480
 infinitely better

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.180
 news than

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:11.080
 Naomi heard

00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:12.200
 from Bethlehem

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.160
 that turned

00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.380
 her around

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.440
 and back

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.820
 home.

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.320
 The core

00:33:19.320 --> 00:33:19.840
 message of

00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:20.240
 Christianity

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.259
 is that

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.060
 in Jesus

00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:24.640
 God

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.440
 comes to

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.840
 running

00:33:25.840 --> 00:33:26.460
 runs to

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:26.779
 us and

00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.400
 meets us.

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.360
 The king

00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:29.920
 of the

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.640
 universe

00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:32.580
 in all

00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:33.640
 his splendor

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.600
 and glory

00:33:34.600 --> 00:33:36.299
 came to

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:36.799
 the dirt

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.799
 of Bethlehem.

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.899
 Came to

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.379
 the dirt

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.180
 of Bethlehem,

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.500
 lived a

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.019
 life of

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.740
 obscurity

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.539
 amongst us,

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.759
 worked as

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.480
 a carpenter.

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.619
 God the

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.980
 son left

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.819
 his place

00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.720
 of abundance

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:53.379
 and takes

00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.279
 on our

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.059
 emptiness

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.680
 so that we

00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:57.279
 can have

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:58.139
 his place

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.839
 of abundance.

00:33:58.839 --> 00:34:00.159
 Jesus

00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:00.799
 left his

00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.459
 place of

00:34:01.459 --> 00:34:01.839
 blessing

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.559
 and abundance

00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.099
 of glory

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.519
 in heaven

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.139
 entered

00:34:04.139 --> 00:34:04.519
 himself

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.179
 for us

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:06.079
 not just

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:06.379
 in the

00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:06.859
 dirt of

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.619
 Bethlehem

00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.679
 but by

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:08.920
 shedding

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.400
 his blood

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:09.699
 on a

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.099
 cross

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.920
 outside of

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.400
 Jerusalem.

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.420
 As Jesus

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:13.920
 was dying

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.199
 on the

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.599
 cross

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.920
 he cried

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.460
 out

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:18.319
 in every

00:34:18.319 --> 00:34:18.659
 other

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.400
 instance

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:21.099
 in the

00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.299
 New

00:34:21.299 --> 00:34:21.900
 Testament

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.799
 whenever

00:34:23.799 --> 00:34:24.880
 he speaks

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.279
 to his

00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:25.900
 father he

00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.519
 calls him

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.159
 father

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.380
 only on

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.920
 the cross

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.360
 he says

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.219
 my God

00:34:30.219 --> 00:34:31.159
 my God

00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:32.139
 why have

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.820
 you forsaken

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.059
 me?

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:33.880
 He went

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.139
 into exile

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.280
 removed

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.219
 away from

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.800
 the presence

00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.239
 of the

00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.679
 father

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.920
 so that

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.280
 we can

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.659
 be brought

00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.119
 back in.

00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:41.599
 He was

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.159
 cancelled

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:43.119
 so that

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.980
 we can

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.780
 be forgiven.

00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.320
 He took

00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:46.079
 our sin

00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:47.119
 he faced

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.880
 our bitterness

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:50.619
 and in

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.199
 doing so

00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.000
 he turned

00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.579
 away from

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:52.980
 us

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:54.360
 so that

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.699
 we might

00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.179
 be blessed.

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.659
 He took

00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:57.980
 our

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.480
 spiritual

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:58.920
 famine

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.940
 so that

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.360
 we might

00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:00.699
 have

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:00.960
 his

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.420
 spiritual

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:01.940
 feast.

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.880
 You see

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.239
 the good

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:07.039
 news here

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.579
 is that

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.139
 don't ever

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.679
 think the

00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.039
 sin of

00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.860
 your past

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.679
 means there's

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.099
 no hope

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.380
 for the

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:12.739
 future.

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.579
 God

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.780
 knows

00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:16.780
 exactly

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.739
 what you

00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.440
 are like

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.880
 and what

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.519
 I am

00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:19.880
 like

00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.599
 deepest

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.159
 down in

00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:21.360
 the

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.000
 recesses

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.320
 of our

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:22.920
 hearts

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:24.059
 and yet

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.659
 he still

00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.079
 welcomes

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.320
 us.

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:25.840
 His love

00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:26.140
 is

00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:26.840
 unconditional.

00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.180
 It isn't

00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:28.680
 based on

00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.080
 what we

00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:29.700
 are like

00:35:29.700 --> 00:35:30.120
 it is

00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:30.620
 based on

00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:31.059
 what he

00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:31.580
 is like

00:35:31.580 --> 00:35:31.980
 and he

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.080
 calls us

00:35:33.080 --> 00:35:34.120
 home to

00:35:34.120 --> 00:35:34.640
 him.

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.840
 Come home

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.740
 to the

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.260
 God

00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.519
 who made

00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.460
 you and

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.539
 loves you

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.260
 and is the

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.019
 only one

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.360
 who can

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.900
 fill the

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.440
 emptiness

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.420
 the

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.080
 emptiest

00:35:46.080 --> 00:35:47.200
 and meet

00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:48.080
 your deepest

00:35:48.080 --> 00:35:48.640
 need of

00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:49.200
 your heart.

00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:51.199
 God's

00:35:51.199 --> 00:36:14.939
 providence in

00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.760
 Naomi's

00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.559
 life

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:19.000
 is

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.579
 hard

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:21.260
 and

00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:21.740
 sometimes

00:36:21.740 --> 00:36:22.139
 God's

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.619
 providence

00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.119
 in our

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:23.559
 life

00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:24.159
 is

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:24.860
 hard.

00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.420
 He

00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:27.679
 had

00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:28.139
 dealt

00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.320
 bitterly

00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:29.599
 with

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.159
 Naomi

00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:31.880
 at

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.519
 least

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.300
 in the

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.720
 short

00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:34.159
 run

00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:38.139
 in the

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.420
 short

00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:38.579
 run

00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:38.900
 it only

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.400
 felt like

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:39.679
 bitterness

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.360
 for her

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:42.000
 but not

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.880
 long term.

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.400
 Some might

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.039
 say it was

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.460
 a punish

00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:46.820
 for the

00:36:46.820 --> 00:36:47.320
 sin of

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.780
 going to

00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.240
 Moab

00:36:48.240 --> 00:36:48.860
 and marrying

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.640
 foreign

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:50.019
 women.

00:36:51.140 --> 00:36:51.620
 Maybe.

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:53.900
 Maybe.

00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:54.380
 Not

00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:55.000
 necessarily.

00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:55.840
 Maybe.

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.780
 Psalm 34

00:36:58.780 --> 00:36:59.640
 verse 19

00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:00.240
 says the

00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:00.680
 righteous

00:37:00.680 --> 00:37:01.559
 person may

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.180
 have many

00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:02.640
 troubles

00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.980
 but the

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.820
 Lord delivers

00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:05.340
 him from

00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.980
 them all.

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:07.720
 That is

00:37:07.720 --> 00:37:08.160
 the Bible

00:37:08.160 --> 00:37:08.980
 never promises

00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.880
 that believers

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.660
 will escape

00:37:10.660 --> 00:37:11.460
 difficulty in

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.500
 life as

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:12.920
 well.

00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:15.500
 But

00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.400
 suppose

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:18.099
 Naomi's

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.960
 calamity

00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:20.599
 was in

00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:21.460
 fact owing

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.099
 to her

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.480
 and her

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:22.980
 husband's

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.800
 disobedience.

00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:24.700
 What if

00:37:24.700 --> 00:37:25.240
 it was?

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:27.740
 That

00:37:27.740 --> 00:37:28.440
 makes this

00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:29.160
 story

00:37:29.160 --> 00:37:30.680
 remarkable.

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.000
 It

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.680
 makes it

00:37:32.680 --> 00:37:33.539
 if you

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:33.880
 like

00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:34.980
 doubly

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.760
 encouraging

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:37.180
 because it

00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:38.140
 shows

00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:39.440
 that God

00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.340
 is willing

00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.440
 and able

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.780
 even to

00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:43.420
 turn

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.300
 his

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:45.360
 severe

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.019
 judgments

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.559
 into

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:48.420
 our

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.039
 joys.

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:52.639
 Bitterness

00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.220
 just for a

00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:53.480
 moment.

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.019
 And what

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.480
 this Bible

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.099
 is saying,

00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:58.460
 what this

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.019
 passage is

00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.579
 saying is

00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.200
 come back.

00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:01.900
 Jesus

00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:02.820
 is saying

00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:03.480
 to you

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.119
 whatever

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:04.719
 you've

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.079
 done,

00:38:05.839 --> 00:38:06.299
 whatever

00:38:06.299 --> 00:38:06.859
 you've

00:38:06.859 --> 00:38:07.380
 become,

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.920
 come back

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.259
 home to

00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:10.699
 your God.

00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:12.799
 I want to

00:38:12.799 --> 00:38:13.239
 pray with

00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:13.599
 you right

00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:13.980
 now.

00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.000
 And I'm

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:15.359
 just going to

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:16.059
 pray really

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.559
 slowly.

00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:17.960
 And maybe the

00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:18.559
 prayer that I

00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.039
 pray, you

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.480
 might want to

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.059
 echo it in

00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:20.880
 your heart and

00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.440
 come back to

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.039
 God now.

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:22.920
 Let's do

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.179
 that.

00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:29.599
 our

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.460
 gracious God,

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.960
 I just

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.219
 want to

00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:33.839
 thank you

00:38:33.839 --> 00:38:34.319
 for your

00:38:34.319 --> 00:38:35.119
 love and

00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:35.359
 your

00:38:35.359 --> 00:38:35.899
 compassion.

00:38:37.899 --> 00:38:39.079
 I want to

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.839
 thank you

00:38:39.839 --> 00:38:41.980
 for giving

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.559
 us,

00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:44.359
 giving me

00:38:44.359 --> 00:38:45.559
 life.

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:49.340
 sorry that

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:50.259
 I, that

00:38:50.259 --> 00:38:51.659
 we have

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.420
 lived it for

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.480
 ourselves and

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.219
 not for you.

00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:56.980
 Thank you

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.619
 that Jesus

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.599
 dealt with my

00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.579
 sin at the

00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:01.420
 cross, that

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.420
 he was turned

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:03.099
 away, that

00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:05.079
 he was made

00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:07.639
 destitute so

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:08.559
 that we can be

00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:09.179
 brought back

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:09.619
 in.

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.940
 He was

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:11.920
 emptied so

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.420
 that we could

00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.059
 be filled.

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.239
 He took my

00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:17.639
 sin so

00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.059
 that I could

00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:18.579
 be forgiven.

00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:21.979
 So please

00:39:21.979 --> 00:39:22.979
 forgive me

00:39:22.979 --> 00:39:24.779
 and accept

00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:25.439
 me because

00:39:25.439 --> 00:39:25.939
 of him

00:39:25.939 --> 00:39:28.259
 and help

00:39:28.259 --> 00:39:29.019
 me to start

00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:29.699
 living for

00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.039
 you.

00:39:31.879 --> 00:39:32.439
 Amen.