WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.040
 it's my joy to be with you again and bring god's word to you today if you have been with us over

00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:13.919
 the last several weeks you know that we're going through the book of ruth and you'll remember that

00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:19.440
 the book of ruth is a book about suffering it's a book about suffering because it's a book about

00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:26.000
 widows which is many of us here today and it's a book about suffering because it's also a book

00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:33.859
 about people who live in a land that they weren't born in which is also many of us here today but

00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:39.659
 you'll also remember that it is a book for those who don't suffer as well because if we're not

00:00:39.659 --> 00:00:48.460
 suffering now we will one day if we live long enough in this world and if we're not suffering

00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:54.539
 now we are surrounded by people who are and so all we have to do is look in front of us and behind us

00:00:54.539 --> 00:01:00.140
 and beside us and see people who are going through things that are very similar to the story that's

00:01:00.140 --> 00:01:10.000
 here and so remember that god as a wise and loving father wants us to become wise as well and so he's

00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:16.079
 given us this story in his word if you're with us from the beginning you'll remember it three weeks

00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:22.560
 ago we met a woman named naomi naomi lived in god's land in the land of israel and yet there was a famine

00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:28.260
 and so she and her husband elimelech and their two sons decided to move to the country of moab

00:01:28.260 --> 00:01:33.799
 leaving the land that god has given to his people as the promised land for a land where people did not

00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:41.000
 worship god but there was food and we saw that her husband's name was god is my king

00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:49.439
 and 10 years later he died as well as his her two sons and so our big question was this is god still the

00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:57.079
 king when tragedy strikes and we saw that in the midst of that god was still at work leading and

00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:03.840
 guiding and providing for his people because at the same time that that had happened god visited his

00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:12.500
 people and gave them bread and in the following week we saw that naomi returned from the land of moab

00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:21.139
 to the land of israel with her two daughters-in-law ruth and orpah and naomi gave her very best arguments

00:02:21.139 --> 00:02:26.800
 as to why they should not stay with her why they needed to go back and to their homeland their country

00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:36.039
 of moab and yet against all odds we saw that ruth committed to naomi she committed to naomi even though

00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:42.239
 it meant giving up her homeland possibly giving up the chance of remarrying someone who was her same

00:02:42.239 --> 00:02:50.899
 nationality and instead she gave everything to commit to naomi and so we saw that faith commits to

00:02:50.899 --> 00:02:56.699
 those who are suffering even when there's nothing to gain and remember that the motivation and the

00:02:56.699 --> 00:03:04.919
 power for that was not in ruth it wasn't ultimately in her character it wasn't ultimately in what she had

00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:10.579
 internally in her resources what it was because she knew that the god of israel was a god of never

00:03:10.579 --> 00:03:18.399
 stopping never giving up unbreaking always and forever love and so ruth chose to show that same

00:03:18.399 --> 00:03:25.579
 love to naomi making a incredible vow to go with her even to death and then if you remember last week

00:03:25.579 --> 00:03:30.500
 they finally arrive at their destination they show up back in the homeland of bethlehem

00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:35.699
 and all that naomi can think about is her own bitterness

00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:42.680
 she reminds those around her that when she left she was full but god has brought her back empty

00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:49.139
 and so we saw the temptation that when tragedy strikes it's tempting to believe that god is against us

00:03:49.139 --> 00:03:56.599
 that he's opposed to us that he's forgotten us and so the question then was not is god still the king

00:03:56.599 --> 00:04:05.379
 but is god still good is he still for us and we saw that even while naomi thought she was empty

00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:14.639
 she was not because god had given her ruth and he had brought her back to his land at the exact

00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:19.980
 right time at the beginning of the harvest the one time that would be most helpful for her to return

00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:26.520
 and be able to have some food and so it's at this point that we pick up here in chapter two we're

00:04:26.520 --> 00:04:32.120
 finally out of chapter one in the book of ruth and if this has been a difficult series in terms of

00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:38.240
 talking about intense suffering week after week i have good news for you chapter one was the worst of it

00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:45.900
 so yeah we can say that naomi feels like she's gone from full to empty and now our trajectory from

00:04:45.899 --> 00:04:51.839
 the rest of this book is going to be going from empty to full and so if you've made it through us

00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:58.219
 with us through the first chapter there is hope in sight now if you'll remember two weeks ago i talked

00:04:58.219 --> 00:05:03.259
 about the difference between the self-fulfillment view of life and the self-sacrificial view of life

00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:10.019
 and we talked about the 10-year marriage proposal that sometimes when the going gets hard it's easiest

00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:17.519
 just to leave and we saw that ruth did the very opposite thing that she made this dramatic and

00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:27.299
 intense vow that she was going to commit even when it was hard and yet we know that it's one thing to

00:05:27.299 --> 00:05:34.899
 make a vow and it's another to keep it it's one thing to make a vow and it's another to keep it and

00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:40.339
 there's a study that was done recently that showed that there's an inverse relationship between the

00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:46.639
 amount of money that is spent on a wedding ring and a wedding and the success of that marriage

00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:53.959
 in other words if you focus too much on the vows and not enough on what comes after

00:05:53.959 --> 00:06:02.060
 you've put things the wrong way around we're going to see that ruth comes up against that challenge here

00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:07.899
 in this chapter she's made these promises she's made these great vows but now reality is going to

00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:15.780
 hit because she is finally a foreigner in a land that she's never been to before and so our question

00:06:15.780 --> 00:06:28.279
 is this yes faith commits but how do we sustain a life of faith how do we sustain a life of faith

00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:33.279
 what does it look to live the life of faith day by day not just to make a dramatic vow

00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:41.179
 but to keep it with that we are in ruth chapter two and we're starting in verse one remember that this

00:06:41.179 --> 00:06:49.199
 is god's word and god has told us that his word is more precious than gold even the finest gold

00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:56.519
 and it is sweeter than honey even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb and we're going to turn to

00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:03.079
 it now we're in ruth chapters two starting at verse one now naomi had a relative of her husband's a

00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:10.819
 worthy man of the clan of elimelech whose name was boaz and ruth the moabite said to naomi let me go to

00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:17.620
 the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight i shall find favor and she said to

00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:24.599
 her go my daughter so she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers and she happens to

00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:32.700
 come to the part of the field belonging to boaz who is of the clan of elimelech verse four and behold

00:07:32.700 --> 00:07:41.180
 boaz came from bethlehem and he said to the reapers the lord be with you and they answered the lord bless

00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:47.700
 you then boaz said to his young man who is in charge of the reapers whose young woman is this

00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:54.279
 and the servant who is in charge of the reapers answered she is the young moabite woman who came

00:07:54.279 --> 00:08:01.279
 back with naomi from the country of moab she said please let me glean and gather among the sheaves

00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:08.219
 after the reapers so she came and she has continued from early morning until now except for a short rest

00:08:08.220 --> 00:08:15.100
 verse eight then boaz said to ruth now listen my daughter do not go to glean in another field or

00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:21.500
 leave this one but keep close to my young women let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping

00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:29.440
 and go after them have i not charged the young men not to touch you and when you are thirsty go to the

00:08:29.440 --> 00:08:35.860
 vessels and drink what the young men have drawn then she fell on her face bowing to the ground and said to

00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:42.560
 him why have i found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since i am a foreigner

00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:49.480
 but boaz answered her all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband

00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:54.800
 has been fully told to me and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a

00:08:54.800 --> 00:09:01.340
 people that you did not know before the lord repay you for what you have done and a full reward be given

00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:06.720
 you by the lord the god of israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge

00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:14.660
 then she said i have found favor in your eyes my lord for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to

00:09:14.660 --> 00:09:18.220
 your servant though i am not one of your servants

00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:23.040
 please pray with me as we come to this portion of god's word

00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:34.599
 dear father in heaven we thank you as always that you have not left us as orphans alone in a merciless

00:09:34.599 --> 00:09:35.099
 universe

00:09:35.099 --> 00:09:42.500
 but that you come and you speak to us and you don't just speak to us but you speak to us in ways that

00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:48.980
 we can understand and so we ask that you would do that this morning that you would send your holy

00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:56.740
 spirit and that you would speak clearly to us we ask this not because we have earned it but because

00:09:56.740 --> 00:10:00.259
 your son has and so we ask it in his name amen

00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:12.279
 remember i said that it's one thing to take a vow and it's another thing to keep it and ruth has taken

00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:18.960
 this incredible vow to be with naomi and there are two things that came up at the very end of chapter

00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:25.500
 one in our last verse verse 22 that i did not point out to you last week and i'll point out both of

00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:31.320
 them to you but only one of them i'll point out now and that is that ruth for the first time has a

00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:37.860
 longer name than she's ever had before do you notice that she has a longer name she's not just ruth

00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:44.700
 anymore all up until verse 22 she's been ruth and now suddenly it changes she is ruth the moabite

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:56.240
 and we see the same thing in chapter 2 verse 2 and ruth the moabite said to naomi

00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:07.080
 and why this change hasn't ruth always been a moabite we know that naomi traveled from israel to moab

00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:13.660
 and in a sense she has always been a moabite so in one sense nothing has changed but in another sense

00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:19.920
 there's been a very dramatic change because she is for the first time living as a foreigner

00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:27.220
 in her own land she's naomi but in israel she's naomi or excuse me in her own land she's ruth

00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:35.060
 but in israel she's ruth the moabite and so the author is highlighting here that reality is setting

00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:41.019
 in for the commitment that she's made it's one thing to make an incredible vow it's another thing

00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:47.680
 to finally arrive in a foreign land now some of us live in a foreign land many of us have traveled to

00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:53.899
 a foreign land and all of us know the difficulties of being in a place that's not your home there are

00:11:53.899 --> 00:12:00.340
 customs you don't know there are things at the grocery store you don't recognize there are signs

00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:06.879
 you can't read but perhaps most important of all is there are people who can instantly tell that you

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:14.779
 don't belong and are ready to take advantage of you that's the reason why god is so passionate in

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:19.519
 the old testament about cares for the foreigner and the widow and the orphan is because god is concerned

00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:26.340
 about people who are the most vulnerable and so we see the position that ruth is in she is in the

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:32.759
 most vulnerable position possible in the land of israel she could have gone back to her homeland and

00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:43.879
 been safe but here she is a moabite without resources for food potentially without any man to care for her

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:50.159
 and so she goes out here in verse two let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after

00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:55.139
 him and whose sight i shall find favor if you're familiar with the old testament you know that one

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:59.519
 of god's provisions for widows in the destitute was that they could do something called gleaning

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:05.240
 which is to say that they could go to the field of a wealthy landowner who was taking in the harvest

00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:10.559
 and they could follow after people who were harvesting and if ears of grain fell to the ground if they

00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:17.259
 were missed they could come and pick up what was left and so it was one way for those who were poor

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:25.739
 to still be able to eat one commentator compares it however to recycling aluminum cans that this is hard

00:13:25.739 --> 00:13:32.559
 work that did not always give much yield that while god had provided this provision ruth is in a very

00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:40.479
 difficult position she's a foreigner in a land that's not her own she's been left to glean as her

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:48.019
 way of surviving and not insignificantly she's left with uh naomi this woman who we saw last week is

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:53.279
 so self-focused and bitter that she can't see anything other than her own pain

00:13:53.279 --> 00:14:01.539
 and so the same question that she has is the question of this section is she going to find favor

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:07.740
 you see what she says in verse two let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:15.919
 in whose sight i shall find favor what's going to happen to ruth she's made this commitment she

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.659
 stepped out in faith knowing that god was a god of steadfast love and now she finds herself in the

00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:29.000
 midst of the reality of the situation she's now experiencing the consequences of the vow

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:33.620
 that she has made and so is she going to make it

00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:41.659
 it's true for us as well this morning there's those of us who have made commitments to live the

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:48.919
 life of faith we've done what god's called us to do and then reality sets in

00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:55.019
 maybe you're someone from two sermons ago you're someone who's committed to the vulnerable

00:14:55.019 --> 00:15:03.100
 and the weak and the suffering and yet as you walk along it suddenly you realize whether it's

00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:08.079
 someone in your family or someone in your community this person is a lot like naomi

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:17.740
 they're bitter they're self-focused they're hard to interact with change comes not fast but slow

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:23.320
 and suddenly the reality begins to set in how do you sustain the life of faith

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:31.019
 maybe you love the self-sacrificial view of marriage and so you made vows to someone committing

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:35.740
 that you were going to live that life you were going to live the life of self-sacrifice no matter

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:39.659
 what it took you were going to commit to them for the rest of your life

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:46.600
 and then as you began to have arguments and try to talk about hard things you realize that your spouse

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:52.320
 had no interest in that and every time you brought up a conflict they just withdrew and wouldn't engage

00:15:52.320 --> 00:16:00.139
 with you and suddenly you find yourself wondering whether that vow was such a good idea after all

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:05.320
 maybe you came to a church thinking that this was going to be the place where you were going to

00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:11.860
 finally find community and life and growth and yet as you stayed more and more month after month you

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:14.100
 realize that there were people at the church that you really didn't like

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:20.139
 and some people had a different view of what the church should be than you did

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:24.420
 and as you explained your vision for what you hoped the church would become

00:16:24.420 --> 00:16:26.820
 they were not quite as excited as you were

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:32.200
 before too long there were conflicts between you and other people in the church and

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.879
 while you were excited while you had made vows of membership

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.659
 you're wondering how do you sustain

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:39.060
 the life of faith

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:43.139
 how do you stay in when the going gets hard

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:48.159
 maybe you have a job that's difficult that you believe that god has called you to

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.059
 and you have work that's powerful and purposeful

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:54.939
 and yet you're not sure how much longer you can do it

00:16:54.939 --> 00:17:00.719
 because you can feel the fingers and the hand of burnout on your shoulder

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:07.980
 and so you say pastor this is great you've talked about god's never stopping never giving up unbreaking

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:12.900
 always and forever love and i understand that jesus died for me 2 000 years ago

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:19.920
 and that's great but what about today right now in 2018

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:23.539
 what does that mean for me now

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:31.279
 as we've seen before in this book

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:35.080
 the questions it raises are also the questions it answers

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:40.120
 ruth here is in a difficult situation and so she says

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:42.340
 let me go and glean and see if i can find favor

00:17:42.340 --> 00:17:44.960
 and then in verse 3

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:49.580
 so she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers

00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.720
 and she happened

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:55.399
 to come to the part of the field belonging to boaz

00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:58.119
 who is of the clan of elimelech

00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:02.740
 now we found out in verse 1 about this man named boaz

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:04.500
 apparently he's a worthy man

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.839
 which can mean a variety of things

00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:08.819
 but what we know about boaz in this situation

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.859
 most likely this is speaking about his character

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:13.939
 and we find out quickly when he appears

00:18:13.939 --> 00:18:15.480
 what kind of character he has

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.879
 because he gives an unusual greeting

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:18.099
 he says in verse 4

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.399
 the lord be with you

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:22.040
 so this is a godly man

00:18:22.040 --> 00:18:27.360
 he's a man who's godly because he cares about the things that god cares about

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:29.580
 he cares about the vulnerable and the suffering

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:32.560
 he's also a man who's able to help

00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:34.680
 because he has enough wealth to have a field

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:38.140
 but let's go back to verse 3

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:44.100
 she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to boaz

00:18:44.100 --> 00:18:48.039
 this is not something that happened

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.740
 in the hebrew it sounds something like this

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.220
 she chanced to chance

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.380
 we might say

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:54.500
 it was a complete coincidence

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:59.539
 and yet this is perhaps one of the greatest understatements

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.740
 in all of the old testament

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:07.079
 the narrator has already told us about this man in verse 1

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.319
 and so she happened

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.059
 is an ironic statement

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:13.599
 in other words

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.720
 there is nothing

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:17.839
 in this that has anything to do with chance

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:23.480
 there is nothing that has anything to do with chance

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.259
 she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to boaz

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.059
 in other words

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:30.960
 when ruth

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.399
 stepped out in faith

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:35.059
 living the life of faith

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.119
 god

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.119
 brought her

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.339
 to the right field

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:42.879
 when ruth

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:44.399
 stepped out

00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.579
 in faith

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.960
 keeping the vow that she had made

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.819
 god brought her

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.919
 to the right field

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:50.779
 but she doesn't just come

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.779
 to the right place

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:54.059
 she comes at the right time

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.799
 verse 4

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.659
 and behold boaz came from bethlehem

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.619
 and he said to the reapers

00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.639
 the lord be with you

00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:01.440
 and then he goes on

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.539
 to inquire about

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.819
 this new woman

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.579
 who's in the fields

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:07.139
 she's the young moabite

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.779
 here it is again

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.779
 this is the third time now

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.399
 that we found out

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.079
 that she's a foreigner

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.819
 she's come with naomi

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.919
 from the country of moab

00:20:12.919 --> 00:20:13.779
 she said

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.740
 please let me glean

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.919
 and gather among the sheaves

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.659
 after the reapers

00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:17.879
 so she came

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.599
 and she has continued

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:20.099
 from early morning until now

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.819
 except for a short rest

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:25.099
 then boaz said to ruth

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.959
 now listen my daughter

00:20:25.959 --> 00:20:26.879
 do not go to glean

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.740
 in another field

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.679
 or leave this one

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:30.059
 but keep close

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.000
 to my young women

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:33.259
 in other words

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:35.419
 you're not just going

00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:36.419
 to be another gleaner

00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:39.059
 you're going to stay

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.219
 close to my staff

00:20:40.219 --> 00:20:42.339
 you're going to be

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.219
 the first one

00:20:43.219 --> 00:20:43.839
 behind them

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.759
 when the grain falls

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:47.359
 you're going to be

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.599
 the gleaner of gleaners

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.000
 you're going to have

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.839
 special access

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.679
 to my fields

00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:53.179
 have I not charged

00:20:53.179 --> 00:20:53.859
 the young men

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.719
 not to touch you

00:20:54.719 --> 00:20:57.159
 as a foreigner

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:59.459
 who's the most vulnerable

00:20:59.459 --> 00:21:01.059
 you're going to have

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:02.159
 my special protection

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:04.319
 and when you're thirsty

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.079
 go to the vessels

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.659
 and drink

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.519
 what the young men

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.079
 have drawn

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:09.619
 and so in a situation

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.379
 where women

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.199
 would be the ones

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:11.899
 typically drawing

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.339
 the water

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:14.679
 you are going to go

00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:15.759
 to my special

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.639
 water reservoir

00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.839
 and the men

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.379
 are going to draw

00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:20.879
 it for you

00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:26.080
 and so Ruth

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:28.800
 stepping out in faith

00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:30.240
 comes to the right place

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.560
 at the right time

00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:34.420
 and it just happened

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:39.680
 or maybe it didn't

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:42.020
 because God

00:21:42.020 --> 00:21:43.980
 here our question before

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.900
 our first week was

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.080
 is God at work

00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:47.620
 in the dark

00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:50.119
 and now our question

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.539
 is this

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.539
 is God at work

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.819
 behind the scenes

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:55.659
 is God at work

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:56.559
 behind the scenes

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.419
 is his faithfulness

00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:58.739
 to us

00:21:58.739 --> 00:22:00.299
 not just his faithfulness

00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.699
 2,000 years ago

00:22:01.699 --> 00:22:02.879
 but his faithfulness

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.479
 now

00:22:03.479 --> 00:22:06.859
 the answer is yes

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.719
 we see here

00:22:08.719 --> 00:22:09.179
 in Ruth

00:22:09.179 --> 00:22:09.799
 that God

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:11.719
 is continuing

00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:12.599
 to be faithful

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.379
 to his people

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.079
 he's not just

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.519
 at work

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.139
 in the dark

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.340
 but he's at work

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.860
 behind the scenes

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:19.820
 and when God's people

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:22.259
 go on God's mission

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.700
 God

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.480
 writes the check

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.900
 and cashes it

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:29.880
 when God's people

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:31.820
 go on God's work

00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.800
 and God's mission

00:22:32.800 --> 00:22:34.160
 God is the one

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.259
 who writes the check

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.400
 and cashes it

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:41.140
 I'll give you a story

00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.200
 from my own life

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.460
 this does not compare

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.100
 at all to the story

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.420
 of Ruth

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.299
 in terms of magnitude

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:48.799
 but all of us

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.579
 have situations

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.779
 if we've lived long enough

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.460
 where we've had to do

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.079
 something risky

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.600
 and challenging

00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.460
 we're wondering

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.519
 if God's going to show up

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.400
 if he's going to come through

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.880
 we know the right thing

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.120
 to do

00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.779
 we know what God's

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.460
 called us to do

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.299
 and yet we're not sure

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.079
 if or how

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:03.740
 he's going to provide

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:06.160
 so about

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.319
 a little over a year ago

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.420
 I was in seminary

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.539
 I was graduating soon

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.659
 and I knew that I needed a job

00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:15.619
 and I was talking

00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.379
 to various churches

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.139
 I happened to be talking

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.879
 to this one church

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:18.680
 that was in southwest

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.539
 Colorado Springs

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:22.279
 and they were only hiring

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.960
 half time

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:26.000
 and it became clear

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:28.099
 during my last semester

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.659
 in seminaries

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.720
 I talked to various churches

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.599
 that this was the place

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.799
 that God was calling me to

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:33.519
 and yet I wasn't sure

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.399
 what was going to happen

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:37.779
 I wasn't going to make enough

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.539
 half time

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.480
 to be able to support myself

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.220
 I knew that I needed

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.000
 another job

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:43.039
 I didn't have a place

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.660
 to live

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.779
 I was moving to a state

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.440
 that I had never been to before

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.660
 except once on a road trip

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.339
 on the way to Utah

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.279
 for a few hours

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:53.740
 and so I committed

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.240
 I came here

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.160
 and I visited you all

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.299
 I preached in April

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.119
 of 2017

00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.900
 and it became clear

00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.859
 that I was going to come here

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.619
 and yet I committed

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.680
 not knowing exactly

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.380
 what was going to happen

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:02.960
 not knowing where

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.740
 I was going to live

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.779
 not knowing what other

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.299
 kind of job

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.119
 I was going to have

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:09.719
 and it just so happened

00:24:09.719 --> 00:24:12.859
 that before I went to seminary

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.859
 I was a Latin teacher

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:15.479
 taught elementary Latin

00:24:15.479 --> 00:24:16.099
 which is something

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.139
 that not many people do

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:18.559
 it's rare to find someone

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.139
 with experience

00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:20.679
 teaching elementary Latin

00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:23.259
 and it just so happened

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.379
 that Colin Mullaney

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.139
 who's the director

00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:26.139
 of the Vanguard School

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.599
 here in Colorado Springs

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:29.319
 was coming to Cheyenne Mountain

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.959
 and it just so happened

00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:34.039
 that for at least a year

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.679
 or more in advance

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.299
 they had decided

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.080
 that that year

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.060
 the year that I was coming

00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:37.860
 it just so happened

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:39.740
 that they were going to start

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.840
 an elementary Latin program

00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:42.980
 and they'd been looking

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.500
 for someone

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.299
 who had experience

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.420
 because the starter program

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.220
 they didn't want to bring in

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.360
 someone who had not done it before

00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:51.680
 and they had many applications

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.080
 come in

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.060
 but it just so happened

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:54.320
 that none of those applications

00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:55.180
 were from someone

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:57.700
 who had taught elementary Latin before

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:59.980
 and it just so happened

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.000
 that Jim Alexander

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.120
 found out about this job

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.620
 from Colin

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.539
 and it just so happened

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.539
 that I applied

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.700
 and it just so happened

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:07.279
 that before I moved out here

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.879
 and 20 minutes after my interview

00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.639
 they called me back

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.500
 and offered me the job

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:14.139
 and I tell you this story

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:15.200
 not about me

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.000
 this is not about me

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.619
 and my faith

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.779
 I had plenty of anxiety

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.359
 and fear

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:19.299
 about what was going to happen

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:20.180
 moving out to Colorado

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:22.420
 they didn't hire me

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:24.119
 because I was an amazing Latin teacher

00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:24.599
 they hired me

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.659
 because it just so happened

00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:26.759
 that they didn't have anyone else

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.819
 who had previous experience

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.579
 doing this thing

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.639
 that I just happened to do

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:33.400
 and then it just so happened

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.700
 that before I knew

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.540
 that I was coming here

00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:37.200
 there was a landlord

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:39.960
 a five minute walk from here

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.040
 who decided that he was going

00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:42.080
 to finish his basement

00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:44.380
 and make it a place to live

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.780
 before he moved

00:25:45.780 --> 00:25:47.060
 to New York State

00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:50.280
 and it just so happened

00:25:50.280 --> 00:25:50.960
 that the trotters

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.960
 were out of the country

00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.880
 and willing to let me

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.780
 crash in their house

00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:55.100
 until I found a place to live

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:58.039
 and then it just so happened

00:25:58.039 --> 00:26:00.240
 that I got connected

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.219
 with this basement

00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:04.819
 and it just so happened

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.639
 that I moved in

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:10.019
 so the point is this

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.619
 that God

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:15.019
 comes when his people

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.019
 are on his mission

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:19.419
 many things just happen

00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:22.179
 because God provides

00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.259
 for his people

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.299
 on his mission

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:27.859
 God provides

00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.599
 for his people

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.619
 on his mission

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.379
 and so the point

00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.039
 of this story

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.839
 is not me

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.319
 I don't tell you

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:34.819
 this story

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:36.019
 about my great faith

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.839
 because I didn't have it

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:38.879
 I had fear

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.519
 and anxiety

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:42.159
 but I tell you

00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:42.579
 this story

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.859
 about our great God

00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:46.220
 who leads

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.099
 and guides

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.960
 and provides

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.779
 for his people

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:51.519
 and as he did it

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.099
 with Ruth

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.720
 and Naomi

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:54.099
 he does it now

00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:57.959
 that just so

00:26:57.959 --> 00:26:58.659
 happened

00:26:58.659 --> 00:27:03.359
 now Ruth also

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.179
 had to step out

00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:04.659
 in faith

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:06.859
 we see here

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.599
 that she takes

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:09.339
 tremendous initiative

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.539
 she's the one

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:10.939
 who says

00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:11.480
 let me go

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:11.939
 and glean

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:14.079
 she's the one

00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.799
 who works

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.619
 from morning

00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.679
 until Boaz

00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.219
 shows up

00:27:17.219 --> 00:27:18.419
 with just a short break

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:21.340
 and Boaz

00:27:21.340 --> 00:27:22.279
 is the one

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.940
 who has heard

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.560
 the report

00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.880
 of her faithfulness

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:26.180
 to Naomi

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:30.860
 and so is it

00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:33.160
 God's sovereign provision

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:35.539
 or is it us

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.160
 going out

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.820
 on his mission

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:40.440
 it's not an either or

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.120
 it's both

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:45.359
 we go out

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.379
 on God's mission

00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:47.479
 in faith

00:27:47.479 --> 00:27:49.339
 as he provides

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.059
 and leads

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.159
 and sustains

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:53.779
 and it's not

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.459
 that we earn

00:27:54.459 --> 00:27:55.199
 God's favor

00:27:55.199 --> 00:27:56.859
 that would be

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.599
 that's legalism

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.000
 the idea

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.659
 that we can earn

00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.519
 something from God

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:02.519
 but it's that

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.059
 we're united

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.639
 to Christ

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:05.739
 and so that

00:28:05.739 --> 00:28:06.659
 if we're in Christ

00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:07.719
 whatever is true

00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:09.519
 of Jesus

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.219
 is true

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.940
 of us

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.600
 as well

00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.460
 and so the favor

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:14.000
 and the provision

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.519
 that God shows

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.220
 to his son

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:18.259
 is the same provision

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.880
 and favor

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.940
 that he shows

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.920
 to us

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:23.720
 the provision

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.160
 and favor

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:24.720
 that he shows

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.240
 to his son

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.120
 is the same provision

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.660
 and favor

00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.299
 that he shows

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.100
 to us

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:29.819
 and so some of us

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.539
 need to be reminded

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.559
 of God's provision

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.079
 for us

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.839
 as we continue

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.779
 doing what's hard

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.920
 and others of us

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.920
 need to be reminded

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.680
 that God has called us

00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.140
 to do

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.839
 what is hard

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:42.259
 some of us

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.139
 need to be reminded

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.859
 of God's provision

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.439
 to continue

00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:45.099
 what we're already

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.259
 doing in his mission

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.579
 and some of us

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.359
 need to be reminded

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.059
 to go out

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.699
 in his mission

00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:50.539
 that we're not just

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.299
 waiting for God

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.740
 to act

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.779
 a perfect example

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.259
 would be

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.959
 Nehemiah

00:28:53.959 --> 00:28:56.279
 Nehemiah is charged

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.199
 with helping reform

00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.000
 the nation of Israel

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.980
 and rebuild the walls

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.939
 after they return

00:28:59.939 --> 00:29:00.919
 from exile

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:02.439
 and there are

00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:02.959
 several points

00:29:02.959 --> 00:29:03.339
 in the book

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.359
 where Nehemiah

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.459
 does two things

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:08.039
 he prays

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:10.460
 and then he puts

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:10.960
 on a sword

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:13.380
 because he knows

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.079
 that God's enemies

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.640
 are planning

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.360
 to attack

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:17.380
 and so he doesn't

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:17.980
 just pray

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.860
 he puts on a sword

00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:21.799
 and he doesn't

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.559
 just put on a sword

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.120
 he prays

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:26.519
 and so it's always

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.880
 both

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.819
 it's always God

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.960
 providing for his people

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.799
 who are on mission

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.799
 and his people

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.660
 following him

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:33.300
 in that mission

00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:37.880
 told you I was

00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.420
 going to point out

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.140
 one other thing

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:40.200
 about verse 22

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.920
 that I didn't tell you

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.460
 last week

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.860
 and I will

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:44.160
 but first

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.820
 let's go to the very end

00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.820
 of this section

00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:50.360
 verse 12

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:52.220
 the Lord repay you

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.120
 for what you have done

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.200
 and a full reward

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.840
 be given you

00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:55.380
 by the Lord

00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.259
 the God of Israel

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.860
 under whose wings

00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:59.400
 you have come

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.360
 to take refuge

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:03.879
 what does it mean

00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:05.019
 that Ruth has taken

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.500
 refuge under the wings

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.179
 of God

00:30:07.179 --> 00:30:12.299
 verse 22

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.719
 it says

00:30:12.719 --> 00:30:13.959
 so Naomi returned

00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:16.079
 and Ruth the Moabite

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.740
 her daughter-in-law

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.159
 with her

00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:17.959
 who returned

00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:19.299
 from the country

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.859
 of Moab

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:22.459
 and then verse 6

00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:23.559
 she is the young

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.219
 Moabite woman

00:30:24.219 --> 00:30:25.139
 who came back

00:30:25.139 --> 00:30:25.719
 with Naomi

00:30:25.719 --> 00:30:26.879
 from the country

00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.419
 of Moab

00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:29.799
 now what's wrong

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:31.980
 this is like

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.599
 one of those pictures

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.039
 where you're trying

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.480
 to figure out

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.359
 what doesn't make sense

00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:40.539
 Ruth isn't returning

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:43.899
 she's never been

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.619
 to Israel before

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.440
 as far as we know

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:49.159
 so why are we told

00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:49.700
 twice

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.899
 that Ruth

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.619
 returns

00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.779
 to a place

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.419
 she's never been

00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:53.980
 to before

00:30:53.980 --> 00:31:02.220
 it's because

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.240
 she has made

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.640
 God

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.240
 her God

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.640
 remember she told us

00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.900
 in verse 16 and 17

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.980
 your people

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.740
 shall be my people

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.420
 and your God

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.579
 my God

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:14.720
 and so the land

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.099
 of Israel

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.700
 is now

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.480
 her home

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:18.980
 even as a foreigner

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.019
 who's never been there

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:22.539
 so what does it mean

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.000
 to hide

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.740
 under the wings

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.299
 of God

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:26.680
 it means

00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.900
 that being a foreigner

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:31.099
 in God's land

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:33.079
 is better

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.839
 than being a native

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.799
 anywhere else

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:40.460
 to be a foreigner

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.299
 in God's land

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:44.279
 is better to be

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.079
 a native

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:46.440
 anywhere else

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:48.000
 because this

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.420
 is where she can

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.120
 come to hide

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:51.140
 under the wings

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.220
 this is the sphere

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.140
 of God's blessing

00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.600
 this is the place

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.480
 of God's provision

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.500
 the place

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.299
 of his mission

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.460
 for her

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:04.799
 she's hidden herself

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.480
 under the wings

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.320
 of God

00:32:07.320 --> 00:32:10.039
 for us

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.820
 there's not a

00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:11.759
 promised land

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.660
 to return to

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:16.540
 instead we have

00:32:16.540 --> 00:32:17.040
 the church

00:32:17.040 --> 00:32:20.880
 that as we

00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.920
 wonder about

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.480
 how to

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.640
 continue in the

00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.340
 life of faith

00:32:24.340 --> 00:32:26.620
 we have God's

00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.200
 sovereign provision

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:27.800
 for his people

00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:28.440
 who are on

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.060
 mission

00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:31.320
 and part of that

00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:32.420
 provision is

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.140
 where you're at

00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:33.740
 right now

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.400
 there's many

00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.220
 it just so happened

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.080
 but it just so happened

00:32:37.080 --> 00:32:37.900
 that you came here

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.759
 this morning

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:40.680
 to this church

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:42.300
 in the church

00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.019
 there are people

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.799
 like Boaz

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.899
 who can help

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:47.759
 there are people

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.579
 that I can offer you

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.599
 practical advice

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.399
 there are people

00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:52.000
 that can gather

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.779
 around you

00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:56.159
 and so as we

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:57.079
 ask the question

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.500
 how do we

00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.000
 sustain

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.919
 the life

00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.839
 of faith

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:03.339
 we see

00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:04.180
 that it is God

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:06.440
 who works

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.319
 and acts

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:08.339
 and provides

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:10.740
 he provides

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.319
 for his people

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:12.799
 who come

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.579
 and hide

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.139
 themselves

00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:14.619
 under the

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:14.919
 shelter

00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.039
 of his wing

00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:18.019
 and so it's not

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.980
 just what happened

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.899
 2,000 years ago

00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:20.839
 it's not less than that

00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.639
 and it's more than that

00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:22.519
 because of what

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.839
 happened 2,000 years ago

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.439
 because of Christ's death

00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:28.240
 for what we deserved

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:30.200
 and because of his

00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:30.720
 resurrection

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.740
 because he did not

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.339
 deserve it

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.919
 we are united

00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:34.439
 to him

00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:36.200
 he's made us

00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:37.079
 into his people

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:39.619
 and so we have

00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.439
 union with Christ

00:33:40.439 --> 00:33:41.539
 whatever is true

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.079
 of Christ

00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.740
 is true

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.679
 of us

00:33:43.679 --> 00:33:45.059
 here as a people

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:46.539
 that God's favor

00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.439
 towards his son

00:33:47.439 --> 00:33:48.199
 is his favor

00:33:48.199 --> 00:33:48.859
 towards us

00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.199
 and so he follows us

00:33:50.199 --> 00:33:51.480
 and guides us

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.679
 and provides for us

00:33:52.679 --> 00:33:53.740
 as we go on his mission

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:57.679
 on Friday

00:33:57.679 --> 00:33:58.139
 I

00:33:58.139 --> 00:34:00.819
 took a little trip

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.980
 onto Fort Carson

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:02.779
 as I do from time

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.199
 to time

00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:05.259
 and I was reminded

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.279
 of what many of you

00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.980
 see every day

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.599
 as you drive

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.220
 onto the fort

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:09.960
 you get to see

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.280
 the warrior ethos

00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:13.720
 which perhaps is

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:16.980
 routine for many of you

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.340
 for me

00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:18.559
 I every time

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.099
 try to read it

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.780
 and remember it

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:21.000
 if you're familiar with it

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.599
 you know it starts out

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:21.960
 this way

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.960
 I will always place

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.760
 the mission first

00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:26.539
 I will never accept

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.240
 defeat

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:29.400
 I will never quit

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:31.800
 and I will never leave

00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.179
 a fallen comrade

00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:36.679
 now my understanding

00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.460
 is that that is

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.299
 what soldiers

00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:39.379
 would say themselves

00:34:39.379 --> 00:34:40.000
 to the army

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.440
 but it's a little bit

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.359
 different in God's

00:34:45.359 --> 00:34:45.719
 kingdom

00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:49.359
 because we don't say

00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:51.719
 all of the parts

00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.699
 of the warrior ethos

00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:55.839
 what God is saying

00:34:55.839 --> 00:34:56.480
 is this

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.799
 that he is the one

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.599
 who fulfills it

00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:00.119
 that when we place

00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.799
 his mission first

00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:05.280
 he will never leave

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.720
 his fallen children

00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:10.100
 when we place God

00:35:10.100 --> 00:35:11.700
 and his mission first

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:14.500
 he will never leave

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:16.140
 his fallen children

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:18.820
 and so we can sustain

00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:20.220
 the life of faith

00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:21.700
 because it is God

00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:23.280
 who picks us up

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:26.620
 please pray with me

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:29.739
 dear father in heaven

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:31.940
 we thank you

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.940
 that you are a loving

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.639
 gracious heavenly father

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:37.259
 that when we

00:35:37.259 --> 00:35:38.599
 walk the life

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.440
 of faith with you

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.239
 we are doing

00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.779
 what would be impossible

00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.019
 if you are not

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.000
 in it and with us

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.259
 and yet you are

00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:46.639
 so we thank you

00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.000
 for that

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.699
 we ask that you

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.259
 would be present

00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:49.219
 with us this week

00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:49.980
 as individuals

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.420
 and as a church

00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:52.920
 that we would gather

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.159
 around each other

00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:56.679
 supporting and caring

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:58.179
 and loving each other

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.059
 as you have loved us

00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:00.980
 we ask these things

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.879
 not because we

00:36:01.879 --> 00:36:02.579
 have deserved them

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.279
 but because we are

00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:04.279
 united with Christ

00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:05.420
 and that what is true

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:07.119
 of him is true of us

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.559
 and so we ask it

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.119
 in his name

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.039
 amen