WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We can turn back to our reading in the book of Ruth, chapter 1. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.480 We read again at verse 16. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.160 In verse 15, Naomi has said to Ruth, 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.900 ! See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:24.679 Return after your sister-in-law. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:26.400 But Ruth said, 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:30.899 Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. 00:00:31.419 --> 00:00:35.079 For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:41.039 Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:48.560 Today is a special day as we come to the sacrament of baptism. 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:53.659 We have families of two little children being baptized today. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:58.679 We have Iris Ruth McPhee and Martin Adam McLeod. 00:00:59.819 --> 00:01:03.119 And we have a great privilege, but also a responsibility. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:07.340 We're not just asking the parents to raise their children in the Lord. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:11.400 We, as a congregation, hold that responsibility as well. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:14.239 That we pray for them, that we look out for them, 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:17.719 that we encourage them, that we come alongside them. 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:21.579 Today we will hear parents taking vows. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:26.819 But it reminds us that we are not just individual families here. 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:30.359 We are a collective family with responsibilities. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.000 We are a church family. 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:38.680 And that's why the title of the sermon today is Family Matters. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:42.079 Because it's got two sides to it. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:48.280 When we're looking at the book of Ruth, we see family matters in the sense of what is going on in this family. 00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:54.980 But we also see that family matters in the sense of people being precious to one another. 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:57.859 And that's what we have as a church as well. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:02:03.459 We have family matters, things that go on in all our lives, individually and collectively. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:12.259 But we also want to see that family matters in the sense of looking out for and having that sense of belonging to one another as well. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:15.599 And seeking God's good over us. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:18.840 There's a proverb, I'm sure you've heard it. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:20.819 I think it's from Africa. 00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:22.299 It originated, it says, 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.159 It takes a village to raise a child. 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:32.459 And the sense behind that proverb is that it's not just the burden on the parents to raise children. 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:44.379 But the importance of a community actively engaged and encouraging in a positive way a safe place for children to be raised. 00:02:44.920 --> 00:02:47.060 And that's on us all. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:50.980 To make this a safe place for children to be raised. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:57.140 But above all, a place we want to see these children and all our children nurtured. 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:00.159 And looked after that in a place of prayer. 00:03:00.779 --> 00:03:01.779 A place of worship. 00:03:01.959 --> 00:03:03.279 A place of praise. 00:03:03.779 --> 00:03:09.059 A place where we seek God's goodness and mercy over us all. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:19.159 Because in baptism, as we come to it, we don't just look on the children who are precious to parents and to us all. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.680 We see more than that. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:24.659 Our focus is not just on them. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:28.400 Our focus is on the one we come to worship. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:31.259 The one we come to commit them to. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:35.519 First and foremost, our focus is to be on Jesus Christ. 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:42.899 Because behind baptism is that assurance, that confidence, that in Jesus we have a Redeemer. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:45.879 One who is able to save. 00:03:46.459 --> 00:03:50.759 In the shorter catechism, the question asked is, what is baptism? 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:53.120 And the answer is given like this. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:04:00.879 Baptism is a sacrament wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:09.740 doth signify and seal our engrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:13.280 and the engagement to be the Lord's. 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:19.360 So there was a great reminder to us there of what the blessing of baptism is. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:23.920 And especially in the last words, our engagement to be the Lord's. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:30.340 That is our longing for these children who will be baptized today, but for all our children, for all of us, 00:04:30.900 --> 00:04:33.500 our engagement to be the Lord's. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:40.400 That we will come and know the blessing of Jesus Christ in our lives and in our hearts. 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:42.759 As I was saying to the children, it's not a label. 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:44.840 Just on the outside. 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:51.099 It's about what is going on in the heart and that the Lord would work in our hearts. 00:04:52.679 --> 00:04:55.060 Someone once said this of baptism. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:58.779 I may have said it before, but I think it's a good reminder to us. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.620 Baptism is like a precious jewel. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:08.239 Set apart by itself, it is nice and appealing, but has nothing within it to compel. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:19.800 But place baptism against the backdrop of our sin and turn on the light of the cross and the jewel explodes with significance. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:25.000 It's not just a special day for families and these children. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:34.040 It's a reminder to us of our sin, the cost of it, but the price that has been paid at the cross. 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:40.360 And that through the washing of our sin away, we have forgiveness with our Savior. 00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:47.300 And so today, this morning, we're going to look at the book of Ruth in this opening chapter. 00:05:48.140 --> 00:05:53.220 And we're going to see how it shows us the reality of which we live today. 00:05:53.840 --> 00:05:59.879 The reality which we are raising children in a world today that's full of so many challenges. 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:03.279 But it also shows joy. 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:06.219 It shows hope. 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:11.860 But above all, it points to a Redeemer, to Jesus Christ. 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:13.659 Family matters. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:18.439 And that's what we'll see here this morning from the book of Ruth. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:25.480 I want us to think of three things as we approach baptism that we see in these words before us. 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:27.300 We see love. 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:29.220 We see loyalty. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:31.439 And we see a legacy. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:35.079 Love, loyalty, and a legacy. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:38.120 So the first thing we see here is love. 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:44.819 What's the setting for the book of Ruth, we might ask as we come into it? 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:47.240 Well, it's not easy days. 00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:50.660 You see in the first verse there of chapter 1, 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.960 in the days when the judges ruled. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:57.120 So it was at this time there was no king over the people. 00:06:57.299 --> 00:07:03.620 Instead, it was judges that were ruling and seeking to lead the people in what was right in the Lord. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:07.759 But it wasn't going well. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:09.419 They were failing. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:14.219 And Ian, if you have your Bibles open, you see the previous page. 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:18.560 It's the last verse of the book of Judges, chapter 21. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:23.579 And look at the kind of setting that the book of Ruth is taking place in. 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:25.339 Verse 25. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:28.600 In those days there was no king in Israel. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:34.060 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:38.660 So that's the setting we have in the days when the judges ruled, 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:42.379 as you see at the beginning of the book of Ruth. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.720 They did what was right in their own eyes. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:50.019 They weren't listening to what God was saying. 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:51.540 There was no king. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:55.560 Everyone just did as they pleased themselves. 00:07:55.560 --> 00:08:03.199 And as you look at this in terms of a nation that was doing right in their own eyes, 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:05.920 we see how it comes into families. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.160 And this family of Elimelech. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.860 That's where we pick up in the book of Ruth. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:16.220 And we see what doing right in our own eyes looks like, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.100 what it leads to, and how it calls us back to God. 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:25.800 Ruth begins by saying to us, it was the days of the judges, 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:29.420 and during these days there was a famine in the land. 00:08:30.280 --> 00:08:34.060 It wasn't just that there was a famine in the sense of these hard days, 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:36.080 but this was God's judgment. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:41.379 People doing what was right in their own eyes has led to God sending a judgment, 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:45.320 a judgment that is to bring the people back to him. 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:48.779 But what do we see? 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:50.420 Do they get it right? 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:52.079 Do they do as they're meant to? 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:56.519 Well, Elimelech and Naomi and their two sons, Malon and Chilion, 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:00.860 who we join here as a family, they end up going to Moab. 00:09:01.419 --> 00:09:03.079 Did they do what was right? 00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:08.539 Well, what would any husband and father do in this kind of situation? 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:10.019 There's a famine. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.360 There's no food. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.639 The family are suffering. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.759 Surely we would say, well, a loving father would take his family 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.939 to a place where they could get food. 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:22.140 And what we see is that is what he did. 00:09:22.280 --> 00:09:24.520 Elimelech takes them to Moab. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:31.140 But instead of being obedient, he was disobedient. 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:33.460 You might ask, how? 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:40.400 Well, what we see here is Elimelech doing what is right in his own eyes. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:45.519 His name means, my God is king. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.039 That's what Elimelech means. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:48.740 My God is king. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:51.299 But what do his actions show? 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:55.139 His actions show, I do not trust my God is king. 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:59.360 I do not trust that my God is able to help in this situation. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:05.379 And what we see as maybe, what we see as a loving decision to take his family to a place where there's food 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:09.180 is actually taking them away from God. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:13.860 Moab was a place of pagan gods, false gods. 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:20.100 And when we look at the world in which we live and the world in which we are raising our children, 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:23.580 these are the very challenges that we see all around us. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.899 The people doing right in their own eyes. 00:10:27.300 --> 00:10:28.680 No thought for God. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:33.019 Not just on a national scale, but families, individuals. 00:10:33.800 --> 00:10:36.740 We'll do things our own way. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:43.960 So instead of addressing the problem, they have sinned against God, 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:48.139 he takes things into his own hands and goes away. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.419 Goes away to Moab. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:54.799 You could say it's a bit like having a boat that's leaking. 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.360 It's leaking all the time. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:11:00.120 And you're still going out to sea and coming back in it. 00:11:00.560 --> 00:11:02.120 And you're thinking, the leak's getting worse. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.320 What I'll do is I'll buy more pumps. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.879 So more pumps, the water's getting put out of the boat. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.520 It's still getting worse. 00:11:09.640 --> 00:11:10.280 More pumps. 00:11:10.400 --> 00:11:10.940 So it goes on. 00:11:11.020 --> 00:11:12.879 Instead of actually dealing with the problem, 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:15.020 you're just thinking, this will cure it. 00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:16.120 This will help me through. 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:17.160 And it doesn't. 00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:19.020 Elimelech is like that. 00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:22.540 He's looking for a way to care for his family and love his family, 00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:24.460 but he's going the wrong way. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:28.300 Instead of looking at the sin in his own heart 00:11:28.300 --> 00:11:30.000 and the sin of the people around him, 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:32.540 he goes away from God. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:35.879 And here is the challenge to us today. 00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:39.599 We love our children. 00:11:40.579 --> 00:11:42.919 And we want what's best for them. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:49.079 But how do we love our children in a world where Christ and his word are not central? 00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.759 That's the challenge to us. 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:56.259 It is to love the Lord first and foremost. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:59.679 It's not to do what is right in our own eyes, 00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:03.240 but to do what is right according to the word of God. 00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:04.819 It would be easy to say for our children, 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.899 we just long for them to be happy, 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:09.279 to find their own way, 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.500 to be themselves. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.340 But is that loving them? 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:17.700 Elimelech thought he was loving his family by going to Moab, 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.779 but he was taking them away from God. 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:26.120 So our way of raising our children is not just to seek their own freedom, 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.199 to be themselves, 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:28.419 to do as they please, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.539 along as they're happy. 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:33.519 It is to guide them in the ways of the Lord. 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:38.579 Because one of the questions asked of the parents today is, 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:43.299 do you promise to bring up this child in the nurture and training of the Lord? 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:46.079 It's a vow that's being taken, 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:49.419 a vow that we engage with as a family in the church 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:51.139 to encourage this, 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:52.179 to enable this, 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:56.639 to raise and nurture these children in the training of the Lord, 00:12:56.959 --> 00:13:01.179 so that we would love them by showing them the Lord. 00:13:02.979 --> 00:13:04.620 The name Martin, 00:13:05.699 --> 00:13:08.099 behind that name is Warrior. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:11.300 The name Iris, 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:14.340 behind that name is Rainbow, 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.820 or Hope. 00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:20.460 And wouldn't it be wonderful to love these children, 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:23.240 to see them becoming warriors for the Lord, 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.960 and ones that hope in the Lord. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.580 We love our children dearly. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:31.180 They are precious to us. 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:34.620 But it's not just the sense of sending them away into the world 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:36.560 to find their own happiness, 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:38.799 going away from God, 00:13:39.359 --> 00:13:42.000 but to seek the blessing of God on them, 00:13:42.319 --> 00:13:43.199 by loving them, 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.819 by showing the ways of the Lord. 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:51.039 To love is not to do what is right in our own eyes, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:54.579 but to seek the ways of the Lord. 00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:58.359 The second thing we see here is loyalty. 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:01.039 As the story goes on in Ruth, 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:04.579 we see family life is one of mixed emotions. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:06.879 There's a lot of sadness in this book, 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.540 especially in the opening chapter, 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:11.400 when you see Naomi suffering grief, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.980 and losing her husband and her two sons. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.740 There's a lot of sorrow. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:18.200 But in the midst of this, 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.200 God shows grace. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.620 When you look at verse 6, 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:30.019 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:33.659 for she had heard in the fields of Moab 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:38.039 that the Lord had visited and given them food. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:40.700 So this is back in our own country. 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:43.779 The Lord had visited and given them food. 00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:45.700 God had been gracious. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:50.960 And this is the point in the story where there's a sense of turning, 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.940 returning and renewing. 00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:56.259 But it's not all easy. 00:14:57.020 --> 00:14:58.879 Decisions had to be made. 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:02.480 Naomi says that she is going to return, 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.540 and Orpah and Ruth are going with her. 00:15:06.140 --> 00:15:07.360 They set out with her. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.820 But then you have a decision to make 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:12.740 when Naomi turns and says, 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.879 You go back to your own people. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:17.259 I have nothing to offer you. 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:21.100 Orpah returns to Moab. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.060 But then you have Ruth 00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:28.060 and the wonderful loyalty that she shows in verse 16. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.600 There's a great verse. 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.419 But Ruth said, 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:34.000 Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.580 For where you go, I will go. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:37.700 And where you lodge, I will lodge. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.900 Your people will be my people. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.139 And your God, my God. 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:44.520 Is there anything better we could ask for families 00:15:44.520 --> 00:15:47.820 than for all to come and say these things, 00:15:47.900 --> 00:15:50.180 that your God will be my God. 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:52.879 Your people will be my people. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:57.300 But I just want to be part of this family of God. 00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:01.600 Is parenting easy today? 00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:05.520 If you're a parent, you know it's not. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.360 Because there are so many challenges. 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:10.420 And we will fail as parents. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.700 We will fail as families. 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.820 We will fail as a church family 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:15.580 in many different ways. 00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:18.220 And just look at Naomi here. 00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.840 Does she get everything right? 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.200 No. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.160 Verse 8. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:28.040 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:28.820 Go. 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:32.379 Return each of you to her mother's house. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.420 Go back. 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:36.719 And what is it they're going back to? 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.639 Well, you look at verse 15. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.399 What they are to go back to. 00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:40.819 She said, 00:16:40.979 --> 00:16:43.579 See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people 00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:46.099 and to her gods. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.299 To her gods. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:52.979 You can see immediately the mistake she's making there. 00:16:53.479 --> 00:16:56.519 Go back to your own gods. 00:16:57.859 --> 00:17:01.500 You can see that she's lost this sense of hope in her God. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.959 That she's almost got nothing to offer. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:08.380 But it's Ruth that reminds her where her loyalty should lie. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:11.259 It's Ruth that encourages her. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.079 And someone put it like this. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.779 The Lord can draw a straight line with a crooked stick. 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:21.220 And what we see here is the crooked stick is Naomi. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:25.099 When she's losing her hope in her own God. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.160 But yet in the end there's this straight line that is drawn. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:31.319 That leads Ruth back. 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.740 To a God. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.859 Away from the gods. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.920 The pagan gods. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.720 To the God of Israel. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.879 To the God of gods. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:42.860 And so yes, she doesn't get everything right. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.080 She makes her mistakes. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:50.280 But somewhere along the way she has obviously told her daughters-in-law about her God. 00:17:51.760 --> 00:17:53.840 About the judgment he's brought probably. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.320 But about also his goodness. 00:17:57.360 --> 00:18:02.860 She longs, as we see Ruth here, to know the God of Naomi. 00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:08.200 Even though in the midst of hardship and bitterness and all of these things. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.680 She still longs to know this God. 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:15.640 And when we look at our lives with so many mixed emotions. 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:18.279 So many different things that go on. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:24.759 Isn't it wonderful to be able to point each other and our children to the God of Israel. 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:28.259 To the God of God and the Lord of Lords. 00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:29.360 We make mistakes. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.259 We don't always get things right. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:35.920 But we pray in it all that we will show a loyalty to God. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:38.320 And to Jesus as our Redeemer. 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:43.300 And to show our children the ways of a loving Savior. 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:49.480 Our children are growing in a world that demands loyalty in so many different ways. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:53.240 But so many ways that take us away from God. 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:57.640 What we want is that loyalty of Ruth for our children. 00:18:57.640 --> 00:19:01.340 And do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:05.020 For where I go, where you go, I will go. 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.759 And where you lodge, I will lodge. 00:19:07.020 --> 00:19:09.040 Your people shall be my people. 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.620 And your God, my God. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:19.219 Raise our children in the fear and nurture and admission of the Lord as our Lord first. 00:19:19.719 --> 00:19:23.739 So then we can show our children the Lord who we hope in. 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.359 And have a loyalty to him. 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:29.439 There was a Christian soldier. 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:33.000 And every night he would pray beside his bed. 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:34.559 He would kneel beside his bed. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:42.519 But as he did so, those around him, they would throw their shoes or whatever they could get their hands on at him. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.619 They would mock him and laugh at him. 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:49.039 And so the soldier went to speak to the chaplain and asked him for advice. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.960 What should I do? 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:52.019 Because this is what they are doing to me. 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:56.559 And the chaplain said, well, what you could do is instead of kneeling by your bed, 00:19:56.619 --> 00:20:00.179 just lie in your bed and quietly in your own heart pray. 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:04.720 Pray for yourself, for what's going on, and for those around you. 00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:07.799 And so he heeded that advice. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.340 He listened to that advice. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:14.180 And a few days afterwards, the chaplain met him again and asked him, how are things going? 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.100 And he said, well, I have followed your advice for three nights. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.600 I lay in my bed and prayed. 00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:27.340 But my conscience was troubling me because I was betraying my Lord. 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:32.859 And so I began to kneel beside my bed and pray out loud again. 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.779 And what happened? 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.959 Asked the chaplain. 00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:38.159 Well, I was amazed. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.259 They no longer ridiculed me. 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:48.919 Instead, now the 15 men in my camp are kneeling with me and listening to me pray. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:57.340 Loyalty to God is to be seen outwardly, not just kept inside. 00:20:58.360 --> 00:21:00.800 And that's what we pray for our children. 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:07.759 To be warriors, to be those who hope in the Lord, to be a witness to those around them. 00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:11.160 To be loyal, to be courageous, to be like Ruth. 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:14.440 Your God will be my God. 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:17.340 We pray for that loyalty. 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:20.639 The final thing we see here is a legacy. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:24.179 God has a plan to prosper. 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.740 There's bitterness. 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.119 There's bitter tears. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:29.220 There's sorrow in this chapter. 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:31.179 But where is it leading? 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.859 Well, it's leading to a sweet providence. 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:40.039 They left Judah and went to Moab with hope initially with Elimelech. 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:43.879 But here is Naomi saying she's returning empty. 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.559 She has lost everything. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:50.119 But there was hope. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:54.539 As you read into chapter 2, that first verse which I read, 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:59.899 a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech whose name was Boaz. 00:22:00.719 --> 00:22:03.699 Things are about to change. 00:22:04.459 --> 00:22:11.019 A man whose name was Boaz, who was a kinsman, redeemer, one through whom they would be blessed. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:15.900 It's an amazing story as you read through Ruth. 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:21.960 And what I want to take from this is that we see it as we commit ourselves into the hands of God, 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:24.680 commit our children into the hands of God, 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:29.220 and trust him, he is able to do far more than we ask or imagine. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:32.039 God is a faithful God. 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.960 God is a just God. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:36.860 There is judgment for our sin. 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:41.360 But there is hope in our Redeemer who is Jesus Christ. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.579 What do we want for our children? 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:48.319 We want them to be healthy, to get on well. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:52.960 But above all, we long for them to see them following Jesus, 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.879 to come with him. 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:58.799 As the shorter catechism says, 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:10.399 We want to see them come to be the Lord's. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.879 And we want to see a legacy passed on. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.799 Psalm 22, verse 30 says, 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.639 Posterity shall serve him. 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:20.819 It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:27.980 They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn that he has done it. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:32.259 When you think of the little children who are being baptized today, 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:36.299 prayers for them didn't start when they were born. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:39.379 Prayers were offered for their parents. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:42.240 And even for their parents before them, 00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:46.159 there is a legacy that is being passed on, 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:51.099 that we are to share and be a part of in sharing the gospel, 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:55.359 to proclaim the righteousness to a people yet unborn, 00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:58.359 that those who we baptize today would be those 00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:02.379 who pass on that legacy of the gospel of a Redeemer, 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.219 who is Jesus Christ. 00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:07.879 Now, as you look at Ruth, 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.959 and as you look further on, 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:12.479 I just want to say there's a spoiler alert here. 00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:17.039 Because what we see is a legacy that comes out of chapter 1. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:19.319 A wonderful legacy. 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:24.679 You remember that Naomi was one who saw bitterness and tears. 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.079 She said, 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:33.339 Well, when you turn forward to the end of the book of Ruth, 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:36.960 please do read through the whole thing in your own time. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:40.140 We see in the verse 13, 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.680 So Boaz took Ruth, 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.160 and she became his wife. 00:24:43.540 --> 00:24:44.680 And he went into her, 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.300 and the Lord gave her conception, 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.500 and she bore a son. 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.640 Then the woman said to Naomi, 00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:53.840 Blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a Redeemer, 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:56.540 and may his name be renowned in Israel. 00:24:57.020 --> 00:24:59.480 He shall be to you a restorer of life, 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.920 and a nourisher of your old age. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:04.340 For your daughter-in-law who loves you, 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:06.740 who is more to you than seven sons, 00:25:07.080 --> 00:25:08.660 has given birth to him. 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:12.680 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.220 and became his nurse. 00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:19.660 A son was born whose name was Obed. 00:25:20.540 --> 00:25:21.680 And look at Naomi. 00:25:22.540 --> 00:25:24.840 She became the child's nurse. 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:28.240 What a transformation had come. 00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.740 From feeling so empty, 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:34.540 her life is now full again with the blessing of God. 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.880 And then when you go further on, 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.540 into the book of Matthew, 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.460 in the first chapter there, 00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:42.540 you have, if you like, a family tree, 00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:43.600 a genealogy. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.900 In verse 5, 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:59.200 This is the line, 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.680 And where does it lead? 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:03.460 In verse 16 of Matthew 1, 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.559 And Jacob, the father of Joseph, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.799 the husband of Mary. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:08.920 And Mary was the mother of Jesus, 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.960 who is called the Messiah. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.160 Through this family, 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.960 through all its sorrows and tears, 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:15.759 came joy. 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.440 They knew a kinsman, 00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:17.900 Redeemer, 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.480 and Boaz who saved them. 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:22.700 But it was all pointing towards a Messiah, 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:24.819 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.099 What a legacy. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.500 What a blessing. 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:30.400 And a blessing we seek for our children, 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.339 and their children's children. 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:35.980 We are a people who are gathered here as a family, 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:40.619 to remember and see God's blessing on all, 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:42.740 to be a people who pray, 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:46.019 to see that legacy passed on, 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:49.799 to know the wonder of the grace of God. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.920 Amy Carmichael, 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.879 she wrote this poem. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.740 Father, hear us. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.819 We are praying. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.119 Hear the words our hearts are saying. 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:02.579 We are praying for our children. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:05.460 Keep them from the powers of evil, 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:07.720 from the secret hidden peril. 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.500 Father, hear us for our children. 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:13.180 From the worldlings' hollow gladness, 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:16.000 from the sting of faithless sadness, 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:19.180 Father, Father, keep our children. 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:22.619 Through life's troubled waters steer them. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:25.079 Through life's bitter battles cheer them. 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.680 Father, Father, be thou near them. 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:30.420 And wherever they may bide, 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:33.799 lead them home at eventide. 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:39.000 May the Lord bless and be with you as a family today, 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.759 as you baptize, 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:42.859 but all of us together as families in God, 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:46.419 to know his blessing and his peace with us. 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:50.159 We're going to sing again to God's praise now. 00:27:50.459 --> 00:27:51.839 In Psalm 139. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:28:00.059 Psalm 139, the Scottish Psalter, 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.039 page 432. 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:11.159 We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 6. 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:14.880 Psalm 139, page 432. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:17.300 O Lord, thou hast me searched and known. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:20.300 Thou knowest my sitting down and rising up. 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:23.380 Yea, all my thoughts afar to thee are known. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:26.480 We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:39.700 O Lord, thou hast me searched and known. 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:51.000 Thou knowest my sitting down and rising up. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:29:01.539 May all my thoughts afar to thee are known. 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:10.359 My footsteps and my lying hour, 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:40.359 may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may 00:29:40.359 --> 00:30:01.359 Not any word can be, but all together, O Lord, it is well known to thee. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:16.359 Behind me, for thou hast beset, and laid on me thy hand. 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:30.359 Such knowledge is too strange for me, too high to understand. 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:58.359 And now, O Lord, it is well known to thee. 00:30:58.359 --> 00:31:03.719 Well, we come now to the part where we will be administering the sacrament of baptism. 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:06.799 There's a little Iris and a little Martin here today. 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.779 We smile there. It's great to see you. 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:15.939 So it's lovely having family and friends all gathered here to this special time as well. 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:19.899 And baptism is an important part of church life. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:23.059 It's always a joy to have the sacrament of baptism, 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:27.699 to remind ourselves just of the importance of it, the blessing of children, 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:30.360 but also the blessing of Christ to us. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.720 They are a gift from God put into our care, 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:39.880 and we seek to raise them and to nurture them in that way of the Lord. 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:44.620 And as I said earlier, baptism is not just a label that we give. 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:48.980 It's about seeking God's working in our hearts, 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:51.259 knowing that although we are sinners, 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:55.920 He is a gracious Savior who is able to forgive our sins, 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:58.539 that He came for that very purpose, 00:31:58.660 --> 00:32:06.400 and that He works in our hearts to bring us to that knowledge of Jesus Christ as a Savior. 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:09.960 So it's a precious thing, and it's a blessing, 00:32:10.080 --> 00:32:12.420 and it's a blessing we pray that you will know, 00:32:12.820 --> 00:32:15.300 as you raise these children in the Lord, 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:18.519 that one day they would come to be a little warrior. 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:20.180 I think He's almost there already anyway. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:26.420 And a place of hope and joy that lied as well. 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:32.920 So I'm going to ask if the families would stand, 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:37.220 and I'm going to put the questions to Eoin and then to Emma as well. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:39.539 So I'll just ask the question once, 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:42.480 and then you can just give your response to the question. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.740 Eoin first, and then Emma. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:48.319 Do you acknowledge God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:52.660 revealed in Scripture to be the only true God and your God? 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:58.120 Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:01.200 the only mediator between God and men? 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.779 Do you now promise to bring up this child 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:10.180 in the nurture and the training of the Lord? 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:16.660 Well, I'll ask if you could all now stand, 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:20.740 and please do remain standing as we have the sacrament of baptism. 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:22.640 We're going to pray first of all. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.240 Let us pray. 00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:28.160 Lord, our gracious God, 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:33.660 we hear these questions put to the parents before us today, 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:38.060 but we recognize the enormity of them to us all as well, 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:40.579 that we would recognize that God, 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:42.759 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:46.919 revealed to Scripture as the only true God and our God. 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.659 We pray to know that. 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:53.460 We pray to come to that sense of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:56.940 as the only mediator between God and men. 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:00.839 And as we hear these vows taken by the parents 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.099 to bring up their child, 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:04.319 in the nurture and training of the Lord, 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:06.980 Lord, we ask for your grace and your help 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:09.920 as we seek to encourage them in that 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:11.139 and to help them in it. 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:14.619 May they know, Lord, your blessing upon them. 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.619 We thank you for them as families. 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:20.719 We thank you for Eoin and Don and little Iris here. 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.579 We pray your blessing on them. 00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:24.360 We thank you for Mark and Emma 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:26.920 and little Martin here as well, 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:29.840 and remembering Alexander and Ellie too. 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:31.500 And for all their families, Lord, 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:34.139 we do thank you for this time of blessing. 00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:36.500 And we ask that together they would know 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:38.639 your peace and grace upon them. 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:41.900 And as we come to this sacrament now, Lord, 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:44.059 we ask that it would be blessed to us all, 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:46.480 that prayerfully we would come to it 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:49.420 and prayerfully we would go from it as well, 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:52.300 committing not just these children to you, 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:55.539 but all of us as families and as a community, 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:58.099 as a people who belong to you, 00:34:58.099 --> 00:35:01.360 that we would know your grace and your favor upon us. 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:04.220 So hear our prayers and pardon our sin 00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:06.260 as we ask it all in Jesus' name. 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.140 Amen. 00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:13.000 Well, I'll ask you to come up here one at a time. 00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:15.780 So I'll ask first Eoin and Don with little Iris to come up. 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:15.780 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:15.780 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.539 Hopefully she won't get too wet, 00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:25.700 but there's a towel there. 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.519 How do you smile? 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.019 Thank you. 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.019 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.980 Iris Ruth McPhee. 00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:43.820 I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:46.739 and of the Holy Spirit, one God. 00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:49.820 May the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:52.699 May the Lord make his face to shine upon you 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:54.019 and be gracious to you. 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:57.039 May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you 00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:58.519 and give you peace. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.480 That was enough of that, wasn't it? 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.599 Every blessing. 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:33.599 Please may the Lord may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:40.559 Martin, Adam, MacLeod, 00:36:40.759 --> 00:36:43.000 I baptize you in the name of the Father, 00:36:43.299 --> 00:36:45.199 the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.119 one God. 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:48.920 May the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:52.279 May the Lord make His face to shine upon you 00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:53.619 and be gracious to you. 00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:56.339 May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you 00:36:56.339 --> 00:36:57.980 and give you peace. 00:37:00.279 --> 00:37:02.099 Definitely a little warrior in there. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:06.539 Okay, let's go back. 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:21.539 We're just going to pray again. 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.239 Let us pray. 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:26.539 Lord, our gracious God, 00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:30.099 these things, they may be passed by so quickly. 00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:32.599 In a moment we are baptized, 00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:34.539 but we know and pray, Lord, 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:38.659 for the life that's ahead of little Martin and Iris, 00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.519 that you will be with them in it, 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:42.259 their parents, grandparents, 00:37:42.759 --> 00:37:44.579 all their families and loved ones. 00:37:45.299 --> 00:37:46.819 Lord, you know our days. 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.819 You have numbered them. 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.940 You know the days in which we live, 00:37:50.179 --> 00:37:53.079 the challenges that surround us day by day. 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:56.019 But we thank you for your promises to us, 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:58.159 that you are a covenant God, 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.619 a God who remembers your children, 00:38:00.759 --> 00:38:03.679 a God who is with us in all things. 00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:06.500 And may these families know your blessing. 00:38:06.659 --> 00:38:10.259 May we all know your blessing and your peace with us. 00:38:10.299 --> 00:38:11.859 Even as we have said these words, 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:13.679 the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:16.099 The Lord make His face to shine upon you 00:38:16.099 --> 00:38:17.319 and be gracious to you. 00:38:17.379 --> 00:38:19.759 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you 00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.819 and give you peace. 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:24.420 That is our prayer for every one of us here today. 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:26.220 So Lord, may you bless us. 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.360 May you keep us. 00:38:27.720 --> 00:38:30.240 May you go before us and pardon our sin. 00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:31.880 In Jesus' name. 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:32.760 Amen. 00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:35.700 Okay, you can be seated again. 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:50.800 We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise. 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:52.740 We're singing in Psalm 63. 00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:57.960 We're going to sing three stanzas, 00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:59.440 verse 1 to verse 5. 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:01.579 Page 80 of the psalm books 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:03.559 and the tune is Old 100th. 00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:05.700 Psalm 63 at verse 1. 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:08.119 O God, you are my God alone. 00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:10.340 I seek your face with eagerness. 00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:13.420 My soul and body thirst for you 00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:15.659 in this dry weary wilderness. 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:17.940 I have seen you in your holy place. 00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:20.480 Your power and glory hold my gaze. 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:22.619 Far better is your love than life. 00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:25.960 And so my lips shall sing your praise. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:27.699 We're going to sing verse 1 to 5 00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:29.059 to God's praise. 00:39:29.159 --> 00:39:30.299 We stand to sing. 00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:43.180 O God, you are my God alone. 00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:50.179 I seek your grace with eagerness. 00:39:50.179 --> 00:40:03.519 My soul and body thirst for you. 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:08.519 And so my soul and body thirst for you. 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:38.519 may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may 00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:51.320 I'm so mighty as the Savior is. 00:40:51.320 --> 00:41:00.320 I'll bless you, Lord, throughout my life. 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:10.180 I'll raise my hands to you and bear. 00:41:10.180 --> 00:41:19.660 My joyfulness will sing your praise. 00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:29.519 My soul is fed with riches fair. 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:32.059 I'll close with a benediction. 00:41:33.140 --> 00:41:40.120 May grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with 00:41:40.120 --> 00:41:42.340 you all now and forevermore. 00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:43.200 Amen.