WEBVTT

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 We have realized that the Old Testament is rich, and every time, you know, certainly in the book of Ruth,

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 in each chapter, each page, if it was a living person and you were to cut it open, it would bleed the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 It just pours out from page to page. It tells us something about our Savior and about our salvation.

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 So let's look at the text this morning, and we'll just read from verse 13 of chapter 4.

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 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.

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 And when he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

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 The woman said to Naomi, Praise be to the Lord, who is this day has not left you without a guardian redeemer.

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 May he become famous throughout Israel, and he will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.

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 For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.

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 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.

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 And the woman living there said, Naomi has a son.

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 And they named him Obed.

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 And he was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

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 So this is the genealogy of David.

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 This then is the family line of Perez.

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 Perez was the father of Hezron.

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 Hezron the father of Ram.

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 Ram the father of Aminadab.

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 Aminadab the father of Nashon.

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 Nashon the father of Salmon.

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 Salmon the father of Boaz.

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 Boaz the father of Obed.

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 Obed the father of Jesse.

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 And Jesse the father of David.

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 So how did we get to that list of names at the end of chapter 4?

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 It started off, if we remember, with a list of names and promise which came into hopelessness.

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 Yet here we have a list of names after an event which is filled with hope.

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 In chapter 1 we had Naomi.

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 Sorry.

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 Done something to the PowerPoint.

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 In chapter 1 we have Naomi who became empty.

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 She was bitter.

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 She was old.

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 She had lost her husband and she had lost her two sons.

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 Everything looked pretty bleak.

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 She had two daughter-in-laws.

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 Orpah, if we remember, she went back to her family.

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 She went back to the Moamites.

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 But then we had Ruth.

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 Ruth loved Naomi.

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 Ruth loved the God of Israel.

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 And she chose to convert.

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 She chose to leave her family.

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 She chose to leave Moab.

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 And she chose to join Israel.

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 And she picked Israel and Israel's God and Naomi over her own flesh and blood, over her own family.

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 And what that tells us is that God's people are people of faith.

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 Not just of a national identity.

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 You see, those people who trust in God are truly Abraham's descendants.

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 It's those that by faith trust in Christ that are the Lord's.

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 Not those who have some sort of heritage or ethnic leadings.

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 And in chapter 2, we saw the providence of God in that Ruth happened to come across Boaz's field.

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 This potential kinsman redeemer or guardian redeemer, as it says in the NIV.

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 And we found out in that that he was able to provide Ruth with protection from harm while she was working.

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 He was able to fill up, if you like, the storehouses.

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 The cupboards were no longer bare.

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 There was food on the table.

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 And Naomi was just that little bit less empty.

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 And in chapter 3, we found that there was a proposal of marriage.

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 There was hope maybe for Ruth in the future that she would have something and someone to come home to.

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 Someone to look after her.

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 And so there was an appeal to Boaz that he would do what was right.

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 That he would be the guardian redeemer for Ruth and Naomi.

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 And Naomi, again, was just that little less empty.

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 And we found them in chapter 3 waiting.

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 Waiting.

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 Waiting to see if Boaz would go and do what he should do.

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 And in some ways, that's where we are this morning.

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 As a church in the story of salvation, we're waiting.

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 And what are we waiting for?

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 We're waiting for the return of Christ.

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 We're putting our faith and our trust in our redeemer.

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 And we moved on.

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 And last week, we had the legal drama.

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 We had Mr. So-and-so, the person who is of insignificance.

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 And he was there to tell us and to tell everyone else of the cost of redemption.

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 What it cost Boaz to redeem Naomi.

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 To take Ruth as his wife.

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 And we found the response and the blessing of the elders.

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 And that they said, Ruth's no longer the Moabite.

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 She's no longer the widow.

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 She's going to be the wife of Boaz.

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 And she's going to be great in Israel.

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 The blessing of the elders.

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 And so then, we find that Naomi is just almost to the brim.

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 She's almost there, but she's not quite completely full.

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 It's not quite what she had before.

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 But it's getting there.

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 And so we have a few questions.

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 And the questions we have is, who's in control of the world?

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 Who's in control of history?

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 And can God be trusted with history?

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 Is he trustworthy?

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 Can you?

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 Can I?

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 Can we trust God with our future?

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 I think that the book of Ruth says that yes, we can.

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 And we'll look at that.

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 I think if we had ended the book of Ruth here at verse 12,

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 I think we would have had a nice little heartwarming story

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 of how God helped a widow and how God helped a Moabite

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 to integrate into Jewish society, integrate into Israel,

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 and they had a nice life.

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 And that was really great for everybody.

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 And isn't God good?

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 But I think with these last few verses,

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 we actually see the expansive nature of how God is that intricately linked

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 with the lives of ordinary people.

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 See, it's not just that Ruth and Naomi had Boaz come and redeem them.

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 We witnessed the hand of God to bring about a blessing,

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 not just to them, but to you and to me this morning.

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 There is a blessing from the book of Ruth for us today

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 because of the plan of God's unfolding salvation,

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 God's unfolding plan in history,

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 which is unfolding as we speak, as we live, as we breathe.

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 We are waiting for the return of our guardian redeemer,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And this little book, it is, if you like,

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 a chain in the link that links, if you like,

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 the first five books of the Bible and Joshua and Judges,

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 and it links it into the period of the kings.

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 It's kind of a beginning again story, if you like.

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 If you think of Eve, and Eve became the mother of all living,

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 and then you had Rachel and Leah,

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 and they became the mothers of what we now know as the nation of Israel.

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 Here you have Ruth, and if you like,

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 she becomes the mother of the kingdom of Israel,

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 of the descendants which go on then to David and eventually to Christ.

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 And so we see God is alive,

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 and he is working in the lives of ordinary people

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 to bring about a redemptive purpose.

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 And God is still at that work.

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 He's still at his work to use ordinary people

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 to bring about redemption in the lives of ordinary people.

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 If you're here this morning and you know the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 what ordinary people influenced your life

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 so that you might know the guardian, redeemer of all redeemers, Jesus?

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 And we might not know the significance of our lives.

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 We know the significance of Ruth's life

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 because it's recorded for us in Scripture,

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 but we don't know necessarily how our life played out,

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 how it fitted in to God's plan and purposes.

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 We may have an idea, we may not know.

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 But we can trust that God is involved,

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 and God does want to know.

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 He wants us to know eventually.

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 And so let's look at what we have here in the text.

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 This morning we have heavenly matrimony.

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 We have a marriage that had the design in heaven.

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 God has brought Boaz and Ruth together.

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 He has a plan for them,

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 and we know he has a plan for them,

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 and we know he has done this.

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 It says,

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 So Boaz took Ruth,

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 and she became his wife.

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 And when he made love to her,

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 the Lord enabled her to conceive,

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 and she gave birth to a son.

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 They had a little baby.

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 Little babies are great.

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 I had two.

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 They're not so great after their babies,

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 but when they're babies,

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 they're great.

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 The Lord enabled her to conceive.

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 We know that it was in the plan of God

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 for them to be together,

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 because this word here,

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 the Lord enabled her to conceive,

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 is actually the same words that said

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 when the Lord visited his people in chapter 1

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 and brought them food.

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 When the Lord was doing something good in Bethlehem,

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 he visited them.

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 And he's now doing something significant

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 in the life of Ruth,

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 and he has visited Ruth.

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 And he hasn't visited Ruth just for her own sake.

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 And he hasn't just visited Ruth for Naomi's sake.

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 He has visited Ruth for you and for me.

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 And in his unfolding plan,

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 he has visited Ruth because he wants to bless the world.

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 And how he's going to do that is through Ruth the Moabite.

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 We have to think about this for a little minute.

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 We don't know how long that Ruth was married

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 to one of Naomi's sons.

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 But it could have been as long as 10 years.

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 And if that's the case,

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 10 years of marriage and no children

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 suggests that, you know,

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 there's something wrong.

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 Was it wrong with, you know,

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 the male and the female or both?

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 We don't know.

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 But there was something wrong.

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 We also know that Boaz was a lot older than Ruth.

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 And again, we don't want to speculate about how old.

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 But there is not necessarily the likelihood

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 that they would conceive.

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 But here, straight away,

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 God gives them a child.

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 It reminds us that God gave lots of other people

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 important children.

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 Hannah, you know, gave birth to Samuel.

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 And obviously, Rachel,

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 she gave birth to some of the children of Israel.

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 People who were longing to have children.

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 And they saw children as a gift from God.

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 And I think that in that,

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 we need to stop and to pause and to think,

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 do we see children as a gift from God?

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 The Bible is quite clear

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 that all children are a blessing from God.

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 In today's culture,

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 that's not what we see.

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 Children are an inconvenience in today's culture.

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 Children are so much an inconvenience

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 that it's all right to even end a child's life

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 before it breathes H2O.

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 That is how much that we've come away

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 from a biblical moral view

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 of children as a gift.

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 I remember that nervous time,

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 you know, when I walked into,

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 I think it was a 14-week,

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 because we were on holidays

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 and, you know, people were off.

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 So we had a 14-week scan

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 rather than the 12-week scan

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 that everybody has.

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 And we were nervous, sort of,

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 parents, what on earth are we going to do?

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 And, you know, my wife Claire,

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 she gets up on the table

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 and they get out the jelly

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 and they get the machine

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 and they put it on.

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 And before us on the screen appeared,

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 because he was a little bit bigger,

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 his whole little form,

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 Elijah, my eldest,

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 appeared on the screen.

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 And there he was,

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 suspended in, like, space animation

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 on this little, sort of,

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 green-coloured monitor.

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 And he was twisting his hands.

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 Almost, we were saying,

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 look there, there's our son.

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 He's waving at us.

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 He's saying hello.

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 And it was almost like, you know,

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 when your mum or your dad

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 or, you know, someone who you know and love

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 opens the door and comes into the house,

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 you don't need to say who's there.

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 You know who's there.

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 Well, that day, I knew

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 that someone had just entered our room.

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 The thing that, you know,

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 the secret place is no longer secret

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 because of science.

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 And we can see inside the womb

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 very clearly what goes on.

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 And that day,

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 I met my son, if you like,

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 before he was born.

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 And that, to me,

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 is the greatest experience

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 that I will take with me

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 to, obviously,

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 to my grave.

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 And I will be able to say,

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 quite clearly,

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 there's no one will convince me

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 that Elijah was not there that day.

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 And that's something

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 that science cannot quantify.

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 the human spirit,

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 the life of an individual.

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 I say that in passing

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 because I think it's something

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 that we need to really embrace

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 and encourage people

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 that life is valuable

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.279
 and it is from God,

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.379
 it is a gift from God.

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:49.539
 And Elijah does that to this day.

00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.360
 When he was born

00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.259
 and he was a little baby,

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:54.339
 when he got excited,

00:13:55.099 --> 00:13:56.000
 he went with his hands.

00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.360
 He still does that.

00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:58.579
 He's not here,

00:13:58.719 --> 00:13:59.860
 so I can tell this morning.

00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:00.679
 But, yeah,

00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.480
 he's nearly 16,

00:14:01.579 --> 00:14:02.299
 but he still does that.

00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:05.459
 So there's nobody telling me

00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:09.459
 that life is not a blessing.

00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.179
 And life is from God.

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.559
 And here we have a little baby.

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.799
 A little baby that God has given

00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.740
 to Boaz and to Ruth.

00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:21.360
 And the Lord enabled her to conceive

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.379
 and she gave birth to a son.

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.500
 Wow.

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:29.919
 What a tremendous story.

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:31.680
 Ruth, the widowed Moabite,

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.879
 childless baron,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.960
 has now a husband.

00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.120
 She now has a son.

00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.080
 But there's going to be

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.340
 another baby born,

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.379
 another son,

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.340
 a son promised.

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.980
 From Bethlehem.

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.399
 Bethlehem becomes

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.759
 a significant place.

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.259
 And you don't have to turn to it.

00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.019
 I'll read it for you.

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.879
 But there's a prophecy

00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.220
 in Micah.

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.659
 And verses 1 to 4,

00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.000
 it says,

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.259
 Marshal your troops now.

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.639
 City of troops,

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.240
 for a siege is laid against us.

00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.740
 And they will strike Israel's ruler

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.940
 on the cheek with a rod.

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.360
 But you, Bethlehem,

00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.899
 Epaphrath,

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.740
 though you are small

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:12.259
 among the clans of Judah,

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.200
 out of you will come for me

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.779
 one who will be ruler

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.700
 over Israel,

00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:18.939
 whose origins are from of old,

00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:20.159
 from ancient times.

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:21.759
 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.720
 until the time

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.139
 when she who is in labor

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.019
 bears a son.

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.700
 And the rest of his brothers

00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:28.480
 return to join the Israelites.

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.939
 And he will stand up

00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:31.200
 and shepherd his flock

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:32.659
 in the strength of the Lord.

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:35.719
 You see, the significance

00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:37.259
 of this little baby

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.240
 is that one day

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.299
 there's going to be

00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.339
 another little baby.

00:15:40.459 --> 00:15:42.639
 We're about to celebrate Christmas.

00:15:42.819 --> 00:15:43.839
 I think it's around the corner.

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.759
 People may be trying to

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.659
 get their Christmas presents in.

00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:49.319
 But the significance of Christmas

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.439
 is not Santa Claus.

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.679
 The significance of Christmas

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.679
 is not in our presents

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:55.459
 or the PlayStations that we want.

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.699
 It's in the fact that

00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:58.419
 God came to earth

00:15:58.419 --> 00:16:00.879
 in human flesh

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.439
 and that he became

00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.500
 our guardian redeemer.

00:16:05.380 --> 00:16:06.180
 Do you know

00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.440
 Christ this morning?

00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:08.200
 Do you know

00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.640
 that you need

00:16:09.640 --> 00:16:10.640
 a guardian redeemer?

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:11.720
 Do you know

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.700
 that one day

00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:14.120
 when Christ returns again

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.260
 to judge the world

00:16:15.260 --> 00:16:16.180
 that you will need him

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:17.720
 to be your guardian redeemer?

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:19.460
 If you don't know

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.100
 what that means,

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.400
 if you're unsure,

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.720
 it means that he needs to

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.920
 buy you back

00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:25.160
 from slavery.

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.500
 It means that you are

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.420
 trapped in sin

00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:28.700
 and he has died

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.240
 to save you.

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:30.860
 He has died

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:32.100
 to make a way

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.779
 for your sins

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.500
 to be forgiven.

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:37.320
 And he has enabled

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.860
 through his death

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.540
 to bring you life.

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.700
 So there is the promise

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.700
 of another,

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:44.740
 a greater one

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.399
 that would come

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.600
 from Bethlehem.

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:52.740
 And so in that,

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:54.779
 we see that human plans,

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:57.980
 they weave in and through

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.980
 the plan of God.

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.759
 And we can see

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.659
 that God has visited

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.220
 his people,

00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.380
 not just with food,

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.360
 but he's visited them

00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:06.339
 by visiting Ruth

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.319
 in the birth

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:09.880
 of this newborn son.

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:12.360
 and that this newborn son

00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.260
 is completely

00:17:13.260 --> 00:17:14.780
 in God's plan.

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.980
 But we also have

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.460
 a reversal.

00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.380
 The story then

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.360
 shifts quite quickly

00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:22.460
 away from Boaz

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.380
 and away from Ruth

00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.160
 and it brings Naomi.

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.680
 Because of the idea

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.240
 of the guardian

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.300
 redeemership,

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.340
 the child is actually

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.260
 Naomi's

00:17:32.260 --> 00:17:34.500
 in that he's going

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.680
 to be Elimelech's heir.

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.680
 And so we see

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.420
 that in the text.

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.180
 And we also see

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.140
 the women of Bethlehem.

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.660
 If you remember

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.440
 in chapter 2,

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.460
 the women of Bethlehem,

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.119
 they were saying,

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.380
 is that Naomi?

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.460
 Is that her?

00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.559
 The gossip was going

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.460
 around Bethlehem

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.180
 and they were saying,

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.200
 is that, is she back?

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.799
 Doesn't really look like her.

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.779
 She looks a bit more

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:58.259
 haggard and a bit worn.

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.720
 Is that Naomi?

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.380
 But now look at

00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.059
 what they say.

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.180
 And so the women

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.920
 of Bethlehem,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.240
 they say,

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.339
 the women said to Naomi,

00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.740
 praise be to the Lord

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.400
 who this day

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.680
 has not left you

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:10.339
 without a guardian redeemer.

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.259
 And you say,

00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:11.759
 hold on.

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.299
 I thought that was Boaz.

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.059
 And you say,

00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:15.460
 yes.

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.000
 But now this little baby,

00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:18.180
 he has now the right

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:20.940
 to be her guardian redeemer also.

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.279
 There's redeemers everywhere.

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.579
 And it says,

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.880
 may he become famous

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.660
 throughout Israel

00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:27.759
 and he will renew your life

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.620
 and sustain you

00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.359
 in your old age

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.799
 for your daughter-in-law

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.539
 who loves you

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.279
 and who is better to you

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.140
 than seven sons.

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:35.100
 has given him birth.

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.160
 That's a change

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.240
 from their questioning,

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.700
 who's that girl?

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.160
 She looks a bit,

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.540
 hmm?

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.020
 Is that really her?

00:18:43.780 --> 00:18:44.700
 She's been away a while.

00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.420
 Imagine her coming back

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.680
 after leaving us

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.500
 at a time of famine.

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.300
 You know,

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:52.080
 all of those sort of things

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.140
 that they may have been thinking.

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:55.000
 But here they are.

00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:55.620
 They're praising

00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.759
 for what they can see

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.580
 God is doing

00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:59.200
 in the life of Naomi.

00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.319
 Naomi.

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.740
 And in verse 15,

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.740
 if you remember

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:05.819
 in the first week

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.360
 we looked at

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.120
 the whole idea

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.759
 of turning

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.539
 and returning

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.539
 and God is bringing

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.660
 Naomi back.

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.880
 And God,

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.220
 he says,

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.240
 God brought me back.

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.299
 God returned me

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.920
 to Israel.

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.160
 Well,

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:17.920
 here the women

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:20.180
 of Bethlehem,

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.880
 they're saying something

00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.640
 very significant

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.700
 in verse 15.

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.340
 It says,

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.539
 he will renew your life.

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.480
 And actually what it says,

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:27.599
 he will return to you life.

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.599
 This little baby,

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:31.259
 this little guardian redeemer

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.420
 is going to sustain you

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.259
 in your old age.

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:37.139
 And there's another little baby,

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.659
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.779
 and he's going to return

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.579
 to us life.

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:45.299
 He is our guardian redeemer.

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.339
 He is the one

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:48.279
 that we need to look to

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.839
 this morning.

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.480
 You see,

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.619
 Naomi was not left

00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:53.039
 without a guardian redeemer.

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.899
 This little bundle

00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:57.119
 that she's now caring for

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.720
 in her arms

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.279
 is going to be

00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.440
 the one who can sustain her

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.180
 in her old age.

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.519
 He's the one

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.500
 who will be able

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.500
 to look after her.

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.599
 Because in that society

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.480
 without a man,

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.019
 without someone

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.980
 to provide food for her,

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.240
 she would be left destitute.

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.000
 And God has not left

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.940
 his children,

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.980
 in this case,

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.799
 destitute.

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.859
 We need to praise God

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:21.859
 for not forgetting Naomi.

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:24.819
 And what will this mean?

00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.639
 We need to praise God

00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.319
 for what it means.

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.639
 It means protection

00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:29.159
 of Elimelech's name,

00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:30.719
 his property,

00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.579
 his inheritance

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.459
 within Israel,

00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:34.179
 his place within the community,

00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:36.119
 and her sustained existence.

00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:37.899
 You see,

00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:39.619
 Naomi now is completely full.

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:42.539
 She is full.

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:45.940
 He's going to return

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.899
 to you new life.

00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:48.519
 If you want life this morning,

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.619
 there is only one place

00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.579
 that you can find it.

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.539
 And that is in

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.579
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.839
 In John 10, 10,

00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:55.379
 it says that the thief

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.319
 comes

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.700
 to kill,

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.039
 steal, kill,

00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.759
 and destroy.

00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.960
 But I have come

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.319
 that you might have life

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.220
 and have it

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.079
 to the full.

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.559
 I am the good shepherd

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.519
 and the good shepherd

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.059
 lays down his life

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.139
 for the sheep.

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:13.180
 God didn't leave

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.740
 Naomi without a Redeemer

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.000
 and he hasn't left us

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.900
 without one.

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.960
 God is concerned

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.700
 about the future

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.660
 of Naomi and Ruth.

00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:22.720
 I would say to you

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.120
 this morning

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.060
 that God is concerned

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:25.020
 about your future.

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.640
 And God's always working,

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.280
 always working

00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:32.480
 to fulfill his plan.

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:36.220
 But we need to be careful here

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.400
 that it's not about,

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.380
 you know,

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:39.160
 there's many preachers

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:39.920
 out there who will tell you,

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.040
 you know,

00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.880
 Jesus wants to give you

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.680
 life to the full.

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.720
 And you say,

00:21:43.800 --> 00:21:43.980
 yeah,

00:21:44.040 --> 00:21:44.900
 I can agree with that.

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:45.840
 With that,

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.100
 he then says that

00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:49.140
 you can have

00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.900
 anything you want.

00:21:50.020 --> 00:21:50.700
 Just ask God

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.520
 and he'll give it to you.

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.640
 And I say,

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:52.820
 no,

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.280
 hold on.

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.940
 That's not

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.340
 what the Bible says.

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.740
 In fact,

00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.740
 Jesus says in

00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:00.280
 John 16,

00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:01.100
 verses 26,

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.400
 and Jesus answered,

00:22:02.540 --> 00:22:02.960
 very truly,

00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:03.660
 I tell you,

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.860
 you're looking for me

00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:06.020
 not because you saw

00:22:06.020 --> 00:22:07.140
 the signs I performed,

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.300
 but because you ate loaves

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.019
 and had your fill.

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:09.740
 So this is after

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:11.019
 the miracle of Jesus

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.579
 feeding the 5,000.

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:14.799
 Do not work for food

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.500
 that spoils,

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.980
 but for food that endures

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.039
 to eternal life,

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.980
 which the Son of Man

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.599
 will give you.

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.759
 For on him,

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.559
 God the Father

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.099
 has placed his seal of approval.

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.619
 And what Jesus is saying is,

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.599
 don't be working

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.960
 to build a bigger house here.

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.460
 Work for the kingdom of God

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:33.180
 to build a reward there.

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.900
 Our focus should not be

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:36.240
 on our immediate comfort,

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.700
 but on the fact

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.600
 that Jesus is going

00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.480
 to bring comfort

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.740
 once and for all.

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.440
 When he returns,

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.980
 he's going to end

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.759
 all suffering.

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.700
 Not now,

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.820
 but then.

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:53.000
 It says in Colossians 2,

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.460
 it says,

00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:54.140
 and in Christ

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.900
 you have been brought

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.420
 to fullness,

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.880
 and he is head

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.880
 over every power

00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.880
 and authority.

00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.799
 See,

00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.299
 already,

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.460
 we have the fullness

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.539
 of Christ.

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.720
 We have his blessing.

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.720
 We have his redemption.

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.659
 But then,

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.399
 we will experience

00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:10.159
 that fullness

00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:11.500
 in his kingdom

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.720
 when he comes.

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.539
 And it's interesting,

00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:17.059
 the idea of love,

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.139
 you would expect

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:19.659
 that in the chapter 4,

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.579
 it says,

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:22.319
 and Ruth loved Boaz.

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.220
 But it doesn't.

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.059
 It says,

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:27.019
 Naomi was loved by Ruth

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.319
 and was better

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.559
 than seven sons.

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.279
 The whole book

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.379
 is building towards

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.220
 this climax

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.379
 of a birth of a son.

00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:36.419
 And yet,

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.119
 these ladies say

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.339
 this remarkable thing

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:40.119
 about a Moabite widow,

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.379
 someone outside

00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.240
 of Israel,

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.740
 someone who should be

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.379
 not included in Israel.

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.599
 And they say

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:49.099
 that she should be better.

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.259
 You know,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.859
 she's better

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.779
 than seven sons.

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.759
 I think in that,

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.940
 it's that sons

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.819
 do what sons do.

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.500
 Sons grow up,

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.339
 and if they

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.619
 don't pass away

00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.099
 as they did

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.680
 in this case,

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.579
 they would marry.

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.740
 And in the natural

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.380
 scale of things,

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.019
 that they would

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.599
 have children.

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.160
 It's just what

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.740
 sons do.

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.660
 But Ruth was not

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.119
 her son.

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.039
 Ruth actually

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.660
 chose.

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.099
 If you remember,

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.880
 Ruth chose

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.579
 to stay

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.400
 with Naomi

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.000
 and go back

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.480
 to Israel.

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.660
 She chose

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.619
 the God of Israel.

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.400
 She didn't have

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.460
 to do any of this.

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.380
 And because of

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:26.440
 her love for Naomi,

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.079
 she chose

00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.600
 to do this.

00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.920
 And as a result

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:31.259
 of that,

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.940
 and as a result

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.579
 of her love,

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.440
 she now has

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.120
 this little bundle

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.600
 of joy.

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.360
 So in a sense,

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.380
 sons don't try

00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:41.380
 to please their mother

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.380
 with grandchildren,

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.779
 but Ruth had to.

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.600
 And the ladies

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:47.940
 of Bethlehem,

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.759
 they realize this,

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.620
 and they mark that.

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.640
 It's a remarkable

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.900
 change from

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.180
 Ruth,

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.240
 the Moabite,

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.460
 to one who's worth

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.640
 more than seven sons.

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.539
 I think that's

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:57.920
 wonderful.

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.680
 And so we have

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.799
 the complete reversal,

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.720
 the complete reversal

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.480
 of chapter one

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.840
 in chapter four.

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.320
 But we don't end there.

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:14.980
 You see,

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.920
 we continually have

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.600
 the unfolding

00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.880
 plan of God.

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.620
 In verse 17,

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:19.980
 it says,

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:21.019
 the woman living there,

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.799
 they said,

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.919
 Naomi has a son,

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.579
 and they named him

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:23.980
 Obed,

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:24.960
 and he was the

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.680
 father of Jesse,

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.039
 the father of David.

00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:30.919
 I suppose we could

00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:31.779
 read that quite quickly

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.599
 and go,

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.440
 oh, that's okay,

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.079
 and we could all

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.379
 go home.

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.480
 Or,

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.319
 I think we're having

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.879
 lunch later,

00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.639
 we could just,

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:37.839
 you know,

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.460
 stop here.

00:25:39.419 --> 00:25:40.079
 But what does that

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.379
 mean?

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:44.919
 Baby Obed.

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.099
 Names mean an awful

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:47.139
 lot and have

00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:48.559
 quite big significance

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.379
 in the book of Ruth.

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.220
 we remember that

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:52.420
 Naomi was sweet.

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.780
 But then she said,

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.500
 call me Mara

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.180
 because I am bitter.

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.500
 But now she's quite

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.300
 happy for everybody

00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.520
 to call her Naomi again.

00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:02.360
 Naomi is sweet.

00:26:04.040 --> 00:26:04.800
 So baby Obed

00:26:04.800 --> 00:26:06.340
 is unusually named

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.480
 by the ladies of the town

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.240
 and they call him

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.800
 Obed.

00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:10.220
 And this is quite

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.800
 an odd name

00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.660
 when you think that

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.940
 Boaz is a man

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.500
 of standing

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.140
 in the community.

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.100
 He owns property.

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.980
 He has people

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.740
 working for him.

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.459
 He's quite respected

00:26:18.459 --> 00:26:19.039
 in the elders.

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.359
 But Obed means servant.

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.419
 Baby Obed

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.500
 is going to be a blessing.

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.480
 He's going to serve

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.359
 the people

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.439
 of Bethlehem.

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.519
 But I know

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.299
 a better servant

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.119
 who's going to be born

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.899
 in Bethlehem.

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.219
 Mark 10 says,

00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:35.299
 for even the Son of Man

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:35.919
 did not come

00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.599
 to be served,

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.219
 but to serve

00:26:37.219 --> 00:26:38.159
 and to give his life

00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:39.159
 as a ransom

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.039
 for many.

00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:40.319
 See,

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:42.059
 we have an even better

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.719
 Obed,

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.519
 an even better

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.299
 servant.

00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.899
 And so we have

00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.740
 the baby servant

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.259
 Obed,

00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:49.599
 but we have

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.719
 the man Christ

00:26:50.719 --> 00:26:51.939
 Jesus who came

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:52.439
 to seek

00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:54.119
 and to save us

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.500
 and to serve us

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.639
 by giving us

00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:57.679
 his life.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.779
 And then we have

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.379
 the line

00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.500
 to David.

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.719
 We have this little

00:27:03.719 --> 00:27:05.179
 small genealogy

00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:05.699
 that says

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:06.500
 they named him Obed

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.480
 and he was the

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.219
 father of Jesse

00:27:08.219 --> 00:27:09.459
 and the significance

00:27:09.459 --> 00:27:10.459
 of that is then

00:27:10.459 --> 00:27:11.939
 he was the father

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:12.599
 of David.

00:27:12.959 --> 00:27:13.679
 Now I want you

00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:15.059
 to work this out

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.779
 maybe.

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.319
 King David,

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.419
 the greatest king

00:27:18.419 --> 00:27:19.619
 that Israel ever knew.

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.980
 So if anybody

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.779
 says to you,

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.960
 you see that Bible,

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.899
 it's made up.

00:27:25.679 --> 00:27:26.579
 No one would

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.319
 make this up.

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.259
 And just,

00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.740
 that's my word

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.440
 to you this morning.

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.259
 If you were going

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.240
 to write a back story

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.000
 for your hero,

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:33.879
 if you're going

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:34.779
 to write a back story

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.940
 for the greatest king

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.379
 of Israel,

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.440
 you're not going

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.700
 to make this

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.480
 your back story.

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:41.039
 you're not going

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.920
 to make the back story

00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.079
 that you came from

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.740
 a Moabite widow.

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.259
 That's not how

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.160
 you're going to,

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.640
 if you like,

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.579
 fabricate a genealogy.

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.019
 And I think that

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.200
 attests to its

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.620
 historic accuracy

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.400
 and its truth

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.559
 that this is history.

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.519
 This really happened.

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.799
 This is David's

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:01.180
 great-grandmother,

00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:02.360
 Ruth.

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:05.519
 But we also know

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.299
 that if you want

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.879
 to flick over

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.500
 in your Bible,

00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:09.199
 maybe you haven't

00:28:09.199 --> 00:28:09.799
 realized this,

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.479
 but you can flick

00:28:10.479 --> 00:28:11.299
 over to Matthew.

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.240
 I'm not sure

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.319
 what page that is

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.199
 in the church Bible.

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:14.839
 Maybe someone

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.639
 might find it

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.439
 and shout it out

00:28:16.439 --> 00:28:17.559
 if that's helpful.

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.959
 955.

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.799
 So it's 965

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.639
 if you're struggling

00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.379
 to find it.

00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:40.559
 My Bible doesn't

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.219
 want to turn there

00:28:41.219 --> 00:28:41.419
 either,

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.219
 so don't worry.

00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.319
 So Matthew

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:47.119
 chapter 1,

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.779
 verse 1.

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.819
 We have a different

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.500
 genealogy

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.839
 than the one

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.500
 that's recorded

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.639
 in Ruth 18.

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.019
 It says,

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.079
 this is the genealogy

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.219
 of Jesus Christ,

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.399
 the Messiah,

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.979
 the greater

00:28:57.979 --> 00:28:59.240
 son of David,

00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.519
 son of Abraham.

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.199
 And it reads,

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.539
 see Abraham

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.120
 was the father

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.620
 of Isaac,

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.299
 Isaac the father

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.700
 of Jacob,

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.440
 Jacob the father

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:05.900
 of Judah,

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.900
 and his brothers

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.319
 in Judah

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.380
 the father of Perez

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.539
 and Zerah

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.180
 whose mother

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.900
 was Tamar.

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:12.200
 Perez the father

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.819
 of Hezron,

00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.680
 Hezron the father

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.100
 of Ram,

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.840
 Ram the father

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.799
 of Aminadab,

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.940
 Aminadab the father

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.539
 of Nashon,

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.279
 Nashon the flower

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.900
 of Salmon,

00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:19.779
 Salmon the father

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.440
 of Boaz

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.380
 whose mother

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.140
 was Rahab,

00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:23.180
 and Boaz

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.000
 the father

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.620
 of Obed

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.120
 whose mother

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.660
 was Ruth.

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.680
 And Obed

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.100
 the father

00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:28.620
 of Jesse,

00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.640
 and Jesse

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.539
 the father

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.379
 of King David.

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.539
 And if you read on down

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:34.180
 and it gets to the end,

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.940
 it then says,

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.119
 And Jacob, the father of Joseph,

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.259
 the husband of Mary,

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.099
 and Mary was the mother of Jesus

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:44.099
 who is called the Messiah.

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:48.259
 You see, in this little story,

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.960
 Ruth didn't know,

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.839
 David didn't know,

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:53.319
 that they were taking part

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.659
 in a genealogy

00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.879
 that was going to be added to.

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.240
 And that genealogy

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.920
 was going to go right the way through

00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:01.840
 and to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:05.380
 And we see that unfolding plan.

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:09.019
 And so we learn from that

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:10.759
 and we ask the question,

00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:12.019
 is God in control?

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:15.600
 In a time, as we reminded earlier,

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.519
 when Israel had no king,

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.440
 what was God doing?

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:20.820
 God was about his work.

00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:24.759
 He was moving people around.

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:27.019
 He was moving Ruth to Boaz.

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:29.839
 Boaz to Obed.

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.180
 Because he had a plan

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.200
 to bring about a king in Israel.

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:35.200
 And his plan was to bring about David,

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.940
 Israel's greatest human king.

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:39.079
 But we know that David

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.819
 wasn't good enough.

00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.519
 We know that David,

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.299
 as great a king he was,

00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.259
 as great as a man

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.539
 after God's own heart,

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.619
 as the Bible tells us,

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:47.299
 as great as a musician he was

00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.559
 and all the songs that he wrote,

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:52.500
 he just wasn't quite good enough.

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:54.519
 In fact, he was a murderer.

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.819
 In fact, he committed adultery.

00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:58.279
 He fell into sin.

00:30:58.439 --> 00:31:00.759
 His family was a little bit broken up.

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:03.720
 In fact, he morally,

00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:08.240
 he just didn't quite meet the mark, did he?

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:11.279
 And so we needed someone greater than David.

00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:12.559
 And we only find that

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:16.119
 in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.980
 So where are we heading to?

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:20.819
 Well, we're heading to somewhere else.

00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.839
 And I would like to say,

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.720
 I'm heading home.

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.519
 You know, the Bible would say

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:26.779
 that this world is not our home.

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.720
 We're heading for a city

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.259
 whose builder and maker

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.680
 is God himself.

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.160
 And so if we turn in Revelation,

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:36.940
 if you want to turn there,

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.180
 Revelation chapter 7,

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.559
 I'm going to read some verses for you.

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:47.379
 And so if you're a Christian this morning,

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.500
 this is about you.

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:50.000
 This is our future.

00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:52.059
 This is what we are waiting for.

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.720
 And then verse 9 says,

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.700
 And after this I looked,

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:56.399
 and there before me was a great multitude

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.700
 that no one could count.

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.519
 You know,

00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:02.879
 from every nation, tribe, people, and language,

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:04.279
 standing before the throne

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.200
 and before the Lamb.

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.580
 And they were wearing white robes

00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:08.880
 and they were holding palm branches

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.759
 and in their hands

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:11.940
 and they cried out in a loud voice

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.019
 as we sang this morning,

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:15.360
 Salvation belongs to our God

00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.860
 who sits on the throne

00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:18.019
 and to the Lamb.

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.920
 And all the angels were standing

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.620
 around the throne

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.059
 and they,

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.299
 with the elders

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.380
 and the four living creatures,

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.860
 and they fell down in their faces

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.640
 before the throne

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.500
 and they worshipped God

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.120
 saying, Amen,

00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.740
 praise and glory and wisdom

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.819
 and thanks and honor

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.340
 and power and strength

00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:33.640
 be to our God

00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:35.120
 forever and ever.

00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:35.839
 Amen.

00:32:37.439 --> 00:32:38.959
 And it says just on down there

00:32:38.959 --> 00:32:39.699
 in verse 15,

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:41.059
 Therefore they are before

00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.979
 the throne of God

00:32:41.979 --> 00:32:42.739
 and they serve Him

00:32:42.739 --> 00:32:44.219
 day and night in His temple.

00:32:44.459 --> 00:32:45.859
 And He who sits on the throne

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.819
 will shelter them

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.919
 in His presence.

00:32:48.239 --> 00:32:49.339
 And this is where we get

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.339
 the fullness of Christ.

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:52.639
 Never again will they hunger.

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.599
 Never again will they thirst.

00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.719
 And the sun will not beat down on them

00:32:56.719 --> 00:32:58.439
 and nor any scorching heat.

00:32:58.899 --> 00:33:01.000
 For the Lamb at the center of the throne

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.119
 will be their shepherd

00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:03.639
 and He will lead them

00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.919
 to springs of living water

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:06.340
 and He will wipe away

00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:08.400
 every tear from their eyes.

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.279
 Amen.

00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:14.160
 If you know and you love

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.120
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.200
 that is your future.

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.080
 The future of Brexit

00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:19.259
 is in the hands

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.440
 of the politicians.

00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.400
 You could say,

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.400
 but my future

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:24.420
 is in the hands

00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.320
 of my kinsman,

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.259
 Redeemer.

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:29.500
 The sad part of this

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.579
 is that if you don't know

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.619
 Christ on that day,

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.839
 that will not be your future.

00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.259
 Your future will be

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.619
 marred by

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.920
 by the judgment

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.859
 and payment

00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.680
 of your own sin.

00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.559
 And on that day,

00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.099
 you will need

00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.379
 a kinsman,

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.759
 Redeemer.

00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.579
 You will need someone

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:47.379
 who will legally stand,

00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.839
 if you like,

00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.480
 before God

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:49.839
 and say,

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.980
 know He's mine.

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.079
 And if you don't

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:53.500
 know Christ this morning

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.419
 and you don't have that,

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.279
 I would urge you to

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.799
 to make Jesus

00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.859
 your guardian,

00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:58.679
 Redeemer.

00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:01.480
 But for us

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:01.819
 who know

00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.679
 and know the Lord,

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.579
 we're looking forward

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.059
 to a day

00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:05.959
 when we'll never again

00:34:05.959 --> 00:34:06.480
 be hungry,

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.059
 never again thirst,

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.000
 never again

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.599
 will we need

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.139
 to put on

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.400
 Factor 50 sun cream,

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.759
 especially

00:34:12.759 --> 00:34:14.039
 for me.

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.039
 I burn,

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:15.679
 you know,

00:34:15.799 --> 00:34:16.460
 quite into the sun.

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.840
 The rest of my family,

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:19.220
 they all tan

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:19.840
 in an instant.

00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.340
 There's a picture,

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:21.740
 I think,

00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.420
 of me and my sister

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.840
 and she looks like

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.699
 she comes from,

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.539
 you know,

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.019
 Brazil.

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.519
 And I'm standing there

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.460
 as white

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.320
 as a ghost

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.059
 beside her.

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.980
 But never again

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.619
 am I going to have

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.579
 to worry about

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:35.599
 being scorched

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.619
 by the heat of the sun.

00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.820
 Because when

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.820
 Christ returns,

00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.639
 He's going to make

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.460
 all things new.

00:34:42.240 --> 00:34:43.059
 Let us pray.

00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:46.860
 Heavenly Father,