WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:02.580 Well, good evening everyone. It's good to be back with you. 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:06.540 Second week in succession. I usually go to most churches twice. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:07.940 Once to apologise. 00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:16.000 Really it's a privilege to be here with you. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:22.240 Trying to jiggle all my bits of things on here. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:23.160 Get this right. 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:31.019 And over 30 years ago, our family moved to Nigeria 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:36.480 to live among a community of people, some 60,000 strong, 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:38.519 known locally as the Jarawa. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:42.760 They're particularly famous for their skills in dancing. 00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:47.500 We lived in a village about 18 miles from the city of Joss, 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:51.200 in a mud-walled house without electricity and running water, 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.660 with our children who were then aged three and one. 00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:00.660 Our purpose in living there was to write down the language 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:01.940 these people spoke. 00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:03.740 It's a language called Izeri. 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.359 We were writing it down for the first time. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.340 And that involves spending time with the speakers of the language, 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:12.060 transcribing the language, 00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:14.620 and then launching a reading programme 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:17.820 in preparation for the translation of the New Testament 00:01:17.820 --> 00:01:20.719 in this particular language. 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:23.680 When you learn a language like this 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:26.280 without any books or any grammars or anything like this, 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.799 you begin usually with important phrases. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.359 So the most important phrase is, 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:33.439 how do you greet people? 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:35.640 And in this particular language, 00:01:35.740 --> 00:01:36.520 if you greet someone, 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.659 it's a long, complicated process, 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.020 a bit like a table tennis match 00:01:40.020 --> 00:01:41.200 when you go backwards and forwards. 00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:43.540 You can't just say hello and nod your head. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:44.659 You know, you... 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:46.320 So the first thing you say normally is, 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:47.680 Ikoza cháange? 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.320 Which means literally, 00:01:49.440 --> 00:01:50.640 did you sleep cold? 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:53.920 Because that's a good thing, 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.520 sleeping cold in a hot clavet. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:56.660 And the answer is, 00:01:56.940 --> 00:01:58.440 ee chang, ee yokyo. 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:02.180 You then learn other things, useful things. 00:02:02.300 --> 00:02:03.740 So here's one from the reading book. 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:07.960 Aniene means, who are you? 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:11.180 And this boy says, 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:13.120 na'ama. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:14.239 I'm ama. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:17.819 But often, as you begin to explore a new language, 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:19.659 you discover under the surface, 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:22.560 there are lots of much more complex things 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.299 going on below the surface. 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.820 And as you understand the culture, 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.360 some interesting things come out. 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:32.520 So we discovered after a time 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:33.020 that people, 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:34.820 if you ask them what your name is, 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:36.480 they would give you their name, 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:40.400 but they also had other names, 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:42.840 or I suppose we call them nicknames, 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:44.580 which were given to people 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:47.840 to describe their names and their character. 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:50.820 And after we'd been living there for some time, 00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:53.560 we discovered that I had been given a name. 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:57.439 Now, sometimes this is not the kind of thing 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:58.060 you want to know, 00:02:58.120 --> 00:02:59.599 because you ask in trepidation, 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:02.800 so what is the name that you've chosen for me? 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:04.800 And I discovered that the name 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.240 they'd chosen for me was Itzer. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:12.640 And Itzer is the word for a flying termite. 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:17.120 Now, I was asking my wife, 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:18.500 why did they call me Itzer? 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:19.960 And she said, well, I think it's because 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:21.980 you're always buzzing around doing things manically 00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:23.420 and activity-wise. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:24.640 Maybe so. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:27.979 Maybe, though, I fondly imagined 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:30.159 it was because it also reflected 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.039 my creative skills, 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:34.680 as flying termites are the ones 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:37.699 that build those incredible termite mounds 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:39.199 up to five meters high, 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:41.460 in which they live in a colony. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.080 However, termites are also known 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:47.500 for something less appealing, 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.099 their ability to eat through 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:51.799 and destroy almost anything. 00:03:54.519 --> 00:03:55.819 Here's a fine commentary 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:57.979 on Colossians and Philemon 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:00.579 by a well-known professor from of old, 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:01.500 H.C.G. 00:04:01.579 --> 00:04:01.799 Mould. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:02.959 David will tell you about it 00:04:02.959 --> 00:04:05.159 if you want to know any more details. 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:07.159 There's a picture of it there. 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.219 And the termites just love this book. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:13.680 So I thought you might like to see 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:14.359 what it looks like 00:04:14.359 --> 00:04:15.780 when a termite's been through a book. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:20.240 They devoured almost every word 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.879 of this learned and godly book. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:28.639 So was I really happy with my new name? 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:29.579 It's Sam. 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:31.560 I kind of got mixed feelings about it, 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:31.959 to be honest. 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:35.819 You may wonder where this is going. 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:36.819 All right. 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:39.100 Today I want to focus on the person 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:41.420 in the Bible that we're going to be studying. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:43.219 We began last week in the book of Ruth. 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:44.199 We're going to, 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:46.259 if you want to title for this a summary, 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:48.719 what the opening chapter of Ruth is about. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.040 It's about a change of name. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.360 And it's the story of Naomi 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:54.439 from the book of Ruth. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:57.439 And so what we need to do first of all 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.540 is turn in the Bible to Ruth chapter 1. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.360 We're going to read the opening chapter. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:04.180 And then we're going to talk about 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:06.659 this great theme about name changing. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:08.459 Okay. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:09.079 Here we go. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:11.699 We looked at the opening verses last week, 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:12.719 but I think for the context 00:05:12.719 --> 00:05:13.959 it will help to read them again. 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:14.759 Okay. 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:16.019 If you have a Bible. 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:22.040 In the days when the judges ruled, 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:23.519 there was a famine in the land. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.019 So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:28.019 together with his wife and two sons, 00:05:28.719 --> 00:05:31.479 went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.159 The man's name was Elimelech. 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:36.219 His wife's name was Naomi. 00:05:36.919 --> 00:05:39.459 The name of his two sons were Marlon and Kilion. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:43.379 They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem Judah. 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:46.419 And they went to Moab and lived there. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.279 Now Elimelech, 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:49.639 Naomi's husband, died, 00:05:50.180 --> 00:05:52.180 and she was left with her two sons. 00:05:52.799 --> 00:05:54.439 They married Moabite women, 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:55.479 one named Orpah, 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:56.359 the other Ruth. 00:05:56.899 --> 00:05:58.939 After they'd lived there about 10 years, 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:01.500 both Marlon and Kilion also died, 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.240 and Naomi was left without her two sons 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:05.400 and her husband. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:08.900 When Naomi heard in Moab 00:06:08.900 --> 00:06:11.280 that the Lord had come to the aid of his people 00:06:11.280 --> 00:06:13.680 by providing food for them, 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:15.420 she and her daughters-in-law 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:17.560 prepared to return home from there. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:19.500 With her two daughters-in-law, 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:21.879 she left the place where she'd been living 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:23.319 and set out on the road 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:25.939 that would take them back to the land of Judah. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:29.540 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.779 Go back, each of you, 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:32.079 to your mother's house. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:34.300 May the Lord show you kindness, 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:36.660 as you have shown kindness, 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.279 to your dead husbands and to me. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:40.379 May the Lord grant, 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:42.459 each of you will find rest 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:44.379 in the home of another husband. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:46.000 Then she kissed them goodbye, 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:48.540 and they wept aloud and said to her, 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:50.379 We'll go back with you to your people. 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:52.360 But Naomi said, 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:53.720 Return home, my daughters. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:55.879 Why should you come with me? 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:56.899 Would you come with me? 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.860 Am I going to have more sons 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:00.000 who would become your husbands? 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:01.300 Return home, my daughters. 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:03.219 I'm too old to have another husband. 00:07:03.339 --> 00:07:06.079 Even if I thought there was still hope for me, 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:07.819 even if I had a husband tonight 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:09.160 and then gave birth to sons, 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:11.079 would you wait until they grew up? 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.100 Would you remain unmarried for them? 00:07:13.159 --> 00:07:13.959 No, my daughters. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:16.159 It's more bitter for me than for you, 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:19.079 because the Lord's hand has turned against me. 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:21.480 At this they wept aloud again. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:24.120 Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:26.100 but Ruth clung to her. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.000 Look, said Naomi, 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:30.040 your sister-in-law is going back to her people 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:31.139 and her gods. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.040 Go back with her. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.100 But Ruth replied, 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:36.180 Don't urge me to leave you 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:37.560 or to turn back from you. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.660 Where you go, I will go. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:41.360 Where you stay, I will stay. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.340 Your people will be my people. 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:45.000 Your God will be my God. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:47.060 Where you die, I will die. 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:48.899 And there I will be buried. 00:07:48.899 --> 00:07:50.500 May the Lord deal with me, 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:52.279 be it ever so severely, 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.939 if even death separates you and me. 00:07:55.899 --> 00:07:58.060 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:58.959 to go with her, 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.639 she stopped urging her. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:03.819 So the two women went on 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.339 until they came to Bethlehem. 00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:07.819 When they arrived in Bethlehem, 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:09.779 the whole town was stirred because of them. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:11.179 And the women exclaimed, 00:08:11.299 --> 00:08:12.239 Can this be Naomi? 00:08:13.419 --> 00:08:15.339 Don't call me Naomi, she told them. 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:16.739 Call me Mara, 00:08:17.159 --> 00:08:20.139 because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:22.359 I went away full, 00:08:22.479 --> 00:08:24.459 but the Lord has brought me back empty. 00:08:24.799 --> 00:08:25.939 Why call me Naomi? 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:27.879 The Lord has afflicted me. 00:08:28.239 --> 00:08:30.799 The Almighty has brought misfortune upon me. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:33.339 So Naomi returned from Moab, 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.799 accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, 00:08:35.959 --> 00:08:36.819 her daughter-in-law, 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.019 arriving in Bethlehem 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:42.159 as the barley harvest was beginning. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:45.179 This is God's word. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:47.120 As we saw last week, 00:08:47.180 --> 00:08:48.780 there are some things in time and culture 00:08:48.780 --> 00:08:49.960 that you need to understand. 00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:51.639 The background bit, 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:53.879 this story can be echoed 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:55.740 in many other parts of the world today. 00:08:56.180 --> 00:08:58.840 It's a story of economic migration. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.340 It's a story of family tragedy, 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:04.220 as we saw last week. 00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:06.200 3,000 years ago, 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:07.379 a bit of a review for those 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.379 who weren't here last week, 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:09.940 3,000 years ago, 00:09:09.940 --> 00:09:10.920 the people of Israel 00:09:10.920 --> 00:09:13.759 were living in hard times. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:15.860 They were hard times politically. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.120 The opening verse tells us 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:19.080 the story happened 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.220 when the judges ruled. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.879 It's a time of political instability 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.819 with a succession of rulers, 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:30.139 of up and down cycles, 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:32.360 of straying from God, 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:33.899 crying out to God for help, 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:35.200 being oppressed by enemies. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.519 God answers in, 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:37.720 and then the same thing happens 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:38.519 again and again. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:39.840 And we saw last week 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:40.600 that the last book 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:41.559 of the preceding, 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.000 the book preceding Ruth, 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:44.639 the book of Judges in our Bibles, 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:46.579 ends with these words. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.519 In those days, 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.879 Israel had no king. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:52.179 Everyone did as he saw fit. 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:53.299 Literally, everyone did 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.860 what was right in his own eyes. 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:56.720 I think of somewhere like Libya 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.720 or Yemen today, 00:09:58.059 --> 00:09:58.740 and you probably get 00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.600 a pretty good idea 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:00.860 of the kind of things 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:01.740 that were going on. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:04.299 Allied with this, 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:05.939 there were also hard times 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:07.140 economically. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.160 There was a famine 00:10:09.160 --> 00:10:10.380 in the land. 00:10:10.760 --> 00:10:12.460 And so a man named Elimelech 00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:13.720 from the little town 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:14.540 of Bethlehem 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:16.220 in southern Israel 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:17.920 took his wife Naomi 00:10:17.920 --> 00:10:19.800 and their two sons, 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:20.800 Marlon and Kilion, 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:21.920 crossed the border 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.060 into the neighboring country 00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:23.700 of Moab. 00:10:24.780 --> 00:10:25.840 A man from Bethlehem 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.600 and Judah together 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.000 with his wife and two sons 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:29.420 went to live for a while 00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.500 in the country of Moab. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.000 We saw last week 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.640 it was intended 00:10:32.640 --> 00:10:33.980 to be just for a while, 00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:35.780 a period of sojourning, 00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:37.700 until things got better 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:39.160 but they became settled there. 00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:40.600 The little while 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:41.660 became a long while 00:10:41.660 --> 00:10:43.800 and for three of the party 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:44.940 there was no return. 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:48.480 So Naomi discovered 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.720 these were hard times 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:52.600 not only politically, 00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:53.580 economically, 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.860 these were hard times 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:55.480 personally. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:56.240 Look what it says. 00:10:56.340 --> 00:10:57.040 Now Elimelech, 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.440 Naomi's husband died 00:10:58.440 --> 00:10:59.960 and she was left 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:00.980 with her two sons. 00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:02.580 They married Moab women, 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.400 one named Oprah, 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.340 the other named Ruth. 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:05.519 After they'd lived there 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.280 about ten years, 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.960 both Marlon and Kilion died 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:09.879 also and Naomi was left 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:11.280 without her two sons 00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:11.920 and her husband 00:11:11.920 --> 00:11:13.360 along with her two 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.620 Moabite daughters-in-law 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.420 who had married her two sons 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:18.840 and were also now widowed. 00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:19.860 And then news came 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.759 from over the border 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.639 that the famine was over, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:24.340 food was now plentiful, 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.940 so Naomi sets off. 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.860 It's a beautiful picture, 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.300 is it not? 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:29.300 Naomi sets off on the road 00:11:29.300 --> 00:11:31.680 going back across the border 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:33.120 back to Bethlehem 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.200 with her two daughters, 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:35.180 one called Orpah, 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.360 the other one called Ruth. 00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:38.340 The name Orpah 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:41.460 has not really been a popular name. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.840 Other than the case, 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.800 you may know this, 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:46.800 just a piece of trite information, 00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:48.660 other than a teenage mother 00:11:48.660 --> 00:11:49.259 in America 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:51.400 who decided to call her daughter Orpah 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.379 and everyone mispronounced it 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:54.000 as Oprah 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.179 and that is the origin of that name. 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:57.019 I don't know if you knew that, 00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:59.399 but it doesn't help you in any way, 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.779 but it's just interesting. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.500 The other name, of course, 00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:03.699 is much better known, 00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:05.039 the name of Ruth 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:07.419 who insisted on staying 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:08.480 with her mother-in-law 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.980 and returning back to Judah 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.759 and to Bethlehem. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:13.179 And so, ten years later, 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:15.059 Naomi returns to Bethlehem, 00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:16.620 a very different person 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.659 to the one who had left 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:19.179 with her husband and sons. 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:21.279 So much so, 00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:22.199 the whole town asks, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.120 can this be Naomi? 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.419 So, notice Naomi's answer 00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:26.799 and the change of name, 00:12:26.859 --> 00:12:27.319 our theme. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.719 Naomi answered, 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.500 trying to read the thing here, 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:33.459 I should go in a little bit, 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:33.719 sorry. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:35.000 Naomi answered, 00:12:35.319 --> 00:12:36.419 don't call me Naomi, 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:37.079 she told them, 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.139 call me Mara 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:39.739 because the Almighty 00:12:39.739 --> 00:12:41.259 has made my life very bitter. 00:12:41.719 --> 00:12:42.879 I went away full, 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.019 but the Lord has brought me back empty. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:46.519 Why call me Naomi? 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.779 The Lord has afflicted me, 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.819 the Almighty has brought 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.059 misfortune upon me. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.360 So, notice here 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.379 the change of name. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.019 From Naomi, 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:56.939 a word which means 00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:57.919 in Hebrew pleasant, 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:58.980 something like that, 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.559 to Mara, 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:03.019 a word which means bitter. 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:06.240 She now asks 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:08.059 that people call her 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:08.620 not Naomi, 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:10.059 but Mara. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:12.759 Like my book, 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:13.980 her life, 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.559 it's a good illustration really, 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.579 like my book, 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.959 her life has been consumed 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.800 by bitterness. 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:22.360 Eaten away with bitterness 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:24.240 at what has happened to me. 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:25.620 So much so, 00:13:26.040 --> 00:13:26.980 that even the cover, 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:27.660 her face, 00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.600 and her appearance 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.300 is affected as well. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:32.300 She's almost unrecognizable. 00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.540 The people in the town, 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.600 probably not a big town, 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.019 well-known family maybe, 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.220 everyone is asking, 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.460 have you seen her? 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.960 Can this really be Naomi? 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.100 Naomi? 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:45.500 So, let's look first of all then 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.560 at this change of name 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:48.480 from Naomi to Mara. 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:50.159 What I want to do this evening 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.659 is to focus on two things. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.740 First of all, 00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:54.279 on the root of bitterness 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.040 as we look at Naomi's story. 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.560 Because it is a story 00:13:58.560 --> 00:13:59.620 that is sadly mirrored 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.159 in the experience of many people 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.040 and maybe even the experience 00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:04.000 of some of us here 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.180 this evening. 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:09.359 Let me try and give a definition 00:14:09.359 --> 00:14:10.620 of what bitterness is. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.199 Bitterness is a negative 00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:14.620 emotional response 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.879 to unpleasant circumstances 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.379 expressed in feelings 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.399 such as resentment, 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:21.939 disappointment, 00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:23.259 anger, 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:24.939 and even envy. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.439 No wonder Naomi's bitter, 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.059 you may say. 00:14:29.079 --> 00:14:29.899 No wonder she says, 00:14:29.979 --> 00:14:30.719 call me Mara. 00:14:31.979 --> 00:14:33.079 She's lost everything. 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.759 She held dear. 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:34.759 She's lost her husband. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.859 She's lost her two sins. 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:37.799 She says, 00:14:37.859 --> 00:14:38.879 I went away full. 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.620 I've come back empty. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.059 Now, 00:14:42.359 --> 00:14:43.859 let's move forward 00:14:43.859 --> 00:14:45.479 3,000 years 00:14:45.479 --> 00:14:46.599 and think about ourselves. 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.000 All of us, 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:49.539 if you've lived 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.599 any length of time, 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:52.719 experience unpleasant 00:14:52.719 --> 00:14:53.579 circumstances 00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:55.199 in our lives. 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:58.239 Some of us have lost children. 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.479 Others have lost a spouse. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.979 Not only through death, 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.220 but even worse, 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:07.100 through desertion. 00:15:08.300 --> 00:15:09.580 Some of us have lost 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.259 our health, 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.779 our homes, 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.480 our jobs, 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:16.240 our happiness, 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.680 or a whole host 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.899 of adverse circumstances 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.820 which affect us deeply. 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.300 And not surprisingly, 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.240 many people 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.800 in these circumstances 00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:26.000 become embittered 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.720 by what they've experienced. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.620 bitterness is a problem 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:32.840 for many people. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:35.500 But I want to say this evening 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.100 that bitterness 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:38.420 is or can be 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:39.840 a particular problem 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.519 for many believers. 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:43.560 You see, 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.440 faced with adversity 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.740 or difficulty 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.500 or tragedy, 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.440 the unbeliever 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.500 can only blame 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.160 bad luck 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:51.800 or fate. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.200 Though, 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.720 is it not surprising 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.420 how many 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.600 self-proclaimed 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.400 atheists 00:15:56.400 --> 00:15:57.700 blame the God 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.580 they don't believe in 00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.540 when things go wrong? 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.360 But for the believer, 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.000 for the person 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.360 who believes in God, 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.120 such things create 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.700 a theological difficulty 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.780 as we see 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:10.780 in the story of Naomi. 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:12.940 Naomi's 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.540 bitterness 00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.460 is caused 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.379 by unpleasant 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.320 circumstances 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:19.240 which she acknowledges 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.040 are brought about 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.800 by the Lord. 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.340 In theological terms, 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.300 Naomi acknowledges 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:26.480 that in the circumstance 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.060 of her life 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:27.920 that God is sovereign. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.120 God is in control. 00:16:31.260 --> 00:16:32.120 Notice her words 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.120 to her daughters-in-law 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.800 showing that she recognises 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:35.879 not only the Lord 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.340 can bring blessing, 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.020 can bring prosperity. 00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:40.980 She says to him, 00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:42.360 go back each of you 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.520 to your mother's home, 00:16:43.640 --> 00:16:44.760 maybe a little change. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.340 No, she didn't say that 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.180 if you look at the text. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.260 May the Lord 00:16:48.260 --> 00:16:49.900 show you kindness 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:51.980 as you've shown kindness 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.700 to your dead husbands 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.260 and to me. 00:16:53.780 --> 00:16:54.680 May the Lord 00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:56.379 grant that each of you 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.140 will find rest 00:16:57.140 --> 00:16:57.620 in the home 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.420 of another husband. 00:16:59.280 --> 00:17:00.780 She also acknowledges 00:17:00.780 --> 00:17:02.700 in her contrasting circumstances 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.820 that the Lord 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.360 is sovereign 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.220 than adversity. 00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.600 She says, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.580 it is more bitter 00:17:08.580 --> 00:17:09.700 for me than for you. 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.320 Why? 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.080 Because 00:17:11.080 --> 00:17:12.840 my luck has turned. 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.240 Things are really bad. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.180 No, she says, 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.240 it is more bitter 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.299 for me than for you. 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.319 Because the Lord's hand 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.519 has turned against me. 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.720 And notice carefully 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.980 when the people in Bethlehem 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:24.839 ask what's happened, 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.179 she doesn't say, 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.399 well, 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:26.899 just things 00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:28.039 just turned out badly. 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.539 No, she says, 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.439 not what she says. 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.579 Call me Mara. 00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:32.759 Notice the words highlighted. 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:34.319 Because the Almighty 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.379 has made my life 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:35.939 very bitter. 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.399 I went away full, 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.319 but the Lord 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.799 has brought me back empty. 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.339 Why call me near me? 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:43.240 The Lord has afflicted me. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.220 The Almighty 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.539 has brought misfortune 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.339 upon me. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.159 She doesn't blame 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:49.899 bad luck, 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.240 blind fate. 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:52.359 No, 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.619 she has issues, 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:56.240 issues addressed to God. 00:17:57.439 --> 00:17:58.119 She says, 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:59.019 why is the Almighty, 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.599 the word there 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.459 is El Shaddai. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.279 It's a word that first, 00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:01.579 I think, 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.899 occurs in Genesis 17 00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:04.639 when God appears to Abraham 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:05.619 who's childless 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.079 and says, 00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.039 I am the Lord, 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:07.799 El Shaddai. 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.059 It probably means 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.099 the God of all power. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.879 Why is the God of all power, 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.839 the Lord, 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:13.379 who has entered 00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.899 into a special relationship 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:17.119 with his covenant people Israel, 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.200 of which Ruth, 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.659 Naomi is a part, 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.720 why has he brought 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.299 such terrible circumstances 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.659 into the lives 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:25.279 of one of his people, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.919 one of his children? 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.159 You see, 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.440 it's a problem 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.680 which is the problem 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.319 of suffering, 00:18:31.419 --> 00:18:32.480 but I simply want to say 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.659 the problem of suffering 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:35.519 is a far more acute problem 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.639 for the believer 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.060 than for the unbeliever. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.640 It's a particular dilemma. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.940 If you know the Bible, 00:18:42.060 --> 00:18:42.900 the Psalms are full 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.620 of the question, 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.340 why? 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:46.800 And the book of Job, 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.680 a long book 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.480 with lots of chapters, 00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.800 is full of questions. 00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:52.500 It's an extended treatise 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.759 on the subject of suffering. 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:56.560 As a man called Job, 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:58.040 who is described, 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.440 notice, 00:18:58.580 --> 00:18:59.480 as blameless, 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.360 upright, 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.640 who fears God 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.940 and shuns evil, 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:05.000 wrestles with terrible adversity 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.259 and the platitudes 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.799 of his so-called comforters, 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.660 three times in Job 7, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.039 11, 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.440 10, 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:10.779 1, 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.539 27, 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.079 2, 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.980 we are told 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.440 that he cries out to God 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.380 in bitterness 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:16.619 of soul. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.359 So bitterness 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.099 can be a problem 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.759 for the believer 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.140 and for any Christian. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.920 Now you might say, 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.519 oh, you don't know 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.720 Brentsville Evangelical Church, 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.700 we're all Christians here. 00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.559 But bitterness 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.200 is a problem 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.740 for Christians. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.339 Why else would the Apostle Paul 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.500 write as he does 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.660 to the Christians in Ephesus 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.220 and say, 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.700 get rid of all bitterness, 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.740 rage and anger, 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:39.960 brawling and slander 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.420 along with every form of malice 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:43.019 if it were not possible 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.859 for such things 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:45.799 to be part of a church? 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.079 Why does the writer 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.539 of the letter 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.359 to the Hebrews 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.620 warn Christians, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.359 see to it, 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:50.819 he says, 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:53.079 that no one falls short 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.880 of the grace of God 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.240 and that no bitter root 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.039 grows up 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.400 to cause trouble 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:00.059 and to defile many? 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.279 You see, 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.539 the bitter person, 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.960 and I speak from experience, 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.019 of many years 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.139 of pastoral experience, 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.399 the bitter person 00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.960 is a problem 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.940 in any church. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.700 For bitterness 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.480 is infectious. 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.039 The word defile there 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.019 is a word use 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.980 of coloured dye, 00:20:17.419 --> 00:20:18.419 which if you touch it, 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.119 it stains. 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.559 And you will find 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.599 that a bitter person 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.720 infects other people 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.960 with their bitterness. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.720 So my experiences, 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.940 and maybe here, 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:30.360 within God's family 00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:31.120 and our churches 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.940 are Christians 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.519 who wrestle with 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.380 unresolved bitterness. 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.180 Now, 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:39.000 it may be hidden 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.000 behind a smile 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.100 or even a song, 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.920 but open the cover 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:47.160 and you will discover 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.940 a bitter person. 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.600 And eventually, 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:52.480 it even begins to show 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.039 on the colour 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.880 on the cover 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:56.019 and the outward appearance 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.980 of the bitter person. 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.319 You discover a person 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.019 consumed 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:02.839 by bitterness. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.759 It's a strange experience, 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.200 isn't it? 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.980 And sometimes, 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.480 it just erupts. 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.299 You talk to someone 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.019 and suddenly, 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.059 something bursts out 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.480 and you think, 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:14.379 so Naomi, 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.180 Mrs. Pleasant, 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.720 has become 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.079 Mara, 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.779 Mrs. Bitter. 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.440 That is her change 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:19.920 of name. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.500 And the root 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.140 of her bitterness, 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.100 the root of bitterness 00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.320 lies in her relationship 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:25.380 with the Lord. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.440 And I simply want 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.160 to say to you, 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.960 and stay with me 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.060 because we don't end here, 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.400 thankfully, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.039 I simply want to stay 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.560 with you 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.259 that if you are 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.100 a bitter person, 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.660 if you have resentment 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.700 within your heart 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.759 about things 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.300 that have happened 00:21:38.300 --> 00:21:39.100 in the past year, 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.740 your problem 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.680 is with the Lord. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.960 For thankfully, 00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.039 chapter 1 is not 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.340 the final chapter 00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:46.039 of the book of Ruth. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.300 Now, 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:46.920 I'm not going to do 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.700 too many spoilers 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.279 for those who are 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.759 following me 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.259 and doing the rest 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.759 of the series, 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.619 but I do need 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.299 to say something 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:53.160 following on from this. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.220 As we read on 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.039 in the story of Ruth, 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.519 and I'm just going 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.599 to touch on it 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.099 in outline 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.759 and the basic principles, 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.039 we discover, 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.480 as the story unfolds, 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.420 there is a change 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.700 of name from Mara, 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.400 Bitter, 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:07.339 back to Naomi. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.339 If you know the Bible, 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.759 you may recall 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.640 that there is a story 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.099 in the Bible 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.920 about when the people 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.819 of Israel are passing, 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.920 leaving Egypt, 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.220 across the Red Sea, 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:20.240 three days later, 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:22.079 they're desperately thirsty 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.500 and they come 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.299 to a place 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:27.000 where they find 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.579 some water, 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.480 but when they taste 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.059 the water, 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.200 it is bitter. 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.600 Some people think 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.240 it's part of the 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.940 bitter lakes 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.700 in that region. 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.799 The water tastes bitter 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.640 and they're desperately 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.360 disappointed. 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.519 They cry out 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.079 to the Lord 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.240 and Moses, 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:40.980 the man of God, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.460 the leader, 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.140 throws some wood 00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.960 into the water 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.019 and the water 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.860 turns sweet 00:22:45.860 --> 00:22:46.539 and they're able 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.700 to drink it. 00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.000 So, 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.279 is there a balm 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.880 for bitterness? 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.779 Can a bitter believer 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.059 be made sweet again? 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.100 Thankfully, 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.620 yes. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.240 Just as the root 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.779 of bitterness 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.819 lies in our relationship 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.340 with the Lord, 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.840 so does the remedy 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:03.039 for bitterness. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.340 So, 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.140 let me suggest 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.559 from the story, 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.840 chapter one 00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:08.480 and then a little bit 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.000 further on, 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.319 but in broad principle, 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.400 let me suggest 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.100 what the remedy 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.980 for bitterness is. 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.059 Let me mention 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.039 three things. 00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:16.759 Three important steps 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.699 we need to take 00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:20.899 from the example 00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.759 and story of Nemi. 00:23:22.219 --> 00:23:22.500 Okay, 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.399 here's the first one. 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.679 You need to return 00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:25.759 to the right place. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.679 You need to return 00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:28.599 to the right place. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.259 Now, 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.059 we talked last week, 00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:30.759 the writer of Ruth 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.759 passes no judgment 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.119 on the decision 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.740 of Elimelech 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.599 to take his family 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.219 to Moab 00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:35.980 and I suggested 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.939 that it wasn't 00:23:36.939 --> 00:23:37.819 a very good move, 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:38.179 really. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.159 Moab had a pretty 00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:41.319 dubious reputation 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:43.279 not a good place 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.619 for anyone 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.659 to take his family 00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.539 and whether 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.939 Nemi was complicit 00:23:46.939 --> 00:23:47.639 in the decision 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.599 to go to Moab 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.279 we don't know. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.460 Suggested that 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.839 in a patriarchal society 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.619 the husband 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.599 probably took the lead 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.240 and the wife 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.299 had to go along 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:55.700 with it 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.700 as happens 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.779 even today 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.279 in many situations. 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.659 But what Nemi 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.659 did decide 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:04.779 was to return home. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.619 When she heard 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:08.119 in Moab 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.740 that the Lord 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.599 had come to the aid 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.240 of his people 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.259 by providing food 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.620 for them 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:12.720 Naomi and her 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.519 daughters-in-law 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.160 prepared to return 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.259 home from there. 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.059 Here's the first step 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.980 to return home. 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.460 See, 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.480 the road home 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.660 is the road of repentance 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.960 and he's turning 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.980 right about 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.480 and heading home. 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.759 We looked at 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.460 the lovely story 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:28.960 last week 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.039 of the prodigal son 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.160 and think about 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.920 the prodigal son 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.599 in the parable. 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.559 Probably in rags. 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.420 Been living in a pigsty, 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.599 probably didn't smell great 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.059 and he's stumbling 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.199 along the road home 00:24:40.199 --> 00:24:41.139 but he determines 00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:42.599 that he will return home. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.619 He reasons within himself 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.980 how many of my father's men 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.339 have hired hands, 00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:48.179 have bread enough to eat. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.980 Here I am starving. 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.679 I'd be better off there 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:51.519 even if I go back 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.719 as a servant, 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.500 as a slave. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.899 And so he sets out 00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.539 on that road. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.899 He doesn't just sit there 00:24:56.899 --> 00:24:57.759 commiserating 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.539 about 00:24:58.539 --> 00:25:01.059 his bad circumstances. 00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:02.799 And whatever circumstance 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.359 you're in, 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:03.919 the first thing 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:04.659 you need to do 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:06.459 is to return home 00:25:06.459 --> 00:25:10.619 to the road home. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.619 You need to set up home 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:14.019 because only there 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.619 will you be 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.619 in the right place 00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.679 to receive 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:17.479 the bread of life. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.419 Maybe, I don't know, 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.799 a few of you here, 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.539 maybe God has brought you here 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.240 even this evening 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.979 that you might 00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:25.639 return in this place 00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.019 to God. 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.819 You don't literally 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.759 need to walk in 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.279 through the door 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.879 of the church 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:30.679 but you need spiritually 00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:31.379 to turn, 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.419 to repent, 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.340 to turn back 00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:34.100 and to return. 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.120 So, 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.440 Naomi returns 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.519 and notice the words, 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.660 it's a lovely story 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.680 or beautifully told. 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.600 So Naomi returned 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.200 from Moab 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.100 accompanied by Ruth 00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:43.680 the Moabite, 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.460 her daughter-in-law, 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.320 arriving in Bethlehem 00:25:46.320 --> 00:25:48.039 as the barley harvest 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.220 was beginning. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.420 She returns home 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.620 to Bethlehem, 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.200 the house of bread 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.900 and the barley harvest 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:57.220 was beginning. 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.660 That's the first thing. 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.880 Here's the second thing 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.540 return to the right place. 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:04.820 Secondly, 00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:07.600 talk to the right person. 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.720 You see, 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.500 bitterness bottled up 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:13.360 will often explode 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.120 and erupt 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:16.440 in an unprovoked way 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.560 so that the injured victim, 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.320 as I said before, 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:18.620 wonders, 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.720 where did that come from? 00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:22.220 And it may be helpful 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.160 to talk to someone 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.000 about your bitterness 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.640 and experience, 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:25.120 pastor, 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.100 a wise counselor. 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:29.959 But there is one 00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:31.159 wonderful counselor 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.839 to whom you can express 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.980 your deepest feelings 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.639 and pain. 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.119 You see, 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.839 the worst thing 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.319 you can do 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.859 in your bitterness 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.599 is to decide, 00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.379 I remember someone 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.439 trying to help someone 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.899 in a situation like this 00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.459 as a pastor, 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:44.939 and the person said, 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:47.799 I'm not talking to God 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.459 at the moment. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:52.319 And I understood why, 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.299 but I tried to say 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.220 gently and kindly, 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.620 that's the worst thing 00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.160 you can do. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.680 You need to speak 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.720 to the right person. 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.900 There is a wonderful counselor 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:04.180 to whom you can express 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.680 your deepest feelings 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.259 and pain. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:10.240 I don't think 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.440 Nehemiah's given up on God. 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.299 She recognizes 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.420 we saw his sovereignty 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.339 and so must we. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.180 And as Job did, 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.559 you need to pour out 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.660 your bitterness to him. 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.440 And more than 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.839 Job or Nehemi, 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.779 you can come to him 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.859 through his son Jesus. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.519 You may say, 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.539 what does Jesus know 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.700 of my grief and suffering? 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.279 And I say, 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.819 he's a man of sorrows 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:36.099 and acquainted with grief. 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.879 You may say, 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.079 I didn't deserve this 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:40.099 to happen to me. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.140 And I say, 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.980 he was pierced 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.339 for our transgressions, 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.539 crushed for our iniquities. 00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.160 The punishment 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.279 that brought us peace 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.980 was upon him 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.259 and by his wounds 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.220 we are healed. 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.039 You may have 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.000 unanswered questions, 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.119 but here is a question 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:55.079 which puts all of them 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.960 and all our suffering 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.819 into perspective. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.740 My God, my God, 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.960 why have you forsaken me? 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.619 As the old spiritual puts it, 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:06.619 nobody knows the trouble 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.159 I see. 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:08.979 Nobody knows 00:28:08.979 --> 00:28:10.399 but Jesus. 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:12.619 And that same Jesus 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.299 who died 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.739 and rose again 00:28:14.739 --> 00:28:17.319 is now ascended. 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.979 The Bible says 00:28:18.979 --> 00:28:19.659 he ever lives 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.859 to make intercession 00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.519 for us. 00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.939 We can come to him. 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.500 We can approach 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.299 God's throne, 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.479 the throne of grace, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.119 not merit, 00:28:27.239 --> 00:28:28.179 not what we deserve. 00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:30.440 So here's these wonderful words 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.360 from the book of Hebrews. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.460 Therefore, 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.620 since we have 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:35.460 a great high priest 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.140 who has ascended 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.759 into heaven, 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:37.940 Jesus, 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:38.779 the Son of God, 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.920 let us hold firmly 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:42.060 to the faith we profess. 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.060 For we do not have 00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.820 a high priest 00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:45.920 who is unable 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.100 to feel sympathy 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.880 for our weaknesses, 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.340 but we have one 00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:51.080 who has been tempted 00:28:51.080 --> 00:28:51.820 in every way 00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:52.660 just as we are, 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:54.000 yet he did not sin. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.340 Let us then approach 00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.900 God's throne of grace 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.400 with confidence 00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.280 so that we may 00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:00.200 receive mercy 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.580 and find grace 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.160 to help us 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.220 in our time of need. 00:29:04.060 --> 00:29:05.080 If you have a need, 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.780 return to the right place. 00:29:08.800 --> 00:29:09.980 Talk to the right person. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.280 And finally, 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.900 just in that line, 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.560 you need to, 00:29:13.780 --> 00:29:14.100 thirdly, 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.140 wait for the right time. 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.660 Wait for the right time. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:17.980 You see, 00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.120 Nemi comes home 00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:20.060 to the right place 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:21.240 and she begins 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.960 to prove God's provision 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:25.040 as her daughter-in-law, 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.580 Ruth, 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:28.139 gleans in the fields 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:29.259 of a man named Boaz. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.159 The tradition was 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:31.699 that the law of the Lord 00:29:31.699 --> 00:29:32.679 said you weren't to go, 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:35.000 when you gleaned your crops, 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.639 you weren't supposed 00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:36.759 to go back for a second time 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.619 and pick up the leftovers, 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.359 you were to leave them 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:38.980 for the poor 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.839 and the widowed 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:42.179 and people like Nemi and Ruth. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:42.539 And so, 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.679 she just happens 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:44.919 to choose this field 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:47.799 of a man named Boaz 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:49.059 who is a close relative. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.359 What some would see 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.240 as a coincidence, 00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:54.119 I read a lovely definition 00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:54.819 of coincidence. 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.119 Coincidence is 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:58.099 God acting anonymously. 00:29:58.239 --> 00:29:58.319 Well, 00:29:58.479 --> 00:29:59.179 think about that. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.039 She recognizes 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.279 God's providence 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.799 and slowly, 00:30:03.959 --> 00:30:04.319 Nemi, 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:07.199 her spiritual senses 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:08.179 begin to awaken 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:11.759 and she discerns 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.459 that the Lord 00:30:12.459 --> 00:30:13.099 is at work 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.759 in all this 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:16.099 as it unfolds 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.479 in ways 00:30:16.479 --> 00:30:16.979 that she, 00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:17.339 Nemi, 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:17.899 or Ruth 00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:18.339 would never 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:19.059 have dreamt. 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:23.159 We're not going 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:23.720 to read it all 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.220 because you're going 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.099 to be hearing 00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:26.159 on it the next few weeks 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.799 but maybe you're not 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.419 going to be here then 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:28.839 so let me give you 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.220 a spoiler 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.679 and tell you 00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.319 at the end of it. 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.519 The end of it 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.379 is that Mrs. Bitter 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.959 becomes Mrs. Pleasant again. 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.319 It's chapter 4. 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:39.419 So Boaz took Ruth 00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.699 and she became his wife. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.059 When he went to her 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:43.000 the Lord enabled her 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.519 to conceive 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.339 and she gave birth 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:44.899 to a son. 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.440 The women said to Nemi, 00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:48.000 Praise be to the Lord 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.040 who this day 00:30:49.040 --> 00:30:49.800 has not left you 00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.680 without a kinsman 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.180 redeemer. 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.660 May you become famous 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.380 throughout Israel. 00:30:53.780 --> 00:30:54.560 He will renew 00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:55.500 your life 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.340 and sustain you 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.160 in your old age 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:58.120 for your daughter-in-law 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.860 who loves you 00:30:58.860 --> 00:31:00.160 and who is better to you 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.120 than seven sons 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.600 has given him birth. 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:05.019 And they all lived 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.340 happily ever after. 00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:11.580 So the question 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.300 is this. 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.960 Is this what 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.100 we are all promised 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.799 in our adverse circumstances? 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.180 Are we promised 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.980 a happy ending? 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.660 Well, 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.500 for the answer 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.579 you need to read on a bit 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.559 first in the book of Ruth 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.299 and then further on 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.740 in the Bible 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:26.240 to get the whole story. 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.600 Notice the continuation 00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.440 of the story. 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.900 Then Nemi took the child 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.360 in her arms 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.039 and cared for him. 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:31.900 The women living there 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:33.100 said Nemi has a son 00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:34.900 and they named him Obed. 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.539 He was the father of Jesse, 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.779 the father of David, 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.200 Israel's greatest king. 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.620 Then we need to read on 00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.579 beyond the book of Ruth, 00:31:43.959 --> 00:31:45.039 beyond the Old Testament, 00:31:45.199 --> 00:31:45.879 the old covenant 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.539 that God made 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.619 with his people Israel, 00:31:48.219 --> 00:31:49.259 to a better covenant, 00:31:49.399 --> 00:31:50.199 the New Testament, 00:31:50.619 --> 00:31:51.279 which begins 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.500 a thousand years later. 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:54.119 Here are the opening words 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.099 of the New Testament, 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.839 which introduced 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.679 the culmination 00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.419 of the story. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.679 This is the genealogy 00:32:00.679 --> 00:32:02.659 of Jesus the Messiah, 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.659 the son of David, 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.559 the son of Abraham. 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.679 And as you read down 00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.639 this list of names, 00:32:06.959 --> 00:32:08.359 suddenly as you get down, 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.659 it's a bit like 00:32:09.659 --> 00:32:10.459 a television program, 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.359 who do you think you are? 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.240 You suddenly get 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.799 some unexpected people there. 00:32:14.199 --> 00:32:14.979 And there you find, 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.839 of all things, 00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:17.519 a Moabite woman. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.959 Boaz, the father of Obed, 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.679 whose mother was Ruth. 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.119 Said last week, 00:32:26.199 --> 00:32:27.039 the people of Moab 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.559 were banned 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.099 from worship of the Lord 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:30.199 to the tenth generation. 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.579 But here's God's grace 00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.299 intervening, 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:34.039 setting aside the principle. 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.919 Boaz, the father of Obed, 00:32:35.979 --> 00:32:37.019 whose mother was Ruth. 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.439 Obed, the father of Jesse. 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:41.220 Jesse, the father of King David. 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.240 And the genealogy 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.240 goes on and on. 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.120 And finally, 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.799 and Jacob, 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:46.320 the father of Joseph, 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:48.019 the husband of Mary. 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:49.360 And Mary was the mother 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:49.920 of Jesus, 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.900 who is called the Messiah. 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.220 Isn't it a wonderful thing 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.279 how God unfolds 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.039 the storyline 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.580 to bring to fulfillment 00:32:56.580 --> 00:32:57.799 his amazing plan 00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:59.740 through an embittered woman 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:02.480 who proves God's grace? 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.339 and the Moabite daughter-in-law. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:06.880 And Jesus, 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:07.940 the promised Messiah, 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:08.660 our Redeemer, 00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:09.860 who lived the perfect life, 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.319 who died for our sins, 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.819 was raised to give us life, 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.079 who finally ascended 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:14.680 into heaven, 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:16.539 and those who saw him leave 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.299 were promised. 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:18.599 Here is the conclusion 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.339 of the story. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.900 This same Jesus, 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.779 said the two men, 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.360 the angels, 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.680 this same Jesus 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.559 who has been taken 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.599 from you into heaven 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.960 will come back 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:28.039 in the same way 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.720 you've seen him 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.539 go into heaven. 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:30.620 Now, friends, 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:32.220 this is the happy ending. 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:35.440 And here is the final timetable. 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.539 For the Lord himself 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.880 will come down from heaven 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.960 with a loud command, 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.420 with the voice of the archangel, 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.860 with the trumpet call of God, 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.079 the dead in Christ 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.920 will rise first. 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.460 After that, 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.660 we who are still alive 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.539 and are left 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.600 will be caught up together 00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:51.519 with them in the clouds 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.880 to meet the Lord in the air, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.480 and so we will be 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.380 with the Lord forever. 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.940 Therefore, 00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:58.940 comfort one another 00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.779 with these words. 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.000 To the gravesite 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.420 in Edinburgh 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:05.279 two or three weeks ago. 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.000 One of my eldest wives, 00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.880 a godly lady. 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.199 And we read these verses 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.000 as we committed 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.099 our body to the ground, 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:14.199 in sure and certain hope 00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.079 of the resurrection 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.639 to eternal life. 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:18.079 So let me ask you, 00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.699 are you looking forward 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.440 to that? 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.780 Is that your story? 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.360 Are you part of this story? 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:27.340 If someone was to do 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:30.519 your genealogy, 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:34.140 would it reflect 00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:34.720 that you're part 00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:35.660 of the family of God? 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.180 Wonderful thing 00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:39.059 is you can be included 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.680 in the genealogy of Jesus, 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.720 a member of God's family 00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:43.640 as you receive him 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:44.420 as your Lord and Savior. 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.280 So maybe if you're not 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.380 a Christian here this evening, 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.800 maybe things have happened 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.260 in your life, 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:48.900 maybe you're bitter, 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.380 maybe you've got 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.400 unanswered questions. 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.980 Here's what the Gospel 00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.840 of John says. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.260 Yet to all who did receive him, 00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:01.680 to those who believed 00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.360 in his name, 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.120 he gave the right 00:35:04.120 --> 00:35:05.300 to become children of God, 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.280 children born not 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.320 of natural descent 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.420 nor of human decision 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.840 or a husband's will, 00:35:10.200 --> 00:35:11.280 but born of God. 00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:14.340 Nemi's story ended happily 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:15.860 in this life. 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.960 Now, we are not all promised 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.260 that in a fallen world. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.660 But I'm almost finished. 00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:25.400 Let me say this 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.940 as strongly as I can. 00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:29.099 Though we may have to live 00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:30.240 with our circumstances, 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.440 we do not have to live 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.079 with our bitterness. 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:35.079 Though we may have to live 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:36.059 with our circumstances, 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:38.760 we do not have to live 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:40.460 with our bitterness. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.820 See, I began with my 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:46.579 termite-eaten book. 00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:48.779 You see, 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:52.139 that termite-eaten book 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:55.659 can actually be replaced 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.900 with a perfect copy. 00:35:59.299 --> 00:36:00.679 We discovered one of the 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.259 same editions 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:02.239 with the same cover 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:03.699 that the termites 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:04.340 hadn't got to. 00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:05.639 I wonder, 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:09.960 if we were to open 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.440 the cover 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:12.299 of your life 00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:14.219 and open the book, 00:36:15.799 --> 00:36:17.440 what kind of person 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.199 would we find in 00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:19.960 what your name is? 00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:20.400 God, 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:22.339 help you help us. 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.500 Let's just pray. 00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:25.940 And in the quietness, 00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:27.239 let's just take a few moments 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:28.400 to reflect on what God 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.199 has said to us. 00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.119 Maybe you have unresolved 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.239 hurts in your life. 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:37.239 maybe even bitterness 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.619 about things 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.279 that have happened. 00:36:42.419 --> 00:36:43.500 Here in this place, 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.379 speak to the one 00:36:44.379 --> 00:36:46.299 who alone can help you 00:36:46.299 --> 00:36:47.759 and pour 00:36:47.759 --> 00:36:49.779 the balm of his grace 00:36:49.779 --> 00:36:51.799 into your bitterness. 00:36:54.379 --> 00:36:56.099 His transforming grace. 00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:58.059 Maybe you're not a Christian 00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:59.259 and you don't have that hope. 00:37:00.459 --> 00:37:01.539 Again, speak to him 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.959 and admit your need. 00:37:03.239 --> 00:37:05.879 Turn from going 00:37:05.879 --> 00:37:06.539 your own way 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:08.099 and put your trust 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.959 in the one who can save. 00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.719 Our Father in heaven, 00:37:10.879 --> 00:37:11.899 thank you for your Son, 00:37:11.959 --> 00:37:12.439 our Saviour, 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.299 Jesus Christ, 00:37:13.419 --> 00:37:14.619 who entered into our world 00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:15.579 with all its pain 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.719 and anguish, 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:17.979 a fallen, 00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:19.019 desperate world, 00:37:19.779 --> 00:37:20.959 to reach us people 00:37:20.959 --> 00:37:22.439 who were living 00:37:22.439 --> 00:37:23.179 without hope 00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:24.359 and without God 00:37:24.359 --> 00:37:24.979 in the world. 00:37:26.299 --> 00:37:26.939 For those of us 00:37:26.939 --> 00:37:27.599 who know that, 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:28.659 help us again 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.739 to appreciate it 00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:31.099 and that this life 00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:31.739 is not the end 00:37:31.739 --> 00:37:32.439 of the story 00:37:32.439 --> 00:37:34.919 that we're looking 00:37:34.919 --> 00:37:35.319 forward, 00:37:35.419 --> 00:37:36.619 the best is yet to be. 00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:39.500 We're looking forward 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:39.919 to that day 00:37:39.919 --> 00:37:40.519 when Christ 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.119 shall return. 00:37:42.479 --> 00:37:43.339 And so with your people 00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:44.359 down the generations, 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:45.519 we cry, 00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.119 Maranatha, 00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:46.919 even so. 00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:48.419 Come quickly, 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.079 Lord Jesus. 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:51.279 May we be found 00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:53.339 longing for his appearing, 00:37:54.379 --> 00:37:55.279 waiting for him, 00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:57.500 because you're the one 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.600 who's able to keep us 00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.260 from falling 00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:01.360 and to present us 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:02.560 before your glorious presence 00:38:02.560 --> 00:38:03.260 without fault 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.100 and with great joy. 00:38:04.660 --> 00:38:05.120 So to you, 00:38:05.180 --> 00:38:06.040 the only wise God, 00:38:06.120 --> 00:38:06.620 be glory 00:38:06.620 --> 00:38:08.000 and honour. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.199 ko joining 00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:10.960 where he and 00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:28.599 from the 00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:28.980 father 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.760 words