WEBVTT

00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:05.960
 So today's reading will be from the book of Ruth, chapter 1, verse 1 to 22.

00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:10.900
 So if you guys could follow along in your Bibles, your bulletin, or the screen behind me, that'd be great.

00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:13.820
 And starting in verse 1, we read,

00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:19.420
 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.

00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:26.519
 And a man of Bethlehem and Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:31.219
 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi.

00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:35.100
 And the names of his two sons were Malon and Kilion.

00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:38.439
 They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem and Judah.

00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:42.340
 They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.420
 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died.

00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:48.980
 And she was left with her two sons.

00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:51.600
 These took Moabite wives.

00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:55.179
 The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth.

00:00:55.179 --> 00:01:00.320
 They lived there about ten years, and both Malon and Kilion died,

00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.140
 so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.260
 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab,

00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:15.980
 for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.

00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:20.599
 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law,

00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:24.079
 and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:28.360
 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,

00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:32.020
 Go, return each of you to her mother's house.

00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.000
 May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:42.460
 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.

00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:46.520
 Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.619
 And they said to her,

00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:52.679
 No, we will return with you to your people.

00:01:53.379 --> 00:01:54.560
 But Naomi said,

00:01:55.199 --> 00:01:56.319
 Turn back, my daughters.

00:01:56.739 --> 00:01:58.239
 Why will you go with me?

00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:01.780
 Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?

00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:04.179
 Turn back, my daughters.

00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:08.120
 Go your way, for I am too old to have a husband.

00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:14.759
 If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons,

00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.280
 would you therefore wait till they were grown?

00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:20.140
 Would you therefore refrain from marrying?

00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:25.420
 No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter for me, for your sake,

00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.360
 that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.

00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.960
 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again.

00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:36.300
 And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

00:02:37.720 --> 00:02:38.580
 And she said,

00:02:39.140 --> 00:02:42.520
 See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods.

00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.760
 Return after your sister-in-law.

00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:46.800
 But Ruth said,

00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:50.800
 Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.

00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:53.320
 For where you go, I will go.

00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:55.460
 Where you lodge, I will lodge.

00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:59.719
 Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:02.060
 Where you die, I will die.

00:03:02.480 --> 00:03:03.900
 And there I will be buried.

00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:09.420
 May the Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.

00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:15.240
 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said,

00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:15.540
 No more.

00:03:16.420 --> 00:03:18.960
 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.

00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:22.600
 And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them.

00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.379
 And the woman said,

00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:25.460
 Is this Naomi?

00:03:26.239 --> 00:03:27.259
 She said to them,

00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:28.819
 Do not call me Naomi.

00:03:29.299 --> 00:03:30.079
 Call me Mara.

00:03:30.519 --> 00:03:33.060
 For the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.939
 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty.

00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:41.219
 Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me,

00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:43.680
 and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?

00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:48.680
 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law with her,

00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:50.680
 who returned from the country of Moab,

00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:54.099
 and they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:55.300
 This is the word of God.

00:03:58.200 --> 00:03:58.840
 Thanks, Jaya.

00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:05.680
 Well, good morning, and happy new year to some of you,

00:04:05.700 --> 00:04:07.680
 if you just got back to Hong Kong recently.

00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:12.960
 My name is Oscar, and I am one of the elders here at Watermark.

00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:16.160
 And today, I am very, very excited,

00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:20.259
 because we are diving into this beautiful book of Ruth.

00:04:21.660 --> 00:04:22.759
 And maybe you know this book.

00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:25.519
 Maybe you've read it a few times.

00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:29.220
 Maybe you're following us at Watermark.

00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:30.639
 We are doing the Bible reading plan,

00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.759
 and we've just read the first two chapters of Ruth.

00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:37.980
 Or perhaps you have no clue at all what this book is about.

00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:40.800
 Well, Ruth has been called

00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.339
 the most beautiful short story ever written.

00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:46.439
 It's only four chapters,

00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:50.240
 but inside these pages, it really packs a punch.

00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.000
 Ruth is a love story.

00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:56.699
 It's a love story between Ruth and Boaz.

00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:00.300
 It's also a love story between Ruth and Naomi.

00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:02.400
 But even more so,

00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:06.180
 this is a love story between God and humanity.

00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.420
 The overarching theme of Ruth is that

00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:12.259
 God desires to display his loving kindness

00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:15.300
 to save and redeem all people.

00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.900
 Now, what also makes Ruth so relatable

00:05:19.900 --> 00:05:24.040
 is that it's about ordinary life.

00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:25.939
 There's no king.

00:05:26.900 --> 00:05:28.819
 There's no army.

00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:31.000
 There's no national event.

00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.680
 The stuff that happens in the book,

00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:36.399
 it's about a few simple people

00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:38.819
 experiencing the ups and the downs

00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.519
 of everyday life,

00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:42.180
 marriage,

00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:43.740
 relationships,

00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:45.480
 hunger,

00:05:45.719 --> 00:05:46.120
 poverty,

00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:47.860
 love,

00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.480
 and death.

00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:53.240
 And woven through it all

00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:54.240
 is God

00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:55.819
 who quietly intervenes

00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:56.360
 intervenes

00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:58.180
 in the lives of people

00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:00.819
 to display his loving kindness

00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:03.800
 and ultimately his great redemption.

00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:07.219
 Ruth is a picture of the gospel.

00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:09.939
 It's a picture of the great love

00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:11.159
 of Jesus Christ.

00:06:12.659 --> 00:06:13.079
 And so today,

00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:16.860
 we'll kick off in Ruth chapter one.

00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:20.800
 As Jaya read so eloquently,

00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:22.199
 this chapter starts off with

00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:24.240
 Naomi losing everything.

00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.319
 She faces great tragedy

00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.560
 and loss.

00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:29.699
 Everything she held dear

00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:31.199
 was taken from her.

00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:33.300
 But in the face

00:06:33.300 --> 00:06:34.680
 of such tragedy,

00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:36.100
 we will see

00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:37.840
 that God provides hope

00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:40.100
 because there's always hope

00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:41.379
 if we trust

00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:42.579
 the God of the Bible.

00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:45.439
 So let's look at Ruth chapter one

00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.560
 in three parts.

00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:47.740
 First,

00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.419
 tragedy strikes.

00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:50.099
 Second,

00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:51.719
 a glimmer of hope.

00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:52.699
 And third,

00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:53.979
 the faith

00:06:53.979 --> 00:06:55.039
 of a believer.

00:06:56.479 --> 00:06:57.319
 Let's pray together.

00:06:58.560 --> 00:06:59.000
 Father,

00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:00.079
 as we consider your word,

00:07:00.159 --> 00:07:01.439
 as we come under your word,

00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:03.599
 and as we honor you today,

00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:03.860
 Lord,

00:07:04.659 --> 00:07:05.740
 understanding and learning

00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:06.319
 about this

00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:07.860
 chapter of Ruth,

00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:09.539
 open our hearts,

00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:09.839
 God.

00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:11.879
 open our hearts

00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:12.560
 and our minds.

00:07:14.299 --> 00:07:14.959
 Allow us,

00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:15.319
 Lord,

00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:17.239
 to get the essence

00:07:17.239 --> 00:07:17.819
 of what you're trying

00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:18.459
 to say to us,

00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:18.739
 God.

00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.479
 Help us to put ourselves

00:07:20.479 --> 00:07:21.060
 in the shoes

00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:21.679
 of the characters

00:07:21.679 --> 00:07:22.919
 to feel their pain,

00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:23.699
 but also,

00:07:23.859 --> 00:07:23.899
 Lord,

00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:24.639
 to see that you are

00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:25.560
 working in their lives.

00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:27.039
 Even when we

00:07:27.039 --> 00:07:28.359
 don't see you,

00:07:28.799 --> 00:07:29.339
 you're working

00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:30.019
 in our lives.

00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:30.919
 I pray for great

00:07:30.919 --> 00:07:32.239
 encouragement today

00:07:32.239 --> 00:07:34.059
 for all of us here.

00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:35.279
 Help me,

00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:35.500
 God,

00:07:35.539 --> 00:07:35.939
 as I speak.

00:07:36.019 --> 00:07:36.459
 Help me to speak

00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:37.139
 clearly

00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:38.500
 with good diction

00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:38.959
 so that people

00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:39.500
 can understand

00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:40.019
 what you're trying

00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:40.719
 to say to us.

00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:41.979
 In Jesus' name,

00:07:42.539 --> 00:07:42.919
 Amen.

00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:46.879
 So in the Bible,

00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:49.180
 Ruth is right

00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:49.839
 after the book

00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.439
 of Judges.

00:07:51.299 --> 00:07:52.139
 And the very last

00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:53.159
 verse of Judges

00:07:53.159 --> 00:07:55.259
 describes the setting

00:07:55.259 --> 00:07:56.679
 in which Ruth

00:07:56.679 --> 00:07:57.719
 was in.

00:07:58.979 --> 00:07:59.899
 In those days,

00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:00.799
 there was no king

00:08:00.799 --> 00:08:01.379
 in Israel.

00:08:02.299 --> 00:08:03.039
 Everyone did

00:08:03.039 --> 00:08:03.779
 what was right

00:08:03.779 --> 00:08:05.179
 in his own eyes.

00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:07.399
 During the time

00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:08.379
 of Judges

00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.060
 and the time

00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:09.459
 of Ruth,

00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.819
 there was complete

00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:12.819
 moral depravity

00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:13.939
 in Israel.

00:08:15.039 --> 00:08:15.639
 Immorality,

00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:17.159
 self-indulgence,

00:08:17.359 --> 00:08:18.339
 self-exaltation

00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:19.000
 were rampant.

00:08:19.799 --> 00:08:20.599
 If you wanted

00:08:20.599 --> 00:08:22.039
 your neighbor's property,

00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:23.560
 you just stole it.

00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:25.179
 If you desire

00:08:25.179 --> 00:08:26.139
 your neighbor's spouse,

00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.219
 you just acted out

00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:29.379
 those carnal desires

00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.699
 without any care

00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:31.919
 for your fellow man

00:08:31.919 --> 00:08:33.659
 or any care

00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.179
 for God.

00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:36.979
 And as a result,

00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:38.259
 God's judgment

00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:39.599
 fell on Israel

00:08:39.599 --> 00:08:41.000
 and God caused

00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:41.639
 a famine

00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.939
 in the land.

00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.120
 And it was in that context

00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:47.699
 that we read

00:08:47.699 --> 00:08:48.919
 in Ruth chapter 1

00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:49.839
 verse 1

00:08:49.839 --> 00:08:50.659
 that a man

00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.639
 from Bethlehem

00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:52.359
 in Judah

00:08:52.359 --> 00:08:54.139
 named Elimelech,

00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:55.659
 he makes the decision

00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:56.899
 to leave Judah.

00:08:57.819 --> 00:08:59.500
 He leaves God's people.

00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:01.899
 He leaves God's land.

00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:03.699
 And he takes his wife,

00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:04.120
 Naomi,

00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.100
 and their two sons,

00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:07.559
 Malon and Kilion,

00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:09.319
 to a neighboring nation

00:09:09.319 --> 00:09:10.220
 called Moab

00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:12.419
 to try to find food.

00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:14.759
 But the Moabites

00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.379
 were pagan worshipers

00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.620
 and there was a lot

00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:18.459
 of bad blood

00:09:18.459 --> 00:09:19.620
 between Israel

00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:20.319
 and Moab

00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:21.079
 that went back

00:09:21.079 --> 00:09:22.360
 years and years.

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.740
 So it was not

00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.819
 a friendly environment

00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:26.259
 for this Jewish family

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.159
 to enter into.

00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:29.759
 But then in Moab,

00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:32.319
 the uncomfortable dream

00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:33.819
 descends into a nightmare.

00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:35.740
 We don't know how

00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:36.699
 or why,

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.519
 but Elimelech dies.

00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.019
 Can you imagine

00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:40.959
 a worse situation

00:09:40.959 --> 00:09:42.399
 for Naomi to be in?

00:09:42.839 --> 00:09:44.000
 You're in a foreign country,

00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:45.779
 the people are hostile to you,

00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:47.120
 and then out of nowhere

00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.039
 you lose your husband.

00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:50.500
 And as if mourning

00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.259
 the loss

00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:52.319
 of your beloved husband

00:09:52.319 --> 00:09:53.159
 wasn't enough,

00:09:53.579 --> 00:09:54.220
 she had to face

00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:55.459
 the loss of her security

00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.519
 and protection

00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:58.740
 and her social standing.

00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.200
 For in those days,

00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:00.860
 a woman,

00:10:01.540 --> 00:10:03.120
 her standing in society

00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.120
 was really based

00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.240
 on her husband.

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.560
 But then,

00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:09.340
 it gets worse for Naomi.

00:10:10.160 --> 00:10:11.040
 Her two sons,

00:10:11.180 --> 00:10:12.400
 Malon and Kilion,

00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.100
 they marry Moabite wives,

00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:15.759
 but after about 10 years,

00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.639
 Naomi's sons die as well.

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.000
 So not only does Naomi

00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:23.980
 lose her lover

00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:24.600
 and her husband,

00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.000
 she loses her protection,

00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:27.480
 identity, security,

00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:28.540
 social standing,

00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:29.960
 loses her sons.

00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:32.560
 And not just that,

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.440
 but with their deaths,

00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:35.700
 the deaths of her sons,

00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:37.399
 her family's name

00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.019
 would cease to exist.

00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.259
 Her family's name

00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:41.759
 would be wiped out,

00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:42.960
 wiped out.

00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:44.480
 For without a son,

00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.300
 Elimelech's line would end.

00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:48.440
 So both in her present circumstances

00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:50.360
 and looking into the future,

00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.000
 Naomi was utterly crushed.

00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.279
 And I don't think

00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.340
 anyone can really blame her

00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:59.580
 for how she responds

00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:00.679
 to this tragedy.

00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:03.539
 If we fast forward

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.639
 just for a moment

00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:06.440
 to the end of Ruth chapter 1,

00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:08.059
 Naomi and Ruth

00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:09.480
 returned to Bethlehem

00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:10.740
 and the whole town

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.340
 was stirred.

00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:12.799
 The people there

00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:14.580
 were gathering around,

00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:15.799
 wondering what happened

00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:17.120
 to Elimelech

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:17.679
 and Malon

00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.519
 and Kilion

00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:19.799
 trying to understand

00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:21.099
 what happened

00:11:21.099 --> 00:11:22.299
 to that decade or so

00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:22.939
 that they were there

00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.439
 in Moab.

00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:26.299
 And Naomi tells them.

00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:28.559
 She doesn't mince words.

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:31.559
 She tells the woman

00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:32.120
 of the town

00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.799
 in verses 20 and 21,

00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:36.819
 Do not call me Naomi,

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.979
 which means pleasant.

00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.799
 Call me Mara,

00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:42.199
 which means bitter.

00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:43.399
 For the Almighty

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.399
 has dealt very bitterly with me.

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.019
 I went away full

00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:48.039
 and the Lord

00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:49.759
 has brought me back empty.

00:11:50.079 --> 00:11:50.959
 Why call me Naomi

00:11:50.959 --> 00:11:52.019
 when the Lord

00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:53.279
 has testified against me

00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:53.919
 and the Almighty

00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.379
 has brought calamity upon me?

00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.299
 Naomi was in a dark place.

00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:00.579
 She lost everything.

00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:01.919
 Her husband,

00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:02.579
 sons,

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:04.259
 security protection,

00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:05.599
 her assets,

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.939
 her standing in society,

00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:09.339
 everything she held dear,

00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.039
 gone.

00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.139
 Now maybe you think

00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.919
 Naomi is being

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.379
 a bad witness to Ruth.

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.159
 After all,

00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:19.559
 Naomi being

00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.979
 from the Jewish people,

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:22.299
 she should know the Bible,

00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:23.740
 the stories of how God

00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:24.699
 is always faithful

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.699
 and always provides.

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.579
 God's always so good

00:12:27.579 --> 00:12:28.219
 to his people.

00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.839
 Shouldn't Naomi know that?

00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.159
 Why is she still

00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.799
 so negative?

00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:33.599
 Now,

00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.479
 by no means

00:12:34.479 --> 00:12:35.039
 is Naomi

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:36.299
 the model Jew

00:12:36.299 --> 00:12:37.579
 or a model Christian

00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:38.679
 in the way she responds

00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.799
 to such tragedy.

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:40.899
 But,

00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:43.279
 as I read Ruth,

00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.319
 I see beauty

00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:45.879
 in Naomi's response

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.099
 in two ways.

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.259
 The first is that

00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:49.699
 Naomi,

00:12:50.219 --> 00:12:51.399
 Naomi is being real.

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.559
 Tragedies happen

00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:54.839
 to all of us.

00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:56.599
 We will all face suffering.

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.200
 But it's okay

00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.300
 not to have to

00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:00.480
 force yourself

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.300
 to be unemotive

00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.139
 or to pretend

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.100
 that everything is okay.

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.060
 In the Bible,

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:05.680
 we read,

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:07.519
 especially in Psalms,

00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.340
 that

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:10.740
 there's a place

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.899
 and a way for us

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.139
 to process pain

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.360
 and suffering

00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.759
 and all the confusion

00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.779
 around it

00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.680
 through what the Bible

00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.779
 calls lamenting.

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.980
 If you live long enough,

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.500
 you will face suffering.

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.059
 But as God's people,

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:24.960
 we can be real

00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:25.620
 with God.

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.779
 With God directly

00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.440
 through prayer.

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.679
 We can be real

00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.759
 with our church community.

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.840
 And if you are part

00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.340
 of this church,

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.399
 we will do our best

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:36.240
 to come alongside you

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.200
 if you're facing suffering.

00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.680
 And second,

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.620
 Naomi holds on

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.460
 to God's sovereignty.

00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.500
 It may seem like

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.200
 Naomi is quite negative.

00:13:47.640 --> 00:13:48.680
 She does change her name

00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:49.960
 from pleasant

00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.700
 to bitter.

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.320
 But if you read

00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.259
 the text closely,

00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:54.520
 she never once

00:13:54.520 --> 00:13:55.480
 curses God.

00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:57.020
 She never once

00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:59.040
 rejects God's sovereignty.

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.080
 She never loses

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.980
 her faith in God.

00:14:01.800 --> 00:14:02.540
 She never denies

00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:03.660
 that God's in control

00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:04.300
 with the power

00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:04.800
 to do

00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:06.040
 as He pleases.

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:06.940
 In fact,

00:14:07.020 --> 00:14:07.700
 Naomi's stance

00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.259
 is that God

00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:08.960
 is in control.

00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.140
 God is sovereign.

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:10.840
 God can do

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:11.900
 whatever He desires.

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:12.720
 He's dealt me

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.460
 a bad hand.

00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.879
 But God is in control.

00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:18.500
 He can do

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.060
 what He pleases

00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.500
 because He's God.

00:14:22.140 --> 00:14:22.400
 You see,

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.040
 for the Christian,

00:14:23.520 --> 00:14:24.759
 the fork in the road

00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.520
 of suffering

00:14:25.520 --> 00:14:27.120
 often looks like this.

00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:28.960
 Life is going

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.560
 just fine.

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.140
 The sun is shining.

00:14:31.780 --> 00:14:32.780
 We're all making money.

00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:34.280
 We're all having children.

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.340
 But then,

00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:35.640
 boom,

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:36.220
 one day,

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:38.060
 life smashes us

00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:38.639
 in the face.

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.879
 Tragedy strikes

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.600
 and our faith

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.639
 is put to the test.

00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:44.040
 And in response,

00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:45.000
 we can follow

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.740
 either one

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.860
 of two paths.

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.279
 The first path

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.800
 starts with bitterness

00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:51.759
 against God.

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.940
 But it doesn't end there.

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.500
 Bitterness

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:59.080
 leads down the road

00:14:59.080 --> 00:14:59.960
 of rejecting

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.920
 God's sovereignty.

00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:02.419
 We stop trusting Him.

00:15:02.479 --> 00:15:03.559
 We lose our faith

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.139
 in Him.

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.259
 Maybe we even

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.439
 leave our church community.

00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.699
 And that is a very

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.699
 dangerous road

00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.740
 to go down

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.779
 because it can often

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:13.019
 descend into sin

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.319
 and depravity

00:15:14.319 --> 00:15:15.579
 because nothing

00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:16.360
 ever good

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.699
 can happen

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.579
 apart from God.

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.120
 The second road,

00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:22.740
 the second path,

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.360
 may start with lamenting,

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.839
 but then it leads

00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:27.439
 to the decision

00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.379
 to continue

00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:30.120
 to hope in God,

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:30.939
 to continue

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:32.039
 to press on

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:33.100
 into God.

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:34.980
 But it's often

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.759
 not a V-shaped recovery.

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.100
 It's often

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.159
 not a simple,

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:41.399
 fast microwave fix.

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:42.779
 The road

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.620
 can be hard.

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:44.639
 It often

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.419
 will be hard.

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.559
 It's long.

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.899
 It's difficult.

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:48.659
 There'll be

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.840
 ups and downs.

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.500
 But in the midst

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:53.799
 of it,

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.539
 God's word

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.580
 and God's people

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.460
 will remind us

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.940
 that God is good.

00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:00.620
 And if we hang on

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.160
 to the hope

00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:02.300
 that He is good,

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:04.040
 that one day

00:16:04.040 --> 00:16:05.420
 in eternity,

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.740
 our suffering

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.940
 won't just end.

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.100
 Our suffering

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.560
 would be replaced

00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:11.820
 with eternal joy

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.040
 as we are in heaven

00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.360
 with our Lord Jesus.

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.280
 And Naomi,

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:16.900
 I believe,

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000
 takes a second path.

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.259
 It isn't an easy path,

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.780
 but Naomi never

00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.660
 gives up hope

00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:23.300
 because if you

00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:24.660
 always have hope

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.819
 in God,

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.939
 the God of the Bible,

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:29.759
 you're in a good place.

00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:33.719
 And that glimmer

00:16:33.719 --> 00:16:34.699
 of hope appears.

00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:36.899
 Starting in verse 6,

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.259
 we read that one day

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.699
 as Naomi was going

00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:40.559
 about her day

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.879
 faithfully working

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.759
 in the fields

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.519
 of Moab

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.379
 to provide food

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.079
 for herself,

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:45.899
 Ruth,

00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:46.620
 and Orpah,

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.039
 she hears

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.480
 that God

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.399
 had visited

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.000
 His people

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.080
 and given them food.

00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.740
 God had intervened

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:58.019
 and ended

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.580
 the famine

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.820
 back in Bethlehem.

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.460
 A bit of sunshine

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.899
 is peering through

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.799
 those dark clouds.

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.240
 So the three ladies,

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.359
 they packed their stuff

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.099
 and set out

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.259
 on the three-day journey

00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.319
 back to Bethlehem.

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.980
 But on the way,

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.539
 Naomi turns

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.720
 to Ruth and Orpah.

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.599
 She does this

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.400
 sensible thing

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.359
 and she says to them,

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.740
 stay back

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.980
 in Moab.

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.079
 Verses 8 and 9,

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.120
 go,

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.140
 return each of you

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.339
 to her mother's house.

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.700
 May the Lord

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.120
 deal kindly with you

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.180
 as you have dealt

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.839
 with the dead

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.680
 and with me.

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.099
 The Lord grant

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.480
 that you may find rest

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.640
 each of you

00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.339
 in the house

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.099
 of her husband.

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:39.779
 Again,

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:40.680
 Naomi,

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:42.420
 in spite of the despair

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.339
 that she faces,

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.460
 she acknowledges

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.420
 that it's the Lord

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.620
 who grants kindness.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.859
 It's the Lord

00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:49.160
 who grants rest.

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.340
 She acknowledges

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.480
 that God is sovereign

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.340
 and she prays

00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:52.980
 this blessing

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.600
 over Ruth and Orpah

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.380
 expecting them

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.720
 to do the logical thing

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.640
 to stay in Moab.

00:17:59.300 --> 00:17:59.840
 Naomi knows

00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:00.720
 that logically,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.120
 right,

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.460
 there will be

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.700
 a much higher chance

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:05.120
 for Ruth and Orpah

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.140
 to find rest

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.360
 back in Moab.

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.120
 This rest

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:10.160
 that Naomi speaks about

00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.600
 refers to

00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.460
 the two

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.540
 remarrying

00:18:13.540 --> 00:18:14.360
 in Moab,

00:18:14.820 --> 00:18:15.340
 perhaps starting

00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.040
 a family,

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:17.380
 perhaps having

00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.000
 a son

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.080
 to carry on

00:18:19.080 --> 00:18:20.500
 the family line

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.400
 for that is

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:21.960
 what was

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.920
 most important

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.020
 for a woman

00:18:24.020 --> 00:18:25.180
 back in

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.080
 those days.

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.200
 For it would be

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.140
 highly unlikely

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.880
 that anyone

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.580
 in Bethlehem

00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.560
 would want to

00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:33.560
 marry a foreigner,

00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:34.980
 a Moabite.

00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:36.680
 And Orpah

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.660
 does a sensible thing.

00:18:38.760 --> 00:18:39.120
 She

00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:40.720
 kisses Naomi,

00:18:41.320 --> 00:18:42.300
 says her goodbyes,

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.759
 and stays

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.379
 in Moab.

00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:45.779
 But Ruth,

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.359
 Ruth makes

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.000
 the opposite,

00:18:48.659 --> 00:18:49.480
 the irrational,

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.740
 the illogical

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.419
 decision

00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:52.399
 to go with

00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:52.879
 Naomi

00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.899
 back to

00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:54.559
 Bethlehem.

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.700
 Verse 14,

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.099
 but Ruth

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.759
 clung to her.

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.619
 Ruth clung

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.159
 to Naomi.

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.659
 Imagine it,

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.279
 in the middle

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.680
 of the road

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.039
 on the way

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.680
 to Bethlehem,

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.619
 Ruth grabs

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.440
 on to Naomi.

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.119
 Naomi tries

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.159
 again to do

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.820
 the sensible thing.

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.040
 Hey, stay back

00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:13.519
 in Moab.

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.340
 You're ridiculous

00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:15.180
 coming with me.

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.560
 But Ruth is

00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:17.340
 resolute.

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:19.120
 She's unyielding.

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.620
 She's stubborn.

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.400
 In verses

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.519
 16 and 17,

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:24.900
 the most

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.420
 well-known

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.779
 verses

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.720
 in the book

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.320
 of Ruth,

00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:29.259
 Ruth tells

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.680
 Naomi,

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:30.820
 it's beautiful,

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.400
 do not urge

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.140
 me to leave

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.640
 you or to

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.220
 return from

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.040
 following you.

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.160
 For where

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.680
 you go,

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.540
 I will go.

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.440
 And where

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.000
 you lodge,

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.980
 I will lodge.

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.720
 Your people

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.240
 shall be

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.920
 my people

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.700
 and your

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.279
 God

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.339
 my God.

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.759
 Where you

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.100
 die,

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.079
 I will die.

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.079
 And there

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.779
 will I

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.480
 be buried.

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.559
 May the

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:50.980
 Lord do

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.680
 so to me

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.200
 and more

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.579
 also,

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.160
 if anything

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.980
 but death

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.279
 parts me

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.880
 from you.

00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.920
 And here,

00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.740
 the first,

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.299
 I think

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.579
 the most

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:01.980
 prominent,

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.160
 and perhaps

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.559
 the most

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.319
 surprising

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.259
 love story

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.140
 of Ruth

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.700
 begins.

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.160
 The love

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:08.900
 story between

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.759
 daughter-in-law

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:11.079
 and mother-in-law.

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:12.940
 I see some

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.400
 wives here

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.980
 laughing like

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.460
 it's funny.

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.200
 But isn't

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.539
 it true,

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:17.759
 though,

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.259
 that the

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.379
 relationship

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.279
 between daughter-in-law

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.920
 and mother-in-law

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.559
 is often the

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.759
 most tense

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.779
 or at least

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.559
 the most

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.200
 awkward of

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.579
 all human

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.099
 relationships?

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.180
 I see some

00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.000
 like nodding,

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.299
 yes,

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:30.859
 yes,

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.059
 yes,

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.339
 yes,

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:31.539
 yes,

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.039
 I've experienced

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.299
 that,

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:32.599
 yes.

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.500
 But in

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:34.960
 Naomi's

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.379
 deepest

00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:36.820
 moment,

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.620
 when she

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.600
 was completely

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.180
 empty,

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.960
 with all

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:41.440
 that she

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.060
 loved taken

00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:42.560
 from her,

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.420
 still,

00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:44.420
 there was

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:44.840
 hope.

00:20:46.260 --> 00:20:46.800
 Naomi didn't

00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:47.380
 know it yet,

00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.460
 but that glimmer

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.040
 of hope,

00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:50.360
 that wasn't just

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.180
 God providing

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.540
 food back

00:20:52.540 --> 00:20:53.360
 in Bethlehem,

00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:54.380
 it was so much

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:54.800
 more.

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.520
 God had intervened

00:20:56.520 --> 00:20:57.220
 and brought her

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.700
 Ruth,

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.580
 the most unlikely

00:20:59.580 --> 00:21:01.160
 friend and

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.580
 helper,

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:02.060
 who,

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.120
 we will see in

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.959
 future chapters,

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.899
 risks her

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:06.399
 life in a

00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:06.939
 display of

00:21:06.939 --> 00:21:07.879
 love for

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.199
 Naomi.

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.759
 Naomi's

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.459
 journey from

00:21:10.459 --> 00:21:11.659
 emptiness to

00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:13.039
 fullness was

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.719
 about to

00:21:13.719 --> 00:21:14.059
 begin.

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.679
 Now,

00:21:16.739 --> 00:21:17.339
 I do want to

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:19.339
 acknowledge that

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.599
 some of us in

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:22.279
 this room have

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.919
 experienced

00:21:22.919 --> 00:21:23.739
 unspeakable

00:21:23.739 --> 00:21:24.279
 tragedy,

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:26.059
 even as

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.699
 horrific as

00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:27.479
 what Naomi has

00:21:27.479 --> 00:21:28.000
 experienced.

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.079
 The loss of a

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.559
 mother or

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:31.939
 father,

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.000
 father,

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.580
 there's never

00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:34.900
 enough time.

00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.480
 The loss of a

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.059
 child, it will

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:39.019
 crush your soul,

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.660
 or the loss of

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.080
 your beloved

00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:42.160
 spouse.

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.279
 And all of us

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.539
 here,

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:45.680
 probably in some

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.240
 shape or form,

00:21:46.320 --> 00:21:47.039
 have experienced

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.960
 some sort of

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.440
 suffering,

00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.880
 because if you

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.700
 live long enough,

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.320
 you will face

00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:52.799
 suffering,

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.539
 because suffering

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.840
 is part of the

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:56.440
 human condition.

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.559
 But as we

00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:00.220
 consider Naomi's

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.680
 tragedy,

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.279
 we see that in

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.140
 the midst of the

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:04.720
 darkness, God

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.320
 intervened and

00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:08.060
 gave Naomi hope.

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.460
 And so whatever

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.060
 you're going

00:22:10.060 --> 00:22:11.759
 through, and

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.460
 whatever you may

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.039
 go through down

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.680
 the road, or

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.600
 whatever messiness

00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:16.100
 exists in your

00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.700
 life, if you love

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.640
 and trust Christ,

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.519
 there is always

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.420
 hope.

00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:24.360
 Ruth clung to

00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:26.039
 Naomi, clung to

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.019
 her, picture it,

00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:27.880
 it makes no sense,

00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:28.799
 just go back to

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.519
 Moab, you'll

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.180
 find a husband,

00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.379
 start a family,

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.039
 you'll be

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.759
 comfortable there.

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.659
 But Ruth was

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.460
 standing firm,

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.720
 telling Naomi,

00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:36.740
 whatever the

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.819
 cost, however

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.659
 long it takes,

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.480
 wherever it

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.539
 takes me, I

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.220
 will cling to

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.000
 you and I

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.759
 will love you.

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.879
 I will go to

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.700
 the ends of the

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:46.139
 earth to love

00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.659
 you, and where

00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.779
 you're buried, I

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.240
 will also be

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.659
 buried.

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.299
 As if saying

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.000
 that even in

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.599
 death, death

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.299
 cannot part me

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:53.779
 from you.

00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:55.859
 And to

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.500
 express the

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.559
 seriousness of

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.940
 her promise, she

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.779
 even invokes a

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.879
 curse upon

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.879
 herself if she

00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.599
 fails to keep

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.139
 her word.

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.599
 Verse 17, we

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.220
 just read it.

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.440
 May the Lord do

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.420
 so to me, and

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.200
 more also, if

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.960
 anything but

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.480
 death parts me

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.099
 from you.

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.240
 And like

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.079
 Ruth, God's

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.399
 love for us is

00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.579
 and never was

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.299
 logical.

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.419
 biblical.

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.419
 Jesus died for

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:21.779
 sinners.

00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.740
 Jesus died for

00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.339
 us when we were

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.720
 worshipping all

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.279
 the things of

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.779
 this world, money,

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:29.460
 power, pleasures,

00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.279
 comforts.

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.159
 Jesus died for

00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:34.099
 us in effect when

00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.779
 we hated him.

00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.019
 Ruth, she was

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.460
 serious about her

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.619
 commitment to

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.480
 cling to Naomi.

00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.460
 She invoked that

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:41.899
 curse.

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:42.759
 But on the

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.759
 cross, Christ

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.639
 took that curse

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:47.180
 of sin upon

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.799
 himself.

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:49.440
 because of his

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.119
 love for you.

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.460
 Because of his

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.960
 irrational love

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.399
 for you.

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.480
 And isn't

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.519
 irrational love,

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.240
 isn't irrational

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.079
 love what we

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.859
 crave or desire?

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.419
 Not conditional

00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:00.899
 love.

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:02.339
 Not circumstantial

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:02.659
 love.

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.740
 Not a summer

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.079
 fling.

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.180
 I love that my

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.879
 wife, Celeste,

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.559
 says she's crazy

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.440
 about me sometimes.

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.859
 But isn't

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.740
 crazy love what

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.359
 we desire?

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.960
 Crazy love,

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.559
 crazy,

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.920
 irrational,

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:19.940
 illogical,

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.940
 long-suffering,

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.700
 long-standing,

00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:22.200
 permanent,

00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.380
 forever love.

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:23.980
 That is what we

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.799
 desire, isn't it?

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.039
 If that is you,

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.660
 then know Jesus.

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.940
 Experience his

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.299
 love.

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.660
 There's nothing

00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.960
 like it in this

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.279
 world.

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.480
 I've lost my

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.900
 place now,

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.160
 sorry.

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:42.940
 And so for

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.259
 Ruth,

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.200
 without knowing

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.860
 that much about

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:46.220
 the God of

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.519
 Israel,

00:24:47.560 --> 00:24:48.519
 this Moabite

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.340
 outsider had

00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.019
 the faith to

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.200
 cling on to

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.580
 Naomi,

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.600
 return with her

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.080
 back to

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.640
 Bethlehem,

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.900
 even though the

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.440
 odds would

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.340
 suggest she

00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:57.900
 would have

00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.519
 very low

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.120
 chance of

00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.500
 ever finding

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.300
 security or

00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:02.660
 a husband in

00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.259
 Bethlehem.

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.340
 If that isn't

00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:07.040
 faith, I don't

00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:07.920
 know what is.

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:11.860
 Now here's a

00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.180
 question.

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.600
 Like Orpah,

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:15.920
 Ruth could have

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.580
 walked away from

00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:18.360
 Naomi, and no

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:18.860
 one would have

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.320
 blamed her.

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.400
 She was still

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:20.700
 young.

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.640
 She could have

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:23.320
 remarried, had a

00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:24.620
 family, and had a

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.779
 comfortable life in

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.160
 Moab.

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.840
 Why does Ruth

00:25:27.840 --> 00:25:28.519
 cling to Naomi?

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.779
 Why does Ruth

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.680
 place her bets,

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.279
 so to speak,

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.580
 all in on

00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:32.900
 Naomi?

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.820
 Was Naomi an

00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:35.620
 amazing leader?

00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:37.560
 Was Naomi going

00:25:37.560 --> 00:25:37.900
 to provide her

00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:38.720
 food and

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.759
 protection and

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.160
 security?

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.040
 Did Ruth owe a

00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:42.660
 debt to Naomi?

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.980
 Of course, no.

00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:46.320
 None of these

00:25:46.320 --> 00:25:46.900
 things at all.

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.500
 You see, Ruth

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.340
 wasn't putting her

00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:51.460
 hope in Naomi at

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:51.720
 all.

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.060
 Her love for

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:55.140
 Naomi, which

00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.860
 throughout the four

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.740
 chapters of Ruth

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:58.320
 beautifully blossoms

00:25:58.320 --> 00:26:00.280
 and grows, is

00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:00.920
 driven by her

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:02.140
 faith in the

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.840
 God of the

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.100
 Bible.

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.300
 Ruth makes

00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:06.660
 this profound

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.220
 commitment to

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:08.560
 Naomi.

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:09.500
 In verse 16,

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.680
 your people shall

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.259
 be my people, and

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.180
 your God my

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.740
 God.

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.360
 Doesn't that

00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:16.279
 sound a lot like

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.740
 the covenant

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.700
 commitment that God

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.480
 made to his people

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:20.040
 Israel throughout the

00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:20.580
 Old Testament?

00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:23.680
 What did God say to

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.040
 his people?

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.400
 You'll be my

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.700
 people, and I

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.279
 will be your

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.640
 God.

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.800
 You see, it

00:26:29.800 --> 00:26:31.160
 wasn't like God

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.920
 had abandoned

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.440
 Naomi, and Ruth

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.799
 stepped in to

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.380
 take God's

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:35.820
 place.

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.900
 Rather, in

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.680
 Ruth's loving

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.340
 commitment to

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.080
 Naomi, we

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:41.940
 actually see God's

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.539
 loving commitment

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.600
 to Naomi.

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.039
 And so we can

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.660
 see how God is

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.680
 behind it, providing

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.640
 a glimmer of hope

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.660
 to Naomi, and

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.600
 showing that he is

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.700
 at work in the

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.840
 midst of despair.

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:57.459
 It's likely that

00:26:57.459 --> 00:26:58.759
 Ruth heard of the

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.379
 God of Israel

00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.019
 through Naomi.

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.559
 Perhaps Naomi

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.039
 shared how the

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.079
 God of Israel, he

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.419
 took Abraham out

00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:07.899
 of paganism, and

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.720
 made an everlasting

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.439
 promise to

00:27:09.439 --> 00:27:09.720
 Abraham.

00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:11.559
 Perhaps Naomi

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.459
 shared how the

00:27:12.459 --> 00:27:13.099
 God of Israel,

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.159
 through Moses,

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:14.939
 delivered and

00:27:14.939 --> 00:27:15.559
 rescued his

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.000
 people from

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.599
 slavery in Egypt,

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.899
 and gave them

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.699
 their own land.

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.839
 Perhaps Naomi

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.339
 shared how the

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.079
 God of Israel

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.699
 is forever

00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:26.659
 faithful, forever

00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:28.179
 kind, forever

00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:29.539
 loving, forever

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.339
 designed to

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.339
 rescue and

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.579
 redeem his

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.019
 people.

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.839
 Now, Naomi was

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.559
 far from the

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.859
 model Jew, yes.

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.000
 She was bitter

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.939
 after losing so

00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:40.299
 much.

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.659
 But she never

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.279
 turned her back

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.179
 on God, and

00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:45.359
 God still used

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:47.299
 her, as God

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.259
 can use anyone

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.259
 to bring another

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.339
 person to faith

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.240
 in him.

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.039
 And so it was

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.799
 likely that Ruth

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.779
 came to faith in

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.440
 God through

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.180
 Naomi.

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.019
 And it was

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:58.099
 Ruth's conversion

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.279
 from a pagan

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.619
 Moabite, an

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.460
 enemy of God's

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.759
 people, to faith

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.599
 in the God of

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:03.879
 Israel.

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.440
 That drove her

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.619
 conviction to

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.480
 begin a new

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:09.259
 life, following,

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.940
 trusting, and

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.960
 obeying the God

00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.359
 of Israel.

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.379
 And where would

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:14.960
 that road lead

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.159
 her?

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.919
 To Judah, to

00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:18.480
 Bethlehem.

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.019
 Bethlehem.

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.120
 Because in

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.460
 Moab, although

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.519
 there may have

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.980
 been comfort

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:25.440
 and security,

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.059
 there was no

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.480
 God.

00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.460
 The Lord, the

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.620
 Almighty, the

00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.460
 true God that

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.019
 made the heavens

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.099
 and the earth, he

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.039
 wasn't in Moab.

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.680
 He was back in the

00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.240
 land of Israel.

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.140
 And so to follow

00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.940
 the God of Israel,

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.740
 Ruth knew she had

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.440
 to return with

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.880
 Naomi back to

00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.420
 Bethlehem.

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:47.680
 And so Ruth, she

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.900
 intentionally chose

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.600
 a life following

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.620
 God with the

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:53.300
 overwhelming likelihood

00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:54.539
 of permanent

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:57.160
 poverty, widowhood,

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.660
 and prejudice.

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.600
 You see, in the

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.740
 face of Naomi's

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:04.160
 suffering, Ruth

00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:05.500
 herself chose

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.360
 suffering to

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:07.960
 mitigate Naomi's

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.279
 suffering.

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.340
 It's a lot of

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.620
 suffering.

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.539
 In the face of

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.140
 Naomi's suffering,

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.800
 I'll say it again,

00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.160
 in the face of

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.900
 Naomi's suffering,

00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:18.519
 Ruth herself chose

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.640
 suffering to

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:21.120
 mitigate Naomi's

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.779
 suffering.

00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:23.900
 A picture of

00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.800
 Jesus, isn't it?

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:25.980
 Isn't that what

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.560
 Jesus did?

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.080
 In the face of

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:28.920
 our potential

00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:30.539
 eternal damnation

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:32.019
 to hell, Jesus

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.360
 took our place,

00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.000
 he came into the

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.100
 world, and he

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:37.440
 clung to us, and

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.060
 he went to the

00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:39.259
 cross, and he

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.100
 suffered there so

00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:40.800
 that we wouldn't

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.360
 have to.

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:45.479
 Now, looking back

00:29:45.479 --> 00:29:47.779
 at Ruth, what an

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:49.579
 example of someone

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.719
 who lives by

00:29:50.719 --> 00:29:51.219
 faith.

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.099
 And friends, isn't

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:56.179
 this what God

00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:57.519
 calls us to do as

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.039
 his people?

00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.199
 To live by faith?

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.500
 The righteous will

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.339
 live by faith.

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.119
 Romans 1 to 16.

00:30:06.219 --> 00:30:07.240
 For without faith,

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.679
 it's impossible to

00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.279
 please God.

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.420
 Hebrews chapter 11.

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:14.059
 But, we're a

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.700
 people that always

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.579
 demand to know

00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.700
 everything that's

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.440
 going to happen

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.160
 before it happens

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.779
 in order to

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.299
 believe it.

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.379
 And we must see

00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:22.980
 something right in

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.639
 front of us.

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.799
 We're a people

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.619
 also that naturally

00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.799
 drive away from

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:29.180
 radical, risky

00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.200
 decisions towards

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.859
 comfortable, easy

00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.299
 decisions.

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.740
 I know that's me.

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.339
 I'd much rather go

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.680
 fly with my family

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.399
 short haul to

00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:37.740
 Cebu.

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.559
 It's only two

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.519
 hours than fly

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.259
 long haul to

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.759
 overseas.

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.579
 I just don't want

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.259
 to deal with the

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.659
 difficulty.

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.899
 Partly, I think it's

00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:47.339
 because I'm very

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.759
 privileged.

00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:49.440
 I think we're all

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.059
 very privileged

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.099
 living in Hong

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.379
 Kong.

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:52.899
 We get out our

00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.159
 phone.

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.159
 If you want pizza,

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.159
 get out my phone.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.859
 I just use my

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:57.200
 thumb, click three

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.159
 buttons, boom, pizza

00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:58.919
 at my door, 20

00:30:58.919 --> 00:30:59.200
 minutes.

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.159
 But I believe God

00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.899
 is calling us to

00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.899
 follow Ruth's

00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.319
 example.

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.000
 To live by faith.

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.559
 And not just do

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.559
 what is logical.

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.039
 And not just do

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.720
 what is in our own

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.440
 best interest.

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.160
 And for some of us

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:18.460
 here, living by

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.299
 faith, maybe that

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:20.339
 means loving someone

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.700
 that you really don't

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:23.200
 like to love or don't

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.880
 want to love.

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.740
 Maybe it's your

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:28.259
 mother-in-law.

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.059
 Maybe it's your

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.460
 colleague.

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.880
 Maybe it's your CG

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.360
 member.

00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:36.460
 To love someone like

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:38.720
 Ruth loved Naomi.

00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.400
 For some of us here,

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.140
 maybe God is calling

00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:45.140
 us to reorient our

00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:45.600
 ambitions.

00:31:46.800 --> 00:31:47.540
 I think for a lot of

00:31:47.540 --> 00:31:49.200
 us, money and career

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.600
 drive our decisions.

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.840
 Perhaps God is calling

00:31:52.840 --> 00:31:55.220
 us to finally put him

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.900
 above everything else.

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:59.960
 I think for all of us,

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.080
 partly what it means

00:32:02.080 --> 00:32:03.060
 to live by faith is

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:04.019
 giving money back to

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.340
 God.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.960
 For all of us.

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.140
 I know it's hard.

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.259
 For some of us, maybe

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.180
 it means giving more

00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:12.240
 money away back to

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.540
 God.

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.100
 All are called to

00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.980
 live by faith.

00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:17.640
 To obey God.

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.240
 To honor God above

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.600
 all.

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.660
 Even when it's

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:22.080
 radical and not

00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.480
 logical.

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:25.579
 And maybe you're

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.319
 here today and

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.700
 you're not a

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.000
 Christian.

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.319
 Think about this.

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.200
 The journey of

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.200
 life is like sailing

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.700
 out in the open

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.039
 sea.

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.900
 Maybe right now,

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.740
 the sun is shining.

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.200
 The sea is calm.

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.160
 But you're at the

00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.779
 mercy of the wind,

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.980
 the waves,

00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.500
 and the rain.

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.900
 At some point,

00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.299
 a storm will come.

00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.980
 At some point,

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.460
 tragedy will be

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.980
 a little strike

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:55.620
 because this world

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.539
 is decaying.

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.059
 Because this world

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.840
 is not all there

00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.259
 is.

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.380
 The question is,

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:04.000
 what is your

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.240
 anchor?

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.740
 What is your,

00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.980
 what will save you?

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.880
 What is your hope?

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.559
 If you put your

00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:15.960
 life and trust in

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.279
 Jesus, you will

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.700
 always find hope.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:23.299
 God intervenes in

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.180
 the lives of

00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.779
 the lives of

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.240
 Naomi and

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:31.220
 Ruth to do only

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.319
 what God can do.

00:33:33.860 --> 00:33:34.819
 He always brings

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.360
 restoration.

00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:36.920
 He always brings

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:38.580
 life from despair

00:33:38.580 --> 00:33:39.900
 and death.

00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:42.180
 And for all of us,

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.779
 with hindsight,

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.100
 we can see that

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:45.240
 God has already

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.960
 intervened,

00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.080
 sending Jesus into

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.199
 the world to die

00:33:48.199 --> 00:33:48.779
 on the cross.

00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.559
 And because of

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.500
 him, we have an

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.539
 eternal hope that

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.419
 nothing in this

00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:53.480
 world could ever

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.039
 take away.

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.759
 Not famine,

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.099
 not natural

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:57.599
 disasters,

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.059
 not war,

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.339
 not an economic

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:00.939
 depression,

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.599
 not even death

00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:04.240
 can separate us

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.619
 from the love of

00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.720
 God through

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.339
 Christ Jesus.

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:11.960
 Let me close.

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.739
 Ruth 1 ends

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:17.059
 with Naomi and

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.559
 Ruth arriving

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.460
 in Bethlehem

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.699
 right at the

00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.920
 beginning of

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.699
 the barley harvest.

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.679
 After such

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.799
 tragedy,

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.119
 a glimmer of

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.900
 hope will turn

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.559
 into something

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.940
 more tangible

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.679
 and real.

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.360
 There will be

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:32.880
 uncertainty,

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:34.460
 there will be

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.599
 much risk,

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:37.119
 faith will be

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.420
 needed,

00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:38.920
 but as we

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.599
 continue to

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.360
 look at the

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.880
 book of Ruth,

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.599
 we will see

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.139
 that both

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.880
 Naomi and

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.259
 Ruth,

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.559
 who began

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.099
 the story

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.940
 destitute

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.440
 and broken,

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:49.000
 will be more

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.539
 blessed,

00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:50.940
 will experience

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:52.239
 more of the

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:53.059
 favor and

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:54.000
 kindness of

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.440
 God than

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:54.759
 they could

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:56.480
 ever imagine

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.440
 in their

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.239
 wildest dreams.

00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.259
 And we'll

00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.039
 also see how

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.440
 this little

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.460
 story of Ruth

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.500
 is part of

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.579
 the biggest

00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.559
 story that

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:05.880
 was ever

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.279
 told,

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.559
 the redemption

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.360
 of the world

00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.139
 through Jesus

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.599
 Christ.

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.920
 This is how

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.460
 the God of

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:12.719
 the Bible

00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.179
 works.

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.619
 He takes

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.619
 people like

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:15.980
 us,

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:16.960
 broken,

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:17.519
 messy,

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.219
 sinful,

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:20.539
 and if we

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.219
 only have the

00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:23.360
 strength and

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:25.000
 resolve to

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.820
 humble ourselves,

00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:28.960
 to admit that

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.400
 we can't do it

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.400
 ourselves, to

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.099
 admit that we

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.679
 are broken.

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.420
 God always

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.699
 showers us with

00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.739
 kindness and

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.119
 favor.

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:40.900
 And so this

00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:42.619
 week, as we

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.000
 go out into

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.380
 our city,

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.099
 whatever may

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.839
 smash us in

00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:46.319
 the face,

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.699
 whatever trials

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.119
 we're going

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.900
 through, let's

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.440
 cling on to

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:51.779
 God.

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.400
 Let's cling on

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.139
 to His every

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.039
 word.

00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.679
 There's always

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.719
 hope in

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.179
 Christ.

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:58.259
 peace.

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.619
 And may we

00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:00.299
 be a people

00:36:00.299 --> 00:36:01.719
 who live

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:03.639
 radically by

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.000
 faith.

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.480
 Let's pray.

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.839
 Father, thank

00:36:09.839 --> 00:36:10.359
 you so much

00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:11.739
 that we can

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.919
 study this

00:36:12.919 --> 00:36:14.440
 book of the

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:14.699
 Bible.

00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:16.059
 Your word,

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.399
 your holy

00:36:17.399 --> 00:36:17.819
 word.

00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.099
 Thank you,

00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.539
 God, that

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.799
 after a thousand

00:36:20.799 --> 00:36:21.460
 years, it

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:22.239
 still speaks to

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:23.879
 us just as

00:36:23.879 --> 00:36:25.099
 powerfully as

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.480
 it did back

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.119
 then, because

00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.859
 it is your

00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.800
 scripture.

00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:32.059
 God, as we

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.880
 respond to

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.720
 this, and

00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:35.039
 today, now, and

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.579
 throughout the

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.980
 week, we think

00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.579
 about our own

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:39.039
 trials in life, we

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.620
 think about the

00:36:39.620 --> 00:36:40.240
 despair that we

00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:41.280
 think about the

00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:41.800
 idols that we

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.500
 have in life,

00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:42.700
 Lord.

00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.579
 I pray, God, that

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:45.039
 you would cause

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:46.240
 us to see, Lord,

00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:46.860
 there's always a

00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:48.260
 glimmer of hope as

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:49.079
 we trust Christ.

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:51.920
 Help us to cling

00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:52.720
 on to you,

00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.420
 Jesus, and to

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.120
 never let go.

00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.840
 For those of us

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:57.840
 here that have

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.539
 not yet put our

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.079
 hope in you,

00:36:59.200 --> 00:37:00.720
 God, I pray,

00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:01.100
 God, that you

00:37:01.100 --> 00:37:01.579
 would speak to

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:02.300
 us directly.

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.980
 Speak to us as

00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.720
 only you can,

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:09.059
 God, and may we

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.019
 all be a people,

00:37:10.200 --> 00:37:11.480
 God, that love

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.019
 and trust you.

00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.079
 Thank you.

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:14.760
 Thank you for

00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:15.460
 Jesus, your son.

00:37:16.140 --> 00:37:16.780
 In his name we

00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:17.019
 pray.

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.120
 Amen.

00:37:18.120 --> 00:37:18.220
 Amen.

00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:18.260
 Amen.

00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:18.280
 Amen.

00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:18.300
 Amen.

00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:18.340
 Amen.

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.360
 Amen.

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:20.280
 Amen.

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.300
 Amen.

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:20.340
 Amen.

00:37:20.340 --> 00:37:20.400
 Amen.

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:22.340
 Amen.

00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:22.360
 Amen.

00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:22.420
 Amen.

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:24.420
 Amen.

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:24.440
 Amen.

00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.460
 Amen.

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:24.920
 Amen.

00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:24.960
 Amen.

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:24.980
 Amen.

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.500
 Amen.

00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:26.079
 Amen.

00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:27.820
 Amen.