WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.960 Good morning. It's my joy to bring God's Word to you again today. A reminder that we're in a series on the book of Ruth, 00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:18.300 and we are going to be starting here again in Ruth chapter 1, finishing the chapter at verses 19 through 22. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:29.820 I was reminded this week as I spoke with several of you, you shared with me how challenging it is at times to listen to the story of Ruth. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:37.780 Because as we've talked about, it's a book about suffering, and so for many of us, it brings up memories that are hard and sometimes difficult, 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:41.659 perhaps memories that we would rather not think about if we didn't have to. 00:00:42.519 --> 00:00:49.159 And it also got me thinking that some of us grew up in families where hard things were never talked about. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:57.700 And I was reminded that here, as God's family, we have to talk about hard things. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:04.299 We have to talk about suffering and the things that happen to us in this world because that is the reality of life. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.260 It's the reality of life in a world that has been broken by sin. 00:01:09.240 --> 00:01:15.680 That we live in a place that is bleeding and broken because of the results of our rebellion against God. 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:22.020 And so we want to talk about hard things, not because we enjoy them, but because we know, remember, 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:26.219 we've talked about that God, as a loving Father, longs for us to be wise. 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:33.319 He longs for us to be wise and prepared for the things that will face us as we walk as his children in this world. 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:39.679 And so if you're suffering right now, remember that this book is for you. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:43.559 It's a reminder of how God thinks about suffering. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:48.219 And it's a reminder of his steadfast love to us in the midst of it. 00:01:49.679 --> 00:01:56.399 And if you're not suffering, remember that if you live in this world long enough, you will one day. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:05.420 And if you're not suffering right now, all you need to do is look around the room, people beside you and in front of you and behind you. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:08.280 And you will see people that are suffering right now. 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:16.240 And so as God's people together, as one community, as one family, we want to be able to talk about hard things. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:19.740 Because God has given us the opportunity to do that in his word. 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:24.340 And so again, we're in Ruth chapter 1, starting at verse 19. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:30.700 Remember that God tells us that his word is more precious than gold. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:33.060 Even the finest gold. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:36.379 And that it is sweeter than honey. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:40.379 Even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:42.939 And so we're going to go there right now. 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.800 We're in Ruth chapter 1, starting at verse 19. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:50.560 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:55.280 And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:57.300 And the women said, 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:59.460 Is this Naomi? 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:02.219 She said to them, 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:03.960 Do not call me Naomi. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:05.860 Call me Mara. 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.539 For the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.080 I went away full. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:15.180 And the Lord has brought me back empty. 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:19.960 Why call me Naomi when the Lord has testified against me? 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.659 And the Almighty has brought calamity upon me. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:26.760 So Naomi returned. 00:03:27.700 --> 00:03:31.659 And Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:35.780 And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:40.219 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:43.159 Dear Father in heaven, 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.759 We thank you that you are a good and loving Heavenly Father. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:52.879 And so you haven't left us alone as orphans in a merciless universe. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.039 But you've come and you've spoken to us 00:03:56.039 --> 00:03:59.599 in words and ways that we can actually understand. 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:03.699 And so we ask that you would come and help us this morning. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:06.379 That you would clear our minds. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:09.159 That you would open our eyes. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.180 That you would unstop our ears. 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:14.699 And that you would soften our hearts. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:19.519 That we could see and hear and believe and understand 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.980 everything that is written about you in your word. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:25.639 We ask this in the name of your Son. 00:04:26.779 --> 00:04:27.079 Amen. 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:35.099 If you remember several years ago in February of 2015, 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:38.359 if you were watching popular culture even a little bit, 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:41.699 you are familiar with what is now known as the dress. 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:44.899 And if you remember the dress, 00:04:44.979 --> 00:04:49.799 it was an image that showed up on the internet of this one dress from Europe 00:04:49.799 --> 00:04:53.659 that was unlike any other picture of any other dress. 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:57.000 Because depending on who you were, 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:58.800 you saw one of two different things. 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:02.120 When some people looked at the dress, 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:05.160 they saw a dress that was blue and black. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:10.020 And when other people looked at the very same picture, 00:05:10.140 --> 00:05:12.880 they saw a dress that was white and gold. 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:16.720 And so it became this internet fascination 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.980 as people tweeted and retweeted and posted 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:21.040 about which of the two they could actually see. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:22.800 And there was debate about 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.580 which was the true color of the dress. 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:29.219 And why was it that people were so confused? 00:05:30.599 --> 00:05:32.779 About 70% of people would see, 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:36.379 I believe it was the blue and the black, 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.240 30% the white or the gold. 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:39.120 I might have that backwards. 00:05:39.219 --> 00:05:40.060 You might have to flip that number. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:41.439 But it wasn't even half and half. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:43.360 And so it was even more confusing 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.799 why some people would see one and some the other. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.939 The story highlights an issue 00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:52.520 that we're going to see in this passage as well, 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:55.860 that we can look at the very same thing. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:59.000 Two people can look at the same event, 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:00.639 the same situation, the same facts, 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:03.379 and come up with a very, very different interpretation. 00:06:05.460 --> 00:06:06.960 We can look at the same situation 00:06:06.960 --> 00:06:09.340 and come up with a very, very different interpretation. 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:11.840 And if you follow the story of the dress, 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.379 which became its own hashtag, 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:14.280 if you want to look it up, 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:16.080 you can just search hashtag the dress. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:18.520 And scientists tried to figure out 00:06:18.520 --> 00:06:20.660 why it was that people saw such different things. 00:06:22.280 --> 00:06:25.460 And I don't think it's completely conclusive even now, 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:27.579 but part of it is that this picture was unique 00:06:27.579 --> 00:06:31.379 because it was challenging to understand the circumstances. 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:34.759 Was the picture taken outside or inside? 00:06:36.340 --> 00:06:39.439 Was it taken in natural light or fluorescent light? 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:42.360 And because it wasn't clear, 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.400 different people's minds answered that question 00:06:44.400 --> 00:06:45.160 in different ways. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.420 And based on the assumptions, 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:52.100 based on the interpretations that were made, 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:55.020 your mind, without even realizing it, 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:56.879 came to a conclusion. 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:01.819 Took incomplete data and came to a complete conclusion. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.960 We're going to see the same issue happening with Naomi. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.980 Naomi has a set of very challenging circumstances 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:12.120 in front of her. 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:17.200 And she's not completely sure what's going on. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:21.360 In fact, we might even say she's decided 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.879 based on incomplete information what is going on. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:26.720 She doesn't know the whole story. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.300 She doesn't know exactly what's happening, 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:29.040 why it's happening, 00:07:29.140 --> 00:07:31.620 but she has decided to come to a conclusion. 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:34.620 We see in the past, 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.500 we know that she had left her homeland. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:39.379 She left the land of Israel to go to the land of Moab 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:40.500 because there had been a famine. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:42.120 And while there, 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:44.160 she had lost not only her husband, 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:45.800 but her two sons. 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:49.220 And so we saw in our first week, 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:50.920 in verses 1 through 6, 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:54.720 that even when tragedy strikes, 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.060 God is still in charge. 00:07:59.820 --> 00:08:02.380 And then we saw last week in verses 6 through 18 00:08:02.380 --> 00:08:04.520 that when tragedy strikes, 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:07.820 it's the responsibility of God's people 00:08:07.820 --> 00:08:09.640 to come alongside each other. 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:14.700 But here the question is a little bit different. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.220 It's not the question of whether God's in charge. 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:24.440 And it's not the question of whether or how 00:08:24.440 --> 00:08:26.160 we should come along those who are suffering. 00:08:26.880 --> 00:08:31.120 But instead it's the question of whether God is good. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.440 Whether he's loving. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:36.740 Whether he's still with us in the midst of suffering 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:37.820 or he's abandoned us. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.440 And so it's not a question about his control, 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:41.639 about what he can do. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.399 In fact, Naomi's going to refer to him here in verse 21 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:46.100 as the Almighty. 00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:48.960 She knows that God has all the power. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.360 The question is, 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:52.840 why has he not used it 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.320 in a different way? 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.700 She comes back to the town of Bethlehem in verse 19. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:03.220 Remember we saw in our very first week in Ruth 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:06.820 that Naomi had heard that the famine 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:08.879 that had caused her to leave her homeland was over. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:12.139 And she was heading back with her daughters-in-law 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:14.240 in hopes that there would actually be a place 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:15.700 for food there in her homeland. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:17.700 And as she comes back, 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:20.879 remember we know that she's been gone for over 10 years. 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:24.140 Because we found out in verse 4 00:09:24.140 --> 00:09:26.680 that after the marriage of her sons, 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:29.860 they lived in Moab 10 years before their death. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.360 And so we can understand the surprise and the shock 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.960 of other women in the town in verse 18 and 19. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.500 As she comes back, they say, 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.840 is this actually Naomi? 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:43.879 It's been over a decade since they've seen her. 00:09:45.539 --> 00:09:48.120 And they're experiencing the same reality that she is, 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.100 that when she left, 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.039 she had a husband. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:54.379 And when she came back, 00:09:54.459 --> 00:09:54.919 she did not. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.799 And so is this the same person 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.159 with such a dramatic change in circumstances? 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:05.919 Is this Naomi? 00:10:08.599 --> 00:10:09.980 We talked a couple weeks ago 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.339 about the importance of names. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:13.159 Remember the name of Elimelech meant, 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:14.319 my God is king. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:18.240 The name of Naomi 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.960 means pleasant. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:25.520 It's another irony of names 00:10:25.520 --> 00:10:26.860 in the midst of this story. 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:28.760 And she says, 00:10:28.900 --> 00:10:29.740 do not call me Naomi, 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.980 so do not call me pleasant. 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:33.140 Call me Mara. 00:10:34.920 --> 00:10:36.600 Because she no longer feels pleasant, 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:37.860 instead she feels 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.640 the meaning of Mara. 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:41.320 You might see a note in your Bible there 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:42.800 that it means bitter. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.679 And so because of the circumstances in her life, 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.819 she who was pleasant 00:10:47.819 --> 00:10:48.919 is now bitter. 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:52.299 Her response 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:53.439 to the events 00:10:53.439 --> 00:10:55.379 is one of bitterness. 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.719 And we find out why 00:10:56.719 --> 00:10:59.019 in that same verse, 00:10:59.059 --> 00:10:59.639 in verse 20. 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.399 For the Almighty has dealt 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.139 very bitterly with me. 00:11:04.439 --> 00:11:05.759 I went away full, 00:11:06.219 --> 00:11:08.299 and the Lord has brought me back empty. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.779 Why call me Naomi 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.860 when the Lord has testified against me, 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.959 and the Almighty has brought 00:11:14.959 --> 00:11:16.659 calamity upon me. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.360 So don't call me pleasant. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.799 Call me bitter. 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:23.459 Because once I was full, 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.639 but now I'm empty. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.559 Have you ever felt like 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.000 you have gone from 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.279 full 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.699 to empty? 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:38.700 It might be 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:40.080 a photo album 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.700 emptiness. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:43.520 For some of us, 00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:44.280 when we look back 00:11:44.280 --> 00:11:44.920 at photo albums, 00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:46.460 we see pictures of 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:47.500 people who are 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:48.420 no longer with us. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:51.180 Maybe it's pictures 00:11:51.180 --> 00:11:52.100 that are not even 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:52.660 in photo albums, 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.720 but frames in our house 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.480 that remind us 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.920 of what once was, 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:56.660 but isn't anymore. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:00.500 Maybe it's not pictures 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.140 of people who were 00:12:01.140 --> 00:12:01.740 once with us, 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:02.440 maybe it's pictures 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:03.540 of people that are. 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:06.180 Maybe you're a parent, 00:12:06.280 --> 00:12:07.020 and you look back 00:12:07.020 --> 00:12:08.180 at pictures of your children 00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:08.940 when they were young, 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:11.400 and you see smiles 00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:12.020 on their faces, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.800 and you see them 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:14.080 playing so well together, 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:16.540 and you wonder, 00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:17.720 where did those smiles go? 00:12:20.760 --> 00:12:21.740 And why can't they 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.680 get along anymore? 00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:24.940 Why two decades, 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:25.860 three decades later, 00:12:25.920 --> 00:12:26.780 have things changed 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:27.680 so much? 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:31.239 Maybe you have 00:12:31.239 --> 00:12:31.839 pictures together 00:12:31.839 --> 00:12:32.579 of you as a family, 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.519 and you used to spend 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.339 time in holidays, 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:35.139 and you see those, 00:12:35.219 --> 00:12:35.879 and then you think, 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.599 why now? 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.539 Why now do I only 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:39.639 receive an email 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.299 sometimes? 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.459 And even then, 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.219 it's not always 00:12:43.219 --> 00:12:43.919 a kind one. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.620 Maybe it's not 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.620 a photo album 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.079 emptiness. 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:52.819 Maybe you once 00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:53.479 had work that you 00:12:53.479 --> 00:12:54.679 felt was purposeful 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.379 and powerful. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:58.139 people called you 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:58.779 with questions, 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.639 and they wanted 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.139 answers, 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:05.019 but your phone 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.799 doesn't ring anymore. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.980 Maybe it's a 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:10.700 financial fullness. 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:12.080 Maybe when things 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.799 broke in your house, 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:16.299 there was a time 00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:16.659 when you would 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.240 just fix it. 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:18.820 You would just 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:19.360 buy a new one. 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:19.820 You wouldn't ask 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.320 any questions 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:20.860 because it wasn't 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:21.279 a problem. 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:23.879 But now you wonder 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.539 how you're going 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.500 to scrape together 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.199 the money that you 00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:27.360 need for the 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.459 problems that you 00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:28.759 have. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.500 Maybe it's your body. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.539 You used to be able 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.879 to do all sorts of 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.439 things and all kinds 00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:39.279 of energy you had. 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.659 And now you wonder, 00:13:41.839 --> 00:13:42.459 where did all that 00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:43.079 energy go? 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.379 Where am I going 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.539 to get the energy 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.839 that I need for the 00:13:48.839 --> 00:13:50.120 tasks that are ahead 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.399 of me? 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:53.840 Wherever you are 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.340 in life, 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.379 I think many of us 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.579 can resonate 00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:57.539 with Naomi here. 00:13:58.939 --> 00:13:59.659 There's places 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.459 where we have felt 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:01.899 full that we are 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.259 now empty. 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.299 And so that's 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:06.919 where the dress 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.259 becomes so important. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.639 How do we 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.120 interpret 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:14.019 going from 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.039 full to 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:15.379 empty 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:17.159 when we don't 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:17.799 have all the 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.259 information? 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:21.080 how are we 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.379 going to 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:21.819 interpret 00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:24.259 going from 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.179 full to 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:25.419 empty? 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.279 We see the 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:27.740 answer that 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.299 Naomi has 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:28.580 here. 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:31.319 Remember I 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:31.980 noted last week 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.259 that she could 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.639 have had a 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.159 career as a 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:34.399 lawyer. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.039 She does the 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.720 same thing 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.439 in verse 00:14:38.439 --> 00:14:39.480 21. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.259 You notice 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.259 the nouns 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:42.759 and the verbs 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.039 here. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.919 I went 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.240 away 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.519 full. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:45.559 full. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.419 But the 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:49.779 Lord 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:51.299 brought me 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:51.799 back empty. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.000 I went 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.439 away full 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:54.740 but the 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.240 Lord brought 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.519 me back 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:56.699 empty. 00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.059 So the 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.399 fullness 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:57.960 Naomi is 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:58.360 giving to 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:58.860 herself 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.799 but the 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.059 emptiness 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.500 to the 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:00.720 Lord. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:02.960 And there's 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.299 a sense 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:03.600 in which 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.100 she's right 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.399 in the 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:04.840 sense that 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.399 God is 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:05.960 sovereign over 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.259 everything. 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.019 He controls 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.419 the whole 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:07.759 world. 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:09.860 But she 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.500 goes beyond 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:10.879 that because 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.299 she uses 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.019 legal language 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.279 here. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:12.899 the Lord 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.740 has testified 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.399 against me 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.399 and the 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.000 Almighty has 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.199 brought calamity 00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:17.879 on me. 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.500 And so it 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.339 seems as if 00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:22.459 Naomi is 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:22.860 giving an 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.899 indirect accusation 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.519 against God 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:24.779 here. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.379 That somehow 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.399 he has brought 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.059 her to court. 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.779 He's testified 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.459 against her 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.799 and he's 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.339 decided that 00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:32.759 she has been 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.439 found wanting. 00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:34.980 That he's 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:35.539 going to bring 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.319 suffering into 00:15:36.319 --> 00:15:36.879 her life 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.500 perhaps because 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.000 of some 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.079 way that she's 00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:39.339 failed. 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.019 Something she's 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.939 done that 00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:42.399 is wrong. 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:44.919 She believes 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:45.559 that God 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.960 is against 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.220 her. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.059 There was a 00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:49.500 time when 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.000 God was 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.779 perhaps for 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.100 her but 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.879 now he's 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.319 dealt her 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:55.100 this hand and 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.500 he's dealt 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.220 it to her 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.980 in such a 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.379 way that she 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.539 can't even 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.240 address him. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:01.819 You notice 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:02.059 that she 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:02.539 doesn't cry 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.019 out to God. 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.419 She doesn't 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:03.860 even say 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.120 what the 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.399 psalmist 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.779 says in 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.279 Psalm 13. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.639 She doesn't 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.000 say how 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.439 long oh 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:06.639 Lord. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:06.980 She doesn't 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.439 say why 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:07.779 God. 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.439 She speaks 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:09.799 about him 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.039 in the 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.240 third 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.779 person that 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.659 he has 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.159 done this 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.979 to her. 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:15.740 It sounds 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.799 in a sense 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.179 that either 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.639 she believes 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:17.939 that God 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.279 has given 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:18.599 her what 00:16:18.599 --> 00:16:19.019 she doesn't 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.359 deserve or 00:16:20.359 --> 00:16:20.759 he has 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.099 given her 00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:21.419 what she 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.000 does deserve 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.299 but she 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:22.479 doesn't 00:16:22.479 --> 00:16:22.939 know why. 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:24.979 There was 00:16:24.979 --> 00:16:25.419 a courtroom 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:25.779 there was 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.139 a scene 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.339 in which 00:16:26.339 --> 00:16:26.599 she was 00:16:26.599 --> 00:16:26.979 tried but 00:16:26.979 --> 00:16:27.359 she wasn't 00:16:27.359 --> 00:16:27.839 even there 00:16:27.839 --> 00:16:29.339 to defend 00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:29.679 herself. 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.099 She wasn't 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:30.599 there to 00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:31.479 know what 00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:31.939 her crime 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.679 was. 00:16:36.359 --> 00:16:36.899 So she 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.240 fills in 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.740 the blanks. 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.339 She 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:40.639 fills in 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.079 the blanks 00:16:41.079 --> 00:16:41.399 for the 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:41.819 information 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.179 that she 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:42.579 doesn't 00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.199 know. 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:45.719 And we 00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:46.019 do the 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.879 same thing 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.319 as well 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:47.659 do we 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:47.879 not? 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.699 Perhaps 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:50.899 we've 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.419 experienced 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.959 suffering 00:16:52.959 --> 00:16:53.240 and we 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.759 believe that 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.419 like Naomi 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:54.939 God is 00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:55.219 actually 00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:55.939 against us. 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:56.759 That we 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.079 have some 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.679 secret sin 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.120 that we're 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.859 unaware of 00:16:58.859 --> 00:16:59.659 he's 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.219 opposed us 00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:00.620 for it. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:01.740 And it's 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.120 important at 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.439 this point 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.319 to differentiate 00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:04.000 between different 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.460 types of 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:04.799 suffering. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.200 There is 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.779 suffering in 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.180 this world 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.579 that is the 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.059 result of 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.279 sin. 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:09.980 There are 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.460 times where 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:10.960 we suffer 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.519 direct 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.139 consequences 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:12.839 for things 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.099 that we 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.500 have done. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:14.920 There's 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.279 times we 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.680 suffer for 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.039 things that 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.420 other people 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:16.779 have done. 00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:18.639 And then 00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.039 there's times 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.500 we suffer 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:19.960 just from 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.420 the general 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.059 sin and 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.539 brokenness 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.059 that is in 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.599 this world. 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.660 And there's 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.299 no indication 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:25.980 here in this 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.700 passage that 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.379 Naomi has 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:27.879 done anything 00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:28.240 wrong. 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.079 There's no 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.779 indication that 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.200 she has 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.680 sinned in 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.200 some way to 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.559 bring this 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:32.819 on her. 00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:33.259 But instead 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.839 this is a 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.279 child of 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.619 God who 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:36.339 is struggling 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.199 to understand, 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.199 struggling to 00:17:38.199 --> 00:17:38.959 interpret what 00:17:38.959 --> 00:17:39.699 is going on 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.639 in her world. 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.139 And so 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:43.599 perhaps some 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:43.919 of us have 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.480 decided that, 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:44.879 that God's 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:45.459 against us. 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.459 There are 00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:47.980 some of us 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.139 who have 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:48.859 decided perhaps 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:50.519 this means 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:50.879 that God 00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.519 doesn't exist 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:51.899 anymore. 00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:53.899 Or that if 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.399 he does, 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.220 he's not worth 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:55.799 worshiping. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.659 He's not worth 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.279 coming to church 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.459 for. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.000 That if God 00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.939 has taken us 00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.519 from full 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.319 to empty, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.179 then why 00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:03.500 should we 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.359 sing his 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:04.740 praises? 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.679 perhaps some 00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.019 of us 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.759 have decided 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:11.959 that God 00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:12.500 is sovereign 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.599 and so we're 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:13.980 not allowed 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.439 to grieve. 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.720 We're Romans 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.579 828 kind of 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:17.779 people. 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.539 We say God 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.000 works all 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.699 things together 00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:20.759 for good. 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.419 And so I'm 00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:22.740 not going to 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.299 try to interpret 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.519 this. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.879 I'm just going 00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:24.419 to move on. 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.079 And there's 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.619 some truth to 00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:27.799 that. 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.339 That's true. 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.019 But we also 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.679 need to balance 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:31.480 Romans 828 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.359 with Psalms 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.240 like Psalm 13 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.700 where the 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.259 psalmist cries 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:35.740 out and says, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.380 how long, 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.759 O Lord? 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.700 How long 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:38.960 are you going 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.299 to forget 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.519 me? 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.440 That it's 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:41.859 right to 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.400 cry out to 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:42.740 God and 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.180 tell him 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:43.440 that we're 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:43.819 in pain. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.920 We need 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.359 to balance 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.579 Romans 828 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.359 with Psalm 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:48.839 88, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.480 which is the 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.240 psalm of lament 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.839 where the 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.480 psalmist cries 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.079 out to God 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.039 and it's the 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.779 one psalm of 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.180 lament that 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.900 doesn't end 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:58.839 with crying 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.460 out praises. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:18:59.940 Instead it 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.259 ends with 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.099 friends forgetting 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.779 and abandoning. 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.899 There's all 00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.279 kinds of 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.740 different ways 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.019 that we 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.839 respond to 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.240 suffering. 00:19:07.959 --> 00:19:08.259 So don't 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.639 hear what I'm 00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.039 not saying. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:09.480 God is 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:09.959 sovereign and 00:19:09.959 --> 00:19:10.419 in control 00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:10.699 and we 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:11.219 take comfort 00:19:11.219 --> 00:19:11.679 in that. 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.299 But it's 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.839 also good 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.179 and right 00:19:14.179 --> 00:19:14.579 to cry 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:14.939 out to 00:19:14.939 --> 00:19:15.139 him, 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:17.119 to argue 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.419 with him, 00:19:17.459 --> 00:19:17.859 to ask 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.579 him why. 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.099 Here Naomi 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.779 seems to have 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.759 already decided. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.299 Perhaps we 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.939 respond like 00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:25.399 Naomi in 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:25.659 that we're 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:25.959 bitter. 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:28.639 Bitterness 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.379 is deciding 00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.179 that what 00:19:30.179 --> 00:19:30.599 has happened 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.079 to us 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.199 is unjust. 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:33.519 We don't 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.139 deserve it. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.460 And that is 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:35.699 going to be 00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:36.279 the focus 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.019 of the rest 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.220 of our 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:37.519 life. 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:39.439 You can 00:19:39.439 --> 00:19:39.779 spot a 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.259 bitter person 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.619 from a 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:41.199 mile away 00:19:41.199 --> 00:19:43.259 not just 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.980 because they 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:45.019 lack joy 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.759 but because 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.639 their bitterness 00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.220 has become 00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:47.599 the thing 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.059 that is most 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.639 true about 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:48.879 them. 00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.439 When you 00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:50.879 meet them 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:52.259 they're quick 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.939 to tell you 00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:54.039 about every 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.559 bad thing 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:54.980 that's happened 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.359 to them. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:58.879 when they 00:19:58.879 --> 00:19:59.399 walk around 00:19:59.399 --> 00:19:59.819 all they 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.319 can repeat 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.019 to themselves 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:03.159 is what's 00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:03.539 been done 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.019 to them. 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.199 Every 00:20:05.199 --> 00:20:05.699 unjust 00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:06.139 thing that's 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.399 happened 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:06.679 and we 00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.079 see that 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.000 becomes 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.719 this self 00:20:08.719 --> 00:20:09.219 focus. 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.439 Naomi 00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:10.939 shows this 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:11.240 to us. 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.219 She can't 00:20:12.219 --> 00:20:12.859 see anything 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.319 else that's 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.699 going on 00:20:13.699 --> 00:20:14.219 around her 00:20:14.219 --> 00:20:15.179 because this 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:15.439 bitterness 00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:16.439 has consumed 00:20:16.439 --> 00:20:17.099 her completely. 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.679 It's all 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:21.259 about me 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.759 for Naomi 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.099 in this 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.419 moment. 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:25.820 and it 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.019 would be 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.259 tempting 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.759 to just 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.420 criticize her 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:28.880 for that. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.539 And yet 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.160 any of us 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.420 who have 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:32.720 suffered 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.259 something 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.400 like this 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.960 know how 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.340 challenging 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:36.880 it is 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.779 in the 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.060 moment 00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.640 to focus 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.060 on anything 00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:40.440 else. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.180 Maybe 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.539 for some 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:44.759 of us 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.100 it's not 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.240 an 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.680 interpretation 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.500 but a 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.740 lack 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:46.880 of 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.460 interpretation. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.220 We've 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.560 decided 00:20:49.560 --> 00:20:50.100 we're 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:50.420 never 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.700 going to 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.039 look at 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.519 photo albums 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:51.860 again. 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:54.539 so that 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:54.720 we don't 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:54.980 have to 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.140 think 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:55.580 about it 00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.820 and we 00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:56.960 don't 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.440 have to 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.300 face it. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.720 Maybe 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.200 we bury 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.580 ourselves 00:21:00.580 --> 00:21:00.720 in 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.259 activities. 00:21:02.060 --> 00:21:02.680 We keep 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:02.940 ourselves 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.500 so busy 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:03.779 that we 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.120 don't have 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.400 to think 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:04.800 about it. 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:06.000 We don't 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.259 have to 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.740 contemplate 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.200 going from 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.539 full 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.580 to empty. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.080 Maybe 00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.400 for some 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:13.600 of us 00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:13.980 we found 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.500 ways 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.140 to numb 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.300 it. 00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:16.420 It's 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:16.860 easier 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.360 to 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.460 have 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:18.700 another 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.100 drink, 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.460 to take 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:21.940 a drug, 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:22.820 worse 00:21:22.820 --> 00:21:24.120 than it 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.420 is to 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.759 face 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.300 the 00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:25.640 pain 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.200 of 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.360 this 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:26.660 world. 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.440 And so 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.039 this question 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.820 of interpretation 00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.740 stands before 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.420 all of us. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.340 When tragedy 00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:35.840 strikes, 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.700 how are we 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.600 going to 00:21:38.600 --> 00:21:39.100 make sense 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:39.360 of it? 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.740 How do we 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.160 interpret 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.740 what feels 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.500 like at times 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.019 swirling 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.360 waters 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.340 around us? 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.200 Remember 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.600 we asked 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.019 before, 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:50.060 is God 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:50.480 still the 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.680 king? 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.519 is he 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.880 still in 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.200 charge? 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.279 When the 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.539 land of 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.860 bread has 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.299 no bread 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.680 and God 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:55.980 is my 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.279 king, 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.400 is dead. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.340 We saw 00:21:59.340 --> 00:21:59.600 yes, 00:21:59.680 --> 00:21:59.960 God is 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.299 still the 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:00.480 king, 00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:00.840 he's still 00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.340 in charge. 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.380 But here 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:03.880 is God 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.519 still good? 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.240 Is he 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.900 against me? 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.799 Has he 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.180 forgotten 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.440 me? 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.279 Is he a 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.779 king that's 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.100 still in 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.400 charge, 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.680 but a 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.060 king that 00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:13.799 is distant 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.000 and removed 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.920 and far 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.240 away? 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:18.859 And so 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.559 maybe that's 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.299 our response, 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:20.920 that's our 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.339 interpretation, 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.039 it's anger 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.480 at God. 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:24.900 We've 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.299 decided that 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.640 it wasn't 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:25.940 fair, 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.240 it's not 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.480 the way 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.920 our life 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.400 was supposed 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:27.880 to go, 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.120 and so 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.420 we have 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:29.819 this belief 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.180 that God 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.779 owes us 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.200 something, 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.500 and he 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:32.779 hasn't 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.120 delivered. 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.559 I believe 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.000 the dress 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.160 was actually 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.940 blue and 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.240 black. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.759 that there 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.120 were some 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:46.579 people who 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.120 saw the 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:47.460 correct 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.099 interpretation 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.720 and some 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.259 who saw 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.120 the wrong 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.500 one, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.700 based on 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:52.980 what they 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.400 filled in 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:53.640 with the 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:53.920 data. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.259 One 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.599 interesting 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.079 thing that 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.920 I read 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.240 was that 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.920 people who 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:59.620 are night 00:22:59.620 --> 00:22:59.980 owls and 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.339 people who 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.680 are early 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.359 morning people 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.519 have a 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.019 tendency to 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.420 see it 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.200 differently. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:05.779 Early 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.380 risers have 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:06.900 a tendency 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.359 to see it 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:07.779 as white 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.259 and gold, 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.120 and people 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.019 who stay 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.339 up late 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.599 at night 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:11.859 have a 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.299 tendency to 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:12.579 see it 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.279 as blue 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.919 and black, 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:16.519 because those 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:16.899 people have 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:17.399 trained their 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:17.960 eyes to 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.599 different types 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.039 of light. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.480 So if you 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.019 get up early 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.439 in the morning 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:22.879 you're more 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.419 likely to 00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.079 assume that 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:24.679 light is 00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:25.439 natural light, 00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:27.379 and if you 00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:27.939 stay up at 00:23:27.939 --> 00:23:28.319 night you're 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.759 more likely 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.480 to assume 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.279 it's not. 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.000 And based 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.339 on what your 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.019 mind assumes 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.279 you're going 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.759 to fill in 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.240 that data. 00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:36.919 And so 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:38.179 the question 00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:38.639 is what's 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.460 true and 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.039 what's false? 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.099 false. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.460 Let's look 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.119 again at 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.779 Naomi's 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.079 statements 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.559 here in 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.039 this passage. 00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:45.420 What's 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.599 true and 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:46.879 what's 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.180 false? 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.259 What's 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.639 true is 00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:52.279 verse 20. 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.759 God is 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.159 almighty. 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.200 God is 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.740 in charge 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.019 and in 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.779 control of 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.319 all things. 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.639 Naomi gets 00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.259 one thing 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.559 right, 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.319 and the 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.779 one thing 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.180 she gets 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:04.700 right is 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.379 that God 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:07.159 is in 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:08.059 control of 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.599 everything. 00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:10.559 He is 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.019 the almighty. 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.879 But she 00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.279 gets a lot 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.139 wrong as 00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:17.419 well. 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.159 She says 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:20.440 here that 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:20.919 God is 00:24:20.919 --> 00:24:21.460 against her, 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.740 that he 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.099 has dealt 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.720 bitterly with 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.079 her, and 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.599 that he 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.159 has brought 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.679 her back 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.379 empty. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.539 And yet 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.079 what else 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:28.619 does Naomi 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.440 have? 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:33.839 Remember 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.299 we saw 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.679 in verse 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:37.000 six that 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.539 coincidentally, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.279 or maybe 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.740 not so 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.319 coincidentally, 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.059 just as she 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.539 needed to 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.019 return, 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.299 that's when 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.740 the famine 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.779 ended in 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.119 Israel. 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.759 And even 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.559 though she 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.220 told her 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.799 daughters-in-law 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.160 to go 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.539 back, 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.059 God 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.619 provided 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.359 Ruth for 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:58.619 her. 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.259 That God 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.539 in his 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.160 never stopping, 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.740 never giving 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.319 up, always 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:03.819 and forever 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.259 love, 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.880 had provided 00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.420 Ruth to 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:06.800 show that 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:07.740 same love 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.400 to her. 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.320 And so 00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:11.660 when she 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.260 comes back, 00:25:12.340 --> 00:25:12.700 she's not 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.180 coming back 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:13.780 by herself. 00:25:16.260 --> 00:25:16.960 We see 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.400 even more 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:18.040 hints here 00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:18.840 as well, 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.260 because it 00:25:19.260 --> 00:25:19.620 tells us 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:19.920 in verse 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.360 22, 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:20.960 so Naomi 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.580 returned, 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:22.200 and Ruth, 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.620 the Moabite, 00:25:24.020 --> 00:25:24.840 her daughter-in-law, 00:25:26.320 --> 00:25:26.980 with her, 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:28.040 who returned 00:25:28.040 --> 00:25:28.420 from the 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.040 country of 00:25:29.040 --> 00:25:29.460 Moab. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.320 Remember 00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:31.700 Ruth? 00:25:32.780 --> 00:25:33.440 She was a 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:33.840 Moabite, 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.160 not an 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.680 Israelite. 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.519 and yet 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.100 she returned 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.600 with Naomi. 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.480 And Naomi 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.860 has two 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.240 problems, 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.779 one that 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:44.380 she is 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.000 defenseless, 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:46.120 but another 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.560 that she's 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.160 without food. 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.680 And how 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.100 does this 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.560 chapter 00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.299 end? 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.440 And they 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.860 came to 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.440 Bethlehem, 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.720 the house 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.100 of bread, 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.700 at the 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.039 beginning 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.840 of barley 00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.259 harvest. 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:03.019 of all 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.599 the times 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.500 that Naomi 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:04.859 could have 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.420 come back, 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.420 a woman 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:06.700 without 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.180 resources 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.779 for food, 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.200 she comes 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.379 back by 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.059 God the 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.700 Almighty's 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.180 providence 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.420 in a time 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.359 when food 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.000 is plentiful. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.519 And as we'll 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.039 see in the 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.579 next chapter, 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.680 this is the 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.359 time and the 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.879 opportunity 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.920 when widows 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.579 would be able 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.339 to glean 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.079 and gather 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.759 food from 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.220 the fields 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.220 without charge. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:29.559 And so Naomi 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.680 has experienced 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.140 tremendous 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.620 tragedy, 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.480 but she 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.019 is not 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.740 completely 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.380 empty. 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.759 And God 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.700 is not 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.559 against her. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.380 In fact, 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.019 it is God 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:44.620 in the midst 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.120 of all of 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.600 this who is 00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:46.860 providing and 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.880 guiding and 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.900 leading Naomi. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.400 And in the 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:51.860 midst of her 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:52.660 self-focus, 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.160 and in the 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.720 midst of her 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.039 bitterness, 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:57.360 God meets 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:57.920 her not 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.319 with the 00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.779 curse she 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.319 expects. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.480 He meets 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:02.819 her not 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.100 with a 00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:03.420 word of 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.880 rebuke 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.799 for her 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.360 unbelief. 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.579 He meets 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:08.980 her not 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.279 with turning 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:10.759 his face 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.200 away from 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.400 her. 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.039 But God 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.700 meets Naomi 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.480 in the midst 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.799 of her 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.220 suffering 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.059 with his 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.400 grace. 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.360 Because God 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:20.799 is not 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.680 against her, 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:23.039 but for 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.240 her. 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:25.240 he hasn't 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.620 given up 00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:25.940 on her, 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:26.539 but he's 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:26.940 remembered 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.319 her. 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.599 Even 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.339 when she 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.039 can't 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.559 see it. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.880 When I was 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.400 growing up, 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:39.819 my, 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.259 remember I 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.799 started a couple 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.339 weeks ago by 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.640 asking, 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.099 why do your 00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.599 parents tell 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.099 you stories? 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.179 stories. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.439 When I was 00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:46.799 growing up, 00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.659 my dad would 00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.599 tell us stories 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.059 about his 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.559 time as a 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:49.980 Boy Scout. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.939 And the 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.419 one that 00:27:53.419 --> 00:27:54.199 stuck with me 00:27:54.199 --> 00:27:54.719 maybe the 00:27:54.719 --> 00:27:55.319 most is he 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.000 shared with us 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.319 about the 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.879 time when he 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.379 had to get 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.399 his lifeguard 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.099 merit badge, 00:28:00.679 --> 00:28:01.159 his water 00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:01.799 merit badge. 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:03.940 And he 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:04.539 learned about 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.259 the reality 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.000 of trying 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.559 to rescue 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.259 someone who's 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.599 drowning. 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:11.399 And he 00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:11.720 told us that 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.220 when someone 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.839 is drowning, 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:14.079 their perception 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.879 of reality 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:16.119 is skewed. 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.480 And that 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:18.960 when you try 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.399 to rescue 00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:19.720 them, 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.359 they'll push 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.839 you away. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.000 In their 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.460 flailing, 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.039 in their 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.619 desperation, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.259 they're 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.919 tempted to 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.419 believe that 00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:29.940 the lifeguard 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.599 is not for 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:30.839 them, 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.699 but against 00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:31.980 them. 00:28:33.459 --> 00:28:34.000 And so if 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.279 you want to 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.480 be an 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:34.779 effective 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.199 lifeguard, 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.599 you actually 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:35.859 have to 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.419 approach from 00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.500 behind so 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:37.839 that someone 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.259 who's drowning 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.279 can't see 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.579 you. 00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:41.779 Because 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.139 otherwise, 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.619 what may 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.079 happen is 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.500 that both 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.039 you and 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.379 them will 00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:44.859 go down. 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.359 Because they're 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:46.699 not going to 00:28:46.699 --> 00:28:47.259 help you in 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:47.699 the midst of 00:28:47.699 --> 00:28:47.839 that. 00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:48.139 Because 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:49.480 overwhelmed by 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:51.639 the threat 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:51.980 that's in 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.439 front of them 00:28:52.439 --> 00:28:53.679 and the 00:28:53.679 --> 00:28:54.259 struggle that's 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.619 right before 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:55.859 them, in 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.159 the middle 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:56.519 of them, 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:56.980 they're 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.519 surrounded by 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.839 water. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.859 That's all 00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.439 they can see. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.940 they can't 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.420 understand that 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:01.779 this person 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.140 who's come 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.500 to them is 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.460 trying to 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.920 help them. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.720 Brothers and 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.019 sisters, 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:11.120 when it 00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:11.799 feels like we 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.340 are drowning 00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:13.340 in life, 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:16.120 it is our 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.440 temptation to 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.059 push God 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.759 away from 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.059 us. 00:29:20.820 --> 00:29:21.779 But God, 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.860 in the middle 00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.880 of all of it, 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:26.820 showing us 00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.480 his grace, 00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:29.240 is actually 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.660 the one 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.140 coming to 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.560 help us 00:29:31.560 --> 00:29:32.220 reach the 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.520 top. 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:36.020 God is 00:29:36.020 --> 00:29:36.520 the one 00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:37.040 who is 00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:37.880 coming to 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.260 rescue, 00:29:39.260 --> 00:29:40.680 even when 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.200 it seems 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.800 like it's 00:29:41.800 --> 00:29:42.240 the opposite. 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.860 And so we 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.300 began with 00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:46.840 this question, 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.400 is God 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.400 still good 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.920 in the midst 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.920 of suffering? 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:54.840 is he still 00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:55.320 for us? 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.740 One pastor 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.600 asks this 00:29:58.600 --> 00:29:59.279 very question 00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.519 and he 00:29:59.519 --> 00:29:59.900 answers it 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.320 this way. 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:01.800 He says, 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.259 we don't 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.500 know why 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.620 God allows 00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.279 these things 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.680 to happen, 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.300 but we 00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:08.820 know why 00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:09.180 not. 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.620 We know 00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:12.300 it's not 00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:13.000 because he's 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.560 given up on 00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:13.840 us. 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.080 And we 00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:15.500 know it's 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.560 not because 00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:17.039 he doesn't 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.519 love us. 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.779 And the 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.259 reason we 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.539 know is 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:20.860 that when 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.320 we doubt, 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.099 we can 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:23.259 look and 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:23.799 see that 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.099 he put 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.700 his very 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.619 son on 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.119 the cross 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:28.299 to die 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:28.779 the death 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.220 that we 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.639 deserved 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:31.079 and to 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.779 endure more 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.359 suffering 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:33.579 than he 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:33.980 will ever 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.960 ask us 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.579 to do. 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:38.059 And so 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.500 when we're 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.799 drowning, 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.679 when it 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.139 feels like 00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.839 everything around 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.439 us is sinking, 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.200 we can 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.259 know and 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:47.240 believe and 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.599 trust that 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.220 it is God 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.900 who is 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.480 helping us 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.539 come to 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.920 the top. 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.360 Please pray 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:55.740 with me. 00:30:59.420 --> 00:30:59.920 Dear 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.380 Father in 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:00.579 heaven, 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:03.839 we thank 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.519 you that 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:04.880 in the 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:05.640 midst of 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:07.200 our 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.660 temptation 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:07.960 to 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.259 bitterness 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:11.380 and our 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:11.720 temptation 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.380 to despair, 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.440 fear, 00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:15.080 that you 00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.460 don't hold 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.840 it against 00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:17.200 us, 00:31:18.340 --> 00:31:18.840 and that 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.160 even when 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.480 we take 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.060 our eyes 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.520 off of 00:31:20.520 --> 00:31:20.820 you, 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.340 you never 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:21.760 take your 00:31:21.760 --> 00:31:22.540 eyes off 00:31:22.540 --> 00:31:22.940 of us. 00:31:24.280 --> 00:31:24.880 We ask 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.100 that you'd 00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:25.540 remind us 00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:25.820 of it, 00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:26.320 you'd 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.620 encourage 00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:27.000 us, 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.260 and you'd 00:31:29.260 --> 00:31:29.740 enable us 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.240 more and 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.760 more to 00:31:30.760 --> 00:31:31.360 see you 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.000 and to 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.440 praise you 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:32.680 and to 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.060 know you, 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.380 even in 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:34.720 the midst 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.540 of difficult 00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:36.300 circumstances. 00:31:37.020 --> 00:31:37.660 We ask 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.020 all these 00:31:38.020 --> 00:31:38.400 things in 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:38.620 the name 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:38.860 of your 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.120 son. 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.160 Amen. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.260 Amen. 00:31:40.260 --> 00:31:40.300 Amen.