WEBVTT

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 Turn with me to Ruth chapter 4.

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 Ruth chapter 4, it's on page 224 if you've got a church Bible.

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 And there's a really famous photograph from 1972.

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! It's a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph.

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 And many believe that that photograph put an end to the Vietnam War.

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 Some of you will have seen it, most of you will have.

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 It's of a little girl running down the street naked in pain.

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 Her eyes are squeezed tight with terror.

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 It was one of the most disturbing pictures,

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 one of the most poignant snapshots of the Vietnam War.

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 24 years later, that same young lady was standing at the podium

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 in the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington.

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 It was Veterans Day.

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 And as a child, Kim Yook brought home to Americans the horror of war.

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 But 24 years later, she's a grown woman at that ceremony.

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 And she brings a very different lesson.

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 It's the lesson of the Book of Ruth.

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 The healing power of forgiveness.

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 As she laid a wreath against the wall.

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 And Kim told the assembled crowd of war veterans,

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 these are her words,

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 As you know, I am the little girl in that photograph.

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 I'm the little girl who was running down the road,

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 running to escape from the napalm fire.

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 I've suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain.

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 There were times when I thought I couldn't live.

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 But God saved my life.

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 And gave me faith and hope.

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 How did that happen?

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 Well, soon after the infamous photo was taken,

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 Kim was rushed to hospital

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 by the Associated Press photographer who'd taken the picture.

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 And years of painful therapy followed.

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 After the war, she'd enrolled in Saigon University,

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 hoping to study medicine.

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 But she was far too valuable,

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 a propaganda tool for the communist government.

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 She was put to work in a government office.

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 And eventually, she was sent on a goodwill visit to Cuba in 1996.

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 And while she was in Cuba,

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 she fell in love with a man.

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 They got married.

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 He became a Christian.

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 And she became a Christian.

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 And eventually, both of them managed to defect.

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 And this is what she said more recently on national radio.

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 She told of her plans to go to Bible college

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 that she and her husband had

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 so that they could go and spread the good news

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 amongst the Vietnamese people.

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 As she shared the message of forgiveness

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 to thousands of toughened soldiers

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 on that Veterans Day ceremony,

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 she publicly forgave the pilot

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 whose load had scarred her skin

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 and killed her two younger brothers.

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 It's reported that at that moment,

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 many hardened war veterans began to weep.

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 Now, why do I tell you that story?

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 What is the moral of that story?

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 And this is it.

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 It's that there is no limit

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 to the reach of God's forgiveness.

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 There's no limit to the kindness of God.

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 This book, this 3,000-year-old story

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 set in the days of the judges,

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 in days just like ours,

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 days of overwhelming spiritual apostasy,

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 moral anarchy.

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 This little story,

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 the key word in the story

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 is that word kindness.

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 It's God's loving kindness,

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 God's steadfast love,

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 his covenant love.

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 It is the heart of God

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 that we see in this lovely little story.

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 And so for many,

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 for many,

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 what they would have considered

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 to be a hopeless situation,

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 an insignificant, nameless girl

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 running down a road in Vietnam,

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 God began to restore the nation.

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 And on that bleak day

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 when Kim lost her family

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 and was herself engulfed in flames,

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 she would not have been able to predict,

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 would she?

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 Not in a million years,

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 the unlikely outcome of her ordeal.

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 She would never have guessed

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 that through a series

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 of seemingly chance events,

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 she would somehow

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 come to know God's love herself.

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 And she would be able to shelter

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 under the wings of the God of Israel.

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 She would never have guessed

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 that she herself

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 would become a messenger of God's grace

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 to share God's love with others,

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 which he's still doing to this day.

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 And through her testimony,

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 many have discovered for themselves

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 what it is to take refuge in Jesus

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 as their redeemer.

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 That's the story of Ruth, really.

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 If you had asked an Israelite then,

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 back in the days of the judges,

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 where is your God?

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 What has happened to the promise

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 that he made to Abraham?

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 That you people would be a blessing

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 to the whole earth?

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 What's happened to that?

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 Where is your God?

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 What's happening to your covenant promises?

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 I very much doubt they would have pointed

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 to a little Moabite girl called Ruth.

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 But that is where God

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 was working out his purposes.

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 Somebody has called the book of Ruth

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 the love story that changed the world.

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 And that's no exaggeration.

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 If you were making a film out of it,

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 you'd call it Three Weddings and a Funeral.

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 Chapter 1, there are three funerals.

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 Elimelech and his two sons,

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 Marlon and Cilion.

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 There's three graves in Moab.

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 But it ends with a wedding.

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 And Boaz marries Ruth.

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 And out of this marriage comes King David,

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 who was the great grandson of Ruth and Boaz.

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 And from David, of course, comes Jesus.

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 David's greatest son.

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 And of course, he is the reason

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 why you're here this morning.

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 Who would have thought that a story

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 3,000 years old,

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 a tiny little volume that you can miss,

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 can't you, as you skip through the Bible,

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 it's just four or five pages.

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 That's the reason why you're here.

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 It's a story about the Lord Jesus.

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 It's a story of redemption.

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 Like every story in the Bible,

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 it points to Jesus as our kinsman and regimen.

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 So I've got three things to say to you.

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 And the story is, first of all,

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 a story of costly redemption.

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 It's a story of costly redemption.

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 So, do you remember?

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 Ruth, at Naomi's instigation,

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 Naomi, the interfering mother in all,

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 but not really.

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 She's a godly lady.

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 She's got Ruth's best interest at heart.

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 Ruth, at Naomi's instigation,

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 has proposed to Boaz

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 in a cornfield in the middle of the night.

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 And in asking Boaz to marry her,

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 according to the laws of Israel,

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 she's invoking the principle

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 of a kinsman redeemer.

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 She's asking him,

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 not only to be her husband,

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 but be the one who will redeem

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 and rescue my family.

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 Who will give me a future

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 and a hope in Israel.

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 And as we've seen,

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 Boaz is more than willing to do this.

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 In fact, he's determined to do it properly

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 or not to do it at all.

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 So do you notice, in verse 1,

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 he goes up to the gate, doesn't he?

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 He goes to the town hall,

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 the hub of that community.

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 That's where the town councillors

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 met to transact their business.

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 The finance matters.

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 All sorts of issues

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 were settled at the town gate.

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 It's not a matter, Boaz is saying,

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 to be settled in the middle of a cornfield

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 in the middle of night.

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 It should be done publicly

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 in accordance with God's law

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 in Deuteronomy and Leviticus.

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 And the law provided

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 that a close relative

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 could marry a widow.

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 There's no welfare payments,

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 no social security,

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 or anything like that.

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 3,000 years ago in Israel,

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 but there was a very rich

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 and generous provision.

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 in the law of God

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 for people who were destitute,

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 for people who were marginalised,

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 people who'd lost everything,

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 the law allowed a close relative

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 to marry into the family,

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 to marry the widow,

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 to produce offspring,

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 to whom the property rights

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 would be transferred,

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 the debts would be taken on.

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 And so up to this point in the story,

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 everybody's hoping it's going to be Boaz.

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 But the path of true love

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 is seldom smooth.

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 We find out, didn't we,

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 in chapter 3 last week,

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 there's been a complication.

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 It's complicated.

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 In fact, there is a closer relative

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 than Boaz.

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 There's somebody higher up the queue.

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 And so verse 1,

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 can you see it?

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 Of chapter 4,

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 now Boaz had gone up to the gate

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 and sat down there,

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 and behold,

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 it just so happened.

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 We've seen that many times

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 in the book of Ruth.

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 Behold, the Redeemer

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 of whom Boaz had spoken

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 came by.

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 Boaz grabs hold of him

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 and challenges him

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 before witnesses

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 to fulfill his duty.

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 So he says,

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 verse 3,

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 he said to the Redeemer,

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 Naomi,

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 who's come back

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 from the country of Moab,

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 is selling the parcel of land

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 that belonged

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 to our relative Elimelech.

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 So I thought

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 I would tell you about it.

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 I'd say,

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 buy it in the presence

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 of those sitting here.

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 There's witnesses

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 in the presence

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 of the elders of my people.

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 If you will redeem it,

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 redeem it.

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 But if you will not,

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 tell me that I may know.

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 For there's no one

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 besides you to redeem it

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 and I come after you.

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 What's he going to say?

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 Well, the man says,

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 I'll redeem it.

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 I'm in.

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 But do you notice

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 who Boaz hasn't mentioned yet?

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 He's not mentioned Ruth yet,

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 has he?

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 He's just spoken

00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:15.220
 in terms of

00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.000
 the parcel of land

00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.600
 of prophets.

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 And obviously,

00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:20.500
 this nameless Redeemer,

00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:21.519
 he's a guy

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 with an eye for a bargain.

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 This could be

00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:25.600
 a nice little earner.

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 Naomi is an old lady.

00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:28.019
 She's not going to have

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 any children.

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 If I marry Naomi,

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 well,

00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.639
 the land will become

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 mine automatically.

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 When Naomi dies,

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 she's not going to have a son.

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 She's not going to have

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 somebody who will be able

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.919
 to reclaim their inheritance.

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 And the land would become

00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:44.339
 automatically mine.

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 It's a nice little earner.

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 It sounds like a good investment,

00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:48.939
 a good option.

00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:51.219
 But then Boaz plays

00:10:51.219 --> 00:10:51.899
 his trump card.

00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:52.479
 Look what he says.

00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:52.740
 He says,

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 did I mention Ruth?

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 Did I mention Ruth,

00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.159
 the Moabitess?

00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:02.639
 And I think the writer

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.000
 of the story

00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.159
 is emphasizing something there.

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 Did I mention Ruth,

00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.379
 the foreigner?

00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:08.339
 Ruth,

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 the Moabitess,

00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.019
 who's come to Israel.

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 She comes as part

00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:12.379
 of the deal.

00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:13.100
 She comes as part

00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:13.559
 of the property.

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:15.319
 So,

00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:16.019
 verse 5.

00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.360
 And the day you buy

00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:19.379
 the field from the hand

00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:19.779
 of Naomi,

00:11:19.939 --> 00:11:20.759
 you also acquire

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.120
 Ruth,

00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:21.779
 the Moabite,

00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:22.799
 the widow of the dead,

00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.539
 in order to perpetuate

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.219
 the name of the dead

00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:25.899
 in his inheritance.

00:11:26.199 --> 00:11:27.079
 Now it's not looking

00:11:27.079 --> 00:11:27.839
 such a good deal.

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.199
 Ruth,

00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:30.819
 by all accounts,

00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:31.779
 is a very attractive

00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:32.859
 young woman.

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.399
 She's likely to have

00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.319
 children of her own.

00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:37.139
 And he doesn't mind

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.039
 buying the land.

00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.319
 But there's no

00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:41.419
 commercial advantage

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.719
 to marrying Ruth.

00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.419
 And so he backs out.

00:11:45.479 --> 00:11:46.379
 He says the deal is off.

00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:49.359
 And he takes off his sandal.

00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.219
 It's a bit strange to us.

00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.620
 He hands it to Boaz.

00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:53.220
 But that is the legal way

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.440
 of transferring property

00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:54.919
 in Israel.

00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:56.960
 It's the equivalent

00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.159
 of signing a contract,

00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.259
 of shaking on the deal.

00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:00.460
 He's relinquishing

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.860
 his rights to the land.

00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:02.779
 And then we're told,

00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.399
 verse 9.

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.039
 Then Boaz said to the elders

00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:06.600
 and all the people,

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.779
 you are witnesses this day

00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:08.500
 that I've bought

00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.379
 from the hand of Naomi

00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.700
 all that belonged to Emelach,

00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:11.740
 all that belonged to

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.419
 Kilian and Malon,

00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.560
 and Ruth the Moabite,

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.899
 the widow of Malon.

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.399
 I bought to be my wife.

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.779
 There's such a contrast,

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.060
 isn't there,

00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:21.979
 between the two redeemers.

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.699
 Boaz was not

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.619
 the closest relative.

00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:28.519
 He had no obligation

00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.959
 to buy the land.

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.379
 He had no obligation

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.239
 to marry Ruth.

00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.219
 He didn't have to do that.

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.399
 There was another relative

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.619
 who was more closely connected

00:12:36.619 --> 00:12:37.399
 with the family.

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.479
 He could have walked away.

00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.059
 But he freely chose

00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:44.919
 to do this.

00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:48.399
 He freely chose

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.539
 to bear the cost,

00:12:49.699 --> 00:12:50.959
 to take on the responsibility.

00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.019
 And of course,

00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:54.139
 that's the real difference,

00:12:54.199 --> 00:12:54.399
 isn't it,

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.500
 between a real redeemer

00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:57.299
 and a false redeemer.

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.219
 So, remember the Lord Jesus

00:13:00.219 --> 00:13:01.039
 in the Gospels,

00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:01.759
 he talked about himself

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.459
 as the good shepherd.

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.339
 The good shepherd,

00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:05.959
 the great shepherd

00:13:05.959 --> 00:13:06.599
 who comes

00:13:06.599 --> 00:13:08.099
 and lays down his life

00:13:08.099 --> 00:13:08.620
 for the sheep.

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.519
 And he contrasts that

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.139
 in the Gospels

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.019
 with the hirelings

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:13.779
 who were only in it

00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.839
 for what they could get out of it.

00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.959
 They don't care about the sheep.

00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:16.819
 They're only in it

00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:17.220
 for the money.

00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:19.600
 And that's the contrast

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.600
 between Boaz

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.579
 and this other man.

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.120
 This other man

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.919
 is only in it

00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.919
 for what he can squeeze out

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.459
 for himself.

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:27.179
 He's not concerned

00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:27.959
 with the plight

00:13:27.959 --> 00:13:28.980
 of these two

00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:30.579
 widowed women.

00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.620
 He's not concerned

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:33.199
 with their future

00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:34.259
 in Israel.

00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:36.179
 It didn't enter

00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:37.000
 into his thinking at all,

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.980
 but not so with Boaz.

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.879
 He acts out of

00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.319
 unselfish,

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.579
 sacrificial love.

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:47.740
 It's not usually

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.439
 what we mean

00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:49.159
 by love.

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.559
 But the key word here

00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.740
 is the word hesed.

00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.720
 That's covenant love.

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.000
 It's hard

00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:56.539
 to put it

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.279
 into English.

00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.980
 Somebody has called it

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.059
 love with Velcro,

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:01.899
 which is quite a good way

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.319
 of putting it.

00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.620
 Covenant love

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.299
 is not lust.

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.500
 It's not infatuation.

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:09.019
 It's not hormones

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.740
 raging

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.299
 through the body

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.000
 in testosterone.

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.120
 Alec Mateer

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.940
 puts it like this.

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:15.419
 He says,

00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.299
 covenant love,

00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:17.720
 it is the wonderful love

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.059
 that combines

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:20.000
 the warmth

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.980
 of God's fellowship

00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:23.340
 with the security

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.519
 of God's faithfulness.

00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.000
 And that's a lovely

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.179
 unpacking of that word.

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.419
 It's like the wonderful love

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.019
 that combines

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:32.820
 the warmth

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:34.000
 of God's fellowship

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.600
 fellowship

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:37.360
 with the secret

00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.419
 of God's faithfulness,

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.019
 the security

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.120
 of God's faithfulness.

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.759
 And that's what Ruth

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.779
 has come to expect

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.860
 by sheltering

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:46.539
 under the wings

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.080
 of God.

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.419
 And that's what Boaz

00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:49.879
 knew

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:51.220
 and experienced

00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:51.980
 in his life.

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.279
 He knew what it was

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:54.960
 to trust

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.860
 in the God of Israel.

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.960
 And you see

00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.100
 that covenant love

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:02.320
 and covenant faithfulness

00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.840
 supremely in Jesus.

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.139
 And Boaz

00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:07.120
 is a prototype

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.500
 of Jesus.

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.879
 You know what a prototype is?

00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.340
 It's not the real thing.

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.120
 But it points

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.899
 to the real thing.

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.980
 It points

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.120
 to what the real thing

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.700
 is

00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.820
 and how it will function.

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:19.980
 And Boaz

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.039
 is not Jesus.

00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:21.759
 He points

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.300
 to Jesus.

00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:24.679
 And so Spurgeon

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.479
 calls Jesus

00:15:25.479 --> 00:15:27.120
 our glorious Boaz.

00:15:28.479 --> 00:15:29.059
 Do you remember

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.740
 what Jesus said

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.219
 in the gospel?

00:15:30.479 --> 00:15:31.000
 The Son of Man

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.879
 has come into the world.

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.839
 This broken,

00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:34.919
 fallen, damaged world.

00:15:34.959 --> 00:15:35.439
 The Son of Man

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:36.120
 has come into this world

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.179
 not to be served

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.259
 but to serve.

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.959
 That's the difference

00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:42.859
 between Jesus

00:15:42.859 --> 00:15:43.819
 and all these

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:44.859
 other redeemers.

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.079
 Difference between Jesus

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.759
 and all these

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.839
 other gods out there.

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.559
 The Son of Man

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.500
 came not to be served

00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.299
 but to serve

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.279
 and to give his life

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.940
 as a ransom

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.919
 for many.

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.000
 To pay the price.

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.519
 The ultimate price

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.740
 that would redeem us

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.559
 and sell us free

00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.120
 from our sin

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.100
 and give us a future.

00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:08.779
 Our glorious Boaz

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.860
 the Son of Man

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:12.179
 he looked down

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:12.919
 the corridors

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.659
 of eternity

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:15.960
 and he saw you

00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:16.779
 and me in our plight.

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:19.179
 Just like Boaz

00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:19.720
 saw Ruth

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.360
 in her plight

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:20.899
 and his heart

00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.759
 was moved for us

00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.879
 willingly and freely.

00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.379
 And it wasn't robbery

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.460
 for him to claim

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.440
 equality with God.

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.759
 He could have stayed

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.639
 in the glory

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.019
 couldn't he

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.580
 but he willingly

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.680
 and he freely

00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:34.759
 took the form

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.340
 of a servant

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.360
 and became obedient

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:36.940
 unto death

00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.019
 even death on a cross.

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.259
 He paid the ultimate price.

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.500
 From heaven

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.080
 he came

00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.120
 and sought her

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.379
 to be his holy bride.

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:47.559
 with his own blood

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.519
 he bought her

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.480
 and for her sake

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:50.879
 he died.

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.299
 Because as we

00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.519
 see at the Lord's table

00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.480
 redemption is costly.

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.799
 There's a price

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.139
 to pay

00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.779
 and when the moment

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.360
 comes

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.039
 and the price

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:01.620
 for our rescue

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.399
 has to be paid

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.419
 we're told Jesus

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.039
 sell his face

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.559
 like a flint

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.039
 to Jerusalem.

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.839
 He didn't back out.

00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.059
 He didn't hesitate.

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.859
 He didn't linger.

00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:11.339
 He didn't withhold

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.539
 anything

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.679
 he gave of himself

00:17:13.679 --> 00:17:14.839
 freely and willingly.

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.319
 He went to the cross.

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.559
 How willing

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.399
 was Jesus to die

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:24.039
 that we fellow sinners

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.599
 might live?

00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:26.939
 The life

00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:29.519
 they could not take away.

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:30.759
 How willing

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.000
 was Jesus to give?

00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:34.359
 And freely

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.619
 and willingly

00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:38.959
 he dies

00:17:38.959 --> 00:17:39.479
 on the cross

00:17:39.479 --> 00:17:40.359
 and with his last breath

00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:41.079
 he cries out

00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.439
 doesn't he?

00:17:41.739 --> 00:17:42.139
 Tatalestai

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.159
 it is finished.

00:17:43.239 --> 00:17:44.279
 Not I am finished.

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.000
 It's a business term

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.559
 at the cross.

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.339
 He's not saying

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:51.899
 I am finished.

00:17:51.979 --> 00:17:52.479
 He cried out

00:17:52.479 --> 00:17:53.139
 with a loud voice

00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:54.179
 it is paid for.

00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:57.559
 Campbell Morgan

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.399
 he was a minister

00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.239
 in London

00:17:59.239 --> 00:17:59.899
 in the kind of

00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.319
 early part

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.079
 of the 20th century

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.979
 and he was preaching

00:18:01.979 --> 00:18:02.719
 in South Wales

00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:04.379
 in a coal mining village.

00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.939
 And he spoke

00:18:06.939 --> 00:18:08.179
 of the salvation

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:09.519
 that is offered

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.000
 to us

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.419
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.299
 He spoke to this man

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:14.639
 and he said

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.339
 there is nothing

00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.579
 that you have to do.

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.779
 There is nothing

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.039
 you can do

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.599
 but receive it.

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.299
 That's all you've got to do.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.559
 I think it's one

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.459
 of the many things

00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:27.019
 that keeps people

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.919
 from becoming a Christian.

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.239
 The person said

00:18:30.239 --> 00:18:30.779
 but surely

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:32.500
 that's just too easy

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.939
 isn't it?

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.860
 It's too good

00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.580
 to be true.

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:37.460
 Surely

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.080
 I've got to do something.

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:40.740
 Surely

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.500
 I've got to make

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.400
 some contribution.

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.240
 Surely

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.640
 I'll have to pay something.

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.559
 Campbell Morgan

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:47.940
 said to him

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.980
 tell me

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.180
 how did you go down

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.000
 into the mine

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.140
 underground this morning?

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:53.740
 Man said

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.080
 I went down

00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:54.480
 on the lift.

00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:56.559
 He said

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:56.720
 well

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.279
 that must have

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.880
 cost you something

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.279
 wasn't it?

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.580
 Man said

00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:00.840
 well no

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.559
 it didn't cost me

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:01.880
 a thing.

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.299
 Well isn't that

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.799
 too easy?

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.240
 Didn't you have

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.799
 to pay

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.420
 to go down

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.820
 in the lift?

00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.200
 Wasn't there

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.140
 a cost to pay?

00:19:10.820 --> 00:19:11.120
 The man said

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:11.360
 well no

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:12.140
 it didn't cost me

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.440
 a thing.

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:12.840
 The man said

00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.759
 it cost the company

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.759
 to have that lift

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.080
 installed.

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:16.620
 It cost the company

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.259
 an awful lot

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.960
 to have that lift

00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.240
 installed

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.860
 but it didn't

00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.700
 cost me a thing.

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.519
 It's precisely.

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.220
 And salvation

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.500
 is free.

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.680
 It is not cheap.

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.180
 But it is free.

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:33.299
 It cost me

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:33.860
 nothing.

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.080
 It cost him

00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:36.779
 everything.

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.600
 It cost God

00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:40.200
 his own

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.160
 beloved son.

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.580
 We have

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:41.960
 redemption

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.480
 through his

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:42.860
 blood.

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:45.820
 And so that's

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.560
 the first thing.

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.240
 It's a story

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.700
 of costly

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.060
 redemption

00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:48.539
 but secondly

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.060
 it's a story

00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:49.640
 of surprising

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.160
 grace.

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:52.759
 Surprising

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.160
 grace.

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:53.560
 Look at

00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:54.060
 verses

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:56.060
 11 and 12.

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.100
 There's a prayer

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.299
 in there.

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:57.720
 In fact I'm not

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.120
 really sure

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.559
 whether it's a

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.379
 prayer or testimony

00:19:59.379 --> 00:19:59.779
 meeting

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.579
 in verses

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.319
 11 and 12.

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.959
 But after the

00:20:03.959 --> 00:20:04.319
 ceremony

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:04.939
 the witnesses

00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:05.559
 who've witnessed

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.199
 the transaction

00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:06.739
 they pray

00:20:06.739 --> 00:20:07.099
 in verses

00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:07.719
 11 and 12.

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.399
 And you might

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.759
 have noticed

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.279
 that Ruth

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.819
 actually is

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.479
 laced with

00:20:10.479 --> 00:20:10.899
 all these

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.519
 little prayers

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:11.879
 all the way

00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.239
 through it.

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.219
 And here

00:20:15.219 --> 00:20:15.439
 are the

00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:15.819
 witnesses

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:17.039
 the town

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.539
 counsellors

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.879
 and they're

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.219
 praying

00:20:18.219 --> 00:20:18.699
 and they pray

00:20:18.699 --> 00:20:19.199
 for Ruth

00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:19.819
 you notice

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.099
 in verses

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.599
 11 and 12.

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.339
 And they pray

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:21.659
 don't they

00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.739
 that she might

00:20:22.739 --> 00:20:23.179
 become like

00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:24.099
 Rachel and Leah

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:27.199
 the founding

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.819
 mothers of

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.099
 Israel

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.639
 who produced

00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.359
 enormous amounts

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:29.819
 of children.

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.480
 And then

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.419
 Ruth the Moabitess

00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:33.980
 this pagan

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.299
 girl

00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:34.959
 who comes

00:20:34.959 --> 00:20:35.419
 from a place

00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:35.779
 where they

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.439
 used to

00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:36.919
 sacrifice

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:37.559
 their children

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.359
 to Chemosh

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.879
 this girl

00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:40.240
 who used

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:40.679
 to worship

00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.699
 other gods

00:20:41.699 --> 00:20:42.819
 and now

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.099
 these elders

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.179
 are praying

00:20:45.179 --> 00:20:46.179
 for Ruth

00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:46.779
 the Moabitess

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.299
 that she

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.839
 would become

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.379
 like Rachel

00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:48.740
 and Leah

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.259
 the founding

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:49.719
 mothers of

00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:50.039
 Israel.

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:52.440
 And they

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:52.859
 pray for

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.740
 Boaz

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.059
 for his

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.240
 name

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.519
 to be

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:54.899
 honoured

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.279
 where

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.599
 in

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.319
 Bethlehem

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:56.960
 Ephrathah.

00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.480
 And they

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.139
 pray for

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.759
 this little

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.319
 family

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.079
 may your

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.519
 family be

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:02.839
 like that

00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:03.700
 of Perez

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.659
 who

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:04.980
 Terah

00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.200
 brought

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.579
 to Judah.

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.240
 And Perez

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.759
 was the

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.180
 result of

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.659
 the same

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.159
 kind of

00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:10.619
 marriage

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.279
 that Ruth

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.720
 and Boaz

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.039
 would have

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.539
 a Leverite

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.019
 marriage

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.920
 marrying

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.279
 the brothers

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.559
 widow.

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.619
 And he

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.039
 was one

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.619
 of Boaz

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.299
 ancestors.

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:23.019
 It's

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.420
 easy for

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.639
 us to

00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.000
 forget

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.500
 with all

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:24.720
 these

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.159
 wonderful

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.639
 sentiments

00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:25.920
 being

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.539
 expressed

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.299
 in this

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.500
 little

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:27.720
 prayer

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.019
 meeting

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:31.519
 that

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:31.720
 this

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:31.899
 is

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:32.319
 Ruth

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:32.579
 the

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.200
 Moabitess

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.879
 a

00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.440
 childless

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:35.740
 widow

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.359
 from a

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.079
 despised

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.579
 foreign

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.240
 tribe

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:41.159
 and now

00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.579
 her name

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.019
 is up

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.279
 there in

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.539
 lights

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.019
 with Rachel

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.379
 and Leah.

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.599
 But not

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:45.960
 only that

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.220
 look at

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.000
 verse 15

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.359
 there's

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:47.659
 something

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.359
 shocking

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.119
 about that.

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:53.019
 In chapter

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.500
 one

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.039
 when they

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.579
 turned up

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.079
 the people

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.700
 were whispering

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.379
 behind their

00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:56.960
 hands about

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.299
 Ruth and

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.659
 Naomi.

00:21:59.159 --> 00:21:59.819
 But now

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.099
 look what

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.399
 they say

00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:00.720
 in verse

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.420
 15.

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.319
 He shall

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.619
 be to

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:05.879
 you a

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.180
 restorer

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.519
 of life

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.960
 and nourisher

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.299
 of your

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.899
 old age

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.980
 for your

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.579
 daughters-in-law

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.039
 who loves

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.220
 you

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.720
 who is

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.379
 more to

00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:11.680
 you

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.000
 who is

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.240
 more

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.819
 valuable

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.180
 than

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:13.879
 seven

00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.440
 sons.

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:17.880
 That is

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:18.440
 a really

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.140
 radical

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.640
 thing

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.259
 to say

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.519
 in the

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.080
 patriarchal

00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:21.360
 culture

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:21.559
 of

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:21.820
 Ruth.

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.799
 When

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.080
 having

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.519
 lots

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:26.700
 of

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.019
 sons

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.420
 was

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:27.720
 seen

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.180
 to be

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.740
 a

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:28.960
 great

00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.360
 blessing

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.500
 from

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.640
 the

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:30.820
 Lord

00:22:30.820 --> 00:22:31.240
 and

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.680
 seven

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:31.920
 is

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.059
 the

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.320
 perfect

00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:32.720
 number.

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:34.840
 And so

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.039
 do you

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.259
 see what

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.380
 they're

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:35.559
 saying

00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:35.720
 to

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.019
 Naomi?

00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.880
 Ruth

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.059
 is

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.279
 better

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.440
 to

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.559
 you

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:38.680
 than

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:38.820
 an

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.080
 infinite

00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.380
 number

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:39.519
 of

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:39.779
 men.

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.680
 That's

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.160
 a radical

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.420
 thing

00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:42.720
 to say

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.240
 3,000

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.519
 years

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.799
 ago.

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:44.720
 In

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.000
 Israel.

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.420
 Isn't

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:45.539
 that

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:45.920
 surprising?

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.140
 You

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.279
 didn't

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.440
 see

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:46.620
 that

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:46.799
 one

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.120
 coming.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.740
 In

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:48.880
 a

00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.100
 day

00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:49.440
 when

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.820
 women

00:22:49.820 --> 00:22:50.039
 were

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.019
 nobodies,

00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:51.779
 do you

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.019
 see what

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.400
 God does

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:52.620
 here?

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.180
 God

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.580
 recruits

00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:53.900
 the

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.120
 women.

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.400
 And

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:56.480
 he

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:56.880
 recruits

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.160
 a

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.380
 widow

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.680
 and

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:57.880
 a

00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.259
 foreigner

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.900
 from

00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.000
 a

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.440
 despised

00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.720
 race.

00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.160
 And

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.259
 he

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.680
 recruits

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:00.799
 her

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:00.940
 for

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.160
 a

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.500
 leading

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.120
 role

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.480
 in

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.580
 the

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.019
 unfolding

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.240
 of

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.360
 his

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:03.680
 eternal

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.160
 purposes.

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.460
 She

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:07.680
 is,

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:07.960
 as it

00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.140
 were,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.880
 spliced

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.360
 into

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:09.559
 the

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:09.840
 line

00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.000
 of

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.320
 David,

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:10.539
 the

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:10.740
 great

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.019
 king,

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.480
 and

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:11.920
 ultimately

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.160
 into

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.299
 the

00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:12.480
 line

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:12.640
 of

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:12.920
 Jesus.

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.660
 Because

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:14.900
 when you

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.120
 come to

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.220
 the

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.380
 New

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:15.720
 Testament,

00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.019
 Ruth

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.279
 turns

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.519
 up on

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:16.640
 the

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:16.859
 first

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.279
 page.

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.960
 The

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.279
 racial

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.859
 outsider,

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.079
 the

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.299
 poor

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.720
 widow,

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.099
 the

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.759
 outcast,

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:23.980
 she's

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.480
 identified

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.940
 with the

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.299
 name that

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.620
 is above

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:25.920
 every

00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.220
 name.

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.180
 And

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.339
 isn't

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:28.460
 that

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:28.759
 God's

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.099
 grace?

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.200
 It's

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.720
 outrageous,

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.319
 it's

00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:32.900
 surprising,

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.380
 it's no

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:33.819
 wonder we

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.039
 sing

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.400
 amazing

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.799
 grace.

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.579
 Ruth

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:37.759
 the

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.399
 Moabitess

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:38.899
 becomes

00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:39.960
 one of

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.059
 the

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.279
 mothers

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.500
 of

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:40.779
 Jesus.

00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:43.859
 And so

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.159
 family

00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.799
 trees in

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.059
 Jesus'

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:45.279
 day

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.659
 normally

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:45.960
 only

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.379
 included

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:46.519
 the

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:46.720
 names

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:46.879
 of

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.220
 men,

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.720
 but

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.059
 Jesus'

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.779
 genealogy

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.059
 has

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.299
 got

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.599
 four

00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:49.859
 women

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.299
 in it.

00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.180
 Bathsheba,

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.879
 Tamar,

00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.059
 Rahab,

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.639
 and Ruth.

00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.720
 Ruth

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:56.839
 the

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.500
 Moabitess,

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.740
 four shady

00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.220
 ladies,

00:23:59.359 --> 00:23:59.599
 as one

00:23:59.599 --> 00:23:59.940
 commented

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.099
 it

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:00.319
 calls

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:00.480
 them.

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:00.680
 It's

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:00.899
 probably

00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.079
 a bit

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.460
 unfair.

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.000
 And

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.319
 yet they've

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.559
 got a

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:03.940
 history.

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:09.159
 And

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.480
 grace

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:09.680
 has

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:09.839
 put

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:09.960
 them

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.059
 in

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.200
 the

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.559
 Saviour's

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.899
 family.

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.039
 And

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.220
 grace

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.480
 can do

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.619
 that

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:13.899
 for you

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.099
 today,

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.339
 whatever

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:14.539
 your

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:14.879
 background.

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.139
 Whatever

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:17.839
 skeletons

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.259
 are

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.779
 rattling

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.180
 around

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.559
 in your

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.000
 cupboard,

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.059
 God's

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.379
 kindness

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.279
 is so

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.599
 wonderful

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:23.879
 that it

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.159
 can put

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.379
 you in

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:24.519
 the

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.859
 Saviour's

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.180
 family.

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.119
 So

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.379
 listen to

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.720
 what Paul

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.000
 says,

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:29.299
 the

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.659
 mercy

00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.039
 of God

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.539
 extends

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.000
 beyond the

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.339
 boundaries

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.919
 of race

00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.519
 or class

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.119
 or gender

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.779
 or culture

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.419
 or ethnicity.

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.519
 It

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.759
 isn't

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.299
 restricted

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.019
 to the

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.200
 rich

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.359
 and

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.720
 powerful.

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.440
 No,

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.740
 it's a

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:40.960
 kingdom

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.139
 of

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:41.339
 grace

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.599
 is what

00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:41.779
 Paul

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.099
 says in

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.480
 1 Corinthians.

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.279
 Think of

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.639
 what you

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.139
 were,

00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:44.639
 he says

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:44.879
 to the

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.119
 church.

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.700
 He says,

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.339
 when you

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.779
 were called,

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.299
 not many

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:47.539
 of you

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.079
 were wise

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.599
 according to

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.000
 the worldly

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.639
 standards.

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.099
 There's not

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.059
 many PhDs

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.639
 in the

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:52.940
 Corinthian

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.180
 church,

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.879
 not many

00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.399
 influential

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.000
 politicians,

00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.039
 not many

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.539
 of noble

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.059
 birth,

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.180
 but God

00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.680
 chose the

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.180
 foolish

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.399
 things of

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:01.659
 the world

00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:01.919
 to shame

00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.339
 the wise.

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.099
 God chose

00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:03.619
 the weak

00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.619
 things to

00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:04.779
 shame

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.279
 the strong.

00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.139
 God chose

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.879
 the lowly

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.799
 things of

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.259
 the world

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.579
 and the

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.319
 despised

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.299
 things and

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.699
 the things

00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.579
 that are

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.779
 not to

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.299
 nullify the

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.659
 things that

00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:14.959
 are,

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.699
 so that

00:25:17.699 --> 00:25:18.539
 no one

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:20.019
 may boast

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.599
 before him.

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:23.459
 God

00:25:23.459 --> 00:25:23.799
 is God's

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.000
 grace,

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.279
 that is

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.480
 what he

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:24.799
 does.

00:25:30.439 --> 00:25:30.799
 Sometimes

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.659
 I think

00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:31.959
 we are

00:25:31.959 --> 00:25:32.559
 tempted to

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:32.899
 think that

00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:33.259
 God could

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.779
 never really

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.319
 use me.

00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:36.899
 God

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.159
 couldn't

00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:37.619
 use us

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.139
 because we

00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:38.740
 don't meet

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.099
 the kind

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.879
 of index

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:41.439
 of worldly

00:25:41.439 --> 00:25:42.179
 success.

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.659
 And we

00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:45.980
 look around

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.279
 this room

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.419
 and we

00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:46.839
 just think,

00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:47.000
 well,

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.339
 I'm just

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:47.779
 a nobody.

00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:49.599
 We're just

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.359
 nothings.

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:50.959
 sometimes we

00:25:50.959 --> 00:25:51.359
 think God

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:51.919
 could never

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.419
 use a

00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:52.919
 person like

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:53.399
 me because

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:53.779
 we don't

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.379
 match up

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:56.079
 to our

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.240
 own

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.740
 expectations,

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.079
 let alone

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.679
 the expectations

00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.139
 of others.

00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:58.759
 And we

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.179
 feel God

00:25:59.179 --> 00:25:59.500
 couldn't

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.859
 possibly

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.259
 use a

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.459
 person

00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:00.699
 like

00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:01.139
 me.

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.939
 But we

00:26:03.939 --> 00:26:04.259
 mustn't

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.859
 forget God's

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.219
 surprising

00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:05.679
 grace.

00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:08.899
 Jacob was

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.359
 a cheater.

00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:10.939
 Peter had

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.399
 a temper.

00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:13.059
 David had

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.619
 an affair.

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.059
 Noah got

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.519
 drunk.

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.619
 Jonah ran

00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.299
 from God.

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.459
 Paul was

00:26:18.459 --> 00:26:19.000
 a murderer.

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.579
 Gideon was

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.160
 insecure.

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.079
 Miriam was

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.579
 a gossip.

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.359
 Martha was

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.859
 a worrier.

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.700
 Thomas was

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.299
 a doubter.

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.180
 Sarah was

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.700
 impatient.

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.839
 Elijah was

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.339
 depressed.

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.039
 Moses

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.700
 stuttered.

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.500
 Zacchaeus

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.039
 was short.

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.059
 Abraham was

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.460
 old.

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.359
 And Lazarus

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.880
 was dead.

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.740
 That's how

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.420
 God works.

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.859
 God doesn't

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.380
 call the

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:42.940
 qualified.

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.579
 He qualifies

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.160
 the called.

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.740
 God's

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.160
 God's

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.700
 God.

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:47.880
 And that's

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.060
 what he

00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:48.380
 does.

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.800
 It's all of

00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:51.180
 grace so that

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.620
 no one would

00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:51.920
 boast.

00:26:53.800 --> 00:26:54.480
 And so

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.900
 whoever you

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.259
 are this

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.660
 morning,

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.400
 and wherever

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.040
 you're from,

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.440
 and whatever

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.120
 your background,

00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:00.980
 and whatever

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.519
 your baggage,

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.140
 and whatever

00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.920
 your story,

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.620
 your life

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.040
 becomes

00:27:04.040 --> 00:27:04.680
 significant

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:06.220
 as it is

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.779
 taken up

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.420
 into the

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.300
 greater story

00:27:08.300 --> 00:27:08.720
 of the

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.120
 Lord Jesus

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.660
 himself.

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.500
 And that's

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.940
 the story of

00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.120
 Ruth.

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:14.500
 It's a

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.759
 story of

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.000
 costly

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.319
 redemption.

00:27:15.479 --> 00:27:15.659
 It's a

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.019
 story of

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.379
 surprising

00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:16.739
 grace.

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.039
 And then

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.339
 lastly,

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.059
 it's a

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.399
 story of

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:18.719
 joyful

00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:19.359
 restoration.

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.639
 Some

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.159
 people read

00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:25.459
 the end of

00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:25.719
 Ruth and

00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:25.939
 they think

00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.139
 it's a

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:26.399
 little bit

00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.059
 Disney-esque.

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.819
 The girl

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.199
 gets the

00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:29.479
 guy,

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:29.859
 they have

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.239
 a baby,

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:31.939
 they all

00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:32.319
 live happily

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:32.919
 ever after.

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.939
 That only

00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.459
 ever happens

00:27:35.459 --> 00:27:35.919
 in fairy

00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:36.199
 tales,

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:36.639
 doesn't it?

00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.479
 So if you

00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:37.759
 write a

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.359
 modern play

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.579
 and you

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:38.839
 give it a

00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.419
 happy ending,

00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:41.099
 the critics

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.519
 laugh at

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:41.599
 you.

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:41.859
 They say

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:41.979
 it's

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.440
 superficial and

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:43.960
 unrealistic.

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.120
 Real life

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.559
 isn't like

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:45.839
 that.

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.700
 It's only

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.400
 like that in

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.460
 fairy tales that

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:49.880
 people live

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.440
 happily ever

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.220
 after, or

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.500
 is it?

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.400
 Why is it

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.860
 that fairy

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.400
 tales end

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:55.880
 that way?

00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.299
 Why do you

00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.079
 think fairy

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.819
 tales reflect

00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.140
 that?

00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:03.720
 What do you

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.160
 think fairy

00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.599
 tales are

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:04.960
 trying to

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.460
 tell us?

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.420
 There is an

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:08.880
 echo of

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.400
 something there,

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.759
 isn't there?

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.720
 There is an

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.539
 echo of what

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.100
 this book is

00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.600
 telling us,

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.279
 of what the

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.620
 Bible is

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.039
 telling us,

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.500
 that in the

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.740
 end,

00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.400
 that in the

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.819
 end,

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.819
 God's people

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.240
 can look

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.579
 forward to

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.039
 the restoration

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.559
 of all

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:21.980
 things in

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.539
 Jesus Christ.

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.759
 And that

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.180
 is how the

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.819
 story ends.

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:27.880
 And it

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.500
 comes back

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.220
 full circle to

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.759
 show how God

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.160
 restores.

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.960
 The years that

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.519
 the locusts have

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:31.839
 eaten,

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.940
 God can

00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.240
 restore.

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.160
 And when God

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.700
 renews his

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.200
 people, when they

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.980
 put their trust in

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.740
 him, let me just

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.220
 point that out

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.539
 for you, he

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.339
 restores Ruth

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.000
 and Naomi from

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.819
 emptiness to

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.120
 fullness.

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.480
 Do you remember

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.059
 chapter 1?

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.640
 Ruth and Naomi,

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.759
 they came back to

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.819
 Bethlehem and

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.579
 Naomi says,

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.359
 don't call me

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:50.620
 Naomi, I

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.799
 went away full,

00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.759
 but the Lord has

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.380
 brought me back

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.440
 empty, call me

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:54.839
 bitter.

00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.980
 But now chapter

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.059
 14, can you see

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.680
 what she says?

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.880
 The women say to

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.579
 Naomi, blessed be

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.039
 the Lord who has

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.700
 not left you this

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.220
 day without a

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.839
 redeemer, and may

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.500
 his name be

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.359
 renowned for

00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:08.579
 by all in

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:08.899
 Israel.

00:29:11.719 --> 00:29:12.599
 He shall be to

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.279
 you a restorer

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:13.939
 of life, a

00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:14.419
 nourisher of

00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.019
 your old age,

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.339
 for your

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.859
 daughter-in-law

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.419
 who loves you,

00:29:16.719 --> 00:29:17.240
 who's more to

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.779
 you than seven

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.419
 sons has given

00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:18.919
 birth to him.

00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:21.879
 She's renewed,

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.539
 there's a sparkle

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.039
 in her eyes

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.500
 again, she's

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.879
 restored.

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:26.939
 She's returned

00:29:26.939 --> 00:29:27.559
 to Bethlehem

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.359
 empty, but now

00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:30.559
 she's come full

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.399
 in chapter 4.

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:35.120
 God has

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.560
 answered her

00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:35.940
 prayers.

00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:36.420
 The woman who

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:36.940
 despaired of

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.720
 ever having

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:39.580
 grandchildren has

00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:39.920
 got a little

00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.480
 baby on her

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.759
 lap.

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.200
 He's filling

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.160
 Naomi's

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.960
 emptiness, and

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.500
 you can see the

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.080
 sparkle in her

00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:48.440
 eyes.

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.680
 As she gazes

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.240
 down at this

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.100
 little bundle on

00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.940
 her knee, she's

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.700
 no longer bitter

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.000
 anymore, the old

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.680
 Naomi is back

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.060
 again.

00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:00.480
 It's embarrassing

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:00.980
 at the end of

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.519
 chapter 1 when

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.000
 they go back

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.700
 from Moab.

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.880
 They can't even

00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.480
 recognize it.

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.019
 They say, is

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.720
 this really

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.099
 Naomi?

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.779
 Ten years have

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.240
 taken their

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.539
 toll.

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.620
 But now the

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.180
 years that the

00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.579
 locusts have

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.039
 eaten have been

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.960
 restored from

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.759
 emptiness to

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.000
 fullness, from

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.640
 prayer to

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.500
 praise, because

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.319
 what you have

00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:20.839
 here in verse

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:22.579
 13 is answered

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.299
 prayer, isn't

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.539
 it?

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.140
 So Boaz took

00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:26.799
 Ruth and she

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.339
 became his

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.940
 wife and he

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.519
 went into her

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.099
 and the Lord

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.620
 gave her

00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.160
 conception.

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.100
 And she

00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:31.720
 bore a

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.060
 child.

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.779
 I think in

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.580
 verse 13 there

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.500
 is a clue that

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.320
 Ruth had

00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:36.320
 struggled to

00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:36.960
 conceive.

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.080
 I think that's

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:39.680
 the most obvious

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.180
 reading of

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.779
 verse 13.

00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.340
 For ten years

00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:45.060
 she'd known the

00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:46.400
 pain of not

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:46.960
 being able to

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.680
 conceive with

00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.180
 Malon.

00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.360
 And so Naomi

00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:51.900
 in chapter 1

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.800
 verse 8 urges

00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:53.440
 her daughter's

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:53.960
 in-law to go

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.880
 back to Moab.

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.360
 That's part of

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:55.779
 her prayer.

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.440
 And it's a

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.240
 mixture of

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.579
 good and

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.099
 bad, that

00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.519
 desire.

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.599
 It's mixed, but

00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.359
 she prays and

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.119
 she urges them

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.639
 to go back to

00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:06.220
 Moab, which is

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.639
 not a good

00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.139
 thing, but she

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:07.619
 wants them to

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:08.399
 find rest and

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.619
 security in her

00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.119
 husband and in

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.660
 her family and

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.279
 she prays for

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.700
 them and God

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.059
 has answered

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.779
 that prayer now.

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.160
 There's a

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.839
 high priest at

00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:18.180
 God's right

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.480
 hand.

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.119
 We've got a

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:19.720
 friend in high

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.160
 places.

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:22.980
 What a friend we

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.500
 have in Jesus.

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.639
 All our sins and

00:31:24.639 --> 00:31:25.220
 griefs to pay.

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.839
 What a privilege

00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.039
 to carry everything

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.500
 to him in

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:27.700
 prayer.

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.440
 He cleans up

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.000
 our prayers, if

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.319
 I can put it

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.620
 like that.

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.059
 He can make

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.839
 sense of our

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.759
 confusion, like

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.640
 Naomi's confusion

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.319
 in chapter 1.

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.900
 He can improve

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.640
 what we bring to

00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:41.140
 God in prayer.

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.539
 He's given us

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.100
 the spirit of

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.680
 adoption who

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.720
 groans with us

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.360
 in our pain and

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:47.140
 our suffering, who

00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.880
 makes sense of

00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.519
 our intercession.

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.819
 And that's what's

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.400
 happening here.

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.539
 He takes our

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.039
 poor and

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.900
 misguided prayers

00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:54.620
 and he improves

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:54.960
 them and he

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.600
 answers them in

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.180
 ways we never

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.740
 thought possible.

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.900
 And that's what

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.420
 he does for

00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.640
 Ruth.

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:00.940
 The Lord

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.720
 enabled her to

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.100
 conceive.

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.880
 Verse 13, the

00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:04.779
 Lord gave her

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.579
 conception and she

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.120
 bore a son.

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.480
 And so the line

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:08.980
 of Elimelech,

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.579
 which everybody

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.400
 thought had dried

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:12.259
 up and died

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.779
 out, is now

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.200
 restored.

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.759
 And Ruth and

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.059
 Boaz are not so

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.779
 much starting a

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.759
 family as they're

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.559
 rescuing a family.

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.200
 It's a story of

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.740
 redemption and

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.859
 restoration from

00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:23.759
 full, from

00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.740
 empty to full,

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.500
 from prayer to

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.039
 praise.

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.859
 And then

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.359
 lastly, from

00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:28.799
 chaos to

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.159
 Christ.

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.279
 Because as I've

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.940
 kept reminding you,

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.879
 this happened in the

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.319
 days of the

00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:34.639
 judges.

00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:37.179
 A day when

00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:37.879
 Israel had no

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.220
 king and

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:38.779
 everyone did

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.259
 what was right

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.700
 in their own

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.039
 eyes.

00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.179
 And it was an

00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.079
 individualistic,

00:32:43.379 --> 00:32:43.940
 hedonistic

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.619
 society.

00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.200
 It was a

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.380
 society that

00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:48.100
 had made peace

00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:48.920
 with sexual

00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:49.799
 brutality and

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.680
 criminal violence.

00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:53.980
 Where might was

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.700
 right, where the

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.299
 law of the

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.220
 jungle prevailed.

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.559
 That is how it

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.279
 was in the days

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.660
 of the judges.

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.000
 If you don't

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.500
 believe me, just

00:32:59.500 --> 00:32:59.840
 read it.

00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.580
 It's an X-rated

00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:00.960
 book.

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.980
 And that's how it

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.620
 was in the days

00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:06.440
 of judges, how it

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.180
 is in our society

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.660
 today.

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.819
 Where everyone

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.620
 does what is

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.180
 right in their

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.799
 own eyes, and

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.900
 we will have no

00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.480
 king in Israel.

00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:14.420
 We will not have

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.220
 this king to rule

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.720
 over us.

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.680
 We will not

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.480
 have God telling

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:18.980
 us how to run

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.480
 our lives.

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.059
 And God says,

00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:23.000
 you shall not.

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:23.960
 And we say, I

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.620
 don't care, God,

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.100
 what you're saying,

00:33:25.120 --> 00:33:25.460
 I'm going to do

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:25.840
 it anyway.

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.700
 That's what sin

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:29.880
 is.

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.580
 It is rebellion

00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:31.299
 against the God

00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.100
 who created us.

00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.440
 And he gave us

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.180
 such a wonderful

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:35.980
 environment to

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.519
 flourish in.

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.660
 And he set the

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.279
 parameters for

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.019
 human flourishing,

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.500
 and we just take

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.240
 our puny little

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.960
 fist and we shake

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.980
 it in his face.

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.059
 Elimelech,

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.000
 what does that

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.139
 mean?

00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:47.579
 It means my

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.059
 God is king.

00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:48.779
 What did Elimelech

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.019
 do?

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.579
 He wandered

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.299
 into Moab.

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.779
 He rejected

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:55.279
 God as the

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:55.879
 rightful ruler

00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:56.440
 of his life.

00:33:57.859 --> 00:33:58.279
 And isn't that

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.679
 what you have

00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.859
 done?

00:33:59.539 --> 00:33:59.980
 What?

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.779
 Haven't you done

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:02.980
 that?

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.440
 Isn't that what

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.960
 the world has

00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.019
 done?

00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:07.579
 Because the world

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.079
 is made up of

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.539
 people like you

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.840
 and I?

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:12.800
 And we've

00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.260
 brought upon

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.700
 ourselves to

00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.180
 the brink of

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:16.039
 eternal ruin.

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.360
 And we can no

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:18.900
 more rescue

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.480
 ourselves this

00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.220
 morning than

00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:20.900
 Naomi could.

00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:23.039
 And we need

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.579
 help from

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.240
 outside.

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.760
 Outside of the

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.200
 human race.

00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:29.519
 We need a

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.039
 redeemer who

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.820
 will come and

00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.920
 restore us and

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.880
 rescue us and

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.820
 save us.

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:36.260
 that's precisely

00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:36.620
 what these

00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:37.160
 verses promise

00:34:37.160 --> 00:34:37.480
 us.

00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:39.900
 Because it's

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.559
 almost as if

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.980
 isn't it in

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.720
 verse 18

00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:42.660
 somebody has

00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.220
 pressed fast

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:43.720
 forward on

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.200
 the DVD.

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.580
 And suddenly

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.080
 we're nine

00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:48.940
 months on and

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.440
 Naomi is

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.039
 cradling a

00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.780
 grandchild and

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.360
 before you know

00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.840
 it somebody's

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.200
 pressed the

00:34:52.200 --> 00:34:52.680
 fast forward

00:34:52.680 --> 00:34:53.220
 button again

00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:53.500
 and you're

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.340
 three generations

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.080
 down the track

00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:55.880
 and there's a

00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:56.240
 king in

00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:56.519
 Israel,

00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:57.120
 King David.

00:34:58.700 --> 00:34:59.140
 Israel's

00:34:59.140 --> 00:34:59.780
 greatest king.

00:35:00.100 --> 00:35:00.500
 And if you

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.240
 keep your finger

00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:01.780
 on the fast

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.559
 forward button

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:02.840
 do you know

00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:03.260
 where you find

00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:03.620
 yourself?

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:06.720
 in the fields

00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:08.240
 of this little

00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:09.000
 town of

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.519
 Bethlehem,

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:10.080
 Ephrathah.

00:35:11.180 --> 00:35:11.860
 And you hear

00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:12.440
 the sound of

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.680
 angels saying

00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:15.280
 today is

00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:16.800
 born unto

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.760
 you this day

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.400
 in the city

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.800
 of David a

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.019
 saviour who

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.640
 is Christ the

00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:21.880
 Lord.

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.820
 And that's

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.380
 where this story

00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:24.800
 is pointing

00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.160
 us from

00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:26.420
 emptiness to

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:26.720
 fullness,

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:28.620
 from prayer

00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:29.680
 to praise,

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.300
 from chaos

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.820
 to Christ.

00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:30.880
 Christ.

00:35:33.080 --> 00:35:33.860
 And we are

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.380
 living in a

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:35.160
 society and

00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:35.700
 in a time

00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.019
 that is

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.680
 struggling to

00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:37.240
 find a new

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:38.880
 morality that

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.300
 will allow

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.260
 almost anything

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:40.840
 to happen.

00:35:42.120 --> 00:35:42.800
 And this

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.600
 story points

00:35:43.600 --> 00:35:44.340
 you away from

00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.160
 the chaos of

00:35:45.160 --> 00:35:47.780
 our world to

00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.140
 Christ.

00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:50.800
 And ultimately

00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.580
 of course to the

00:35:51.580 --> 00:35:52.400
 restoration of all

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.500
 things when Christ

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.019
 returns.

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:55.960
 and the

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.699
 universe will be

00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.420
 restored to its

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.159
 original settings.

00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.519
 And then

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:02.199
 indeed we will

00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.880
 all live

00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.039
 happily ever

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:06.440
 after in the

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.940
 new heavens

00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:08.440
 and the new

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:08.719
 earth.

00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:08.780
 Thank you.