WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.900 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.380 --> 00:00:25.500 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:29.980 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:32.080 the latest message. Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.660 --> 00:00:51.000 Well, good morning. Glad that you guys are here with us. If you've got your Bibles with you, 00:00:51.080 --> 00:00:59.160 go ahead and open up to Ruth chapter 4. All right, this is where we're going to begin as we begin our 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:04.320 series in the book of Ruth. Now, if you're wondering why we're beginning and we're going to the last 00:01:04.320 --> 00:01:10.920 chapter in Ruth, we're going to do some things a little bit differently this morning. This past 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:17.580 January, we started our series in 1 Corinthians. And I don't know if y'all remember that day, 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:24.660 it was like, we're going to have a 200% chance of deadly ice storms. And then it lightly rained that 00:01:24.660 --> 00:01:30.080 Sunday morning at like 45 degrees, all right? And we had made the decision ahead of time to go ahead 00:01:30.080 --> 00:01:35.600 and just go through Zoom and Facebook Live and all the different things that we have and YouTube 00:01:35.600 --> 00:01:42.180 and just do worship from home that day. And so, since we couldn't jump straight into 1 Corinthians that 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:48.140 were attached to our small groups, I made the decision that morning when I got up and doing my study 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:54.160 to kind of give us just an introductory lesson into 1 Corinthians so that we all could have an 00:01:54.160 --> 00:02:02.520 understanding or groundwork of what we're studying in that letter. And what I heard back from everyone 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:08.440 or that gave me feedback on it was how beneficial it was to kind of see and understand and that we can 00:02:08.440 --> 00:02:13.360 take those things and build from them and grow from them. And so, as we were looking at starting into 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:17.940 the book of Ruth, pretty much every spring, the beginning of the summer, I like to jump in and 00:02:17.940 --> 00:02:23.800 kind of walk through one of these shorter Old Testament books with us together as a church. 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:28.420 And as I was looking at doing that, I thought, you know, that might be beneficial for us to do that 00:02:28.420 --> 00:02:33.780 and to take a Sunday morning and just walk through that. And so, that's what we're going to do today. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:38.240 Now, also on the rows that you're seated on, at the end of each one of them, 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:43.800 it is a card that's going to walk through each Sunday how we're walking through the book of Ruth 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:50.320 together on Sunday mornings. And so, I would just challenge you and encourage you to take that and 00:02:50.320 --> 00:02:57.160 to use that, maybe build that into your weekly quiet time of reading that. I would also like to 00:02:57.160 --> 00:03:01.740 challenge you to take the opportunity, if this isn't something that you do, to maybe begin to work 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:07.240 through and journal through that. See what the Lord's teaching you. See what the Lord's drawing out of 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:14.120 His Word and how God is going to use that and bless that this morning. Now, what I want us to do today 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:20.880 with Ruth is to give an overview of there's three different themes that are going to flow through 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:26.540 the book of Ruth. Now, I told you to open to Ruth chapter 4, and I promise at the very end of the 00:03:26.540 --> 00:03:32.260 message, we will get to Ruth 4. All right? And then, but what we're going to do, and if you try to turn 00:03:32.260 --> 00:03:37.260 with me, you're not going to get there. Kevin upstairs, who runs everything that you see on the 00:03:37.260 --> 00:03:42.020 screens this morning, he was like, man, I don't know that I've ever seen you have this many slides. 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:45.140 I'm like, man, well, you better do your finger stretches this morning, right? Because you're 00:03:45.140 --> 00:03:50.440 going to be clicking through really quick on this. So, if you try to stay with me and turn with me, 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:55.020 you're not going to get there. So, if you want to just jot those down, but I promise we'll get to Ruth 4 00:03:55.020 --> 00:04:02.060 at the very end of this. I read an author this week who said this, and it was a very interesting 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:05.940 short line that caused me to think on it all week. And he said, Ruth is one of the greatest 00:04:05.940 --> 00:04:11.880 short stories ever written. And then he went into his commentary to explain why he believed that. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:20.840 And it caused me to pause to think that sometimes there's groups of people who read some of these 00:04:20.840 --> 00:04:28.060 stories, particularly in the Old Testament. You have people who claim to be professing Christians 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:35.260 who will read these stories in the Old Testament, and they'll think that this was a made-up story 00:04:35.260 --> 00:04:43.120 that God gave someone to help teach us this moral lesson. And so, I want to talk about that 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:49.840 before we even get into the themes. And what I would like to say is that this is a beautiful short 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:57.160 story that's written. But packed into these four short chapters is a beautiful story that is both 00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:05.460 historical and inspired. What we're going to read together over the course of really five weeks, 00:05:05.520 --> 00:05:14.740 if you include today, is a beautiful story that is both historical and inspired. And what I mean by 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:23.840 that is this, the events that unfold in this story are true. There's not some author sitting down creating 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:34.060 this story in their mind like one would write a sitcom or a movie or a book in a hope that it'll teach 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:42.240 all of mankind or everyone who reads it a lesson. That we as Christians believe that this, on top of 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:48.020 everything else that we read in Scripture, even if our mind, it seems like, and this couldn't possibly 00:05:48.020 --> 00:05:54.660 be true, but it is. And that we believe that just as you and I are sitting here today is a historically 00:05:54.660 --> 00:06:01.080 true event, that the events that we're going to read and that will unfold through the book of Ruth are 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:09.300 historically true, so that you and I, we can believe not just in a story, but we can believe in the events 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:16.220 in the story and that they happened. All right? Now, the next part, it's historical, but it's also inspired. Now, 00:06:16.580 --> 00:06:22.500 the book of Ruth, we do not know who the author is. There are people who have thoughts and theories, but they are 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:29.640 simply thoughts and theories. We do not know who the author is, but what we do know is that the person who wrote this, 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:36.820 when they wrote it, was inspired by God to write this historical account. And so what you and I read 00:06:36.820 --> 00:06:45.420 is both something that happened and took place in the time of history, but was also in the miraculous 00:06:45.420 --> 00:06:54.060 nature how God would inspire individuals to record and to write these things onto pages so that later you and I 00:06:54.060 --> 00:07:00.280 could open God's word and study them together so that our hearts will be drawn closer to him. 00:07:01.320 --> 00:07:07.680 And that's what we find here. And that's what we read. So yes, the book of Ruth is historical. And yes, 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:18.420 the book of Ruth is inspired as well. Now, whenever I go into one of these kind of, some of the books 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:24.280 and the chapters in the Old Testament can give us like a character study that feel. And Ruth is 00:07:24.280 --> 00:07:28.720 definitely that. You're going to meet some characters throughout. We're going to look at some of their 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:33.840 tendencies and their traits. We're going to look at the pieces about their lives, and we're going to study 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:40.020 those, and we're going to talk about those. And our tendency when we do these things is to look at these 00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:47.960 characters and to make these individuals the main focus of the story, all right? And our tendency could be to do 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:53.400 that with Ruth as well. I mean, if you think about it, that's kind of our tendency in a lot that we read. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:59.840 If we're not careful, we can read the story of David and Goliath and make the story of David and Goliath all 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:07.480 about David. If we're not careful, we can read the story of Moses and the Exodus and all that happened 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:14.160 and all that took place, and we can walk away from that, and we can make Moses the main story, the main 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:24.500 focus of the story. Now, with Noah and the ark and everything, and the danger in that, right? And we're 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:27.540 going to look at these people, and we're going to look at their characteristics, and we're going to look at the 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:34.080 things that they did. The main danger that I want us to kind of wrestle with in our hearts, the tension that we 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:41.000 need to have, is that at the end of the day, you and I can read about this. We can read about the story of David 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:46.400 and Goliath and walk away from it with a posture of our heart that says, well, I just want to be more like David. 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.700 I just want to be more like David. 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:54.500 We could study Ruth and walk away from this and just say, well, I just want to be like Ruth. 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:00.360 And then that will miss, and then that will fall short. 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:07.180 And what I want us to get to before we get into our themes, and that'll be next as we go through 00:09:07.180 --> 00:09:13.860 this, and this is not just for the book of Ruth. This is for every book in God's Word. This is for 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:21.060 every event of your life. It's this, that God is the hero of the story. That God is the hero of the story. 00:09:22.140 --> 00:09:26.740 That when we read the Bible, that when we read Ruth, and we see the details that are unfolding, 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:32.720 it is the declaration of who God is, and it's the declaration of what God is doing, and even the 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:37.120 character traits that it reveals of the individuals in the story, of what does it teach us about the 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:42.920 character and the heart of God, and how is it making us long to love Him more? How is it stirring our 00:09:42.920 --> 00:09:49.100 hearts and our affections toward Him more? And so that's what I want us to be mindful of as we go through 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:53.580 this, is at the end of the day, we're not going to stand up here and sing songs to Ruth. 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.260 We're not going to walk out of here, and I want to be more like Ruth. 00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:00.900 We're not going to walk out of here and say, God, stir my heart for Ruth. 00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:07.580 But God, how can I proclaim who you are, right? How through your wonderful servant, Ruth, 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:16.140 can you stir my affections for you? And Lord, as I see in the lives of individuals like Ruth, 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:22.480 Naomi and Boaz, and all that happens and all that takes place in their life, Lord, how can I understand 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:27.980 that they are just like I am, and that, Lord, what I need more of is not more of them, and what I need 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:34.480 more of is not more of me, but what I need more of is more of you, right? And so that's going to be the 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:41.640 heart as we walk through this, all right? Now, there's going to be three major themes that go 00:10:41.640 --> 00:10:46.500 through here that we're going to focus in on week in and week out. And so this morning, 00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:52.160 Smokey and the Bandit, right? All right, y'all just bear with me as I chase this rabbit, okay? 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:56.540 Smokey and the Bandit, there's that song, I got a long way to go in a short time to get there, 00:10:56.540 --> 00:11:02.680 right? That's this morning, okay? So these themes that we're going to have, that we're going to go 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:08.320 through, by no means are we going to unpack all of that this morning and the richness and the 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:15.620 goodness of God's Word in understanding these, but what it'll do is it'll begin to work our palette 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:20.780 into what God's going to have for us to taste in weeks to come, all right? And so as we go through, 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:27.400 as we talk about these, it'll help us build week in and week out of what God has for us and what God 00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:32.140 is going to teach us. And so three different themes that we're going to look at, and the first one is 00:11:32.140 --> 00:11:38.700 this, the providence of God. All throughout Scripture and a primary focus of Ruth is going 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:45.420 to be on the providence of God. And what I want us to understand, kind of a simplified definition of 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:50.840 the providence of God is this, is that God is in control of all things and that He is sovereignly 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:58.020 in control. And what this doctrine is going to stand against is the idea that the events of this 00:11:58.020 --> 00:12:04.700 universe, the events of this world, and the events of your life and my life happen by chance or fate. 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:11.760 And that's not how God works, and that's not what God is doing. And instead, what we're going to find 00:12:11.760 --> 00:12:19.400 through the providence of God is that God uses divine providence to accomplish His will and to ensure 00:12:19.400 --> 00:12:26.660 His purposes are fulfilled. So that as we read through and as we begin in chapter one here next 00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:32.540 week, and we see the devastation, and we see the pain, and we see the suffering, that in the midst of 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:38.040 that, God's still in control. God didn't say, nope, I'm done, I'm out, hands turned loose. 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:44.500 That God is working, and that God is moving, and at every single point in this, there's a greater 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:49.400 thing that is playing out, a greater purpose that is playing out, and we have the beauty of being able 00:12:49.400 --> 00:12:56.260 to see that and to go with that, all right? And that is not just true in the life of Ruth, but that's 00:12:56.260 --> 00:13:02.640 true for us. It's true in our life. My favorite verse, I feel like I quote this verse almost every 00:13:02.640 --> 00:13:09.480 week, right? Romans 8, 28. And we know that for those who love God, say those next two words with me, 00:13:09.760 --> 00:13:17.860 all things, all right? All things work together for good for those who were called according to His 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:29.320 purpose. Not some, but all. That in the events of your life, as joy-filled as they can be, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:38.180 and as painful as they can be, as confident as you can be in walking in some and in others where you 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:48.460 feel like you're lost and wandering aimlessly, in those, we know that God in all things work 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:55.580 together for good for those who were called according to His purpose. And for us as believers, this brings 00:13:55.580 --> 00:14:01.220 so much hope to us. Because this means that every bit of struggle, every bit of pain, every bit of 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:09.240 suffering is not wasted, that God is using that for a greater good that you and I oftentimes can't see, 00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:14.720 can't understand, can't comprehend, but God's working in it, and we just got to trust Him through it. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:21.620 There's a question that comes up with the providence of God, and it's this. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:29.160 The battle that seems to exist between divine providence and human sin. 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:40.060 And the question that arises is this, is how can humans choose to sin, but God still be in complete control? 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:51.440 That's a legitimate question. If God's in control, and yet we see, we live in, we experience, and even though 00:14:51.440 --> 00:15:01.320 we're saved, you and I oftentimes still choose sin, how can that, these two things that seem to be at war 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:09.620 and that contradiction with one another still exists to be true? And here's what I just say. That in this 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:16.120 tension that we live in of the divine providence of God and the human sin that we see, that we still 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:22.840 have to understand that God hates sin, and God will judge sinners. Got to understand that God is not the 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:32.840 author of sin, nor does he tempt anyone to sin. And in what we can't understand, because our minds, 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:42.260 mine, yours, all of us, is limited to the perspective of this world, God hates sin, but allows a certain 00:15:42.260 --> 00:15:45.480 measure. And I don't know why. 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:53.720 Now, I can't look at every event and line these up and say that in my brain, this makes sense, this makes 00:15:53.720 --> 00:16:00.620 sense, this makes sense. But it's what we see, and it's what we trust, and it's what we know. And what 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:10.960 God does graciously throughout scripture is he reminds us the beauty of how he works and the beauty of what 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:16.520 he does, even in the midst of humanity, who tries to come in and mess it all up. 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:23.660 I want to kind of tell you the story of two stories in scripture that you're going to have heard, and 00:16:23.660 --> 00:16:30.320 hopefully that you know. One is the story of Joseph that begins in Genesis chapter 37. Now, I'm way 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:35.280 going to shriek the whole, like, numerous chapters down into a couple of sentences, all right? 00:16:36.380 --> 00:16:43.860 The story of Joseph, God allowed Joseph's brothers to kidnap him, sell him into slavery, 00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:50.620 and lie to their father about it. That's a really short summation of what happens. 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:58.340 God allows that to happen because God had a different plan. And then that Joseph ended up 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:02.400 in Egypt. And we're not even going to get into all the struggles that he faced in Egypt, 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:09.320 but God gets him in Egypt, and he became a prime minister. He used his position within the government 00:17:09.320 --> 00:17:16.920 to sustain the people through a seven-year famine. Get this, even his own family benefit from it. 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:24.720 And in the midst of the unfolding of this story, when Joseph stands in this moment before his family, 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:28.540 there are two verses I want to read to you. Genesis 45, verse 5. 00:17:29.540 --> 00:17:37.000 Joseph says this, and now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:45.560 for God sent me before you to preserve life, is what Joseph said. Look at chapter 50, verse 20. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:53.260 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. 00:17:54.540 --> 00:18:00.280 To bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.760 And this is what we see in the life of Joseph. 00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:08.580 This is what we see in how God works. 00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:11.600 This is what we see in God moving. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:16.100 And what God does is God says, hey, man intends it for this, 00:18:16.260 --> 00:18:17.980 but watch what I'm going to do. 00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:22.380 Who could do this? No one else but God. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:27.340 Only God could take these events and turn them and say, 00:18:27.520 --> 00:18:29.120 but man, watch how I'm still in control. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.980 Watch how I'm still in control. 00:18:33.260 --> 00:18:36.280 The other one, what we just looked at last week, 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:38.700 I'm sorry, last week, the crucifixion of Jesus. 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:42.580 Sinfully betrayed by Judas. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:48.540 Deserted by most of his followers. 00:18:51.260 --> 00:18:54.100 His own words spoken to him and not believed. 00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:59.460 Innocently murdered on a cross, 00:19:00.280 --> 00:19:01.820 but for a purpose. 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.120 For a purpose. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.300 Luke 22, 22 says this. 00:19:07.760 --> 00:19:08.680 Jesus' own words. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:13.980 For the son of man goes as it has been determined. 00:19:15.260 --> 00:19:18.720 But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.120 Right? 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.340 It was what we see, the truth of this. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:28.100 The consequence of sin and the determined plan of God. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.120 And what we see unfold in this. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:37.020 And what you'll see throughout the story of Ruth 00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:43.680 is the divine providence of God continually working and moving 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:50.340 in the events of life from tragedy to everyday encounters. 00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:53.020 And as I was thinking through this this week, 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:55.200 and as I was praying through this this week, 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:59.860 it just reminded me that in every moment of my life, 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:11.460 we can trust and know that God is in control and that God is working. 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:16.460 No matter the news of devastation that you get. 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:20.320 Or no matter the news of hope that you get. 00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:27.180 On either spectrum of life and everywhere in between. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:32.100 God is in control and God is working. 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:35.080 And here's what we do in that. 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:40.180 Here's what we do in this wide scope of life. 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:44.740 We trust, we obey. 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:48.740 We trust, and we obey. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:54.260 And what I found in that is that when we trust, 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:58.780 and when we obey, and when we go where he calls us to go, 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.940 and do with what he calls us to do, 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:07.220 it's so much more peaceful to live in that wide gap of life. 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:09.520 It's not always easy. 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:14.940 It's not even, it's not even always fun. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:21.480 But we can find the peace and joy of God in that. 00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:24.920 When we trust him and we obey him. 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:30.760 Another theme that's going to come up in the relationships between people 00:21:30.760 --> 00:21:33.960 that we're going to see in the relationships between them and God 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:37.120 is also the concept of covenants, right? 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:43.240 So a covenant is a chosen relationship or partnership 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:48.360 in which two parties make a bonding promise to each other 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:50.580 and work together for a common goal. 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:55.460 And as you read through the Old Testament and the New Testament, right? 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:58.980 What we think, you know, Old Testament is all the covenants, 00:21:59.060 --> 00:22:01.340 but as we read through Old Testament and New Testament, 00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:02.600 as we read through that, 00:22:02.780 --> 00:22:06.080 what we're going to see is that God is a covenant-making God. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.500 This is what he does. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.380 This is who he is, right? 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.900 At least 280 times in the Old Testament, 00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:16.260 the word for covenant is used. 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:20.020 And maybe that's why we associate it so much with the Old Testament 00:22:20.020 --> 00:22:21.720 because we do hear it more. 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:25.120 But at least 33 times in the New Testament, 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:27.620 the word for covenant is used as well. 00:22:27.780 --> 00:22:32.060 And not necessarily in correlation with Old Testament covenant 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:33.060 and explaining that. 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:35.940 And so we see that all throughout Scripture, 00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:40.400 it's a concept that continues to unfold of who God is. 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:44.000 In fact, the word testament that we get for our Bibles, 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:46.460 the Old Testament and the New Testament, 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:48.400 is where we get the word covenant from. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:50.900 So that when you open it up, you're looking at the Old Covenant, 00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:52.440 you're looking at the New Covenant. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.880 And what we see is that God is a covenant-making God. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.300 Now, I wanted to prove that to you, 00:22:57.560 --> 00:23:00.820 and not by going through every covenant that is in Scripture, 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:03.360 but I wanted to just draw out really quickly, 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.560 or as quickly as I can this morning, 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:08.640 several of the covenants that I think will point us to 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.260 a great understanding of what's going to happen 00:23:11.260 --> 00:23:14.120 and take place in Ruth and who God is 00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:15.400 and what God is doing. 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:17.620 The first covenant I want to talk about this morning 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:20.740 is the Noahic covenant, which is found in Genesis 9. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.000 And I'm going to read verses, start in verse 18. 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:27.560 And then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:30.920 Behold, I will establish my covenant with you 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.700 and with your offspring after you, 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:36.460 and with every living creature that is with you, 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:40.320 the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:42.340 as many as come out of the ark. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:45.400 It is for every beast of the earth. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.800 I will establish my covenant with you 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:50.560 that never again shall all flesh be cut off 00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:52.580 from the waters of the flood, 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:54.560 and never again shall there be a flood 00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.780 to destroy the earth. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.540 And God said, this is the sign of the covenant 00:23:58.540 --> 00:24:00.260 that I will make between me and you 00:24:00.260 --> 00:24:02.700 and every living creature that is with you 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:04.360 for all future generations. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:06.320 I have set my bow in the cloud, 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.980 and it shall be a sign of the covenant 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.260 between me and the earth. 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:11.440 And when I bring clouds over the earth 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.820 and the bow is seen in the clouds, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.400 I will remember my covenant 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.760 that is between me and you 00:24:15.760 --> 00:24:18.280 and every living creature of all flesh. 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:21.020 And the water shall never again become a flood 00:24:21.020 --> 00:24:22.420 to destroy all flesh. 00:24:22.520 --> 00:24:24.760 When the bow is in the clouds, 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:28.060 I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:30.400 between God and every living creature 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.400 of all flesh that is on earth. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.620 And God said to Noah, 00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:35.200 this is the sign of the covenant 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.740 that I have established between me 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.940 and all the flesh that is on the earth. 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.980 And so what God does in this 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:43.140 is because of his faithfulness 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.480 to always do what he says we will do, 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:47.860 we will know that with all certainty, 00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:50.840 there will never be another worldwide flood 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:52.640 as there was in the days of Noah, 00:24:52.760 --> 00:24:55.060 no matter how wicked man becomes. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.980 God says, this is on me 00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:00.180 in my faithfulness with who I am, right? 00:25:00.260 --> 00:25:01.500 The world is still wicked, 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.920 man is still wicked, 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:04.620 but God has made this promise. 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:06.460 And so he even gives us a sign 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.820 to remind us of that, 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:11.180 that when we see the rainbow after the storm, right, 00:25:11.260 --> 00:25:13.940 it is not reminding us of how good we are. 00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:15.360 It's not even reminding us 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:16.980 of how beautiful the world is. 00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:19.960 It is reminding us how beautiful God is 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:22.580 as the hero of the story. 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:25.020 But God also in Genesis 00:25:25.020 --> 00:25:27.120 will give the Abrahamic covenant. 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:30.440 Now, this is on several different passages in Genesis. 00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.760 I'm gonna read the first 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:33.100 and then speak to several others. 00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:35.400 In Genesis 17, seven through eight, 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.720 God says, I will establish my covenant 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.660 between me and you 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:41.380 and your offsprings after you 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.500 throughout their generations 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:44.580 for an everlasting covenant 00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:47.340 to be God to you 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:49.480 and to your offspring after you. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.120 And I will give to you 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:53.080 and to your offspring after you 00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:55.080 the land of your sojournings, 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.520 all the land of Canaan 00:25:56.520 --> 00:25:58.320 for an everlasting possession, 00:25:58.760 --> 00:26:00.400 and I will be their God. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:02.700 And so we see this relational aspect 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:04.140 that is developed here. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.580 And as God continues on 00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:07.340 in his covenant with Abraham, 00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:08.580 God makes the promise 00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:11.480 that these people will be a great nation 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:15.400 and that Abraham will be the father of these nations 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.100 and that from this nation, 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:19.020 that this nation will be 00:26:19.020 --> 00:26:22.460 and from this nation will be a great promise 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:25.720 and from that will come redemption for the people. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.880 Beginning to point and continuing 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:29.740 to tell the journey 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:32.540 and the story of pointing to Jesus. 00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:37.120 And so God continually makes covenants 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:41.600 and God continually fulfills what God said he would do. 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:43.700 We can continue on the Mosaic covenant 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:45.520 in Exodus 19. 00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:47.480 God says, 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.080 Now therefore, 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:50.520 if you will indeed obey my voice 00:26:50.520 --> 00:26:52.000 and keep my covenant, 00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:54.460 you shall be my treasured possession 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.580 among all peoples 00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:57.540 for all the earth is mine 00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:59.460 and you shall be to me 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.780 a kingdom of priests 00:27:00.780 --> 00:27:02.180 and a holy nation. 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.620 These are the words 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:05.120 that you shall speak 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.160 to the people of Israel. 00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:07.500 So Moses came 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.780 and called the elders of the people 00:27:08.780 --> 00:27:09.840 and set before them 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.900 all these words 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:12.240 that the Lord had commanded him 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.980 and all the people answered together 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:16.280 and all that the Lord has spoken, 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.380 we will do. 00:27:17.760 --> 00:27:19.440 And Moses reported the words 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.740 of the people to the Lord 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:23.380 and the Lord said to Moses, 00:27:23.820 --> 00:27:24.180 Behold, 00:27:24.260 --> 00:27:25.100 I'm coming to you 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:26.060 in a thick cloud 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:27.660 that the people may hear 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.780 when I speak with you 00:27:28.780 --> 00:27:31.620 and may also believe you forever. 00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.000 Right? 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.780 And so we get this Mosaic covenant, 00:27:34.540 --> 00:27:36.420 this covenant made between God 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.960 and the nation of Israel 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:40.640 and that this will be centered 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.120 around God giving his divine law 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.020 to Moses 00:27:44.020 --> 00:27:46.060 and then Moses to the people 00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.960 so that they'll understand 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.940 what it means to follow him, 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.720 they'll understand 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.200 what it means to honor him, 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:52.920 they'll understand 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.760 what it means to glorify him. 00:27:55.020 --> 00:27:56.720 And so what we see in this 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.100 is not just God saying 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:59.280 what he's going to do, 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:01.100 but God also commanding them 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:02.760 of what they're to do 00:28:02.760 --> 00:28:04.920 in response of the covenant. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.700 And then one that's going to be 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:09.760 really big for what we see 00:28:09.760 --> 00:28:11.920 is the Davidic covenant. 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.620 In 2 Samuel 7, 16, 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.760 it says, 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:18.080 And your house and your kingdom 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:20.820 shall be made sure forever before me. 00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:24.260 Your throne shall be established forever. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.620 An unconditional covenant 00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:28.780 made between God and David 00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:30.940 through which God promises 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.200 is David and Israel 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.540 that the Messiah, 00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:35.220 Jesus Christ, 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.880 would come from the lineage of David, 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.400 the tribe of Judah, 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:41.400 and would establish a kingdom 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:43.540 that would last forever. 00:28:44.540 --> 00:28:45.680 That would last forever. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.900 That David would live his life 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.460 and rule here on earth 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.020 and die. 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:53.860 And the lineage would continue on. 00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:56.180 But that Christ would come 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.940 and he would reign 00:28:57.940 --> 00:29:00.380 and he would establish his kingdom 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:02.900 and this kingdom would continue on. 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:05.100 And this kingdom would be one 00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:05.900 that wouldn't go away. 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:08.220 And for you and I 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:10.020 who are a part, 00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:12.560 for you and I who are saved, 00:29:13.020 --> 00:29:14.280 the kingdom we're a part of. 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.500 Which brings us to the New Testament, 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.860 to the New Covenant. 00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:19.560 And Jesus, 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.680 the night of the Last Supper, 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:23.300 what we talk about 00:29:23.300 --> 00:29:25.040 of what we take in Matthew 26, 00:29:25.780 --> 00:29:26.020 says, 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.940 Now as they were eating, 00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:28.000 Jesus took bread 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.180 and after blessing broke it 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.900 and gave it to the disciples 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.160 and said, 00:29:33.280 --> 00:29:34.320 Take, eat, 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.400 this is my body. 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.440 And he took a cup 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:39.200 and we give him thanks. 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.420 He gave it to them saying, 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:42.140 Drink of it, all of you, 00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:44.640 for this is my blood 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.980 of the covenant 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:48.940 which is poured out for many 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:51.020 for the forgiveness of sin. 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.540 I tell you, 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.620 I will not drink again 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:55.740 of this fruit of the vine 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.480 until the day 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:58.660 when I drink it new with you 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.480 in my Father's kingdom. 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.340 The New Covenant, 00:30:02.780 --> 00:30:04.220 the promise that God makes 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.980 with humanity, 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.800 that he forgives the sin 00:30:06.800 --> 00:30:08.820 and restores the fellowship 00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:10.160 with those whose hearts 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.100 are torn toward him. 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:13.280 And Jesus is the mediator 00:30:13.280 --> 00:30:14.420 of the new covenant 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:16.300 and his death on the cross 00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:18.180 is the basis for this promise. 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.740 And this is who God is. 00:30:20.540 --> 00:30:22.260 And this is what God is working in. 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.880 And this is what God is doing. 00:30:24.760 --> 00:30:25.760 So you and I 00:30:25.760 --> 00:30:27.520 are in a covenant relationship 00:30:27.520 --> 00:30:28.580 with the Lord. 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.940 Not because of our behavior. 00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:32.940 Not because of, 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.160 we go to church. 00:30:35.040 --> 00:30:36.560 Not because of how many good things 00:30:36.560 --> 00:30:37.740 we feel like we can do. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.300 But we've been brought 00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:40.320 into the relationship 00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.520 with God 00:30:41.520 --> 00:30:42.860 through the new covenant, 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.140 through the blood of Christ. 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:47.100 And that's why it's through Christ 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.720 and Christ alone. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.480 And what we see in covenants 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:53.080 and what God wants to show us 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.060 in covenants 00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:55.820 is God's faithfulness 00:30:55.820 --> 00:30:57.440 to his people. 00:30:58.460 --> 00:31:00.540 And their reminder 00:31:00.540 --> 00:31:02.940 to be faithful to him 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:05.640 because of who he is, 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.680 because of what he's done, 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:10.180 and because of what he promises to do. 00:31:11.280 --> 00:31:12.340 And so that when we look at 00:31:12.340 --> 00:31:14.120 covenants, 00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:16.140 it's more than an arrangement. 00:31:17.060 --> 00:31:18.980 It's more than an agreement even. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.340 It's deeper than that. 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:25.720 It's not based in who I am. 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.040 It's not based in who you are, 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:30.520 but it's based in the very character 00:31:30.520 --> 00:31:33.320 and nature of God. 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.640 And the last theme 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:37.200 that we're going to talk about this morning 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:39.240 is the theme of redemption. 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:42.880 And this is going to be big throughout Ruth. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.060 And the word redeem 00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:47.880 in a biblical historical account 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:50.340 means to buy out. 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:53.480 It was commonly associated 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:56.240 with indentured servants or slaves. 00:31:56.800 --> 00:31:58.740 That there was a debt that was owed 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.580 that needed to be paid. 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.300 And who would step in 00:32:02.300 --> 00:32:03.760 and pay this debt 00:32:03.760 --> 00:32:05.700 and redeem this individual. 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:08.540 And we'll talk about a lot more of this 00:32:08.540 --> 00:32:10.100 throughout the book of Ruth. 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:12.140 But what we're going to see in Ruth 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.280 is this concept 00:32:13.280 --> 00:32:14.960 of the kinsman redeemer. 00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.860 And the concept of kinsman redeemer 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.860 it probably isn't something 00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.980 that we talked a lot about 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.960 in church 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:23.140 that we haven't heard a lot 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:24.380 or experienced a lot. 00:32:24.520 --> 00:32:25.720 But the kinsman redeemer 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:27.440 is a male relative 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:29.320 who according to the laws 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:30.100 of the Pentateuch 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:31.180 had the privilege 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:32.080 or responsibility 00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:33.780 to act on behalf 00:32:33.780 --> 00:32:34.500 of a relative 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.680 who was in trouble, 00:32:36.040 --> 00:32:36.700 in danger, 00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.740 or in need. 00:32:38.060 --> 00:32:38.820 And this was given 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.860 in Leviticus 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.640 as the standard. 00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:42.760 In Leviticus 25, 25, 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.800 if your brother 00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:44.800 becomes poor 00:32:44.800 --> 00:32:45.840 and sells part 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.620 of his property, 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.760 then his nearest 00:32:47.760 --> 00:32:48.520 redeemer 00:32:48.520 --> 00:32:49.720 shall come 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.520 and redeem 00:32:50.520 --> 00:32:52.100 what his brother 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:53.120 has sold. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.520 The Hebrew term 00:32:55.520 --> 00:32:56.940 for kinsman redeemer 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.760 designates 00:32:57.760 --> 00:32:58.320 a person 00:32:58.320 --> 00:32:59.460 who delivers, 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.460 who rescues 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.980 or who redeems 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.340 a property 00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:05.880 but also 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:07.140 a person. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.180 A person. 00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.080 And in the story 00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:13.260 of Ruth, 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.740 this will be Boaz. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.040 But for us, 00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:19.860 it's Jesus. 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.400 And this is how 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.100 we're going to see 00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:24.060 the telling 00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:24.820 of the gospel 00:33:24.820 --> 00:33:26.340 unfold. 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.500 I don't know 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.260 if you know 00:33:29.260 --> 00:33:29.880 this or not. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.660 And if you don't 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.320 know this, 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.220 and I hope 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.760 that every single 00:33:33.760 --> 00:33:34.300 one of you do, 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.000 but if you don't 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.740 know this, 00:33:37.520 --> 00:33:38.660 if you're lost 00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.660 in your trespasses 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.260 and sins, 00:33:41.060 --> 00:33:41.960 the Bible says 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.360 that you need 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:42.920 to be redeemed. 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.080 Romans 3, 23, 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.140 and 24 says, 00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:47.680 for all have sinned 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.260 and fall short 00:33:48.260 --> 00:33:49.180 of the glory of God 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:51.200 and are justified 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.320 by his grace 00:33:52.320 --> 00:33:53.740 as a gift 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.740 through the redemption 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:57.900 that is in Christ Jesus. 00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:00.120 Where we find 00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:00.840 ourselves 00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:02.520 is we are either 00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:03.940 former sinners 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:05.040 who have been 00:34:05.040 --> 00:34:05.760 redeemed 00:34:05.760 --> 00:34:06.740 and made new 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.300 by the blood 00:34:07.300 --> 00:34:07.880 of the Lamb 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:10.000 or we're sinners 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.900 who need to be 00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.400 redeemed 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:13.020 and delivered 00:34:13.020 --> 00:34:13.980 and rescued 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.700 for our sin 00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:16.680 because there's a debt 00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.660 that we can't pay. 00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:18.720 There's a debt 00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:19.600 that we owe. 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:21.040 And you and I, 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.020 no matter how hard 00:34:22.020 --> 00:34:22.580 we work, 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.380 no matter what 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.820 we try to save up for, 00:34:25.040 --> 00:34:26.460 we can't do that. 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.160 And so what we celebrated 00:34:28.160 --> 00:34:29.000 last week, 00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:30.020 what we proclaim 00:34:30.020 --> 00:34:31.180 every Sunday, 00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.620 what we live for 00:34:32.620 --> 00:34:33.720 in every moment 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:34.620 of our life 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:35.420 is so because 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.200 of this debt, 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.300 because of your debt 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:37.920 and your debt 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.560 and your debt 00:34:38.560 --> 00:34:39.760 and my debt, 00:34:41.580 --> 00:34:42.420 God sent Jesus. 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.620 In Galatians 3, 13, 00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:47.800 Christ redeemed us 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.420 from the curse 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:49.100 of the law 00:34:49.100 --> 00:34:50.200 by becoming 00:34:50.200 --> 00:34:51.300 a curse for us. 00:34:52.080 --> 00:34:52.940 for it is written, 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.740 everyone who's cursed, 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.080 a curse is everyone 00:34:56.080 --> 00:34:57.140 who is hanged 00:34:57.140 --> 00:34:57.780 on a tree. 00:34:58.700 --> 00:34:59.860 Jesus in his own words 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:01.560 says in Matthew 20, 28, 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.140 even as the Son of Man 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:04.660 came not to be served, 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.780 but to serve 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:07.160 and to give his life 00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:08.320 as a ransom 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.460 for many. 00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:10.940 So God sent Jesus 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.900 who redeemed us 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:14.540 by dying for us. 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:16.300 The death we deserved, 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.280 he died for. 00:35:20.080 --> 00:35:20.800 And it's the story 00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.360 of the scripture. 00:35:23.100 --> 00:35:23.900 Because you see, 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.980 I can never 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.840 be the hero 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.580 of the story 00:35:28.580 --> 00:35:31.740 because I can't 00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:32.540 save myself. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.020 I can never 00:35:35.020 --> 00:35:35.760 be the hero 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:36.760 of the story 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:39.240 because I can't 00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:39.720 save you. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.480 I can never 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.200 be the hero 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.720 of the story 00:35:44.720 --> 00:35:46.200 because I can't 00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:46.900 get it all right. 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:49.160 I can never 00:35:49.160 --> 00:35:49.900 be the hero 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.980 of the story 00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.520 because of the sin 00:35:52.520 --> 00:35:53.060 that I choose 00:35:53.060 --> 00:35:53.680 in my life. 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.380 But Jesus 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:57.400 never chose sin. 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.800 Jesus walked 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.820 in holiness, 00:36:01.080 --> 00:36:02.160 in perfection, 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.320 and it's who he is. 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:04.200 And that's why 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:05.640 in every single moment, 00:36:05.780 --> 00:36:06.840 in every single piece, 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.760 he's the hero 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.780 of the story. 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.500 It doesn't mean 00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.040 that there's not 00:36:11.040 --> 00:36:12.340 men and women 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.100 in my life 00:36:13.100 --> 00:36:13.780 who didn't pour out 00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.220 the grace 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.800 of the gospel 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.280 to me, 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.320 but it's the story 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:17.200 of Jesus 00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:18.700 who saved me 00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:20.980 and who made 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:22.780 me new. 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.340 And so he's 00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.780 the hero 00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.640 of the story. 00:36:29.540 --> 00:36:30.180 And so I told you 00:36:30.180 --> 00:36:30.840 we'd get there. 00:36:32.120 --> 00:36:32.760 Look down at 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.720 Ruth chapter 4 00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:35.440 verse 13. 00:36:39.120 --> 00:36:40.120 So Boaz 00:36:40.120 --> 00:36:40.860 took Ruth 00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:42.780 and she became 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.340 his wife 00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:45.180 and he went 00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:45.760 into her 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:46.300 and the Lord 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:47.240 gave her conception 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:47.920 and she bore 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.280 a son. 00:36:49.520 --> 00:36:50.240 And then the woman 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.100 said to Naomi, 00:36:52.060 --> 00:36:53.220 blessed be the Lord 00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.160 who has not left 00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:54.960 you this day 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:56.220 without a redeemer. 00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:00.440 and may his name 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.040 be renowned 00:37:01.040 --> 00:37:01.580 in Israel. 00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.340 He shall be 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:03.720 to you 00:37:03.720 --> 00:37:04.860 restorer of life 00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:06.160 and a nourisher 00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:07.240 of your old age 00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:08.640 and your daughter-in-law 00:37:08.640 --> 00:37:09.480 who loves you, 00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.720 who is more to you 00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:11.680 than seven sons 00:37:11.680 --> 00:37:12.700 has given birth 00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:13.160 to him. 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.260 And then Naomi 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.220 took the child 00:37:15.220 --> 00:37:16.180 and laid him 00:37:16.180 --> 00:37:16.980 on her lap 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.720 and became 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:18.360 his nurse. 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.580 And the women 00:37:19.580 --> 00:37:20.460 of the neighborhood 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:22.000 gave him a name 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:22.500 saying, 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.780 a son has been 00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:24.720 born to Naomi 00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:25.780 and they called 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.460 him Obed. 00:37:27.660 --> 00:37:28.600 He was the father 00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:29.320 of Jesse 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:31.060 and the father 00:37:31.060 --> 00:37:31.560 of David. 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:34.600 The line of Jesus. 00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.300 And you don't 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:37.980 have to turn there 00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:40.320 but today 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:40.820 you're going to read 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.900 Matthew chapter 1. 00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.540 I'm just going to 00:37:44.540 --> 00:37:46.160 read the first verse. 00:37:48.080 --> 00:37:49.180 The book of the 00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:50.260 genealogy of 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:51.040 Jesus Christ, 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:53.020 the son of David, 00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.700 the son of Abraham. 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.500 What God 00:37:58.500 --> 00:38:01.000 said he would 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.720 do 00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:03.620 because he 00:38:03.620 --> 00:38:05.180 is faithful. 00:38:06.180 --> 00:38:07.160 As we read 00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:08.000 through the story 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.900 of Ruth together, 00:38:09.560 --> 00:38:10.520 I pray that we 00:38:10.520 --> 00:38:11.500 celebrate as we 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.080 see all that 00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:12.700 God has done. 00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:14.540 And I pray 00:38:14.540 --> 00:38:15.460 that we long 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.280 for and to see 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:17.420 more of what 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:17.980 God is doing. 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:19.920 As we read 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:20.760 through and study 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:21.620 the story of Ruth 00:38:21.620 --> 00:38:22.120 together, 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.600 my prayer for you 00:38:23.600 --> 00:38:24.460 and the prayer 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.040 for me 00:38:25.040 --> 00:38:26.120 is in the midst 00:38:26.120 --> 00:38:27.060 of our uncertainty, 00:38:27.060 --> 00:38:27.800 in the midst 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.600 of our chaos, 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.220 in the midst 00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.000 of our suffering, 00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:30.820 in the midst 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.620 of our struggle, 00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:32.580 we will trust 00:38:32.580 --> 00:38:33.300 his plan 00:38:33.300 --> 00:38:34.360 even if we 00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:35.040 don't know it. 00:38:36.220 --> 00:38:36.940 Even if we 00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.680 don't know it. 00:38:38.680 --> 00:38:39.560 And that we'll 00:38:39.560 --> 00:38:40.380 know that he's 00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:40.900 in control. 00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:43.740 My prayer 00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:44.820 for you 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:45.540 and I 00:38:45.540 --> 00:38:47.140 is that 00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:48.360 because God 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.060 is a covenant 00:38:49.060 --> 00:38:50.000 making God 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.940 who holds 00:38:51.940 --> 00:38:52.620 his word 00:38:52.620 --> 00:38:54.180 and fulfills 00:38:54.180 --> 00:38:55.040 what he says 00:38:55.040 --> 00:38:56.660 every time 00:38:56.660 --> 00:38:58.520 that you 00:38:58.520 --> 00:38:58.860 and I 00:38:58.860 --> 00:38:59.460 will lean 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.300 in more 00:39:00.300 --> 00:39:01.500 and trust 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.420 on his promises 00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:03.780 more. 00:39:05.300 --> 00:39:06.020 And that 00:39:06.020 --> 00:39:06.940 what we'll see 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:08.960 throughout 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.440 the book 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.020 of Ruth 00:39:10.020 --> 00:39:11.880 of what 00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:12.740 God is doing 00:39:12.740 --> 00:39:15.740 is laying 00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.160 out the 00:39:16.160 --> 00:39:16.540 salvation 00:39:16.540 --> 00:39:17.140 of the world. 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.180 His plan. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.860 To save 00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:21.460 his sons 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.800 and daughters. 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.780 I hope 00:39:24.780 --> 00:39:25.120 that 00:39:25.120 --> 00:39:26.700 it's not 00:39:26.700 --> 00:39:27.060 just the 00:39:27.060 --> 00:39:27.520 introduction 00:39:27.520 --> 00:39:29.960 but that 00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.540 in a time 00:39:30.540 --> 00:39:31.120 and a period 00:39:31.120 --> 00:39:31.560 where there's 00:39:31.560 --> 00:39:32.220 lots of things 00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:32.580 that want to 00:39:32.580 --> 00:39:32.900 pull us 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.520 different ways 00:39:33.520 --> 00:39:35.220 that we can 00:39:35.220 --> 00:39:35.960 make the choice 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:37.480 to be here 00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:39.200 to journey 00:39:39.200 --> 00:39:39.540 through 00:39:39.540 --> 00:39:41.360 to open up 00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:42.540 and to read 00:39:42.540 --> 00:39:42.960 this 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:44.260 historically 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:45.700 inspired 00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.640 account 00:39:46.640 --> 00:39:48.440 about 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:48.940 Ruth 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:50.720 that 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:50.940 tells 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.380 the story 00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:51.640 of our 00:39:51.640 --> 00:39:51.880 God. 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:53.460 Let's pray. 00:39:56.600 --> 00:39:57.140 Lord we 00:39:57.140 --> 00:39:57.600 come to you 00:39:57.600 --> 00:39:58.140 this morning 00:39:58.140 --> 00:40:00.120 thanking you 00:40:00.120 --> 00:40:00.780 and praising you 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.320 for who you 00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:01.820 are Lord 00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:02.260 and for all 00:40:02.260 --> 00:40:02.620 that you've 00:40:02.620 --> 00:40:02.840 done. 00:40:04.180 --> 00:40:04.560 Lord we 00:40:04.560 --> 00:40:04.880 thank you 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.180 that what 00:40:05.180 --> 00:40:05.740 you're doing 00:40:05.740 --> 00:40:06.260 in the life 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:07.180 of Ruth 00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:08.780 what you did 00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.200 in the life 00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:09.980 of Ruth 00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:11.700 what you're 00:40:11.700 --> 00:40:12.120 doing in 00:40:12.120 --> 00:40:12.620 our life 00:40:12.620 --> 00:40:14.520 you're 00:40:14.520 --> 00:40:15.020 taking us 00:40:15.020 --> 00:40:15.280 through 00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.900 events 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.040 and 00:40:17.040 --> 00:40:17.840 circumstances 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:19.960 to build 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.640 our trust 00:40:20.640 --> 00:40:22.320 in you 00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:22.620 and to 00:40:22.620 --> 00:40:23.060 show your 00:40:23.060 --> 00:40:23.780 faithfulness. 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:25.840 Lord I pray 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:26.280 that as we 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:26.900 walk through 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:27.540 these we 00:40:27.540 --> 00:40:28.520 will choose 00:40:28.520 --> 00:40:29.100 to obey 00:40:29.100 --> 00:40:30.540 and choose 00:40:30.540 --> 00:40:31.080 to trust 00:40:31.080 --> 00:40:33.120 that we 00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:33.700 will remove 00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:34.220 ourselves 00:40:34.220 --> 00:40:34.700 from what 00:40:34.700 --> 00:40:35.480 we feel 00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:38.700 and Lord 00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:39.520 and instead 00:40:39.520 --> 00:40:41.140 respond to 00:40:41.140 --> 00:40:41.620 who you 00:40:41.620 --> 00:40:42.060 are 00:40:42.060 --> 00:40:43.820 Lord and 00:40:43.820 --> 00:40:44.160 what you're 00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.720 doing 00:40:44.720 --> 00:40:46.140 and what 00:40:46.140 --> 00:40:46.340 you're 00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:47.220 teaching us 00:40:47.220 --> 00:40:48.420 and what 00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:48.600 you're 00:40:48.600 --> 00:40:49.340 showing us. 00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.680 Lord I 00:40:51.680 --> 00:40:52.020 thank you 00:40:52.020 --> 00:40:52.480 that in the 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:52.860 sovereignty 00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.260 of your 00:40:53.260 --> 00:40:53.760 plan 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:55.900 every tear 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.400 matters. 00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:59.060 Every moment 00:40:59.060 --> 00:40:59.800 is a lesson 00:40:59.800 --> 00:41:00.480 for us 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:02.220 that you're 00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:02.700 using it 00:41:02.700 --> 00:41:03.040 all 00:41:03.040 --> 00:41:04.880 not just 00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.300 some 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:07.220 not just 00:41:07.220 --> 00:41:07.780 parts 00:41:07.780 --> 00:41:09.800 not just 00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:10.300 the good 00:41:10.300 --> 00:41:12.340 not just 00:41:12.340 --> 00:41:12.900 the bad 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:14.880 but all 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.840 of it 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:17.320 all 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:17.860 of it 00:41:17.860 --> 00:41:20.840 to draw 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:21.260 us to 00:41:21.260 --> 00:41:21.600 you 00:41:21.600 --> 00:41:24.960 and to 00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:25.400 declare 00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:26.020 your name. 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:30.860 God 00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:31.360 thank you 00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:34.440 for being 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:34.800 a God 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:35.060 who is 00:41:35.060 --> 00:41:35.580 in control 00:41:35.580 --> 00:41:38.720 thank you 00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:39.000 for being 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.480 a covenant 00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.080 God 00:41:40.080 --> 00:41:42.140 who we 00:41:42.140 --> 00:41:42.780 can trust 00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:46.180 and thank 00:41:46.180 --> 00:41:46.440 you 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:48.100 for sending 00:41:48.100 --> 00:41:48.580 your son 00:41:48.580 --> 00:41:49.060 Jesus 00:41:49.060 --> 00:41:51.800 to die 00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.060 on the 00:41:52.060 --> 00:41:52.460 cross 00:41:52.460 --> 00:41:54.560 to be 00:41:54.560 --> 00:41:55.100 resurrected 00:41:55.100 --> 00:41:55.600 again 00:41:55.600 --> 00:41:57.460 so that 00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:57.820 we may 00:41:57.820 --> 00:41:58.100 find 00:41:58.100 --> 00:41:58.600 forgiveness 00:41:58.600 --> 00:42:00.360 and 00:42:00.360 --> 00:42:00.760 life 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:18.220 thanks again 00:42:18.220 --> 00:42:18.740 for listening 00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:19.100 to the 00:42:19.100 --> 00:42:19.520 Willow Ridge 00:42:19.520 --> 00:42:19.880 Church 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:20.240 weekly 00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:20.660 podcast 00:42:20.660 --> 00:42:21.600 we hope 00:42:21.600 --> 00:42:21.860 that you 00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:22.180 enjoyed 00:42:22.180 --> 00:42:22.700 listening to 00:42:22.700 --> 00:42:23.140 this week's 00:42:23.140 --> 00:42:23.480 message 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:24.500 if you'd like 00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:24.800 to learn 00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:25.300 more about 00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:25.880 who we are 00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:26.540 or explore 00:42:26.540 --> 00:42:26.960 additional 00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:27.520 resources 00:42:27.520 --> 00:42:28.500 visit us 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:29.280 online at 00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:32.540 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:42:32.540 --> 00:42:33.740 or by searching 00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.760 for Willow Ridge Church 00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:35.380 on Facebook 00:42:35.380 --> 00:42:36.100 and Instagram 00:42:36.100 --> 00:42:36.240 and Instagram.