Naomi and Ruth (Part C)

Trust is what faith is all about why this faith is a joke.

Faith is just something to get something faith is supposed to mean no matter what happens, he my heart, my feelings going to stick with the Lord. That's what faith is supposed to be lose some of that reality in the language of Scripture because the language of Scripture so beautiful and about other people.

Sometimes, but it is supposed to be about us. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Ruth. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching that hears Pastor Rick with the conclusion of his study called Naomi and Ruth as he teaches in Ruth chapter 1, but Naomi said turned back my daughters will you go with me other still sons in my womb, that they may be your husband's thesis is she's approaching this logically, she's being logical here is to think about it. I know nothing to give you your people will give you more than I can give you. She refers to them as her daughters in the text on her daughters-in-law just to go back my daughters-in-law in a term of endearment and and you get again you see the star and nine Naomi rising up and you say you not these two girls and they never met a person like Naomi, not a woman like Naomi before. That's where it what made it hard to leave as wireless and I'm not going there is nobody like you that I know I've never met. I was born in the wrong religion was born in the wrong church I found the right one and will let's go to verse 12, it was she says turned back my daughters so I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope. If I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons would you wait for them till they were grown. Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands know my daughter would grieve me very much for your sakes, that the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me. This is remarkable.

She lays it out again as I've been saying I have nothing for you and I will let you do this to yourselves. She's it breaks my heart for your sakes of God is this broken my heart when she says turned back. We look at that from puerile eyes, and we should turn back to what apostasy I think she's giving the opportunity to or pride, as well as to Ruth.

You've met Yahweh you know Kim Moss and the rest are frauds. You can come with me if you really want to.

I think that is in what she is saying because Ruth picks it up and then go up Road just said snack and this guy from high school. Maybe he's seen a hook. Anyway, it's a bleak outlook this dreadful past and she's facing the music.

Should the facts are the facts and this is the voice of faith battered, not defeated, she still asking blessings on them in Yahweh's name.

She is not come to the place of Job yet. Well, maybe you know she certainly is.

She's going to get there, but that she's she's got some of that struggle happening and it's not uncommon in the Old Testament to blame God for what he allows. It's not uncommon in our lives. He allows in God.

In the end says yet in the end, it is me. We would do that and we trust that's what faith is all about. That otherwise is faith is a joke.

Faith is just something to get something faith is supposed to mean no matter what happens to me in my heart, my feelings going to stick with the Lord.

That's what faith is supposed to be lose some of that reality in the language of Scripture because the language of Scripture so beautiful and about other people. Sometimes, but it is supposed to be about us and so CSC suffered she has not turned her back on Yahweh. She'd converted these girls to him. Not likely.

The two boys would've married these these women if they had retained their allegiance to their pagan gods and the I'm not ready to blame all of Naomi's troubles on moving to Moab.

There were people in the promised land with troubles. We just finished that and the two chapters of of judges to agrees my heart very much for your sakes he says here in verse 13 the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me.

It is a Frank and logical analysis of the situation.

There is no way that you can come along as outcome on a bit much know it's really not enough to express the hurt that she had gone through in these two women went with it with her. So what did they do is they burst out into tears with her reminiscent of Jacob. After they had come back from Egypt is sons, not knowing that Joseph was venting them was filtering them. Joseph said you guys are brutes and I before I be nice to you.

I need to find out if you're still the monsters that threw me in the pit and so he runs them through this rigorous course I'm gonna and he's got the whole I make a point that's what we don't wear eye makeup is making me mad anyway Jacob.

They come back and they say you knows he kept Simeon Jacobson.

I never liked is my least favorite son anyone would do that what we get Genesis 42 Jacob the father said to them, who believe me Joseph is no more. Simeon is no more. You want to take Benjamin all these things are against me who complain him life taking office children and there is you know they will think that Simeon is in jail and I got to bring Benjamin back just to get bread so he loses, you know, he has this moment all these things are against me.

That's what Naomi is saying in us what we have said sometimes if you live long enough you and you do something for God you going to going to have these moments. It is not the language that we want to hear. But it is the reality that she is facing and who can criticize Jake up and who can criticize Naomi for this. She's returning to the land of God hurt by God, still believing still calling on his name in prayer. Otherwise we wouldn't have the story. Verse 14 then they lifted up their voices and wept again there's that outburst of tears and our protester mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her see the narrator.

He says this is the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law.

But when Naomi speaks, it's not daughter-in-law. As I mentioned it's it's it's my daughter's Oracle yield.

She said I can argue with this. I'm going home which which meant she's going back to her pagan gods because you did in those days you just could not live in pagan environment and last in this you were some sort of super civilian or believer, but Ruth Ruth couldn't do it. Ruth refused to know my schoolmate Ruth do so.

It says just five little words in English but Ruth clung to her or put kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth wouldn't let go. You think of Mary Magdalene hurt the Lord of the picture he clung to him is not letting go ORPA she took you know a few steps towards Judah towards the promised land. Lender led to Boaz, the Redeemer, the place amongst God's people, but she turned back, is there not a story and that we not see that in real life, people come the church, the hurting and hear the message of God's love and God's mercy and they give their lives to Christ and as the Lord said the cares of this world of the pressures of life come upon them because they have no depth and of course they were there. Faith wilts and she kissed Ruth and Naomi goodbye and turned her back on Israel and that that's really the end of the story far as we know of ORPA back to the demon God's back to the gods that had no problem with child sacrifice modern-day of course there to civil to light up an altar on them think they called abortion and not murder, but this civility is breaking down as a now trying to kill them outside the and where does that stop well up to nine. You can do it and then when is that stopping me just these monsters monsters and work with dealing with Satan inside of human PA human beings. Some of them are irretrievable. Some or not, but we don't know who so we must engage as God gives us opportunity if we allow ourselves to hate our enemies, we will become like them and so regard against that.

Anyway, ORPA goes, we read of her no more, but Ruth simply put, stayed put. That's that's the story with Ruth because again Naomi to her represented a higher type of womanhood. I want to be that kind of a man to other men that either to a higher type of manhood with the women there that I would think every Christian sister would want to be is not easy you know you not. You don't inherit this, you not entitled to this you have to earn this kind of respect and Naomi did a higher God is what Ruth discovered with these people and with these Jews and she wasn't going to abandon it and that's with the story of us and Christianity. We've discovered Jesus Christ, a Jew, like no other and we're not going to give him up for the pressures that come our way.

Verse 15 and she said look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her God's return after your sister-in-law Naomi's letting competencies on the I don't want fake allegiance. I don't you telling me you know how wonderful you are today, then tomorrow you and my back and you and I think I don't think Naomi's funeral thinking this teaches being Naomi, this is just another little goal your people, your sister, that's what she is done and that's what you need to do and even though ORPA was that close to the kingdom. She made an eternal mistake, a devastating choice. Ruth is going to get the same chance. Paul says this he says about the Lord who desires all men to be saving to come to the knowledge of the truth of God wanted ORPA to be saving to remain in the knowledge of the truth, and he wanted that for Ruth and Ruth.

She chose it. John Wesley "John Wesley much is great man save England great Christian man. Wesley says this about the ORPA's BA reasons thus have. Thus, many have a value for Christ and yet come short of salvation by him because they cannot find in their hearts, to forsake other things for him. They love him, and yet leave him because they do not love him enough love other things better. That's the story of Dimas Dimas has forsaken me, having loved this present world. It's with with with Paul said we need to hear these things to scare us sometimes into the obedience we otherwise might not find you younger Christians. I don't mind scaring you if it's true, I don't fake scare you try to whip up something for the night just like tonight and wanted to see a little storyteller itself with the fact. No evidence is another thing for Naomi no evidence that she resented ORPA's choice. Yeah, fine.

Go I knew you would crack another that she doesn't see that you noted is nothing like that, but it was a turn back the turnback of apostasy and Ruth would not have it.

She'd have none of it to turn to their people would be to return to their culture into their gods and Ruth is not budging.

That's we get verse 16 we been waiting for this verse we not have this verse 16. If it wasn't for Naomi. But Ruth said entreat me not to leave you or to turn back from following after you for wherever you go I will go wherever you lodge, I will lodge your people will be my people and your God my God I can't say it like Ruth said it would. Tears on her face and sniffles and a high pitch that season there man. Caesar 50 pouring out her heart she did I say let me come to write you something is going to be beautiful is wait-and-see. Go to write this down this is just coming out from our heart out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

And that's why say Naomi is is is the star of the book. She is the heroine in many ways because without her. We don't have verse 16 we don't have Ruth Ruth saw the hardship in the circumstances that Naomi had gone through and how she handled it and she was not confused about because Naomi wasn't confused. Naomi is very theological.

I vetoed life is. Trust me. So is Joe said the Lord lives. Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Naomi wasn't there yet. Ruth she was there she loses much the and she was still younger, she had better future as a source of a promising future goals. So Ruth, she saw her father-in-law die her brother-in-law and her husband and she saw Naomi deal with it all and not abandon the faith, not abandon them. She did not become mean-spirited towards them as people can do when they feel life is dealt them you know a wrong hand and now that I'm justified in being snippy and criticizing every single other person your congresspeople. I all they do is criticize everybody else because what they are doing is they're making everybody look like that while they look like this.

I am the smart one.

I know what that guy's problem is because I got my act together and it's all a lie takes a long time sometimes see through that nonsense and in this case it's not in the negative is in the positive. She doesn't see a person that's picking at every body. She sees a person is looking out for people she loves and so Ruth and her quiet way defiantly shook her fist at faithlessness and Helen declared your God will be my God wherever you lodge, I will lodge I was sleep when you sleep. If you're in a tent. I'm in a tent. If you're a palace I'm in the pals wherever you go. I'm going to be there with you. Your people should be my people.

Jennifer met them.

Incidentally, when she gets to Bethlehem the people going to love on these two people and that's another beautiful part of the story, and your God.

Of course, your God, my God, not because it is a shortage of God's there is no shortage of other gods, she knew about the man-made gods in early on she want to know more parts. No parts of that stuff is language of the Lord said to the disciples. Usually the church to you going everybody owes Lord saying we are like a sermon relieving and then in Day-Glo they go to Jesus for Hillis in golf and he turns his disciples, usually leaving to Peter where will we be without Peter bigmouth Peter at a mall big enough to also say some powerful things. In fact, this is more powerful things and doesn't.

But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go.

You have the words of eternal life, and that's why we don't move from our faith. Ruth again just had so much life in her for truth. This lowly Moabitess could exclaim that your God will be my God. Verse 17. Now she's not finished the verse is not of divided that I think where you die I will die. We in there I will be very Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you from me. Who is this woman anywhere you find that kind of faith in man or woman, will you find it in Ruth turning her back on everything. She was raised with. Because it was wrong.

She had hidden the head sharp enough to see that she was eager for greater truths and she got them David on two separate occasions had men pledge allegiance to him and David. There were plenty of tough men in David's day. They did not pledge their allegiance today because he's just such a great superhero. It was because of David's love for God. That's what his great attraction was nobody in the Old Testament when the hatted like David and another would not limit clarify that Daniel had it in a way that no other hatted.

Joseph had a meet each one. David had something very special about him and try to put him higher than anybody else except in the category that he excelled and when he came to his faith. The first one is in first Chronicles and hear their coming to pledge their allegiance to him as king and these are Judah men from Judah and Benjamin up the Benjamite's were from Saul's tribe and you would think that they would say no way we going to line up with David know this is what then the spirit came upon Amber side chief of the captains and he said we are yours or David. We are on your side oh sun of Jesse. Peace. Peace to you and peace to your helpers for your God helps you, they receive them, made them captains of the troop you see your God helps you.

That's the that was a driving force is something very beautiful. I mean imagine someone comes up to lead us in worship in their board.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. But when they are into God. Their way.

Not like they saw somebody else do it is contagious picks you up. Imagine if you came here you none of this heart probably can't do defect is a possible but imagine if you came here you were bored by a sermon or II just love getting those things. And for me there self commercials are so absurd that just I just it. You just have to suffer second Samuel, if I read this one often it AI is, it was probably not even a Jew, and he probably died in battle. After this, but it AI answer. The king is when David said this is not your fight go home. AI answer the king and said, as the Lord lives and as my lord the king live shortly whatever place my lord the king shall live, whether in death or life even they are also your servant will be see those pledges of allegiance that are based on something they're not blind you like well you know we've been friends since high school. Even though you're out you know doing awful things. I'm going to be toilet in the based on something righteous is it not terrible. Someone vilifies the righteous for whatever purpose is no proof, no facts.

He just said it is supposed to believe it. We see this in churches, we see people go to churches and think they love the church to love the pastor they love the seven son little traveler comes up and whispers in the year but they have decaf here and in his sours everything, may we be on guard against these things. Verse 18 when she saw that she was determined to go with her.

She stopped speaking. So Ruth convinced her and they only yielded she was not. I'm going to have my way of hurting is my will analyze ways that this is just a beautiful she stopped. Verse 19. Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem and it happened when they had come to Bethlehem at all. The city was excited because of them and the women said is this Naomi check this every first off you see them going down the road together. They got all that out of them there for half exhausted from all the crying and weeping bitterly and yet there's this is love these two women going down. You know the and the roads are probably will somewhat wealth populated so the one to much danger evidently because that would've come up in the street how we going to get there. Anyhow, in verse 19.

This is the homecoming after written at least 10 years and the people missed her and they are excited to see Harris Naomi hi you doing the Naomi stumbles a little bit.

Who can blame her. These in our people. She's home she's comfortable with them and she said to them, do not call me pleasant. Call me bitter, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. See, I used to pounce on her for this.

Oh what a drama queen. Ma Ike of Gaza taken some hits, except that the cost of the slab system out of you and you get more patient with others 02.0 push it and so here she comes back and she's just can't opening up to them whether they do say when she tells them husbands that my sons are dead.

This is my daughter-in-law.

She's a Moabite, not at you had a deck over evidently one of the root very well because we never read about Ruth really being trashed by any of the people and put ample opportunity. Verse 22 so Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess or daughter-in-law with Herbert, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest and so it's it's in April now that they arrive here.

The barley, of course made me bread out of barley. Not about the best harvest home later that would be the better grain but there's only one way to find that's what we learn from Lyons's only woman to survive. Jesus said it this way, but he who endures to the end shall be saved. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Ruth cross reference is the teaching ministry of pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com. There you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe, you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app work. Just follow the links@crossreferenceradio.com that's all the time we have for today, but we hope you'll join us next time.

As we continue to learn more from the book of Ruth right here on cross reference