1 00:00:00,516 --> 00:00:01,550 We're in the book of ruth, 2 00:00:02,266 --> 00:00:03,856 and we began it last week. 3 00:00:06,003 --> 00:00:07,753 I I described it last week as the 4 00:00:07,753 --> 00:00:09,820 hallmark movie of the old testament. 5 00:00:10,629 --> 00:00:12,691 It's 4 little short chapters, not very long 6 00:00:12,691 --> 00:00:15,309 at all. But in these 4 chapters, you 7 00:00:15,309 --> 00:00:18,140 get you get all of this drama taking 8 00:00:18,259 --> 00:00:20,574 place. It begins with just really tragedy. 9 00:00:21,053 --> 00:00:23,528 Like most hallmark movies do, You know? I 10 00:00:23,528 --> 00:00:25,285 mean, if you ever watched the hallmark movies 11 00:00:25,285 --> 00:00:26,722 years of girl and she's having to come 12 00:00:26,722 --> 00:00:29,362 back home because your father's died, and there's 13 00:00:29,362 --> 00:00:31,426 nobody run the ranch anymore. And she's in 14 00:00:31,585 --> 00:00:33,173 New York trying to be a lawyer, but 15 00:00:33,173 --> 00:00:34,840 now she's gotta go back and run the 16 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,850 farm and And, you know you're like, wow. 17 00:00:37,090 --> 00:00:38,850 What a terrible story and then of course, 18 00:00:39,170 --> 00:00:41,170 all at once, you know, Prince charming shows 19 00:00:41,170 --> 00:00:43,649 up and everything ends happily ever after. Right? 20 00:00:45,095 --> 00:00:47,077 Well, there... There's more to ruth than that. 21 00:00:47,315 --> 00:00:49,401 But in many ways that is the story 22 00:00:50,090 --> 00:00:51,200 of of the book of ruth. 23 00:00:52,169 --> 00:00:54,403 And last week, we began by looking at 24 00:00:54,403 --> 00:00:57,037 the first 3 verses very quickly in the 25 00:00:57,037 --> 00:00:58,952 days when the judges ruled, there was a 26 00:00:58,952 --> 00:01:00,800 famine in the land. So a man from 27 00:01:00,959 --> 00:01:03,266 Bethlehem and Judah together with his wife and 28 00:01:03,266 --> 00:01:05,016 2 sons went to live a while in 29 00:01:05,016 --> 00:01:07,259 the country of Moa app. Now, this the 30 00:01:07,259 --> 00:01:09,257 second generation of people that have come into 31 00:01:09,257 --> 00:01:11,255 the land of Can. We know that from 32 00:01:11,255 --> 00:01:12,395 the fact that Bo 33 00:01:12,774 --> 00:01:14,712 is the son of Ray, 34 00:01:15,411 --> 00:01:16,470 who was the prostitute 35 00:01:17,024 --> 00:01:19,013 that Tim mentioned in the devotion a while 36 00:01:19,013 --> 00:01:21,162 ago that was, you know, a part of 37 00:01:21,321 --> 00:01:23,550 Jericho at the time. So we can actually 38 00:01:23,550 --> 00:01:24,766 date the story 39 00:01:25,141 --> 00:01:26,907 within just a few years. That And so 40 00:01:26,907 --> 00:01:29,772 it's the second generation, and and there's a 41 00:01:29,772 --> 00:01:30,647 famine that showed up. 42 00:01:31,682 --> 00:01:33,989 And 1 of the things last week I 43 00:01:33,989 --> 00:01:36,313 mentioned was the fact that God had warned 44 00:01:36,472 --> 00:01:36,972 Israel. 45 00:01:37,509 --> 00:01:38,865 You turn your back on me, 46 00:01:39,742 --> 00:01:41,177 and I'm gonna get your attention. 47 00:01:42,134 --> 00:01:44,127 I may get it with pest. I may 48 00:01:44,127 --> 00:01:46,773 get it with another a nation sub you. 49 00:01:46,933 --> 00:01:48,846 I may get it from famine, but I'm 50 00:01:48,846 --> 00:01:51,238 gonna get your attention. And so it's very 51 00:01:51,238 --> 00:01:54,522 likely that this famine that hits Israel at 52 00:01:54,522 --> 00:01:56,994 this time is because they're turning their back 53 00:01:56,994 --> 00:01:57,712 on god. 54 00:01:59,068 --> 00:02:01,541 And and what happens is this family, the 55 00:02:01,541 --> 00:02:02,099 man's name is, 56 00:02:02,897 --> 00:02:04,824 which means My god is king. 57 00:02:05,461 --> 00:02:07,873 It's wife's Naomi me 2 sons or Mai 58 00:02:08,010 --> 00:02:10,638 and Kill, and they were ever fights from 59 00:02:10,718 --> 00:02:12,071 Bethlehem Judah. Okay? 60 00:02:12,724 --> 00:02:14,157 Mean, there they're are people who have been 61 00:02:14,157 --> 00:02:14,657 giving 62 00:02:15,113 --> 00:02:17,502 a part of the land as Joshua divided 63 00:02:17,502 --> 00:02:20,072 the land. They've got their land in Bethlehem. 64 00:02:21,339 --> 00:02:23,328 And what do they do when the first 65 00:02:23,328 --> 00:02:24,203 famine strikes. 66 00:02:25,317 --> 00:02:26,192 They leave the land. 67 00:02:27,783 --> 00:02:29,852 I mean, I mean, knowing what God had 68 00:02:29,852 --> 00:02:31,243 promised through Moses 69 00:02:31,938 --> 00:02:34,009 instead of the 1 who says my god 70 00:02:34,009 --> 00:02:34,749 is king 71 00:02:35,364 --> 00:02:37,914 and relying upon him. He says family is 72 00:02:37,914 --> 00:02:39,587 time to move, and they had to moa 73 00:02:39,587 --> 00:02:39,826 out. 74 00:02:40,878 --> 00:02:42,314 And of course, when they get over to 75 00:02:42,394 --> 00:02:42,894 Moa, 76 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:44,789 Dies. 77 00:02:45,986 --> 00:02:47,821 And all it once Naomi left with her 78 00:02:47,821 --> 00:02:50,064 2 sons, Now we know in the text 79 00:02:50,064 --> 00:02:52,050 and we're gonna see this, they live there 80 00:02:52,050 --> 00:02:53,004 for 10 years. 81 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:55,149 Okay? There's a 10 year span. 82 00:02:56,118 --> 00:02:57,634 And so when they go into the land, 83 00:02:57,793 --> 00:03:00,128 their 2 sons are very likely 84 00:03:01,462 --> 00:03:04,015 somewhere in their, you know, maybe mid teens, 85 00:03:04,334 --> 00:03:05,291 maybe late teens, 86 00:03:06,664 --> 00:03:07,544 Now that's gone. 87 00:03:08,985 --> 00:03:10,745 And so the question is, okay. Now what's 88 00:03:10,745 --> 00:03:11,305 going to happen. 89 00:03:12,584 --> 00:03:14,985 And what what you see happening is once 90 00:03:14,985 --> 00:03:17,469 again Now, again, the story is going end 91 00:03:17,469 --> 00:03:17,787 well. 92 00:03:18,743 --> 00:03:20,972 But it end well it ends well simply 93 00:03:20,972 --> 00:03:23,201 because God is working through the story. 94 00:03:23,773 --> 00:03:25,203 And and that's 1 of the points that 95 00:03:25,203 --> 00:03:27,588 we've made in multiple lessons is that even 96 00:03:27,588 --> 00:03:29,121 when we make bad choices, 97 00:03:30,211 --> 00:03:32,039 if we're part of God's plan, he works 98 00:03:32,039 --> 00:03:34,842 through even our bad choices to accomplish his 99 00:03:34,842 --> 00:03:35,160 will. 100 00:03:35,878 --> 00:03:37,153 And so we need to understand that. 101 00:03:38,349 --> 00:03:40,794 As and so I noticed the next bad 102 00:03:41,553 --> 00:03:42,670 mistake that they make. 103 00:03:43,309 --> 00:03:45,065 They married more about women, 104 00:03:45,624 --> 00:03:48,098 1 name Or upon the other ruth. Now 105 00:03:48,098 --> 00:03:49,909 because we know who ruth is, we're like 106 00:03:50,029 --> 00:03:50,986 that's not bad. 107 00:03:52,022 --> 00:03:54,015 Ruth is a wonderful person, 108 00:03:55,132 --> 00:03:57,125 but you need to realize not when they 109 00:03:57,125 --> 00:03:57,922 get married. 110 00:03:59,291 --> 00:04:00,109 She's a moa. 111 00:04:01,756 --> 00:04:03,665 And you go, okay, what's the problem with 112 00:04:03,665 --> 00:04:04,562 being a moa. 113 00:04:05,573 --> 00:04:08,055 And the problem is is that God had 114 00:04:08,055 --> 00:04:09,409 warned the Israelites. 115 00:04:10,206 --> 00:04:12,198 Be careful when you go into the land, 116 00:04:13,393 --> 00:04:15,623 not to give your sons to the people 117 00:04:15,623 --> 00:04:16,260 of the lands, 118 00:04:16,833 --> 00:04:19,964 Daughters are are your daughters to their sons 119 00:04:20,102 --> 00:04:21,138 don't do that. 120 00:04:22,174 --> 00:04:24,327 Because if you choose to marry, do not 121 00:04:24,327 --> 00:04:24,827 estimate, 122 00:04:25,459 --> 00:04:27,936 underestimate the importance of whom you marry. 123 00:04:29,295 --> 00:04:30,115 I cannot 124 00:04:32,092 --> 00:04:33,471 emphasize this lesson 125 00:04:33,930 --> 00:04:34,170 enough. 126 00:04:35,540 --> 00:04:38,167 I mean, who we marry if we choose 127 00:04:38,167 --> 00:04:38,906 to marry 128 00:04:39,599 --> 00:04:40,975 is going to affect 129 00:04:41,510 --> 00:04:42,328 the rest 130 00:04:42,704 --> 00:04:43,579 of our lives. 131 00:04:45,186 --> 00:04:47,017 Now how they married back then and how 132 00:04:47,017 --> 00:04:48,769 we married today was vastly different. 133 00:04:49,804 --> 00:04:52,112 Back then, marriages were arranged to marriages. 134 00:04:52,923 --> 00:04:55,230 In other words, your dad got together with 135 00:04:55,230 --> 00:04:57,537 someone else in the community and began to 136 00:04:57,537 --> 00:04:59,526 negotiate and, you know, for this price, 137 00:05:00,018 --> 00:05:02,164 I'll I'll take your daughter for a wife 138 00:05:02,164 --> 00:05:04,470 for my son or for this price, I'll 139 00:05:04,470 --> 00:05:06,139 give my daughter to your son. I mean, 140 00:05:06,377 --> 00:05:07,990 they were pre arranged marriages. 141 00:05:09,975 --> 00:05:11,814 And it worked for thousands of years. 142 00:05:14,935 --> 00:05:16,454 I'm glad they gave up on in a 143 00:05:16,454 --> 00:05:17,814 few generations ago. Right? 144 00:05:19,508 --> 00:05:20,946 Because as much as I love my mom 145 00:05:20,946 --> 00:05:21,426 and dad, 146 00:05:22,624 --> 00:05:24,461 who, I would not want my mom involved 147 00:05:24,461 --> 00:05:25,180 in who I married. 148 00:05:26,471 --> 00:05:28,221 I mean, when I was in high school, 149 00:05:28,380 --> 00:05:30,448 mother would say, you know, that's a pretty 150 00:05:30,448 --> 00:05:32,221 girl right there. And I go mom. 151 00:05:33,089 --> 00:05:34,206 Man alive. 152 00:05:34,685 --> 00:05:35,963 By the way, she wouldn't point in June. 153 00:05:36,202 --> 00:05:37,799 Okay? Just make sure things are clear. 154 00:05:38,597 --> 00:05:40,114 You know, when I brought June home, mom 155 00:05:40,114 --> 00:05:41,710 was like, oh, yes. That's good. 156 00:05:42,363 --> 00:05:44,589 You know? But anyway, they were pre arranged 157 00:05:44,589 --> 00:05:47,053 marriages. Today we marry very differently. And I've 158 00:05:47,053 --> 00:05:48,484 got be honest, I don't think we're any 159 00:05:48,484 --> 00:05:49,995 better than our parents used to be. 160 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,439 I mean, let's be honest. 161 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,720 How good are we when we're 17 18, 162 00:05:56,879 --> 00:05:59,040 19 20, whatever our age is. 163 00:06:00,094 --> 00:06:01,772 If picking out someone spend the rest of 164 00:06:01,772 --> 00:06:02,491 our lives with? 165 00:06:04,089 --> 00:06:06,406 I mean, how do we make those decisions? 166 00:06:07,458 --> 00:06:09,845 And that becomes a big issue in this 167 00:06:09,845 --> 00:06:11,675 particular text. You know, if you go back 168 00:06:11,675 --> 00:06:14,380 to Gene 7, Moses is warning them when 169 00:06:14,380 --> 00:06:15,987 you... When God brings you into the land, 170 00:06:16,067 --> 00:06:17,499 and he's gonna drive out the head tops 171 00:06:17,499 --> 00:06:19,807 of the Go shots, the emma, the can, 172 00:06:20,125 --> 00:06:21,819 parasites, hip bites, ji. 173 00:06:22,448 --> 00:06:25,463 And then you have the command. Do not 174 00:06:25,463 --> 00:06:26,415 mary with them. 175 00:06:27,844 --> 00:06:28,478 Don't do it. 176 00:06:29,924 --> 00:06:32,481 Now, you you quickly notice that among the 177 00:06:32,481 --> 00:06:35,277 tribes here, you know, the more robots are 178 00:06:35,277 --> 00:06:36,875 not listed and they're not. 179 00:06:37,927 --> 00:06:39,518 But if you read own D, I mean 180 00:06:39,677 --> 00:06:40,495 I've got the wrong, 181 00:06:41,348 --> 00:06:43,097 text up here. So I'm gonna correct it. 182 00:06:43,336 --> 00:06:45,427 This is not d 7. This is d 183 00:06:45,483 --> 00:06:46,040 23. 184 00:06:46,613 --> 00:06:48,368 Okay? And so if you go to Jet 185 00:06:48,368 --> 00:06:49,165 me 23, 186 00:06:49,644 --> 00:06:51,638 here's what Moses says about the ammo and 187 00:06:51,638 --> 00:06:54,531 the moa. Now the ammo and moa are 188 00:06:54,749 --> 00:06:55,467 like cousins. 189 00:06:56,996 --> 00:07:00,820 Okay? Am and Moa were the sons of 190 00:07:00,820 --> 00:07:01,219 lot, 191 00:07:01,697 --> 00:07:02,197 Abraham 192 00:07:02,653 --> 00:07:03,131 nephew. 193 00:07:04,023 --> 00:07:05,957 And and so these are very 194 00:07:06,334 --> 00:07:08,964 distant cousins. Now when I say distant, I 195 00:07:08,964 --> 00:07:09,282 mean, 196 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:10,717 major dis. 197 00:07:11,688 --> 00:07:12,884 You know, I know how many how many 198 00:07:12,884 --> 00:07:15,377 of y'all I've done ancestry, Dna, 199 00:07:15,914 --> 00:07:18,784 Anybody, Handful of you. You know, I'm a 200 00:07:18,784 --> 00:07:21,030 gene epidemiologist and And so I sent in 201 00:07:21,030 --> 00:07:23,340 my Dna a long time ago. Y'all, I 202 00:07:23,340 --> 00:07:24,057 have got, like, 203 00:07:24,774 --> 00:07:28,358 5000 thousand cousins it's been identified through Dna. 204 00:07:29,235 --> 00:07:31,161 And And I look and I see, okay. 205 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,152 Now how am I accustomed to this person. 206 00:07:33,470 --> 00:07:35,302 And boy, when I, you know, go, oh, 207 00:07:35,541 --> 00:07:37,531 I share the same fifth great grandfather. 208 00:07:38,662 --> 00:07:40,574 Well, we may be cousins, but we need 209 00:07:40,574 --> 00:07:41,768 cousins much. Right? 210 00:07:42,406 --> 00:07:43,840 And that was the way with the ammo 211 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:44,636 and the moa bites. 212 00:07:45,369 --> 00:07:46,189 They were cousins 213 00:07:47,047 --> 00:07:49,864 from the family of, you know, Abraham dia, 214 00:07:50,962 --> 00:07:52,640 but they'd had gone off and followed other 215 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,495 gods. And so no am I or I 216 00:07:54,495 --> 00:07:56,735 moa or any of their descendants may enter 217 00:07:56,735 --> 00:07:58,735 the assembly. The assembly hears worship. 218 00:07:59,855 --> 00:08:01,454 And basically, Moses says, listen. 219 00:08:02,188 --> 00:08:02,986 Don't let them in. 220 00:08:03,783 --> 00:08:05,139 And by the way, 1 of the reasons 221 00:08:05,139 --> 00:08:06,734 was when they came up out of Israel, 222 00:08:07,293 --> 00:08:08,888 the Moa. I mean, they're were the ones 223 00:08:08,888 --> 00:08:10,962 that that that hired Ba to curse the 224 00:08:11,041 --> 00:08:13,772 Israel israelites. Their own cousins trying to get 225 00:08:13,772 --> 00:08:15,050 someone to curse them. 226 00:08:16,329 --> 00:08:18,806 And so Moses says listen. They cannot come 227 00:08:18,806 --> 00:08:20,733 in worship with you. Not only that do 228 00:08:20,733 --> 00:08:22,663 not seek a treaty of friendship 229 00:08:23,274 --> 00:08:24,862 with them as long as you live. 230 00:08:26,292 --> 00:08:27,880 Now I don't know about you, but if 231 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:29,801 marriage can be called anything. Should be a 232 00:08:29,801 --> 00:08:30,676 treaty friendship. 233 00:08:31,869 --> 00:08:34,175 And so why, the text doesn't say do 234 00:08:34,175 --> 00:08:35,152 not marry moa. 235 00:08:35,527 --> 00:08:37,594 It says don't make a treaty friendship with 236 00:08:37,594 --> 00:08:38,810 them, and it probably 237 00:08:39,439 --> 00:08:41,218 pushes that over into that category. 238 00:08:42,396 --> 00:08:43,834 Going back to chapter 7, 239 00:08:44,473 --> 00:08:46,630 do not inter interfere with them. Why? 240 00:08:47,364 --> 00:08:49,747 For they will turn your children away from 241 00:08:49,747 --> 00:08:52,290 following me to serving other kinds. 242 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,071 That was always god's concern. 243 00:08:56,278 --> 00:08:58,740 Now now you gotta understand something here. We're 244 00:08:58,740 --> 00:09:00,194 we're not talking about 245 00:09:01,124 --> 00:09:02,871 the difference between, you know, 246 00:09:04,076 --> 00:09:05,424 Let's say, you know, my mom and dad. 247 00:09:05,582 --> 00:09:07,485 My my mom and mom had grown up. 248 00:09:07,644 --> 00:09:08,833 When I asked mom. I said, what do 249 00:09:08,833 --> 00:09:10,181 you grow up religiously? 250 00:09:11,149 --> 00:09:12,427 And my mom said, well, I grew up, 251 00:09:12,587 --> 00:09:13,646 baptist methodist 252 00:09:14,025 --> 00:09:15,324 presbyterian Church Christ Pent. 253 00:09:16,342 --> 00:09:17,141 I said, okay. 254 00:09:18,431 --> 00:09:20,021 Mom said, I just went to church with 255 00:09:20,021 --> 00:09:21,770 my friends and so wherever the my current 256 00:09:21,770 --> 00:09:23,201 friends were. That's where I went to church. 257 00:09:24,791 --> 00:09:26,063 My dad on the other hand grew Up 258 00:09:26,063 --> 00:09:27,096 I've in churches of Christ. 259 00:09:28,548 --> 00:09:30,225 And and when they got married, neither the 260 00:09:30,225 --> 00:09:31,264 1 of them were Christians. 261 00:09:32,942 --> 00:09:34,220 And and, you know, 262 00:09:34,875 --> 00:09:36,315 I looked back and I think boy God's 263 00:09:36,315 --> 00:09:38,315 grace was at work through that because shortly 264 00:09:38,315 --> 00:09:40,075 after they got married. They both became Christians. 265 00:09:41,274 --> 00:09:43,115 But we're not talking about people who grow 266 00:09:43,115 --> 00:09:45,043 up, you know, and in groups of people 267 00:09:45,043 --> 00:09:47,191 who claim allegiance to Jesus. We're talking about 268 00:09:47,191 --> 00:09:47,827 pagan groups. 269 00:09:48,623 --> 00:09:50,634 We're talking about groups that were horrendous 270 00:09:51,421 --> 00:09:52,692 I mean, when you go back and you 271 00:09:52,692 --> 00:09:54,995 look at B the God Moe. 1 of 272 00:09:54,995 --> 00:09:57,219 the ways you worship Mole was literally take 273 00:09:57,219 --> 00:09:59,046 your child and just been born to you. 274 00:09:59,379 --> 00:10:00,754 And offer it as a sacrifice 275 00:10:01,128 --> 00:10:02,321 to Moe as a God. 276 00:10:03,116 --> 00:10:05,502 I mean, these people were incredibly wicked. 277 00:10:06,138 --> 00:10:08,285 And God knew that if you inter married 278 00:10:08,285 --> 00:10:08,842 with them, 279 00:10:09,334 --> 00:10:11,720 everything he had done at Sinai, the covenant 280 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,107 that he entered into with Israel, all of 281 00:10:14,107 --> 00:10:15,300 it would be in vain. 282 00:10:15,936 --> 00:10:17,368 And so there's the prohibition. 283 00:10:18,897 --> 00:10:21,072 Talking about the God of the Moa. 284 00:10:21,848 --> 00:10:23,922 Here's here's what happened to Solomon. Solomon, and 285 00:10:23,922 --> 00:10:24,241 you know, 286 00:10:25,198 --> 00:10:27,511 violated God's commitment. He interfered with all these 287 00:10:27,511 --> 00:10:27,750 people. 288 00:10:28,642 --> 00:10:30,235 And as a result of that, his heart 289 00:10:30,235 --> 00:10:32,067 was taken away from the Lord. I will 290 00:10:32,067 --> 00:10:34,378 do this because they have forsaken me, and 291 00:10:34,378 --> 00:10:36,688 they've worship Astra and the goddess of the 292 00:10:36,767 --> 00:10:37,245 Sid. 293 00:10:37,659 --> 00:10:39,438 Key the God of the Moa 294 00:10:39,977 --> 00:10:41,655 that would have been the God of ruth 295 00:10:41,655 --> 00:10:42,395 and Or 296 00:10:42,854 --> 00:10:44,692 and Moe the God of the Ammo I 297 00:10:44,692 --> 00:10:46,530 and Have not walked in obedience to me. 298 00:10:47,822 --> 00:10:49,976 And so you have god saying to them. 299 00:10:50,375 --> 00:10:53,487 Don't enter mary. Why because it's gonna lead 300 00:10:53,487 --> 00:10:54,205 you a astra. 301 00:10:55,496 --> 00:10:57,570 And we shouldn't be surprised when you get 302 00:10:57,570 --> 00:11:00,042 to the new testament. You find Paul basically 303 00:11:00,042 --> 00:11:02,115 saying the same thing. Now this is not 304 00:11:02,115 --> 00:11:03,232 specifically about marriage. 305 00:11:04,523 --> 00:11:06,118 But it definitely applies to marriage. 306 00:11:06,677 --> 00:11:08,772 Do not be yoke together with un. 307 00:11:10,346 --> 00:11:12,419 I mean, Paul's talking here. He's not saying 308 00:11:12,419 --> 00:11:13,797 don't be friends with un. 309 00:11:14,189 --> 00:11:15,867 We've got to be friends with un believers, 310 00:11:16,187 --> 00:11:18,345 but he's saying, be careful, those of you 311 00:11:18,345 --> 00:11:18,984 in business. 312 00:11:20,103 --> 00:11:23,493 From becoming partners with someone who have... Has, 313 00:11:23,708 --> 00:11:25,932 you know, no regards to God. Whatsoever? 314 00:11:26,408 --> 00:11:27,520 Be careful on that. 315 00:11:28,314 --> 00:11:30,459 You know, because because it can draw you 316 00:11:30,459 --> 00:11:32,859 away. It can compromise your values when you're 317 00:11:32,859 --> 00:11:34,715 getting married, be careful 318 00:11:35,652 --> 00:11:37,967 that you don't take someone who doesn't believe 319 00:11:37,967 --> 00:11:38,786 in God 320 00:11:39,164 --> 00:11:41,080 and marry someone who does believe in God, 321 00:11:41,414 --> 00:11:42,930 In fact, when you get over to first 322 00:11:43,009 --> 00:11:46,200 Corinthians 7, he's talking about widows in particular. 323 00:11:46,519 --> 00:11:48,433 And he says a woman is is bound 324 00:11:48,433 --> 00:11:49,869 to our husband as long as he lives, 325 00:11:50,108 --> 00:11:51,876 but her if husband dies, she free to 326 00:11:51,876 --> 00:11:53,308 marry anyone she wishes, 327 00:11:54,183 --> 00:11:56,332 but then look what Paul says, but he 328 00:11:56,332 --> 00:11:57,446 must belong to the Lord. 329 00:11:58,639 --> 00:12:00,365 He's gotta be a follower of Jesus. He's 330 00:12:01,359 --> 00:12:03,372 And in that ancient world where 331 00:12:03,747 --> 00:12:05,578 oftentimes women had very few rights. 332 00:12:06,692 --> 00:12:09,319 Paul's concern is if you're a Christian woman. 333 00:12:10,289 --> 00:12:12,283 Don't don't marry someone that's not a believer 334 00:12:12,283 --> 00:12:14,437 in Jesus because I mean, 335 00:12:15,154 --> 00:12:16,909 because of your lack of rights, it may 336 00:12:16,909 --> 00:12:18,744 just literally pull you away from Jesus. 337 00:12:22,915 --> 00:12:24,134 I've done a lot of 338 00:12:24,915 --> 00:12:25,955 counseling in my days. 339 00:12:26,675 --> 00:12:28,514 John Micah has, Brian Shepherd has. 340 00:12:29,807 --> 00:12:31,398 And 1 of the things you you figure 341 00:12:31,398 --> 00:12:32,136 out doing 342 00:12:32,591 --> 00:12:33,091 counseling 343 00:12:33,863 --> 00:12:36,010 is that you quickly realize that some people 344 00:12:36,010 --> 00:12:36,646 shouldn't get married. 345 00:12:38,014 --> 00:12:38,753 Even if 346 00:12:39,289 --> 00:12:41,042 they both believe in God, even if both 347 00:12:41,042 --> 00:12:43,274 go to church, sometimes even then, you're like, 348 00:12:44,709 --> 00:12:46,398 now I know as a accounts. The last 349 00:12:46,398 --> 00:12:47,834 thing y'all ought be doing, Brian is telling 350 00:12:47,834 --> 00:12:49,269 with somebody that they should or should not 351 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:51,183 get married. Maybe you should. But, you know, 352 00:12:51,343 --> 00:12:52,699 I try to stay away from that. But 353 00:12:52,699 --> 00:12:55,012 on 2 occasions, Brian, I've told people, don't 354 00:12:55,012 --> 00:12:55,411 get married. 355 00:12:56,461 --> 00:12:57,098 And guess what? 356 00:12:57,973 --> 00:12:58,768 Think got married. 357 00:13:00,678 --> 00:13:01,076 You know, 358 00:13:01,792 --> 00:13:03,795 And and and I remember 1 guy that 359 00:13:03,795 --> 00:13:05,224 came up to me and asked me if 360 00:13:05,224 --> 00:13:06,733 he would marry him in his Fiance and 361 00:13:06,813 --> 00:13:07,448 I said no. 362 00:13:08,481 --> 00:13:10,387 I'm not marrying you. I knew him. I 363 00:13:10,387 --> 00:13:11,022 knew him well. 364 00:13:11,912 --> 00:13:13,742 And he said, juan, and I said because 365 00:13:13,742 --> 00:13:14,617 you won't make it. 366 00:13:15,731 --> 00:13:17,243 And he said, well, will, you at least 367 00:13:17,243 --> 00:13:19,392 do my counseling and I'm like, I'll do 368 00:13:19,392 --> 00:13:21,792 you counseling, but I'm telling you, I'm not 369 00:13:21,792 --> 00:13:23,778 pro... I'm not performing the wedding ceremony. I 370 00:13:23,778 --> 00:13:25,209 can't I can't do that myself. 371 00:13:26,242 --> 00:13:27,910 And so this couple got married that had 372 00:13:27,910 --> 00:13:30,332 a child and 5 years later, He's standing 373 00:13:30,389 --> 00:13:32,219 in the church building, looking at me going, 374 00:13:32,458 --> 00:13:33,174 How'd you know? 375 00:13:34,208 --> 00:13:36,277 And I said, how would anybody not know? 376 00:13:37,248 --> 00:13:39,480 I mean, it was so obvious. Y'all y'all 377 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,952 did not need to marry each other, and 378 00:13:41,952 --> 00:13:43,227 and they went their separate ways. 379 00:13:44,981 --> 00:13:45,220 Folks, 380 00:13:47,151 --> 00:13:48,428 your value system. 381 00:13:50,184 --> 00:13:52,339 Needs to be a value system that matches 382 00:13:52,339 --> 00:13:53,637 the person you're marrying. 383 00:13:54,669 --> 00:13:57,226 If you're a committed follower to Jesus Christ, 384 00:13:57,625 --> 00:13:59,702 the biggest mistake you can make is to 385 00:13:59,702 --> 00:14:01,460 be yoke with someone who is not. 386 00:14:02,034 --> 00:14:03,944 Now is it sinful? No. I'm not saying 387 00:14:03,944 --> 00:14:05,854 it sinful. This is wisdom material. 388 00:14:06,809 --> 00:14:08,163 And and and of course, I tell people 389 00:14:08,163 --> 00:14:10,073 all the time. Neither my mom or dad 390 00:14:10,073 --> 00:14:11,505 were Christians when they got married. 391 00:14:12,476 --> 00:14:14,148 And yet, they made the same decision on 392 00:14:14,148 --> 00:14:16,298 the same not. Apologies jesus christ for which 393 00:14:16,378 --> 00:14:17,493 I'm eternally grateful. 394 00:14:18,210 --> 00:14:19,324 But why if they had not? 395 00:14:20,534 --> 00:14:21,893 What would my life have been like. 396 00:14:22,851 --> 00:14:25,009 And so we need to seriously think about 397 00:14:25,009 --> 00:14:27,645 this as as they should, but then didn't. 398 00:14:28,457 --> 00:14:30,364 And didn't notice what happens. After they had 399 00:14:30,364 --> 00:14:32,191 lived there about 10 years, both Mai and 400 00:14:32,350 --> 00:14:33,621 Kill also died. 401 00:14:34,813 --> 00:14:36,402 Here's the tragedy continuing. 402 00:14:36,974 --> 00:14:38,570 How long were they married, we don't know. 403 00:14:39,049 --> 00:14:41,204 We know however, wasn't long enough to have 404 00:14:41,204 --> 00:14:43,438 children or else God intervened so that they 405 00:14:43,438 --> 00:14:44,316 wouldn't have children. 406 00:14:45,209 --> 00:14:47,120 But now the 2 sons die, and naomi 407 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,792 only is left with their 2 daughter in 408 00:14:48,792 --> 00:14:49,031 laws. 409 00:14:50,146 --> 00:14:52,535 And boy you think about that situation in 410 00:14:52,535 --> 00:14:53,411 the ancient world. 411 00:14:54,464 --> 00:14:54,784 Again, 412 00:14:55,504 --> 00:14:57,184 we live in a different world today. 413 00:14:57,824 --> 00:14:59,664 You know, it's kinda like my grandmother, years 414 00:14:59,664 --> 00:15:01,504 and years and years ago. My grandmother grand 415 00:15:01,504 --> 00:15:02,784 had married over 60 years. 416 00:15:03,518 --> 00:15:05,582 Grandmother was 14 when she got married. 417 00:15:06,375 --> 00:15:08,439 K? Had my day at a week before 418 00:15:08,439 --> 00:15:10,605 she turned 15. Grand was 17. 419 00:15:11,871 --> 00:15:14,025 And I sat down as as grandmother was 420 00:15:14,025 --> 00:15:15,381 nearing the end of her life, and I'm 421 00:15:15,381 --> 00:15:17,295 just asking her all these questions about herself. 422 00:15:17,534 --> 00:15:19,768 And I said, grandmother, did you ever once 423 00:15:19,768 --> 00:15:21,539 think about divorcing grand dead. 424 00:15:22,897 --> 00:15:24,814 And she said, and do what? 425 00:15:27,610 --> 00:15:28,090 She said, 426 00:15:28,742 --> 00:15:30,651 Back in my day, you couldn't go and 427 00:15:30,651 --> 00:15:31,867 get a job at Walmart? 428 00:15:32,719 --> 00:15:34,469 I mean, there was nobody who would hire 429 00:15:34,469 --> 00:15:36,776 you. Why would I divorce your grand day. 430 00:15:37,981 --> 00:15:39,884 You know. And and I think that was 431 00:15:39,884 --> 00:15:41,470 the way it was in the ancient world 432 00:15:41,470 --> 00:15:43,452 and so here are these 3 women now 433 00:15:43,452 --> 00:15:44,483 left by themselves. 434 00:15:45,292 --> 00:15:47,304 And so Naomi hears that the 435 00:15:47,758 --> 00:15:48,974 famine has finally 436 00:15:49,508 --> 00:15:52,228 broke in in back home in Jude And 437 00:15:52,228 --> 00:15:54,219 so she and or daughter loss prepared to 438 00:15:54,219 --> 00:15:56,448 return home from there. But what you find 439 00:15:56,448 --> 00:15:57,267 very quickly 440 00:15:57,802 --> 00:16:00,053 is that Naomi is thinking through this process. 441 00:16:01,398 --> 00:16:03,067 And as she thinks through the process, 442 00:16:03,464 --> 00:16:05,609 she makes a decision. Then naomi only sent 443 00:16:05,609 --> 00:16:07,278 to her 2 daughter laws, go back. 444 00:16:08,246 --> 00:16:10,471 Each of you to your mother's home. May 445 00:16:10,471 --> 00:16:13,013 the Lord may y way pronounce a blessing 446 00:16:13,013 --> 00:16:14,284 in the name of the God of Israel. 447 00:16:14,681 --> 00:16:16,111 May the Lord show you kindness. 448 00:16:16,682 --> 00:16:17,818 If you've shown kindness 449 00:16:18,272 --> 00:16:20,338 to your dead husbands and to me, may 450 00:16:20,338 --> 00:16:22,802 the Lord. Once again, grant that each of 451 00:16:22,802 --> 00:16:24,869 you will find rest in the home of 452 00:16:24,869 --> 00:16:25,369 another 453 00:16:26,078 --> 00:16:26,557 husband. 454 00:16:31,502 --> 00:16:33,118 Jim had been married 455 00:16:33,496 --> 00:16:34,772 just a couple years. 456 00:16:36,777 --> 00:16:38,924 And his wife welcomed their first son. 457 00:16:41,150 --> 00:16:43,376 But about a year after their son was 458 00:16:43,376 --> 00:16:45,046 married. Excuse me was born. 459 00:16:46,575 --> 00:16:48,807 Jim's wife came down with a sickness that 460 00:16:48,807 --> 00:16:49,923 doctors couldn't figure out. 461 00:16:51,278 --> 00:16:52,394 And then suddenly died. 462 00:16:54,562 --> 00:16:56,975 Leaving jim with a 1 year old child 463 00:16:58,787 --> 00:16:59,743 as a sole parent, 464 00:17:01,018 --> 00:17:03,928 grieving for his his wife and his son's 465 00:17:03,988 --> 00:17:04,307 mother. 466 00:17:06,225 --> 00:17:07,184 About a year passed, 467 00:17:08,143 --> 00:17:10,061 and Jim's telling me the story, said my 468 00:17:10,061 --> 00:17:11,340 father! Came to see me. 469 00:17:12,874 --> 00:17:15,111 And father law came in and said, Jim, 470 00:17:15,671 --> 00:17:17,769 I know you missing your wife 471 00:17:18,387 --> 00:17:19,666 just like we miss our daughter. 472 00:17:21,118 --> 00:17:22,703 But you need to hear me very carefully. 473 00:17:23,813 --> 00:17:25,002 Your son needs some mother. 474 00:17:26,587 --> 00:17:27,934 It's time that you move on. 475 00:17:29,144 --> 00:17:30,922 You'll not honor our daughter 476 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:32,899 by marrying someone else. 477 00:17:34,018 --> 00:17:35,456 And I'm asking you for the sake of 478 00:17:35,456 --> 00:17:36,414 our grandson to do that. 479 00:17:38,333 --> 00:17:39,840 And Jim told me that's what he needed. 480 00:17:41,346 --> 00:17:42,932 What he needed to hear to be able 481 00:17:42,932 --> 00:17:43,408 to say, 482 00:17:44,614 --> 00:17:45,251 time to move on. 483 00:17:46,606 --> 00:17:48,836 And he did. And he married a wonderful 484 00:17:48,836 --> 00:17:50,828 lady who became a wonderful mother to his 485 00:17:50,828 --> 00:17:51,067 son. 486 00:17:52,039 --> 00:17:54,513 In so many ways that's exactly what Naomi 487 00:17:54,513 --> 00:17:54,912 is doing. 488 00:17:55,550 --> 00:17:58,264 It's time, girls to move on. She was 489 00:17:58,264 --> 00:18:00,751 more concerned about her daughter law's when she 490 00:18:00,751 --> 00:18:02,422 was about herself. I mean, you think about 491 00:18:02,422 --> 00:18:04,491 that. If they leave her, here is a 492 00:18:04,491 --> 00:18:06,718 woman, probably in her mid forties, 493 00:18:07,609 --> 00:18:09,919 who has now left by herself in a 494 00:18:09,919 --> 00:18:13,106 foreign country traveling all the way back through, 495 00:18:13,186 --> 00:18:14,722 you know, uncharted territory 496 00:18:15,098 --> 00:18:15,178 to. 497 00:18:17,823 --> 00:18:19,519 And yet she is willing to do it 498 00:18:20,375 --> 00:18:22,130 because she loved her daughter laws that much. 499 00:18:23,486 --> 00:18:25,001 She knew how difficult it would have been 500 00:18:25,001 --> 00:18:26,916 for them. Moa bites going to live in 501 00:18:26,916 --> 00:18:27,289 is free. 502 00:18:28,125 --> 00:18:30,851 People who had been Israel's enemy now living 503 00:18:30,908 --> 00:18:31,385 amongst them. 504 00:18:32,180 --> 00:18:33,771 And then, you know, how would the people 505 00:18:33,771 --> 00:18:35,202 in Bethlehem responded? 506 00:18:36,094 --> 00:18:37,770 And so she was concerned about them. 507 00:18:39,047 --> 00:18:41,282 Then she kissed them, goodbye and they we 508 00:18:41,282 --> 00:18:43,278 alone and said to her, we will go 509 00:18:43,278 --> 00:18:45,526 back with you to your people Naomi said, 510 00:18:45,685 --> 00:18:48,072 no, you returned home my daughters. Why would 511 00:18:48,072 --> 00:18:49,743 you come with me? Am I gonna have 512 00:18:49,743 --> 00:18:52,265 any more sons who could become your husband's 513 00:18:52,545 --> 00:18:54,945 return on my daughters. I am too old 514 00:18:54,945 --> 00:18:56,144 to have another husband. 515 00:18:58,865 --> 00:19:00,397 And me have you got to point where 516 00:19:00,397 --> 00:19:01,911 you say I'm too old to do such 517 00:19:01,911 --> 00:19:03,744 and such. And y'all done that beside me? 518 00:19:05,178 --> 00:19:07,011 By the way, about 5 years ago, I 519 00:19:07,011 --> 00:19:08,286 got on top of my house to blow 520 00:19:08,286 --> 00:19:08,923 the leaves off. 521 00:19:10,532 --> 00:19:12,287 I'd done that every year for years and 522 00:19:12,287 --> 00:19:12,925 years and years. 523 00:19:14,201 --> 00:19:16,434 Only problem is by 5 years Got got 524 00:19:16,434 --> 00:19:18,029 up on top head my blower went to 525 00:19:18,029 --> 00:19:19,877 stand up and I couldn't stand. Up. 526 00:19:21,069 --> 00:19:21,943 You're like, why? 527 00:19:22,579 --> 00:19:23,771 I scared to death. 528 00:19:25,122 --> 00:19:26,632 I mean, I ease back down. 529 00:19:27,282 --> 00:19:29,906 And I said, okay, I'm too old to 530 00:19:29,906 --> 00:19:31,734 climb up on and walk on top of 531 00:19:31,734 --> 00:19:32,052 roofs. 532 00:19:33,403 --> 00:19:35,311 And in about 2 hours later, I climbed 533 00:19:35,311 --> 00:19:36,106 down off that roof. 534 00:19:38,357 --> 00:19:40,673 I'm serious. Y'all. I'm inch itching down that 535 00:19:40,673 --> 00:19:42,431 roof think I am able to fall off 536 00:19:42,431 --> 00:19:42,910 this thing. 537 00:19:43,564 --> 00:19:45,162 And then June will be able to rem 538 00:19:45,162 --> 00:19:46,760 and get all that insurance money and 539 00:19:50,689 --> 00:19:52,763 so last year, my son came in, my 540 00:19:52,763 --> 00:19:54,359 youngest son. I said I need the leaves 541 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,034 float off, and he said, okay. And he 542 00:19:56,034 --> 00:19:57,390 got up and he blew off the leaves. 543 00:19:57,805 --> 00:19:59,245 He came down and said, dad. That's the 544 00:19:59,245 --> 00:20:01,085 last year for me. Yeah. I'm like, oh, 545 00:20:02,205 --> 00:20:04,125 sometimes you get too old to do certain 546 00:20:04,125 --> 00:20:04,445 things. 547 00:20:05,899 --> 00:20:07,893 She said, I... I'm too old to Marry 548 00:20:07,893 --> 00:20:08,132 again. 549 00:20:10,685 --> 00:20:12,759 Lending 2 families not always easy. 550 00:20:14,274 --> 00:20:15,311 And they only knew that. 551 00:20:16,597 --> 00:20:18,579 Taking these daughter laws back, it's gonna be 552 00:20:18,579 --> 00:20:18,817 hard. 553 00:20:20,085 --> 00:20:21,750 And so she told them, you need to 554 00:20:21,750 --> 00:20:22,384 go back home. 555 00:20:23,748 --> 00:20:26,289 Following Philippians chapter 2, do nothing out of 556 00:20:26,289 --> 00:20:29,467 selfish ambition, bank can see in humility value, 557 00:20:29,626 --> 00:20:31,771 others above yourselves. That's exactly. 558 00:20:32,183 --> 00:20:33,297 What Naomi was doing. 559 00:20:34,331 --> 00:20:36,081 She went looking out after her interest. She 560 00:20:36,081 --> 00:20:37,831 was looking out after interest of her 2 561 00:20:37,831 --> 00:20:38,388 daughter loss. 562 00:20:39,678 --> 00:20:41,354 It is more bitter for me than for 563 00:20:41,354 --> 00:20:43,349 you because the Lord's hand has turned against 564 00:20:43,349 --> 00:20:43,588 me. 565 00:20:45,025 --> 00:20:46,701 You say you get you get down now 566 00:20:46,701 --> 00:20:48,785 into that hardship that kind of book of 567 00:20:48,864 --> 00:20:50,693 Job. If you remember the book of Joe. 568 00:20:51,011 --> 00:20:52,680 That's the way Job fell. Oh that I 569 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,589 had someone to hear me. I signed now 570 00:20:54,589 --> 00:20:57,550 my defense. Let the almighty answer me. Let 571 00:20:57,550 --> 00:20:59,542 my accuser. By the way, his accuser is 572 00:20:59,622 --> 00:21:02,570 God. Least in his mind. Let my accuser 573 00:21:02,570 --> 00:21:04,164 put his indictment in writing. 574 00:21:05,374 --> 00:21:07,691 In so many ways naomi filling the same 575 00:21:07,691 --> 00:21:10,487 thing. God for some reason is against me. 576 00:21:10,727 --> 00:21:12,005 I don't know why but he is. 577 00:21:13,855 --> 00:21:15,611 And yet, I think Naomi me and Joe 578 00:21:15,611 --> 00:21:17,606 both got it right. You know, Job said 579 00:21:17,606 --> 00:21:19,441 this, though he slay me yet will I 580 00:21:19,441 --> 00:21:22,174 hope in him. The easy translations literally says 581 00:21:22,174 --> 00:21:24,654 even if god kills me, I'll still trust 582 00:21:24,654 --> 00:21:24,815 him. 583 00:21:26,174 --> 00:21:27,214 And they naomi owe me trustee. 584 00:21:28,107 --> 00:21:29,224 Not understanding why, 585 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,573 but trusting him to be the 1 true 586 00:21:32,573 --> 00:21:32,812 god. 587 00:21:34,088 --> 00:21:36,240 And sometimes it looks like even God is 588 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:37,855 against but we need to remember he's is 589 00:21:37,855 --> 00:21:38,255 not. 590 00:21:39,695 --> 00:21:41,615 I I love this passage out of psalms. 591 00:21:41,855 --> 00:21:43,615 The Lord is on my side. I'll not 592 00:21:43,615 --> 00:21:45,549 fear. What can man do to me? The 593 00:21:45,630 --> 00:21:47,549 Lord is on my side as my helper. 594 00:21:47,789 --> 00:21:48,990 And yet if you read the rest of 595 00:21:48,990 --> 00:21:49,650 the psalms 596 00:21:50,190 --> 00:21:52,990 oftentimes, the Psalm himself says, God, where are 597 00:21:52,990 --> 00:21:53,230 you? 598 00:21:54,683 --> 00:21:56,434 And so you have this sense of distance 599 00:21:56,434 --> 00:21:59,141 sometimes and yet in the background is always 600 00:21:59,141 --> 00:22:01,927 this confidence that God is on our side. 601 00:22:02,499 --> 00:22:05,354 And so with this, they we aloud Or, 602 00:22:05,672 --> 00:22:07,655 kissed her mother all, Good bob at Ruth 603 00:22:07,813 --> 00:22:08,448 Plum tour. 604 00:22:09,653 --> 00:22:11,642 I I love this passage here. Cl to 605 00:22:11,642 --> 00:22:13,551 her. Look said naomi me. Your sister always 606 00:22:13,551 --> 00:22:15,460 is going back to her people, to her 607 00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:16,971 god, go back with her. 608 00:22:19,852 --> 00:22:20,829 And what follows 609 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:24,732 is the most quoted passage 610 00:22:25,506 --> 00:22:26,223 in the book of ruth? 611 00:22:28,630 --> 00:22:30,625 And and and it's a precious passage to 612 00:22:30,625 --> 00:22:31,125 me 613 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:34,136 because 45 years ago, 614 00:22:36,063 --> 00:22:40,120 on 05/13/1979. 615 00:22:42,124 --> 00:22:43,795 June and I stood in a church building, 616 00:22:45,149 --> 00:22:46,423 04:00 in the afternoon, 617 00:22:47,776 --> 00:22:49,289 in June quoted these words. 618 00:22:50,818 --> 00:22:52,515 Don't urge me to leave you 619 00:22:53,532 --> 00:22:55,150 or to turn back from you 620 00:22:56,166 --> 00:22:58,002 Where you go, I will go, where you 621 00:22:58,002 --> 00:22:59,141 stay, I will stay 622 00:22:59,850 --> 00:23:01,756 Your people will be my people, your God, 623 00:23:01,915 --> 00:23:02,392 my God, 624 00:23:03,424 --> 00:23:05,569 where you die, I will die there I 625 00:23:05,569 --> 00:23:07,157 will be buried may the lord deal with 626 00:23:07,157 --> 00:23:09,727 me. Be it ever so severely if even 627 00:23:09,727 --> 00:23:11,165 death separates you and me. 628 00:23:12,443 --> 00:23:14,121 Now in this case, it was between a 629 00:23:14,121 --> 00:23:15,320 daughter and law and a mother law. 630 00:23:16,531 --> 00:23:18,228 My case, it was between my 631 00:23:18,605 --> 00:23:19,243 wife to be. 632 00:23:20,838 --> 00:23:23,252 And and the worst part is, the preacher 633 00:23:23,310 --> 00:23:24,985 nor June told me they were doing that. 634 00:23:26,752 --> 00:23:28,105 I just made my valves, 635 00:23:29,855 --> 00:23:31,685 and then the preacher turned to June and 636 00:23:31,685 --> 00:23:32,242 said, quote, 637 00:23:33,372 --> 00:23:34,486 And I thought, what does that mean? 638 00:23:35,361 --> 00:23:37,828 And then June started quoting this, and I 639 00:23:37,828 --> 00:23:39,500 almost said, would you stop and let the 640 00:23:39,500 --> 00:23:40,136 preacher do this? 641 00:23:41,027 --> 00:23:41,663 That close? 642 00:23:42,777 --> 00:23:44,208 Because I had no clue what they were 643 00:23:44,208 --> 00:23:46,277 doing until I realized what she was quoting. 644 00:23:47,723 --> 00:23:49,655 1 of the most amazing commitments 645 00:23:50,348 --> 00:23:52,892 of a daughter law to a mother law 646 00:23:52,892 --> 00:23:55,119 or any loved 1 to the other person. 647 00:23:56,727 --> 00:24:00,077 And boy, that's exactly what naomi needed. That 648 00:24:00,077 --> 00:24:00,577 encouragement. 649 00:24:01,433 --> 00:24:03,985 First thessalonians, you get multiple texts in here. 650 00:24:04,224 --> 00:24:06,394 Therefore, encourage 1 another with words. 651 00:24:07,433 --> 00:24:08,951 Sometimes we need that pick me up. 652 00:24:10,070 --> 00:24:12,707 Chapter 5 verse 11. Therefore encourage 1 another 653 00:24:12,707 --> 00:24:14,386 and build each other up, just as in 654 00:24:14,386 --> 00:24:15,185 fact, you're doing. 655 00:24:16,237 --> 00:24:18,311 Chapter 5 verse 14, and we urge you 656 00:24:18,311 --> 00:24:20,863 brothers and sisters encourage the dish disheartening. 657 00:24:21,661 --> 00:24:24,293 And that's exactly what the words of ruth 658 00:24:24,293 --> 00:24:25,170 did to Naomi. 659 00:24:26,060 --> 00:24:26,935 And off they went. 660 00:24:27,731 --> 00:24:29,242 So the 2 went on until they came 661 00:24:29,242 --> 00:24:31,492 to Bethlehem and when they arrived in Bethlehem, 662 00:24:31,947 --> 00:24:34,033 the whole town was stirred because of them 663 00:24:34,033 --> 00:24:36,265 and the women explain, can this be Naomi? 664 00:24:36,424 --> 00:24:37,859 Now by the way, do you notice who's 665 00:24:37,859 --> 00:24:38,178 absent? 666 00:24:39,294 --> 00:24:40,251 I don't even see ruth? 667 00:24:41,619 --> 00:24:42,518 They see Naomi? 668 00:24:43,450 --> 00:24:45,360 And could this be naomi? I mean, have 669 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:47,509 you ever seen someone who you haven't seen 670 00:24:47,509 --> 00:24:49,658 in 10:12 years, and you don't have a 671 00:24:49,658 --> 00:24:50,295 clue who they are. 672 00:24:51,421 --> 00:24:52,849 I was over at the Red Rooster last 673 00:24:52,928 --> 00:24:54,753 Friday morning and a guy walks up to 674 00:24:54,753 --> 00:24:56,339 me, and I could tell he knew me, 675 00:24:56,498 --> 00:24:58,101 and I stood up her you know, shake 676 00:24:58,101 --> 00:24:59,690 his hand, and he said, you don't know 677 00:24:59,690 --> 00:25:00,485 who I am do you. 678 00:25:01,438 --> 00:25:02,471 And I said, I don't. 679 00:25:03,504 --> 00:25:04,696 And then he told me who he was, 680 00:25:04,776 --> 00:25:06,365 and I said, you gotta be kidding me. 681 00:25:06,859 --> 00:25:08,220 Had seen him in 20 years. 682 00:25:09,339 --> 00:25:12,140 I mean, didn't recognize him. But as Susie 683 00:25:12,140 --> 00:25:13,579 told me who he was. I'm like, oh, 684 00:25:13,740 --> 00:25:15,980 man. A lie. It's spend so long. 685 00:25:16,951 --> 00:25:19,200 That's the way they were. Could this be 686 00:25:19,416 --> 00:25:19,916 Naomi? 687 00:25:21,086 --> 00:25:22,859 And yet what Naomi does 688 00:25:23,393 --> 00:25:24,666 is describe where she's at. 689 00:25:25,958 --> 00:25:27,317 Don't call me naomi me. By the way, 690 00:25:27,477 --> 00:25:28,436 Naomi means pleasant. 691 00:25:30,274 --> 00:25:31,313 Don't call me naomi me. 692 00:25:32,272 --> 00:25:34,270 Call me Mara. Mara means bitter. 693 00:25:35,241 --> 00:25:37,787 Because almighty has made my life very bitter. 694 00:25:38,344 --> 00:25:39,935 I went away full, but the Lord has 695 00:25:39,935 --> 00:25:40,969 brought me back empty. 696 00:25:41,765 --> 00:25:42,879 Why call me Naomi me? 697 00:25:43,929 --> 00:25:46,643 Lord afflicted me. The almighty brought mis fortune 698 00:25:46,643 --> 00:25:46,962 upon. 699 00:25:48,239 --> 00:25:49,596 And 1 of the things we all know 700 00:25:49,596 --> 00:25:51,192 if we live long enough in this world 701 00:25:51,192 --> 00:25:52,963 is life can be incredibly be bitter. 702 00:25:54,238 --> 00:25:55,593 I mean, there are moments that we're just... 703 00:25:55,912 --> 00:25:56,810 I mean, literally 704 00:25:57,426 --> 00:26:00,135 crying our eyes outgoing God. Why? 705 00:26:01,107 --> 00:26:02,621 And like I said, if you're old enough, 706 00:26:03,099 --> 00:26:04,534 I mean, I I've been down don't know 707 00:26:04,534 --> 00:26:05,172 how many times, 708 00:26:06,447 --> 00:26:08,361 literally falling to the floor weeping. 709 00:26:09,170 --> 00:26:11,312 Just setting down and disbelief, What do you 710 00:26:11,312 --> 00:26:13,295 mean the news that just came in? 711 00:26:14,485 --> 00:26:16,547 I mean, we all experienced this sometime? 712 00:26:17,757 --> 00:26:20,708 But I love the way chapter 1 ends. 713 00:26:21,664 --> 00:26:22,701 Watch how ends. 714 00:26:23,579 --> 00:26:26,211 So Naomi returned from Moa a company by 715 00:26:26,211 --> 00:26:28,555 ruth the moa her dalton law 716 00:26:28,929 --> 00:26:30,303 arriving in Bethlehem 717 00:26:30,757 --> 00:26:32,131 as the Barley harvest 718 00:26:32,982 --> 00:26:33,698 was the beginning. 719 00:26:36,579 --> 00:26:38,092 And whether you realize it or not, 720 00:26:39,446 --> 00:26:39,844 there, 721 00:26:40,481 --> 00:26:42,154 it's where it begins the good news. 722 00:26:43,364 --> 00:26:44,802 And if you wanna know what that is, 723 00:26:45,681 --> 00:26:47,599 you'll have to come back next week. Alright. 724 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,544 Ruth experienced, many of the things that we 725 00:26:54,544 --> 00:26:54,942 experienced. 726 00:26:56,293 --> 00:26:58,439 Excuse me, naomi experienced many of the things 727 00:26:58,439 --> 00:26:59,075 we experienced. 728 00:27:00,044 --> 00:27:02,665 And oftentimes god almost to the edge of 729 00:27:02,665 --> 00:27:04,333 saying God. I just I just don't get 730 00:27:04,333 --> 00:27:05,286 it. Why. 731 00:27:06,318 --> 00:27:07,907 And yet she continued to trust him. 732 00:27:08,639 --> 00:27:10,240 And that's what God calls a bone all 733 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:10,480 of us, 734 00:27:11,599 --> 00:27:12,399 continue to trust. 735 00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:14,480 And then for some, you you may be 736 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:14,960 like ruth, 737 00:27:15,599 --> 00:27:16,960 who had not been raised with the God 738 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:17,519 of Israel. 739 00:27:18,174 --> 00:27:19,928 And yet through her mother law's, she saw 740 00:27:19,928 --> 00:27:21,921 something that she just thought, I wanna be 741 00:27:21,921 --> 00:27:24,791 a part of whoever these people are because 742 00:27:24,791 --> 00:27:26,386 of the way my mother loss treated me. 743 00:27:27,198 --> 00:27:29,291 And she became 1 who said your god 744 00:27:29,588 --> 00:27:30,943 will now be my god. 745 00:27:31,819 --> 00:27:34,369 If you'd like to make Jesus Christ, the 746 00:27:34,449 --> 00:27:36,441 Lord of your life. We're here to help 747 00:27:36,441 --> 00:27:38,041 you. Can income right now if you'd like 748 00:27:38,041 --> 00:27:39,317 to as go we stand see.