Call me Bitter!

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Call me Bitter!

September 18, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth 1:6–22

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It is never too late to go home!

Naomi was disappointed with God – He seemed to let them go and let them suffer so much. Truth is that they walked away from Him and suffered the consequences of poor choices. As we discovered last time the story of Ruth is set “during the time of judges” (Ruth 1:1). There is famine in the land of Judah. To escape the effects of the famine a family of four leaves Bethlehem to dwell in country of Moab. I do believe that the move indicated a lack of faith in God. Moab, was located due East of the Dead Sea. It’s people where descendants of Lot –through his incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter( Gen 19:36-37) Sometimes they were the friends of Israel but often they were regarded as enemies of Israel – (Judge 3:12-30, 1Samuel 22:3-4) The family was made up of Elimelech the father, Naomi the mother and their two sons: Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:2).

Death strikes this family three times. First, Elimelech dies – (Ruth 1:3) leaving Naomi a widow with two sons in a foreign land. His two sons then marry women of Moab – Ruth and Orpah (Ruth 1:4). They live in Moab about ten years and then the two sons die – (Ruth 1:5). Leaving Naomi a widow and childless. Grieving the death of her husband and two sons, Naomi gives thought to return to her homeland. That is where we pick up Sunday – the trip home – join us for the trek back to Bethlehem and where Naomi changes her nickname to Mara – bitterness! See you Sunday,

Pastor Mike

“God cannot fill with peace what is lined with disappointments.”

Redemption by Obedience

November 6, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth

“Priceless gems have often been found in unlikely places. Many a choice flower has been found blooming in a rocky crevice. Rainbow artistries have suddenly lit up the drabbest skies. Beauty spots have charmed the traveler at surprise turns on the least-promising road. It is even so with this superbly beautiful little idly, the book of Ruth.” J. Sidlow Baxter This has been a beautiful love story and is one of only two books in the Bible named for women (Esther is the other). And Ruth is not just a woman but a Gentile woman at that. This account was originally joined to the Book of Judges and is almost a lone positive story in the many depressing stories of sad Judges and disobedient Jews. Ruth becomes a beacon of hope in the ways God will protect and provide the integrity of the Messianic line moving toward His prophetic choices of monarchy (David) and His promises of a Redeemer (Jesus). Lots of rich theology about the person and role of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer can be traced to the typology centered around the figure of Boaz. The kind providence of God uses seemingly insignificant people and events to accomplish important kingdom goals. The loyalty and devotion of Ruth is rewarded with unimaginable blessing that spills over to all those who come to embrace the Lord Jesus as their Redeemer. The summary of the Book is seen in the fulfillment of the hopes of Naomi - Ruth 4:14 “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today”. Naomi found her Redeemer in Boaz through Ruth – We must find our Redeemer in the linage of Boaz in the person of Jesus – our closest Kinsman Redeemer! See you Sunday for the final message in Ruth – Pastor Mike

Redeem, Restore and Rejoice

October 30, 2022 • Denis Garijo • Ruth 4:13–22

“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”. Ruth 4:14 After eight weeks, we are at the end of Ruth's book, and what a beautiful happy ending we have in this book. In these nine verses, we will see God REDEEMING, RESTORING, and letting them REJOICE in His blessings. Those blessings were available for Ruth and Naomi and are still available for us in Jesus Christ. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”. 1 Peter 5.10 “This book begins with a funeral and ends with a wedding! It opens with famine and closes with fullness!” Warren Wiersbe

Do you trust me?

October 16, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth 3:9–18

“‘Wait on the Lord’ is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.” J.I. Packer. Knowing God Waiting is hard! Many of us struggle with patience and an urgent desire to jump up and do! Yet it is God who so often advocates ‘wait’ to the impatient believer. We saw last week that Naomi did not wait, she developed a plan to bring about the solution she imagined God to be unfolding but she could not wait for Him to do it – so she stepped in with a worldly inspired plan. Only by the honor of Boaz and the virtue of Ruth did her plan not create a disaster! Sunday we will continue in this saga as Boaz protects Ruth by sending her back with barley (engagement ring?) and Naomi trusting the heart of Boaz to obey the Law of God. When men or women force their image of God’s will onto others the outcome will be damaged lives and missed blessings. Only God could bring back this ‘wreck’ from the brink of disaster and turn it into something that honors Him. Naomi is getting closer to seeing the Lord again in her life – not there yet, but closer! Come this week to see the solution Boaz seeks by following God’s Word instead of a human plan to achieve God’s goals. It involves the Scripture, trust and obedience – all ingredients to genuine maturity and faith. Bring someone who is tired of trying to do God’s will on their own – let them find the rest God intends by trusting in His Word. See you Sunday, Pastor Mike