1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,520 Many of you have heard the story of the monk who became a 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:09,600 reformer, Martin Luther. But have you heard the story of 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:15,120 how he married a runaway nun? It was the 16th century. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,160 At that time, it was extremely dangerous to disavow the 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,480 monastic life. But after hearing Martin 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,920 Luther's teachings, 12 nuns requested help to escape their 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,320 monastery. So Luther orchestrated their 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,120 escape and tried to return them to their families. 9 00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:38,280 These nuns, or you could say fugitives, tried to return to 10 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,880 their families because they were entirely dependent on their 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:42,560 family's willingness to help them. 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,240 But if they couldn't return to their families, they tried to 13 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,560 get married. And one nun couldn't return to 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,480 her family, nor could she find a husband. 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,520 That one nun was Katarina von Bora. 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,520 So no support from her family. Can't find a husband. 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,920 She had two failed proposals, so she wrote and informed Martin 18 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,320 Luther and his friend Nicholas von Amsdorf. 19 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:11,360 She said that she would only marry one of them. 20 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:18,680 That's a bold proposal even for standards today, especially for 21 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,960 the 16th century. But Luther, who helped her 22 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:24,640 escape, felt responsible to care for her. 23 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,040 And on May 4th, 1525, Luther wrote in a letter to his 24 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,320 brother-in-law. If I can manage it before I die, 25 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,720 I will marry my Katie to spite the devil. 26 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,640 Luther said challenge accepted, let's get married. 27 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,160 And they were married. A former monk and a former nun. 28 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:53,880 Married June 13th, 1525. Today in the book of Ruth, we 29 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,280 hear an even bolder proposal. Turn in your Bible to Ruth 30 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,080 chapter 3. If you didn't bring a Bible, 31 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,640 just raise your hand. It'd be helpful to follow along. 32 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,960 Somebody will bring you a Bible right now. 33 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,600 Raise your hand and you can follow along in God's Word. 34 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,440 And if you don't own a copy, let that be our gift to you. 35 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,080 Ruth chapter 3. We've been considering a small 36 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,320 town story of the little town of Bethlehem. 37 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:26,760 There one family face, bitter Providence, famine, 3 funerals, 38 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:32,840 infertility, and yet we've seen that God was subtly working 39 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,320 behind the scenes. He was working for their good, 40 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:39,400 providing them food, bringing them barley. 41 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,960 He was working for the nation's good, providing the nation of 42 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,280 Israel, eventually a king in David. 43 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:51,880 We've even seen that he's working in the book of Ruth for 44 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:57,200 our good, providing us what we need, a Redeemer. 45 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,440 As I read Ruth chapter 3, hear the word of the Lord. 46 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:10,240 Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, My daughter, should 47 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,720 I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 48 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,680 Is not Boaz our relative with whose young woman you were? 49 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,000 See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 50 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,440 Wash therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your cloak 51 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,520 and go down to the threshing floor. 52 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,480 But do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished 53 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,400 eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe 54 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,840 the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and 55 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,360 lie down, and he will tell you what to do. 56 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,680 And she replied, All that you say I will do. 57 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,000 So she went down to the threshing floor, and did just as 58 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,680 her mother-in-law had commanded her. 59 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,560 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, 60 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,480 he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. 61 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,920 Then she came softly and uncovered his feet, and lay 62 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,200 down. At midnight the man was startled 63 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,800 and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 64 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:20,640 He said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your 65 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,640 servant. Spread your wings over your 66 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,160 servant, for you are of Redeemer. 67 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,480 And he said, May you be blessed by the Lord. 68 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,520 My daughter, you have made this last kindness greater than the 69 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,320 first, in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or 70 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,120 rich. And now, my daughter, do not 71 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,120 fear, I will do for you all that you ask for. 72 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,040 All my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 73 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,560 And now it is true that I am a Redeemer. 74 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,600 Yet there is a Redeemer nearer than I remain tonight and in the 75 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,440 morning. If He will redeem you, good, let 76 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,000 him do it. But if not, but if he is not 77 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,560 willing to redeem you, then as the Lord lives, I will redeem 78 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,120 you. Lie down until the morning. 79 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,120 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one 80 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,840 could recognize another. And he said, Let it not be known 81 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,000 that the woman came to the threshing floor. 82 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,680 And he said, Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out. 83 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:30,000 So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and 84 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,440 put it on her. Then she went into the city, and 85 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,320 when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, How did 86 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,120 you fare, my daughter? Then she told her all that the 87 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:45,240 man had done for her, saying these six measures of barley he 88 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,000 gave to me. For he said to me, you must not 89 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,480 go back empty handed to your mother-in-law. 90 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,800 She replied, Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter 91 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:02,280 turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter 92 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:07,640 today. If you read chapter 3 before 93 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,200 this morning, maybe you've been meditating on it this week. 94 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:15,920 You might have wondered a few questions, like what exactly 95 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,760 does Naomi ask her daughter Lauder to do in verses 1 to 5? 96 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,480 Is she asking her to do what it seems like she's asking her to 97 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,480 do? Or what exactly goes down at the 98 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,880 threshing floor between Ruth and Boaz in verses 6 to 13? 99 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,840 These are important questions. I intend to answer them, but I 100 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:39,520 don't want you to miss the message of chapter 3. 101 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:47,160 Church, there is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son. 102 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,880 Rest in your Redeemer. That's where we're going. 103 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,960 Rest in your Redeemer and help us get there. 104 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:02,400 Here's three points. First point 1A, Bold act of 105 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:09,680 faith, verses 1 to 5, Chapter 3 begins with Naomi's bold 106 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,440 initiative. Look at verse one. 107 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:17,760 Naomi asked Ruth, my daughter, should I not seek rest for you, 108 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:24,320 that it may be well with you? Naomi seeks rest for Ruth, that 109 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,280 is, she seeks a husband and a home. 110 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:31,000 She seeks provision and protection and after how God's 111 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,880 supernatural and subtle Providence provided in chapter 112 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,240 2, who do you think comes first to Naomi's mind? 113 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,720 Ruth just happened to come to the field of Boaz in chapter 2. 114 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:47,480 Boaz just happened to come from Bethlehem, and Boaz just 115 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,360 happened to be one of their redeemers. 116 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:56,360 In verse 2, Naomi naturally asks, is not Boaz our relative 117 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:02,200 with whose young women you were? And next Naomi makes a plan. 118 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,280 But before we look at her plan, do you remember from chapter 1 119 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,680 her prayer flip back to chapter 1 quickly. 120 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,080 Verse 9, see Naomi's prayer for Ruth. 121 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:24,360 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you, in the House 122 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,240 of her husband. Naomi previously prayed for the 123 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:34,280 Lord to provide rest for Ruth, and now Naomi plans to help 124 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:41,559 answer her own prayer tonight. For tonight, Boaz is winnowing 125 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,840 barley. During the harvest, barley was 126 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,400 tossed into the breeze with a winnowing fork. 127 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,920 The wind would separate the stalk from the chaff and all 128 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,360 this would happen at the threshing floor. 129 00:08:53,520 --> 00:09:00,920 So Naomi commands Ruth to act. Listen to how the verbs Dr. the 130 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,240 narrative. Verse 3 Wash, anoint yourself, 131 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,600 put on your cloak, go down to the threshing floor. 132 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,320 Don't make yourself known. Verse 4 observe. 133 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:19,760 Go uncover his feet, lie down. Naomi's saying, Ruth, tonight I 134 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,160 don't want you to take a shower. Put on some good perfume. 135 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:24,840 Get dressed. Go to the threshing floor. 136 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,160 Remain secret. Wait till Boaz is asleep. 137 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,840 Uncover his feet. Lie down next to him. 138 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,520 Now is a good time to answer that question, That lingering 139 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:40,240 question. What exactly does Naomi ask her 140 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,320 daughter-in-law to do? Is she asking her to do what it 141 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,040 seems like she's asking her to do? 142 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,400 And to understand, we need to make sense of a few facts, 143 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,880 because this is a tricky text. The fact, first fact, fact #1 144 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:02,360 the author explicitly states Boaz and Ruth's godly character. 145 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,400 That's been explicit. Boaz is a worthy man. 146 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,040 Chapter 2. He's a man of moral courage, a 147 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,800 man who protects and provides meaning you can go to his fields 148 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,280 and not fear for your safety. He's godly. 149 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:22,760 And Ruth, Ruth's godliness was the talk of the town in chapter 150 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,720 2. Everybody was talking about the 151 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,120 fact that she's from Moab, but that she's taking refuge in the 152 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,080 God of Israel. You could say, as we just read, 153 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,920 she's a Proverbs 31 woman. She's godly. 154 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,680 They're both godly people. That's what the author 155 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:42,920 explicitly states. But fact 2, the author 156 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,320 implicitly presents Naomi's heart change. 157 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,120 Remember chapter 1, Naomi did leave the Lord. 158 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:56,840 She departed the promised land for Moab, but after bitter 159 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,520 Providence, she returned. She repented. 160 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,480 The author made that explicit 12 times in chapter 1, saying 161 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,840 return, return, return. And remember. 162 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:13,240 She did lament in chapter 1, but her lament turned to praise in 163 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:19,000 chapter 2 as she began to see the kindness of God who is 164 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,440 providentially providing barley through Boaz. 165 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,280 She physically returned to the Lord in chapter 1, and now it 166 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,360 seems she's trusting him even more in chapter 3. 167 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:34,040 In other words, I think the Naomi of chapter 3 right now is 168 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,320 different from the Naomi of chapter 1. 169 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:41,800 She's had a heart change. But there's a third fact, and 170 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,520 this is what makes this text tricky. 171 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:51,040 Fact 3 The author uses words that can imply sexual activity 172 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:57,160 in some contexts. The word no in verse 3 and the 173 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:01,840 words uncover and feet and lie down in verse 4 can refer to 174 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:06,320 sexual activity. Also the harvest and the 175 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,040 threshing floor were often associated with fertility. 176 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,600 And honestly, if you just read it, it just takes a little bit 177 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,120 of common sense to see what could happen here. 178 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,360 Here's the recipe. Midnight. 179 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:24,800 Two people alone after someone's been drinking, lying down next 180 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,080 to each other. That's a recipe for disaster. 181 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:30,960 So how do we put all this together? 182 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,560 I could be wrong here, but based on Naomi's current faith in the 183 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:42,080 Lord, I don't think she's being reckless or foolish or risque in 184 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,720 her request to Ruth. In other words, I don't think 185 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:50,000 Naomi falls into ungodly pragmatism where the ends 186 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,960 justify the means. Naomi knows Boaz's character. 187 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,600 She knows Ruth's character. If Naomi were even asking Ruth 188 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:03,120 to sin based on Ruth's godliness, I don't think Ruth 189 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,360 would have responded the way she does in verse 5. 190 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:10,000 Verse 5, All that you say I will do. 191 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,760 Remember Chapter 1? Ruth was not afraid to go 192 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,400 against her mother-in-law. She did it three times in 193 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:21,160 chapter 1. So what then is Naomi asking? 194 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:29,720 She's boldly asking Ruth to take a risk after all. 195 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,440 Remember the context, Ruth. Chapter one, verse one. 196 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:37,360 These are the days when the judges ruled midnight on the 197 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,600 threshing floor after eating and drinking was ordinarily not the 198 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,840 place for a young woman. This plan was not normal 199 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:51,640 practice in Israel. Most of you, I presume, shower 200 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,080 or take a bath every day or every week at the least. 201 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,280 I hope that was not normal practice in daily Israel. 202 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,280 Some of you wear perfume or you wear deodorant at least. 203 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,360 That also was not normal practice in ancient Israel. 204 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,960 It wasn't normal practice, but it was a bold plan. 205 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:19,640 A plan for Ruth to propose, to signal to Boaz that she wanted 206 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,960 to get married. It was a plan for Ruth to find 207 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,440 rest, rest in a Redeemer. It was a bold act of faith. 208 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,520 Ruth is a book about God's Providence. 209 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:39,160 Providence, that wonderful doctrine that God himself 210 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:46,600 constantly cares for creation. God, who is most holy and wise 211 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,280 and powerful, is absolutely sovereign over everything. 212 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:57,160 He's in charge of every matter. He's the orchestrator of all 213 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,000 things. He's the director behind the 214 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,440 scenes. So you may wonder why, if that's 215 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:12,360 the case, should I do anything? Perhaps you've thought, if God's 216 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:16,000 going to do everything he wants either way, what difference does 217 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:20,640 it make if I do anything? Or perhaps you've not thought 218 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,800 that, but if you look back on your life, when you've learned 219 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,480 about the Providence of God, it's actually produced 220 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,520 passivity. Sitting back, relaxing. 221 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,720 Brothers and sisters, don't let the sovereignty of God be an 222 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:39,600 excuse for your inaction. Divine sovereignty and human 223 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,360 responsibility are compatible. We should not separate friends 224 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,360 Providence. That's God's job. 225 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,680 Prayer and planning, those are our jobs. 226 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,800 In fact, divine Providence doesn't preclude prayer or 227 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,160 planning. Now, as you think about God's 228 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:03,760 Providence and prayer and planning, first read God's Word. 229 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:07,520 We're going to see in the second point that Naomi's actually 230 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,480 acting based on the law of Israel. 231 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,640 Read God's Word and then pray and plan accordingly. 232 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:21,560 Plan boldly by faith. Like Katarina proposing to 233 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:23,600 Martin Luther to marry her. That's bold. 234 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,800 Like the Apostle Paul scheming to get the gospel to people in 235 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,880 Spain who've never heard the name of Jesus Christ. 236 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,880 Like so many of you who strategize and scheme about how 237 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,760 to share the gospel with your family and with your friends, 238 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,680 plan boldly. Pray boldly by faith. 239 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:52,640 Like the widow who persisted in prayer over and over again, 240 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,880 crying out for justice. Or like Paul's friend Epaphras, 241 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:02,040 who Paul said he always struggles on behalf of you in 242 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:06,720 his prayers, like so many of you who have been persevering in 243 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:13,119 prayer for weeks, months, years for the salvation of that family 244 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:18,560 member or that friend. When you rightly understand God 245 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,800 and his Providence, you shouldn't be passive. 246 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,880 God will actually use His Providence to encourage you to 247 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:35,120 produce bold faith, a faith that plans and praise and and Naomi's 248 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:39,120 a good example of that here. Verses one to five, she has bold 249 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:48,360 faith point #2A godly Redeemer. Verses 6 to 13, a godly 250 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:55,800 Redeemer. Starting in verse 6, Ruth obeys 251 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,880 Naomi. She stealthily goes to the 252 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,960 threshing floor. She watches Boaz eat and drink. 253 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:08,560 She observes where he lies down. Then she softly uncovers his 254 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,280 feet and lays down next to him. And look what happens in verse 255 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,280 8. At midnight, the man was 256 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:21,720 startled and turned over. And behold, a woman lay at his 257 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:26,080 feet. Parents, you know what this is 258 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,520 like. You're asleep. 259 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,960 Maybe you hear the door open, Sir. 260 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,760 You're wondering what is there someone in the room staring at 261 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,320 me? You open your eyes and there's a 262 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,240 child. Behold, with a request. 263 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:46,080 And how do you respond? How would Boaz respond? 264 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,680 What happens next takes place between two individuals in the 265 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:58,440 dead of night with no witnesses. Ruth takes a risk, and perhaps 266 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,120 you're wondering what exactly goes down at the threshing floor 267 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:07,600 between Ruth and Boaz. Remember the godly character of 268 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,600 Boaz and Ruth? Naomi's plan only works if both 269 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:16,600 participants fear the Lord, and we're relieved to find that Boaz 270 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,720 and Ruth are the same in the dead of night as they were in 271 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,480 broad daylight. They're the same in public as 272 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:28,920 they are here in private. In other words, Ruth does not 273 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:32,880 seduce Boaz. To be clear, no sexual 274 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,760 immorality takes place at the threshing floor. 275 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,880 So why then, you may wonder, does the author suggest the 276 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,600 possibility of sexual immorality? 277 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,200 Why is there this narrative tension? 278 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,880 Why use these certain words leading up to this point? 279 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:56,760 I think one reason is because Moabites had a reputation for 280 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:01,280 seducing Israelites. In fact, the last time an 281 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,360 Israelite man encountered A Moabite woman in the Bible is 282 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:09,360 Numbers 25, Numbers 25. The Moabite women seduced the 283 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:14,680 Israelite men and 24,000 drop dead because of God's judgment. 284 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,040 We the readers are left wondering here. 285 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:22,720 Will tonight be the same? But another reason the author 286 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,760 suggests the possibility of sexual morality is because of 287 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,720 Israel's own dark history of deception. 288 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:35,560 In Genesis 19, Lot's own daughters seduce him under the 289 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,280 cover of darkness. That's how the Moabites become a 290 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:43,840 people through that seduction. Then in Genesis 38, Tamar tricks 291 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,280 her father-in-law, Judah. She covers herself with a veil. 292 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,440 She waits for him to pass by before presenting herself to him 293 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,200 as a prostitute. When Ruth arrives at the 294 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:59,120 threshing floor, the author suggests the possibility of 295 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:02,120 sexual morality. And so we the readers are left 296 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:08,080 wondering, will Ruth follow in the footsteps of her ancestors? 297 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:10,880 But look what happens in verse 9. 298 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,680 Boaz wakes up and he asks, who are you? 299 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,240 And Ruth responds with her request. 300 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,760 I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your 301 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:32,240 servant, for you are a Redeemer. Before we consider Ruth's 302 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,680 request, do you remember Boaz's prayer from chapter 2? 303 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,880 Look back briefly at chapter 2, verse 12. 304 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,880 A full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, 305 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,440 under whose wings you have come to take refuge. 306 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:56,640 In Boaz's prayer, the wings of the Lord depicted God as this 307 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,480 mother hen who's protecting and providing for his people. 308 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:05,520 Now Ruth turns to Boaz, and she requests that he spread his 309 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:10,000 wings here, meaning the corner of his garment over her to 310 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,760 protect her. In other words, Ruth requests 311 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,840 that Boaz be the answer to his own prayer. 312 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,720 You prayed for my blessing, Would you bless me? 313 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,000 You prayed for my refuge, Would you be my refuge? 314 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:32,200 Essentially, Ruth is asking Boaz, will you marry me? 315 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:38,800 That's a bold proposal. It was a surprise proposal. 11 316 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,680 years ago. I asked Hannah that very 317 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,120 question, not will you spread your wings over me? 318 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,880 I asked her, will you marry me? Just be clear. 319 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,720 And it was a surprise. But you know how it works 320 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:52,840 nowadays. It's a surprise. 321 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,960 But they they know it's coming. Like you've already talked about 322 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:57,720 it. That she knew I was going to ask 323 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,080 her to marry her, but the date was a surprise. 324 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:01,560 You know, when's it going to happen? 325 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,840 And you have to coordinate an engagement party and all that 326 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,760 stuff. You know, the basis of my 327 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,080 proposal was our mutual affection for one another. 328 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:15,960 I love you, you love me. We love the Lord. 329 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:17,720 We want to serve the Lord together. 330 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,360 Brothers, if you're married, many of you ask your wife that 331 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:24,240 very question, will you marry me? 332 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,640 And I'm sure you had a similar basis for your proposal. 333 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,800 Notice the basis of Ruth's appeal. 334 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:39,400 For you are a Redeemer. Not their love for one another, 335 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:42,560 not their affection for one another. 336 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,440 A covenant obligation. According to the law in 337 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:51,920 Leviticus 25, if a family member found themselves in debt and 338 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,440 sold into slavery or if their land was lost because they fell 339 00:23:55,440 --> 00:24:00,200 on hard times, a Redeemer in the family was responsible for 340 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,440 paying for the price of their redemption. 341 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,400 The closer the family relationship, the larger the 342 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,520 obligation. By appealing to Boaz's covenant 343 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,680 obligation, Ruth not only proposes marriage. 344 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,120 Will you marry me? She's also making a request to 345 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:26,360 Boaz that he purchased a Limilex land, which includes caring for 346 00:24:26,360 --> 00:24:31,600 Ruth's mother-in-law for Naomi. And so that's why in verse 10, 347 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:36,840 when Boaz responds, he says may you be blessed by the Lord. 348 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,400 And he tells her that this last kindness is greater than the 349 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,920 first. What's the first act of 350 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,480 kindness? It was Ruth's loyalty to her 351 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,680 mother-in-law. She clung to her mother-in-law. 352 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,160 She followed her, left behind her family and followed her all 353 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,280 the way to Bethlehem. And here it's a greater kindness 354 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:03,880 because Ruth is seeking marriage to provide for Naomi, and Boaz 355 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,920 knows that. In verse 11, Boaz comforts Ruth. 356 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:13,760 My daughter, do not fear. She took a risk. 357 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,920 Boaz says she'll be rewarded because everyone in Bethlehem 358 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:25,040 knows that she's a worthy woman. Here in the days of judges, A 359 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,560 worthy man has met a worthy woman. 360 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,800 But there's one complication. Verse 12 There is a Redeemer 361 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,320 nearer. Yet this isn't a big deal 362 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,560 because Boaz instructs Ruth to remain till the morning. 363 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,800 He says, if that brother won't redeem you, Boaz swears, as the 364 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:47,320 Lord lives. Verse 12 I will redeem you, He 365 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:53,680 assures her. In the Old Testament, the laws 366 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:58,920 of redemption were built on a foundational act of redemption 367 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:04,240 at the Exodus, when God rescued his people from slavery to 368 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,520 Egypt. So the Israelites, in light of 369 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,680 that salvation, were instructed how they were to treat one 370 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,320 another, to be kind, to be generous, to redeem one another 371 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,800 if they ever needed it. But even that great act of 372 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,240 redemption and the Israelites acts of redemption among one 373 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:26,960 another just pointed forward to a final act of redemption, a 374 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:34,600 greater exodus, the cross where God rescues sinners from their 375 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:39,600 slavery to sin. Friends, there is a Redeemer. 376 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:45,040 There is only one Redeemer. Everyone of us in this room 377 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,800 needs a Redeemer. We need redemption. 378 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:54,800 We need someone to save us from our sin, someone to buy us back 379 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,480 from the debt that we owe, someone to protect us from 380 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,120 death. The devil and from death itself. 381 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:06,200 And friends, there is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son. 382 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,560 Jesus, our Redeemer died on the cross for our redemption. 383 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:16,920 He rose from the grave and he'll return and we can call upon him 384 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:21,240 to fulfill his covenant obligations to sinners. 385 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,560 Flee from your sin. Seek rest that's only found in 386 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:26,840 Jesus. Believe in him. 387 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:31,920 He will not hesitate. He will gladly act, which is 388 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:35,240 what we see him do over and over again in the New Testament. 389 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:42,000 The unclean leper in Mark 1 asks Jesus, if you're willing, you 390 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,200 can make me clean and moves with pity. 391 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:50,480 Jesus responds, I am willing. The Canaanite woman in Matthew 392 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:54,520 15 comes to Jesus in great need. Have mercy on me. 393 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:59,960 She seeks rest for her daughter. She's content just to eat from 394 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:04,080 Israel's leftovers. She throws herself at Jesus feet 395 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:09,720 and Jesus blesses her. A woman great is your faith. 396 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,640 Let it be done for you as you desire. 397 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:18,520 Friend, Will not Jesus respond to you the same way if you 398 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:23,760 repent of your sins and boldly request your redemption? 399 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:31,080 Church, there is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son. 400 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,640 Praise the Lord, we have a Redeemer. 401 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,680 And if Jesus is our Redeemer, how should we then live? 402 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,320 What should mark us as a people? Well, there's two things from 403 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:47,920 this chapter that we see. One is godly character. 404 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:53,200 The second is mutual care. Godly character, mutual care. 405 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,920 We're going to park here for just a minute and reflect on 406 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,160 these two. Now. 407 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:02,280 First, I'm sorry to say that despite many sermons, Ruth has 408 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:03,640 nothing to teach us about dating. 409 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:08,000 Just want to clear the air. I would not commend any ladies 410 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,120 in the church who are looking for a spouse to follow Ruth's 411 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,720 example. Do not approach a man at 412 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,960 midnight. Do not go by yourself, do not 413 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,280 uncover his feet or lie down next to him. 414 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:25,200 No different contexts. But Ruth does have something to 415 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:30,000 teach us about godly character. And perhaps then I can make one 416 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,720 or two suggestions about dating if you're seeking a spouse, One, 417 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:42,360 be a godly person. 2 be attracted to godliness, godly 418 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,040 character. One of the amazing features of 419 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:49,080 the book of Ruth is the ordinary godliness of each individual. 420 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,520 These are the days when the judges ruled, when everyone did 421 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:54,880 what was right in their own eyes. 422 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:59,000 These are days of moral decline. And yet every character in the 423 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,640 book of Ruth reflects the kindness and the love of God. 424 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,280 Boaz and Ruth are the same in private as they are in public. 425 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,480 We should ask ourselves, is, is that true of us? 426 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,640 Boaz and Ruth are the same in the night as they are in the 427 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,040 day. We should ask of ourselves, is 428 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:20,080 that true of us? We cannot hide what we believe 429 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,960 about God. God sends us bitter Providence's 430 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,600 which are trials and troubles and tribulations, and they 431 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,760 reveal our theology. They reveal what we believe 432 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:36,000 about God, which is seen in our character. 433 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,160 Friends, you may not receive any applause for ordinary godliness. 434 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,840 Nobody's going to clap for you. Nobody will celebrate you. 435 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,840 Nobody's going to care even that you work hard when no one's 436 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:53,440 watching. Nobody might notice that you 437 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,640 privately check up on other members in the church who are 438 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:00,840 facing difficulties, or notice that you lead and care for your 439 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,040 family well, or that you read the Word with your kids, or that 440 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:07,080 you carefully hold every thought captive. 441 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:11,240 Nobody's going to notice even how you repent of sinful 442 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:15,440 desires, or that you're marked by private prayer. 443 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:20,040 You may not receive any applause for any of that in this world, 444 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:26,640 but in the eyes of God, your ordinary godliness is of great 445 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:30,840 value. The book of Ruth also also shows 446 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,960 us the great blessing of mutual care. 447 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,600 Think about the book of Ruth. Chapter 1. 448 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,160 Ruth clings to Naomi to care for her. 449 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:44,440 Chapter 2, Ruth brings back her leftovers for Naomi. 450 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:47,920 Chapter 3, Naomi seeks rest for Ruth. 451 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:52,920 Chapter 3 Also, Ruth in return returns that kindness and seeks 452 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:57,160 provision for Naomi. The local church, God's people, 453 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:03,720 should be marked by mutual care. Let each of you, Paul says, look 454 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:07,600 not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of 455 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,080 others. Let no one seek his own good, 456 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:16,080 but the good of his neighbor. Bless others and let others 457 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,000 bless you. Serve others and let others 458 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,280 serve you. Now, is this simply kind of a, 459 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,040 hey, you scratch my back, I'll scratch your back. 460 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:29,080 Is this a I'll pray for you? Are you? 461 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:33,440 You're praying for me, or I'll bring you a meal because last 462 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,240 time you brought me a meal. Is that what's happening here? 463 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,840 Of course not. It's seeking the good of others 464 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:43,840 without guarantee of good in return. 465 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,920 It's treating others how you want to be treated even when 466 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,240 they don't treat you how you want to be treated. 467 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,160 It's pouring yourself out for the sake of others in this 468 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:59,680 church and trusting that God will use others to fill you up. 469 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,120 Brothers and sisters, when we do this faithfully, when we 470 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:08,480 ourselves are marked by godly character and we as a church are 471 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:14,240 marked by mutual care, we show the world that Jesus is our 472 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:20,680 Redeemer. Point #3 A call to wait. 473 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:31,880 Verses 14 to 18, A call to wait. Ruth returns home to Naomi, but 474 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:33,720 not before leaving with a blessing. 475 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:37,520 What's the blessing? Look at verse 15. 476 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:42,640 Boaz says bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out. 477 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,440 So she held it out, and he measured out six measures of 478 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:50,800 barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 479 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:56,920 The blessing is barley. Now you probably don't care much 480 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:01,200 about barley, but Naomi who had lived through a famine, loved 481 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,640 barley. When Naomi, when Ruth returns to 482 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:09,000 Naomi, Naomi asks her verse 16, How'd you fare my daughter? 483 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:13,080 Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying 484 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,719 these six measures of barley he gave to me. 485 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:20,719 For he said to me, you must not go back empty handed to your 486 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:24,000 mother-in-law. Did you hear with the barley 487 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:29,159 came a blessing? You must not go back empty. 488 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:35,080 Empty. It's as if Boaz overheard 489 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:37,600 Naomi's bitter lament from chapter 1. 490 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:41,760 Do you remember her lament? The Lord has brought me back 491 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:46,760 empty. Of course, Boaz never heard that 492 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:51,960 prayer, but the Lord did. And the Lord fills Naomi's 493 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:55,760 emptiness with barley from Boaz once again. 494 00:34:57,240 --> 00:35:02,360 Have you ever wondered reading the book of Ruth, why do each of 495 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,760 the first 3 chapters of Ruth end with barley? 496 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:10,960 Barley, barley, barley, barley. Why all the barley? 497 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,360 Chapter 1 ends with the beginning of barley harvest. 498 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:20,280 Chapter 2, an ephah of barley. Chapter 3-6 Measures of barley. 499 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:25,680 It's so much barley in Chapter 3 that Boaz has to place it on 500 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:27,840 Ruth. Why all the barley? 501 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,400 Maybe you're wondering that little bread. 502 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,040 To us it might seem insignificant, but to those in 503 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:40,000 need it's a lifeline. Barley's an indication, a little 504 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:43,480 one, that God's not forgotten his people, that though they 505 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,680 faced A bitter Providence he was providing for them. 506 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:51,280 Barley was an assurance from the Lord that he would not let Naomi 507 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:58,360 run on empty any longer. Naomi's empty days are over, and 508 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:03,280 Naomi is assured when she sees the barley and hears Boaz's 509 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:06,280 blessing. Naomi, who gave a smattering of 510 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:10,440 commands in verses 3 and 4, ends the chapter with just one. 511 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:16,920 It's a call to wait. Verse 18, Naomi says Wait my 512 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:20,680 daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out. 513 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:25,000 For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter. 514 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:31,960 Today all it takes to assure Naomi is a down payment of 515 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:36,400 barley that makes her trust this Redeemer. 516 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:44,320 So she says, wait, Brothers and sisters, we too are called to 517 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,200 wait. We're waiting for our Redeemer 518 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,280 to settle the matter. Saints in the Old Testament 519 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,520 waited 400 years. There's 400 years of silence 520 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:58,200 between the Testaments. They waited for redemption, the 521 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,920 coming of Jesus Christ, and he came to redeem. 522 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,000 But redemption's not yet complete. 523 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:08,000 We're waiting for the day when Christ will return. 524 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:14,520 Christian, you are right now sitting in a waiting room. 525 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:20,760 Are you waiting well, you're waiting for your Redeemer. 526 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:26,680 Are you waiting faithfully? Are you at rest in him? 527 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,640 Christ's final words to his bride? 528 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:38,600 Surely I am coming soon. Christ has given his church a 529 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:42,240 down payment, a sign that he'll keep his promise. 530 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:47,720 He's given us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who helps us wait by 531 00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:50,880 producing patience in His people, The Spirit who helps us 532 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:55,440 wait by bringing to remembrance to our minds God's promises to 533 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,360 us. The Spirit who helps us wait by 534 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:02,880 even interceding for us when we don't even know or can't even 535 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:07,840 think of what to pray. Are you, brothers and sisters, 536 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:14,920 waiting for redemption, for sin to cease, for suffering to end, 537 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:20,280 for relationships to be reconciled, for conflicts to be 538 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:26,240 resolved, for good desires to be satisfied, and for wrongs to be 539 00:38:26,240 --> 00:38:31,320 made right? For faith to become sight, for 540 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:36,520 that day when he's promised that he'll make all things new? 541 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:43,040 If you're waiting, then wait with bold hope, because you can 542 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,560 rest in the character of your Redeemer. 543 00:38:47,240 --> 00:38:50,640 He will settle the matter soon. Let's pray. 544 00:38:57,180 --> 00:39:05,580 Father, You know our needs before we ask, and You have 545 00:39:05,660 --> 00:39:11,980 provided abundantly for our greatest need, redemption, the 546 00:39:11,980 --> 00:39:19,840 salvation we need from our sins. Lord, help us be a people who 547 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:21,760 reflect the great Redeemer we serve. 548 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:27,240 Help us be a people who wait patiently for the return of our 549 00:39:27,240 --> 00:39:30,320 Redeemer. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.