Cling

CIT: In famine and harvest, life and death, or faith and doubt, the LORD is in control. We must trust in him.

Introduction

Good morning

so that there is no elephant in the room this morning, let me be very clear: I am preaching to New Armuchee Baptist Church this morning

For a month now we have found ourselves in a time without clarity. It would be easy to grow anxious during this time.

New Armuchee, we will not do so.

Over the next 4 weeks (with an interlude next week for a guest speaker from the GBMB) will walk through the book of Ruth and examine matters such as doubt, fear, suffering, sovereignty, and prosperity.

Context

Judges

This means during the book of Judges

The point of Judges is that Israel needs a King

Judges 21:25 ESV

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges is not a time of prospering for the people. Everyone experiences

Joshua ends begins with hope, and sees victory throughout the narrative, but then it ends with an ominous prophecy that Israel will fall into idolatry

Read Ruth

Pray

Story ab out 4 way stop “we don’t need you”

I. A Strange Story From the Start

Names

Mahlon- one who is sick

Chilion- one who is destroyed

Bethlehem- House of Bread

famine

Elimelech- My God is King

By his name, you expect him to be a good, important character

but he has left his King’s lands

the people are moments from demanding a king

Orpah- neck

II. In the Midst of Chaos, The Lord is in Control

The Lord has often used famine to move his people

Abraham

Isaac

Joseph

Famine is promised in Deut 28

Deuteronomy 28:23–24 “23 And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. 24 The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.”

III. Our Faith informs our Response to Trouble

Orpah returns to her gods

Exodus 20:12 “12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Naomi

Ruth