A True Conversion

Almighty God, you built your church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone. Come, Holy Spirit, join us together by Christ’s faithful work and the saints faithful witness. May we too be a holy temple in which you dwell to the glory of our triune god.

†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #282

“I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”

BEFORE CONFESSION

“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” (Psalm 11:4–5, 7 ESV)

†CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

based on I Tim. 1:15; I Pet. 2:24

Minister: Man is humbled, and each one brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.

Congregation: Forgive us our sins, O Lord. Forgive us the sins of our youth and the sins of our age. Forgive the sins of our hearts and the sins of our hands. Forgive our secret and our whispering sins, and our presumptuous and our careless sins. Forgive the sins we have done to please ourselves, and the sins we have done to please others. Forgive us the sins that we know, and the sins that we know not. Forgive them, O Lord. Forgive them all, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17–18, ESV)

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE I Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†HYMN OF PREPARATION #172

“Speak, O Lord”

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

As we now give attention to your word, open our eyes, that we might behold wonderful things from your law through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

SERMON // A True Conversion

TEXT

Ruth 1 ESV

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

AFTER SCRIPTURE

Turn my heart toward your statures and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; renew my life according to your word.

Intro

In the range of biblical narratives, the Book of Ruth stands out as a beautiful illustration of ordinary human life intersecting with divine providence. Many books of the Bible are written at a large scale. Sometimes the subject is what is happening with the nation of Israel, or how God’s people are interacting with other nations. Some books, like Genesis, have as their scale the entire creation of the cosmos. But with Ruth, the lens that is put on the camera is a tight close up. Its scale is that of one family, even one widow, whose story seems ordinary and destitute, but matters immensely. And what’s more, the story of Ruth has a very interesting way of weaving God’s providence and sovereign hand of guidance with human agency. Explicitly, there are only a few mentions of what God is doing while the rest of the narrative pays close attention to the decisions and beliefs of the ordinary characters. We often want to know who to blame or where responsibility should be placed — for the good things and for the bad. And the book of Ruth very clearly shows us how responsibility and God’s sovereignty go hand in hand — How God works and we work. How he is faithful when we are not. Or how He blesses those who choose faithfulness.

[This sermon covers the whole chapter. We will move quickly through the story, but we will slow down at several places to on areas that demand our focus]

Setting (vv.1-2)

“In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.” (Ruth 1:1–2, ESV)

Judges - everyone was doing what is right in their own eyes

It was the wild west - no leader and lawless.

Yet, amidst this chaos, we find a tale of hope, redemption, and unwavering faith. And that faith in the small things in an obscure place in a difficult time culminates in the birth of the greatest king, David, and eventually the King of Kings, Jesus.

There was famine in the land — Elimelech must leave his land and go to Moab.

Irony is that Bethlehem means “house of bread”

But there was no bread in the house of bread

God uses famine to take his people where he wants them to be.

Famine and thematic continuity: Abraham (Egypt), Isaac (Philistines), Joseph & family (Egypt) (Gen. 12:10; 26:1; 41:54, 56; 42:5)

But the expected pattern didn’t seem to happen this time. And that’s instructive.

Tragedy (vv. 3-5)

“But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:3–5, ESV)

Tragedy instead of blessing as Elimelech dies (or so it seems)

Believing that God is working for your good but you writing the script - holding God to an expectation that you had made. Being frustrated with him when he breaks your expectations.

Not abandoned, just difficult to understand

Ten years is the time when children are expected. It’s the same span of time that Sarah waits when she decides to give Hagar to Abraham to find alternate means of provision. After ten years, things seem desperate and finished.

Naomi has hope in her two sons as they take wives. Wives should mean children and hope. But her sons die too, and she is instead left with two dependents instead of help and hope. What kind of story is God telling?

The family is on the brink of extinction. In Israel, there is no greater tragedy than for a family to cease to exist.

If her situation is turned around, it will only be by the hand of God.

Hesed (vv.6-10)

“Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”” (Ruth 1:6–10, ESV)

Naomi returned to Judah - she heard that God was faithful to bring bread back to Bethlehem, but she felt that God had abandoned her specifically

God’s hand is mentioned explicitly here in book ends. He was the one who brought the famine and he is the one who brought back the bread. Most of the story, however, takes on the focus of human agency in the middle of God’s divine plan.

She tells the girls to go home and invokes a blessing upon them — “May Yahweh treat you kindly” (May Yahweh do with you hesed)

Naomi introduces the term and concept of Hesed —

What is Hesed? Define and introduce it as a dominate theme.

an over abundance of devotion, faithfulness, and care. It is love how God loves. It overflows the banks of expectation (theme of the book)

su·per·a·bun·dant — excessive in quantity; more than sufficient; overabundant.

She won’t be in a position to give them any future hesed, so she invokes a blessing that God will do it to them for her.

Levirite marriage: a living brother would continue the line for the deceased. But Elimelech didn’t seem to have brothers for Naomi, nor could they perpetuate the line by her. There is another concept at play — the kinsmen redeemer.

She cannot return their kindness to her, so she turns them over to God.

She doesn’t see any hope in the levirite situation, and she either forgets about the kinsmen (which isn’t likely) or simply thinks that that situation is so far-fetched that she doesn’t consider it an option.

She is asking Yahweh (the covenant God if Israel) to bless these foreign women.

Naomi saw no way for her to provide but that’s not how faith sees. Jesus’ perfect faith shows us that he God can create worshippers from rocks or bread from rocks. God will and can supply

She sees herself as a “dead end” [next section]

Naomi as “dead end” (vv.11-13)

“But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”” (Ruth 1:11–13, ESV)

Naomi can’t marry again and can’t give children for R and O to marry

If I were to marry today (which isn’t likely), and if I were to get pregnant today (which is highly unlikely), and if I were to have twin boys (which is extremely unlikely), would you wait until they were old enough to marry and you were too old to have children? No, go home.

“I am in far more bitter straights than you are.”

This is often where we can place ourselves. We don’t see how our situation could possibly change or get any better so we give up hope and we decide to make our own arrangements. This might be in a marriage or in parenting, but we get to this place where we don’t see how it could change, so we give up. Particularly, this is when hesed doesn’t give in. It’s what makes it stand out.

“Yahweh’s own hand has attacked me” — She doesn’t attribute her plight to randomness. And I don’t think the story shows us a picture of a woman who loses faith. But I do think we see a picture of a woman whose faith begins to sour - a faith that is going in the wrong direction.

Naomi is honest. But in her honesty she begins to blame God. He is the one who has done this. But the question becomes about God’s character, not God’s agency. Is God good? And Naomi’s bitterness becomes a contrast to Ruth. Again, this story has a lot to do with human agency and their responses to God’s sovereignty.

Telling her daughters to go back. They were and are family.

Following Naomi back to Judah is delusional, an illusion of hope.

These women have shown great faithfulness to Naomi and her family. they have forsaken their home, the prospects of other Moabite husbands, and returning to their parents homes willingly to serve Naomi and remain faithful to their marriage vows.

If Yahweh is against Naomi then the girls should avoid her, too. But she still believes in Yahweh and His control. What was Job’s response? “blessed be the name of the Lord!”

A True Conversion (vv.14-18)

“Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” (Ruth 1:14–18, ESV)

Only Ruth and Naomi now on the stage

Orpah did the sensible, expected thing, Ruth the extraordinary and unexpected

***One may understand Orpah; one must emulate Ruth.

This is the choice required of Jesus’ disciples

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37–39, ESV)

“Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,” (Mark 10:29, ESV)

Ruth chose a destiny opposite to Orpah’s: Your people will be my people, and your god will be my god. She renounced her ethnic and religious roots and adopted the nationality and religion of Naomi. Henceforth, her kinfolk would be Israelites, her god Yahweh. How surprising in view of Naomi’s bitter indictment of her god in v. 13!

Ruth left everything: family, religion, friends, and gave herself over to a bitter widow in a foreign land.

If Naomi was elderly, Ruth could just be saying that I will accompany you back and take care of you until you die. Then I will proceed with my own course. But she didn’t say that. She went beyond the life of Naomi and declared to the end of her own life. She will ser Yahweh. She made a lifelong decision. A decision of hesed.

Ruth’s vow is almost like a wedding vow. It goes beyond even death.

Leaving father and mother and holding fast to a wife - Gen. 2:24

Ruth’s covenants claim to have it done to her if she is unfaithful. This is like the covenant vow of Christ which he takes up and fulfills when we fail. We will remember this at communion today. This is hesed.

“Lose your life you will save it. If you try to save your life you will lose it.”

Yahweh, Ruth says, guards her future

Ruth’s vertical and horizontal dimension of her conversion and commitment.

Abraham believed God and followed, but Ruth seems to have less to go on than even Abraham did, yet she believed. Righteousness comes by faith.

God blesses hesed love and faithfulness.

Naomi said nothing more. She was stunned, slightly isolated,

There are many characters in this story whom we can sympathize with. We understand their actions and would likely choose the same. But Ruth stands distinct as a character of seemingly unreasonable faith and extraordinary lovingkindness. Again, we can understand the other characters, but we must strive to be like Ruth.

Naomi’s Return (vv. 19-22)

“So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:19–22, ESV)

Stunned family and friends and Naomi’s return. It is a noticeable and joyous occasion for them.

Do not call me by my name Naomi (lovely, pleasant, sweet), but call me Mara (bitter).

She is sour and believes that God is against her.

But she does place her blame rightly — God is in control either way - in blessing and in trial. But as we will see, she is wrong to grow bitter.

Naomi was full (husband, children, home, but now is empty)

Yahweh is also responsible for the bread in Bethlehem and therefore is the one who has brought me back, yet empty of joy and hope.

Why should she be called lovely? — But God is making her lovely. The world we inhabit understands calling her bitter. But why should any of us be called lovely when we look at our situation? Because God is a Redeemer. And He is faithful.

She arrives in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, This juxtaposition serves as a powerful reminder that our perceptions often lag behind God's redemptive work in our lives.

Barley harvest and the provision of bread - Jesus is offered but is sometimes just used for bread. But to those who throw themselves to him like Ruth, they also receive redemption, a king, a home, an inheritance, security, and love

Conclusion

This moment challenges us to examine our own faith.

Where are we holding back in trusting God?

Have we convinced ourselves that God's hand is against us?

Do we have a hesed type of love and faithfulness or are we only faithful when we feel sufficiently motivated. “You have to convince me first before I’ll love or serve or trust”

Don’t believe that because you have been in one situation, maybe a dire one, for a long time that God will not turn that around or use it for your good and for His glory.

Ruth's example spurs us to a fuller devotion, reminding us that faith often means stepping out before we see the full picture.

In a world that often prioritizes self-preservation and calculated risks, Ruth's radical commitment stands out as a beacon of true faith. It reminds us that following God is not about playing it safe or maintaining the status quo. Rather, it's about being willing to leave everything behind for the sake of His kingdom.

The barley harvest has come — hope is here in the house of bread. The house of the Lord. The house of Jesus.

†PSALM OF RESPONSE #31A

“In You, O Lord, I Put My Trust”

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Minister: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION Mark 14:22-25

Hear Jesus’ words as he offers the supper to his disciples:

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

CONFESSION OF FAITH Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A’s 75, 80

Minister: Christians, what do you believe about these words?

Congregation: By these words our Lord commands all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup in true faith and in the confident hope of his return in glory.

In this supper God declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself finished on the cross once for all. He also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, who with his very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, where he wants us to worship him.

Minister: Let us worship him together.

Be seated.

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE The Lord has prepared this table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. It is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and abiding union with his Church.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Let’s pray.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Minister: Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love. Gather your whole church, O Lord, into the glory of your kingdom. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS [Ask elders to distribute the trays].

Does everyone have what they need?

SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

As the Lord Jesus has commanded us, take, eat and drink, remember, believe, and proclaim.

†OUR RESPONSE #567

“Doxology”

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more. Amen.

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