02 Commitment
Epicenter: Where Action and Providence Collide
Commitment
Commitment is the expression of our trust in God’s goodness
Ruth 1
Review
Epicenter
- Events and circumstances will shake our lives, either in a minor or major way.
- How do we know what to do in these times?
- How do we know when we are in God’s will?
Theme—Providence
- Providence is the truth that a living and personal God is actively involved in the world he created.
- We see God’s providence through the eyes of faith but we only experience it through willful action.
Outline of Ruth
- Ch 1 – Trusting in God’s Goodness – Commitment
- Ch 2 – Acting on What We Know – Obedience
- Ch 3 – Stepping Out Into the Unknown – Faith
- Ch 4 – Leaving the Results to God – Hope
From Bad to Worse (Ruth 1:1-5)
KJV—“Now it came to pass”—All bad events in life come and pass
Events
- Famine in land
- Move to foreign country
- Death of husband
- Death of two sons
- Family, Friends, FoodàFamine, Foreigners, Widowed
Wrong or Right Decision
- We often blame God when life is bad and credit ourselves when life is good.
- The mentality that God is against.
Bereft of her two children and husband
- Left all alone
- Term for two children in the Hebrew is for children born rather than the normal term for grown adults.
- She lost her two ‘babies’
- Sets up for 4:16
Status of a widow in this culture
- No security, no hope
On the Path of No Hope (Ruth 1:6-14)
God’s glory is seen in both the good and bad times of life.
This road between Moab and Bethlehem is main setting in chapter one.
The whole chapter covers ten years and the main is on a ten-minute conversation.
Discussion on the road
Visit (Ruth 1:6)
For good or for bad
God’s personal interaction in the lives of his people
Mother’s house (Ruth 1:8)
3x in Scripture, context of marriage, newlyweds
Pictures remarriage
Prayer (Ruth 1:8)
God show loving-kindness, hesed
God give rest—security found in a new home
Harder for me than for you (Ruth 1:13)
Does not recognize the hurt of the girls
Wants to spare them a life of pain
Hand of the LORD has gone against me (Ruth 1:13)
Recognition of God’s personal involvement in her life.
Right or wrong perspective
God allowing the death of Naomi’s husband and two sons puts in her in a position where she must trust God and thereby he will be glorified.
Clung (Ruth 1:14)
Cleave to his wife (Gen 2:24)
More than just embracing, symbolized Ruth’s devotion to Naomi
Committed to the Journey (Ruth 1:15-18)
Our commitment to God reflects our trust in God.
Determined (Ruth 1:18)—Strength of conviction
Ruth was committed no matter what. She had no idea how life would turn out. Her trust in her new found God was enough.
Uplook Determines Outlook (Ruth 1:19-22)
Our view of God determines our view of circumstances.
But do not let circumstances determine your view of God.
All the city was stirred (Ruth 1:19)—excitement spread throughout the city
Well known family, had been gone ten years
Naomi’s response
Naomi—pleasant
Mara—bitter
Almighty—Shadai—the all powerful one; king/ruler of the universe; sovereign over all
Witnessed against me—legal term; given evidence that God is against Naomi
Afflicted me—notion of divine judgment
If God is for us, who can be against us. Romans 8:31
Say, “God is for me.”
Does not mean
Does not mean God overlooks our sin
Does not mean God gives us everything we want
Does not mean God will guarantee an easy life
Does mean
That God is for us means all he intends for our lives glorifies him, changes me, and reaches others.
That God is for us produces within us boldness and peace.
Our commitment to God reflects our trust in God
When we trust in the goodness of God, then our commitment becomes solid and unwavering.
What is your view of God in our life?
Say, “God is for me and not against me.”