Ruth 4:18-22 (Sermon)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Wrapping up Ruth
God’s Providence
How God acts with foresight to bring about his good purposes and his kingdom
Last week we looked at how God’s providence means that your pain has a purpose
Ruth’s years of being barren brought her to Boaz
God’s providence works even when we feel like God has abandoned us
This week we will finish the book of Ruth by looking at the genealogy of David and discuss two things
How God’s providence works on a much larger scale than we think
How God’s providence is not at the mercy of human actions
Pray
Body (Read Ruth 4:18-22)
God’s providence works on a much larger scale than we can comprehend
This genealogy becomes part of the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, with David as a center piece
The nerdiest bible fact that I know
Matthew 1:17
Example of Terry sharing this fact with students
God’s providence means that your story is not, has not and never will be only about you
God has been setting things in motion that won’t be fulfilled in my lifetime
He set forth the birth of Jesus and David didn’t even know it
God may be doing something in your life right now that you will never see the fruits of
God may be doing something in this church that none of us will ever see
Our culture and even the Church to an extent leans toward individualistic spirituality
What is God teaching you, how is your faith, etc.
We often times miss the bigger picture of what God is doing in the community of faith
“The church isn’t doing what I want it to do,” “God didn’t answer my prayer the way I wanted him to”
God’s providence is never concerned about only YOU and only ME
The story of Ruth, Boaz and Naomi is about Ruth, Boaz and Naomi
But it is also a story about God’s providence to the people of Israel. to his continued care for his people
When we focus on a specific character or person, we miss God’s bigger picture of providence
He is using the lives of Ruth, Boaz and Naomi to carry forward the lineage of David and Jesus
NOT just giving Ruth and Naomi a family
We should be much more concerned about how our lives and legacies carry the next generation forward into faithful obedience to Jesus
How are you raising your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc.
Are you investing in their spiritual lives? Or sticking with what is comfortable and easy?
How do you conduct yourselves among your friends/co-workers?
Do you live in ways that inspire and encourage them to follow Christ in faith? Or do you turn people away from God?
God’s providence is working on a scale that means sometimes we don’t get to see it
Your call might not be to preach the gospel to 1,000 maybe its to faithfully raise your family to know and follow Jesus
Maybe your step of obedience is living your faith at work or at school
Its possible no one will come to know Christ, but once you’re gone...
God’s providence is not at the mercy of human actions
Clarify: God does not NEED you and me to carry out his plans for the world
He has chosen to allow us into his process into his story to participate, but we don’t get to dictate what God does
In this lineage we have both people who followed God with devout faith and obedience AND people who lived in rebellion of God
Boaz and Ruth
Obed- Part of the lineage of David and Jesus was born to two faithful people living in obedience to God
Judah and Tamar
Parents of Perez
Tamar was Judah’s daughter in law
Tamar’s first husband (Judah’s firstborn) died
Judah told is second son to fulfill his duties and give Tamar offspring
Onan didn’t do that, was struck down by God
Judah promises Tamar that when his third son is old enough
But when the son is old enough, Judah doesn’t give him to Tamar in marriage
Tamar dresses as a prostitute and meets Judah on the road
Judah doesn’t recognize her and goes into her
Tamar takes Judah’s staff and cord as payment
3 months later Judah finds out that Tamar has become pregnant
Tamar produces Judah’s staff and cord
The point- Perez, part of the lineage of David and Jesus was born out of marriage in a sketchy transaction between Judah and his daughter-in-law
God’s providence will not be stopped because you or I decide to not participate in God’s plans
He has and will continue to use people in whatever way he wants to accomplish his purposes
If the story of Ruth and Boaz goes differently, the birth of David doesn’t disappear
God is not surprised by our rebellion, it saddens him, it breaks his heart to see his children living in sin and rebellion, but it doesn’t surprise him
David would still have come regardless of the decisions his ancestors made
God’s providence will not be stopped regardless of who wins the election
If God wants to use president Trump to carry out his providence, he will
If God wants to use Biden to carry out his providence, he will
As Christians, when we doomsday prep, and believe that the world will turn upside down for worse based on who is the president, we implicitly say that the president has more power over God’s providence than God
The reality is that you and I cannot stop God’s good and perfect plans for our world, neither can anyone else. God is going to do what God is going to do.
Why be obedient to God if he is going to do what he wants regardless of my actions?
As followers of Jesus we should desire to be people who God works through not works in spite of
God has graciously and generously welcomed us into HIS story, into HIS plans
The almighty creator of the universe wants you and me to participate with him in redeeming and restoring all of creation
Can you imagine saying no to that?
Think about the greatest opportunity someone has given you
Job promotion, a marriage proposal, an offer for a vacation, whatever
Something that you have no regrets about saying yes to. That changed your career, life, family, etc.
What if we said no to RCC?
Imagine saying no to that, then multiply that by 1,000 because want God is inviting us into is so much greater
Yet we do it all the time…
“God I can’t love that person”, “God I don’t want to see that person come to know Jesus”, “God you don’t know what that person has done to me,” “God they’re voting for Biden in the election”
“I don’t know what to say,” “I’m not qualified,” “I don’t want to take the risk,”
Ambivalence
Application
Ask God how you can participate in his providence
Be intentional about desiring to see God move in your life and in the lives of others
Gospel Connection
The only way we can do that is imitating the life of Jesus
Jesus’ ministry on earth was dedicated to bringing the Kingdom of God to earth
To caring for those who needed to hear the Gospel, who needed to be challenged in their worldview, who needed God’s providence in their lives
Conclusion
God’s providence is absolutely massive in its scope, but God has decided to invite you and me to participate in it. Our participation is limited by our faith and obedience to Christ, God’s providence is not limited by us. We can decided to live lives of faith that will build up future generations and echo through history for God’s glory, or we can sit on the sidelines and watch God do miraculous things without us
May we be a people who seek to participate in God’s providence, who desire to speak truth and love into our communities and who actively work to bring God’s kingdom to earth
Communion