Providence Church

What do you do when you look up and it seems like you’re surrounded by a world that doesn’t want you here? What happens when you try to build a gospel foundation and everyone tries to knock it down? How do you live, work, and minister in a culture that just wants you to go away? As Paul instructs Timothy, the goal is not to tear down everything that surrounds you, but to minister to them in love. While that may be the last thing we want to do, it’s exactly what the world needs.

God is at work. Seems like a simple enough statement, but given the right circumstances over a long enough time- it’s a statement even the most devout follower may begin to doubt. Or perhaps if we believe he’s at work, we may believe that His work is far from something we actually desire- but instead fear. The testimony of Judges, Ruth, and the entire OT is one of a God that is always working a plan- often slowly and in places we would not look, but always working. The story of the NT is that rescue plan being put into action. Make no mistake about it- we want an Old Testament God and a New Testament God too. In both Old and New, it is the same God working the same plan that guides us through our darkest moments and deepest pains.

Sometimes we understand words and concepts even without being able to define them. They are simply things that we engage in or see every day, but don’t give much thought to. The idea of redemption is one of those things that we all instinctively know but probably can’t put words to. The idea of redemption has roots in our faith too, but much like our regular understanding of redemption- it can be hard to put words to that one too. When Ruth asked Boaz to be her “redeemer,” it can leave us a little confused, but Boaz knew exactly what it meant- and what it would cost. Jesus, too, knew what redemption would cost, and he not only covered our debt, he purchased for his own.

It’s rare that you come across someone in scripture that seems to really have it all together. The Bible is full of flawed heroes. However, the book of Ruth gives us a picture of two people, one woman and one man, that really seem to get it all right. They provide us a road map for what big, bold faith looks like and how it acts. While Ruth’s actions, planned by Naomi, are very risky, they are rooted in faith in the God of Israel. And that’s why Ruth isn’t afraid to ask big things of Boaz- because he too is rooted in that same bold faith.

Good advice is always nice. It can help us find our way or sort through all kinds of problems. The only thing is, good advice still leaves one big issue- we have to apply it. We still have to go out and do the thing we’ve been advised on. Far better for us is good news- an announcement of something that has already been done. Chandler Rowlen with RUF, our local missions partner, shows the difference between those two things is filled with exasperation, exhaustion, and eventually hopelessness. But the Gospel (i.e. literally the good news) is the remedy for a world full of good (and bad) advice.

Certain questions never go away. Throughout every generation, these questions constantly resurface with a variety of answers and schools of thought. When thinking through theology, the question of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility is a classic debate that has entertained theologians for centuries. The answer to that question comes in many forms and the Book of Ruth shows us that these two things aren’t set in opposition to one another. In fact, they are beautifully connected. Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi all show how God intends for our work to be a part of his plan.

The brokenness of this world can feel overwhelming. When surrounded by sickness, death, suffering, and violence, it can be easy to think there is no light left in this world. This is the book of Judges and it’s exactly how Naomi felt in the opening chapter of the Book of Ruth. Three women widowed and alone is enough to make anyone bitter and angry- like Naomi was. But when the darkness seems to overwhelm and threatend to undo us, is when even the faintest flicker of light shines the brightest. As we move from Judges to Ruth, we see that flame start to light up the night and we can know that the darkness has not overcome.

They say never meet your heroes, they’ll always let you down. Samson might be the epitome of that phrase. A man born with a purpose and gifted with nearly superhuman strength, Samson never quite lived up to what he should’ve been. He had it all, but was so far from God he never really came close to being the savior he was born to be. His life was a wasted one- at least it almost was. In his final moments, Samson was still able to see (even without his eyes) what God wanted of him. Once again, God shows how he is not limited by our sin and failure, but works in and through them.

Sometimes a story is too good to be true. Reality has a way of showing us the darkness of the world and preventing us from believing the best. No one would confuse the story of Jephthah of being too good, but it almost was. It could’ve been. It should’ve been. Which is really the whole point. A broken, tragic story that was so close to being the story God intends to write. The one that is there for all of us. The question is, will it be your story?

Sometimes in our rush to get what we want, we don’t really pay attention to what it is we’re getting. We rush to fill our need with something we think will solve the problem. Unfortunately, when we rush to fill that void, our solution is worse than the problem. So it is with the wanna be king- Abimelech. His story teaches us to be careful what we wish for and more importantly, how God has provided what we really need.