100:00:00,160 –> 00:00:03,280Naomi Could Not Have Known200:00:03,480 –> 00:00:07,960Naomi could not have known at the end of Chapter One, how God would weave her life,300:00:08,160 –> 00:00:12,000her loves and her losses into his hidden plan to bring blessing400:00:12,200 –> 00:00:15,680to the world when she arrived in Bethlehem.500:00:15,880 –> 00:00:18,000All she could say was that her experience,600:00:18,200 –> 00:00:20,680what she had gone through, had been bitter.700:00:20,879 –> 00:00:22,559But as the story unfolds,800:00:22,559 –> 00:00:28,840we’re going to see how God’s hidden hand was at work in Naomi’s life.900:00:29,040 –> 00:00:33,040Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:33,240 –> 00:00:34,119I’m David Pick.1100:00:34,320 –> 00:00:35,959Glad you could be with us today.1200:00:36,160 –> 00:00:39,400And Colin, as we continue our journey through the book of Ruth,1300:00:39,599 –> 00:00:43,360we’ve heard how Ruth and Naomi suffered loss and sorrow,1400:00:43,560 –> 00:00:45,400but the story doesn’t end there.1500:00:45,599 –> 00:00:48,040God continues to be at work in their lives.1600:00:48,240 –> 00:00:51,040Yeah. Sorrow is not the end of the story.1700:00:51,119 –> 00:00:53,040And this is really good news.1800:00:53,240 –> 00:00:59,880I mean, it is wonderful that the Bible gives to us such clear examples1900:01:00,080 –> 00:01:05,919of grief and sorrow and loss and the work of God in and through these very,2000:01:06,120 –> 00:01:08,720very difficult experiences of life.2100:01:08,919 –> 00:01:11,320But we’re turning the corner in the story today.2200:01:11,519 –> 00:01:15,239We’re beginning to see how God opens up a future.2300:01:15,440 –> 00:01:17,440Hope is our title today.2400:01:17,639 –> 00:01:22,879The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.2500:01:23,080 –> 00:01:25,839And so we’re looking at how God provides2600:01:26,040 –> 00:01:29,480first for this lady who had experienced such loss.2700:01:29,680 –> 00:01:32,320And it’s the beginning of a wonderful2800:01:32,519 –> 00:01:39,239story of how God opens up a new chapter of life for these ladies and blesses them2900:01:39,480 –> 00:01:43,400and even more makes them a means of bringing3000:01:43,599 –> 00:01:46,120His blessing into the lives of countless others.3100:01:46,320 –> 00:01:48,199It certainly is a story of hope.3200:01:48,400 –> 00:01:49,839So I hope you’ll join us if you can,3300:01:50,040 –> 00:01:54,559in your Bible, in the book of Ruth and chapter two as we begin our message.3400:01:54,760 –> 00:01:55,599Here’s Colin.3500:01:55,800 –> 00:01:58,680We’ve been following the story of Naomi3600:01:58,879 –> 00:02:04,199who endured a triple bereavement, losing her husband and then both of her3700:02:05,199 –> 00:02:10,520her sons during a ten year stay in the country of Moab.3800:02:10,720 –> 00:02:18,479And we saw that through this great loss, Naomi was a marvellous example of faith.3900:02:18,679 –> 00:02:21,559We saw last time that she confessed faith4000:02:21,759 –> 00:02:27,679in God Almighty, God is sovereign, even over the worst things of life.4100:02:27,880 –> 00:02:29,839And she also believed that God is good.4200:02:30,039 –> 00:02:33,600He is the Lord, that is, he has made a covenant with his people.4300:02:33,600 –> 00:02:35,240And Naomi was one of them.4400:02:35,440 –> 00:02:39,039So she dared to believe that God was for her4500:02:39,240 –> 00:02:44,240even when it seemed that God was against her.4600:02:44,440 –> 00:02:46,119Now, Naomi could not have known4700:02:46,320 –> 00:02:49,960at the end of chapter one how God would weave her life, her loves4800:02:50,160 –> 00:02:54,720and her losses into his hidden plan to bring blessing to the world.4900:02:54,919 –> 00:02:58,960When she arrived in Bethlehem after these ten years in Moab,5000:02:59,160 –> 00:03:01,240all she could say was that her experience,5100:03:01,399 –> 00:03:03,880what she had gone through, had been bitter.5200:03:04,080 –> 00:03:05,720But as the story unfolds,5300:03:05,919 –> 00:03:13,039we are going to see how God’s hidden hand was at work in Naomi’s life.5400:03:13,240 –> 00:03:18,160Then beside Naomi, we have also met Ruth, her daughter-in-law.5500:03:18,360 –> 00:03:21,279Ruth was born and raised in Moab,5600:03:21,479 –> 00:03:26,160but she came, as we have seen, to faith in the living God.5700:03:26,320 –> 00:03:32,399She had also endured great sorrow in the loss of her husband early in life.5800:03:32,600 –> 00:03:37,199They had no children, and so she was left alone.5900:03:37,399 –> 00:03:40,279And in the Old Testament,6000:03:40,479 –> 00:03:45,679continuing the family line was always of great importance.6100:03:45,880 –> 00:03:47,919God had given a promise to Abraham6200:03:48,119 –> 00:03:51,839and the lines of the family that extended from him.6300:03:52,039 –> 00:03:54,320Each of them was therefore important6400:03:54,520 –> 00:03:57,320as a line, a family line that inherited6500:03:57,440 –> 00:03:58,320the promise of God.6600:03:58,520 –> 00:04:02,399It was important that every family line should be continued.6700:04:02,600 –> 00:04:07,080And so if a young woman died without children,6800:04:07,279 –> 00:04:12,559the expectation was that another eligible man in the family,6900:04:12,759 –> 00:04:17,160perhaps a brother or another male relative, would marry the widow7000:04:17,640 –> 00:04:23,600and then raise children to continue the extended family line.7100:04:23,799 –> 00:04:30,200But of course, Naomi had no other son who could become Ruth’s husband,7200:04:30,399 –> 00:04:35,079and Naomi was very candid with Ruth about this problem.7300:04:35,279 –> 00:04:37,720We saw that when she came to the crossroads7400:04:37,920 –> 00:04:41,600and there was that moving conversation with her two daughters-in-law.7500:04:41,799 –> 00:04:43,679She’s saying to Ruth, in effect,7600:04:43,679 –> 00:04:46,920Now, you married my son,7700:04:47,119 –> 00:04:52,519but he’s gone now, and I don’t have any others.7800:04:52,720 –> 00:04:56,839And what I want for you, Ruth, is that you will find another husband.7900:04:57,040 –> 00:05:02,600And frankly, your best chance of doing that is to go home to your own people.8000:05:02,799 –> 00:05:10,399What Naomi was doing there kindly was releasing Ruth from any further8100:05:10,559 –> 00:05:11,880obligation8200:05:12,079 –> 00:05:13,959to her family line.8300:05:14,160 –> 00:05:18,440She’s saying, in effect, you’ve been a good wife to my son8400:05:18,640 –> 00:05:22,880and you have been a marvellous daughter-in-law to me.8500:05:23,079 –> 00:05:25,679You have done more than enough already.8600:05:25,880 –> 00:05:29,000The time now has come for you to think about yourself.8700:05:29,200 –> 00:05:32,839Go home, live under the blessing of God8800:05:33,040 –> 00:05:38,040and find rest in the home of a new husband.8900:05:38,320 –> 00:05:42,320Do you remember the story that Ruth refused to return home?9000:05:42,519 –> 00:05:44,959In an astonishing act of loving commitment,9100:05:45,160 –> 00:05:49,760she said to Naomi, you know, where you go, I will go, where you live,9200:05:49,959 –> 00:05:52,480I will live. Your God will be my God9300:05:52,679 –> 00:05:57,760and nothing but death will ever separate me from you.9400:05:57,959 –> 00:06:00,959So we’ve met Naomi and we’ve met Ruth.9500:06:01,160 –> 00:06:04,679And now, as we come to chapter two of this beautiful story,9600:06:04,799 –> 00:06:08,119we are introduced to the third main character.9700:06:08,320 –> 00:06:11,679Verse one, now Naomi had a relative9800:06:11,880 –> 00:06:17,519of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech9900:06:17,720 –> 00:06:21,399whose name was Boaz.10000:06:21,880 –> 00:06:24,760Now, the fact that Boaz belonged to Naomi’s10100:06:24,959 –> 00:06:28,480extended family is mentioned not once, but twice.10200:06:28,679 –> 00:06:30,880You see it again in verse three,10300:06:31,079 –> 00:06:33,959the narrator of the story doesn’t want us to miss it.10400:06:34,040 –> 00:06:35,600So when Ruth came to the part10500:06:35,799 –> 00:06:38,760of the field that belonged to Boaz, verse three,10600:06:38,959 –> 00:06:43,359who was of the clan of Elimelech, twice we’re told this.10700:06:43,559 –> 00:06:44,920In other words,10800:06:45,119 –> 00:06:50,000we are being let in early on a secret.10900:06:50,200 –> 00:06:52,040We are being told by the narrator11000:06:52,239 –> 00:06:57,880of the story something that at this point Ruth herself does not know.11100:06:58,079 –> 00:07:02,359There is another relative.11200:07:02,519 –> 00:07:04,799He is a worthy man.11300:07:05,000 –> 00:07:07,519He is a man of good character.11400:07:07,720 –> 00:07:10,480As we will see, he is a man of great wealth.11500:07:10,679 –> 00:07:17,040He is certainly older than Ruth, but he is definitely single,11600:07:17,239 –> 00:07:21,920and the writer of the story really puts all of us in the very happy position11700:07:22,119 –> 00:07:26,239of knowing more than either Ruth or Naomi did at this point in the story.11800:07:26,440 –> 00:07:29,279And of course, it doesn’t take too much imagination for us11900:07:29,279 –> 00:07:33,119to work out then where this story is going.12000:07:33,320 –> 00:07:37,359So the theme of the message today is Hope.12100:07:37,559 –> 00:07:38,600That’s our title today,12200:07:38,799 –> 00:07:42,720after all of the grief and sorrow and loss of chapter one.12300:07:42,920 –> 00:07:46,320There are new horizons of hope that are opening up12400:07:46,519 –> 00:07:49,640for Naomi and for Ruth.12500:07:49,839 –> 00:07:51,480Now at the beginning of the chapter,12600:07:51,679 –> 00:07:55,119it’s clear that these women are in great need.12700:07:55,320 –> 00:07:57,519Remember, when they returned to Bethlehem,12800:07:57,519 –> 00:08:01,959Naomi said, I went away full.12900:08:02,160 –> 00:08:06,040The Lord has brought me back empty.13000:08:06,239 –> 00:08:09,799And yes, Naomi had a field,13100:08:10,000 –> 00:08:15,040but remember, it had not been cultivated for 10 years.13200:08:15,239 –> 00:08:17,160Now, you can imagine that kind of state13300:08:17,359 –> 00:08:21,200that this field within after being neglected for so long.13400:08:21,399 –> 00:08:24,760And also they arrive back at harvest time,13500:08:25,000 –> 00:08:28,160which meant that it would be a full calendar a year13600:08:28,359 –> 00:08:33,599before they would be able to derive any income from that cultivated land.13700:08:33,799 –> 00:08:35,599So the first need when they arrived13800:08:35,799 –> 00:08:39,479back empty, these two women arrived back empty in Bethlehem,13900:08:39,679 –> 00:08:43,000their first need was to put bread on the table.14000:08:43,200 –> 00:08:45,000And I want you to notice that Ruth took14100:08:45,200 –> 00:08:49,239the initiative verse two and Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,14200:08:49,239 –> 00:08:54,559Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain14300:08:54,760 –> 00:09:01,559after him in whose sight I shall find favor now.14400:09:01,760 –> 00:09:04,520God had given the laws to his people14500:09:04,719 –> 00:09:09,520that were specifically designed to give help to the poor.14600:09:09,719 –> 00:09:15,799They’ve been described as the kindly laws of the Old Testament.14700:09:16,039 –> 00:09:19,880And one of them was this provision in regards to gleaning.14800:09:20,080 –> 00:09:23,880It’s in Leviticus in chapter 19 in verses nine and ten.14900:09:24,080 –> 00:09:26,599When you reap the harvest of your land,15000:09:26,799 –> 00:09:30,599you shall not reap your field right up to its edge,15100:09:30,799 –> 00:09:35,599neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest and you shall not strip15200:09:35,799 –> 00:09:40,840your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard,15300:09:41,320 –> 00:09:45,280you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner.15400:09:45,479 –> 00:09:49,520I am the Lord your God.15500:09:49,719 –> 00:09:51,640So notice here that there are two15600:09:51,840 –> 00:09:56,280specific instructions with regards harvesting a field.15700:09:56,479 –> 00:10:02,200First, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge.15800:10:02,400 –> 00:10:05,880In other words, when you go in to harvest your grain,15900:10:06,080 –> 00:10:10,039leave a border at the edge of your field16000:10:10,280 –> 00:10:16,320so that those who are in need can come and gather the grain that is there.16100:10:16,520 –> 00:10:18,280And then the second command here is16200:10:18,479 –> 00:10:23,239neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.16300:10:23,440 –> 00:10:25,239So you see, when the Reapers went over16400:10:25,440 –> 00:10:30,479with the sickle and they’re cutting the stalks of grain16500:10:30,679 –> 00:10:35,000there would be some of the grain, of course, that would be falling to the ground.16600:10:35,200 –> 00:10:39,239And in this law, the Lord says now don’t go over the field16700:10:39,239 –> 00:10:43,280for the second time to pick up the grain that has fallen to the ground.16800:10:43,479 –> 00:10:49,520You just leave it there so that it can be picked up by those who are in need.16900:10:49,719 –> 00:10:52,080And that is why in verse two, Ruth says,17000:10:52,280 –> 00:10:54,479let me go to the field and glean among17100:10:54,679 –> 00:11:00,640the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favour.17200:11:00,840 –> 00:11:04,479In other words, she’s saying I need to find some Reapers who will honour this law17300:11:04,619 –> 00:11:09,960And then I’ll just go behind them and I’ll pick up what they have left behind.17400:11:10,159 –> 00:11:11,559You’re listening to Open the Bible17500:11:11,760 –> 00:11:14,960with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Hope.17600:11:15,159 –> 00:11:18,840It’s part of our series Ordinary People, Extraordinary God.17700:11:19,039 –> 00:11:20,599And if you’ve missed any of the series,17800:11:20,640 –> 00:11:24,440don’t forget you can always come online to catch up or go back and listen again.17900:11:24,640 –> 00:11:26,919And that’s at openthebible.org.uk18000:11:28,840 –> 00:11:32,200Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham with a special message.18100:11:32,400 –> 00:11:34,880Now, I wonder what plans you have for Easter.18200:11:35,080 –> 00:11:37,200At Open the Bible, we have something18300:11:37,400 –> 00:11:40,080that might be of interest to you and your church.18400:11:40,280 –> 00:11:45,039We filmed a one-actor one-hour performance of Colin’s well-known book,18500:11:45,239 –> 00:11:49,200Heaven, How I Got Here – The story of the Thief on the Cross.18600:11:49,400 –> 00:11:51,640It’s a really powerful gospel message18700:11:51,840 –> 00:11:55,000and we’re making the film available to you for free.18800:11:55,200 –> 00:11:57,200If your church wanted to show the film18900:11:57,400 –> 00:12:01,239this Easter, we have created a free resource pack to help you.19000:12:01,400 –> 00:12:06,760To find out more, go to Openthebible.org.uk19100:12:07,000 –> 00:12:11,400That link again is at openthebible.org.uk.19200:12:11,599 –> 00:12:12,760Back to The Message now.19300:12:12,960 –> 00:12:15,760We’re in Ruth, Chapter two, here’s Colin19400:12:15,960 –> 00:12:22,640Now this beautiful story that we’re looking at today unfolds in four scenes.19500:12:22,840 –> 00:12:24,919The first is the welcome,19600:12:25,119 –> 00:12:27,280the second, the blessing,19700:12:27,479 –> 00:12:29,400the third is the meal19800:12:29,640 –> 00:12:32,640and the fourth is the provision.19900:12:32,840 –> 00:12:34,679And in all of these,20000:12:34,880 –> 00:12:39,880we are being pointed very clearly and wonderfully to our Lord and Savior20100:12:40,080 –> 00:12:44,799Jesus Christ. First then, the welcome, verse three.20200:12:45,000 –> 00:12:51,280So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers.20300:12:51,599 –> 00:12:56,960And she happened to come to the part of the field20400:12:57,159 –> 00:13:04,239belonging to Boaz who was of the clan of Elimelech.20500:13:04,440 –> 00:13:08,960Now, of course, it seems that all of this is happening by chance,20600:13:09,159 –> 00:13:12,719but we’ve already been brought into the secret.20700:13:12,919 –> 00:13:15,119Ruth did not know when she arrived20800:13:15,320 –> 00:13:19,719in this field that it belonged to an eligible member of her deceased husband’s20900:13:20,320 –> 00:13:22,760family. But we do know that we are able to read ahead.21000:13:22,960 –> 00:13:24,719We know what’s coming21100:13:24,919 –> 00:13:26,039Verse four.21200:13:26,239 –> 00:13:29,679And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem,21300:13:29,880 –> 00:13:32,799and he said to the reapers, the Lord be with you.21400:13:33,000 –> 00:13:37,799And they answered, the Lord bless you.’21500:13:38,039 –> 00:13:46,799Now, Boaz here is a marvelous example of a really good employer.21600:13:47,039 –> 00:13:50,000He takes an active interest in what is21700:13:50,200 –> 00:13:53,359being done by those who work for him.21800:13:53,559 –> 00:13:57,479Here’s a business owner who does more than sit in an office.21900:13:57,679 –> 00:14:00,400He comes out into the field.22000:14:00,599 –> 00:14:01,960He’s a believing man.22100:14:02,159 –> 00:14:09,320He prays for God’s blessing to be on those who work for him.22200:14:09,520 –> 00:14:12,559Now, let’s just make this very obvious application.22300:14:12,760 –> 00:14:16,719Some of us here this morning are business owners.22400:14:16,919 –> 00:14:19,479You are blessed to be the means22500:14:19,679 –> 00:14:24,559of providing the way in which others earn their living.22600:14:24,760 –> 00:14:29,479Do you pray for those you employ?22700:14:29,679 –> 00:14:34,880Do you take an active interest in their work?22800:14:35,080 –> 00:14:38,799And many more of us here are team leaders.22900:14:39,000 –> 00:14:44,640You have two or three or five or maybe even ten people who report to you.23000:14:44,840 –> 00:14:47,840You do their annual review.23100:14:48,039 –> 00:14:54,479Let me ask you this question, do you pray for those who on a daily basis report23200:14:54,679 –> 00:14:56,200to you?23300:14:57,640 –> 00:15:01,039Pray for God’s blessing on those who work23400:15:01,239 –> 00:15:08,239for you and those who report to you, seek God’s blessing on them23500:15:08,440 –> 00:15:12,320make it your aim that you will be a means23600:15:12,320 –> 00:15:16,520by which God’s blessing comes into their lives that they are blessed by God23700:15:16,719 –> 00:15:18,799because they work for you.23800:15:19,000 –> 00:15:22,119This is what Boaz does here and notice23900:15:22,320 –> 00:15:25,559that as he expresses this goodwill towards his workers.24000:15:25,760 –> 00:15:28,679It is returned in their goodwill towards him.24100:15:28,880 –> 00:15:30,559He says, the Lord be with you.24200:15:30,760 –> 00:15:35,080And they answer, The Lord bless you.24300:15:35,719 –> 00:15:42,359Then, verse five, Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the Reapers,24400:15:42,559 –> 00:15:46,359Whose young woman is this?24500:15:46,559 –> 00:15:47,960You can’t miss this.24600:15:48,159 –> 00:15:52,919Ruth has got Boaz’s attention.24700:15:53,119 –> 00:15:56,640And the servant in charge of the Reapers tells him24800:15:56,840 –> 00:16:01,559She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi and she asked to glean behind us.24900:16:01,559 –> 00:16:06,119And she’s been working at this all day25000:16:06,320 –> 00:16:14,760And then Boaz gives to Ruth the warmest possible welcome.25100:16:14,960 –> 00:16:16,760He says three things.25200:16:16,960 –> 00:16:19,200The first is, stay here.25300:16:19,559 –> 00:16:20,760Verse 8.25400:16:20,960 –> 00:16:23,679Then Boaz said to Ruth, Listen, my daughter,25500:16:23,880 –> 00:16:29,719Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one but keep close25600:16:29,960 –> 00:16:31,919to my young women.25700:16:32,119 –> 00:16:34,200A less generous owner would have said,25800:16:34,400 –> 00:16:36,760Well, you know, you can glean here today, but, you know,25900:16:36,960 –> 00:16:37,960go to someone else’s field.26000:16:38,159 –> 00:16:39,599Tomorrow.26100:16:39,799 –> 00:16:42,039We’ll have done our bet.26200:16:42,280 –> 00:16:44,119Not Boaz.26300:16:44,640 –> 00:16:46,760You stay here.26400:16:47,159 –> 00:16:49,400I want you to be here.26500:16:49,599 –> 00:16:54,919You remain with my people here.26600:16:55,159 –> 00:16:57,359And you will be blessed.26700:16:57,640 –> 00:16:59,119Then he says, you’ll be safe here.26800:16:59,320 –> 00:17:01,599Verse nine, have I not charged26900:17:01,799 –> 00:17:04,239the young men not to touch you?27000:17:04,439 –> 00:17:07,719These fields could be dangerous places,27100:17:07,920 –> 00:17:10,239but Ruth would be safe in the fields27200:17:10,439 –> 00:17:13,560of Boaz. He says Stay here27300:17:13,760 –> 00:17:16,560because you’ll be safe here27400:17:16,800 –> 00:17:18,800and then he says you’ll find help here.27500:17:19,000 –> 00:17:19,920Verse nine.27600:17:20,119 –> 00:17:22,199When you are thirsty, go27700:17:22,400 –> 00:17:24,520to the vessels and drink what27800:17:24,760 –> 00:17:27,359the young men have drawn.27900:17:27,560 –> 00:17:29,520So he welcomes Ruth and28000:17:29,719 –> 00:17:32,199goes way beyond anything28100:17:32,400 –> 00:17:35,119that the law required.28200:17:35,319 –> 00:17:37,719And of course, in all of this Boaz points28300:17:37,920 –> 00:17:40,000us very wonderfully to our Lord,28400:17:40,199 –> 00:17:41,319Jesus Christ.28500:17:41,520 –> 00:17:46,000The Lord Jesus Christ will welcome you.28600:17:46,199 –> 00:17:48,479Whoever you are, whatever28700:17:48,680 –> 00:17:50,959your background, whatever28800:17:51,160 –> 00:17:53,719you are from.28900:17:53,920 –> 00:17:56,160The Lord Jesus Christ said29000:17:56,359 –> 00:17:58,439whoever comes to me, I29100:17:58,640 –> 00:18:02,479will never cast out.29200:18:02,680 –> 00:18:04,880If you will come to him, he29300:18:05,079 –> 00:18:07,280will welcome you.29400:18:07,479 –> 00:18:09,719He will guard you29500:18:09,920 –> 00:18:12,599and he will satisfy29600:18:12,800 –> 00:18:15,160the thirst of your soul.29700:18:15,359 –> 00:18:17,319That’s the welcome.29800:18:17,520 –> 00:18:20,000Second, I want you to see the blessing.29900:18:20,199 –> 00:18:22,400He says Verse 12 the Lord30000:18:22,739 –> 00:18:25,319repay you for what you have done30100:18:25,520 –> 00:18:27,599and a full reward be given30200:18:27,800 –> 00:18:30,640you by the Lord.30300:18:30,839 –> 00:18:33,199Now Boaz had heard about30400:18:33,400 –> 00:18:35,479Ruth’s extraordinary, loving,30500:18:35,680 –> 00:18:39,000self-sacrificing commitment to her mother in law.30600:18:39,199 –> 00:18:41,560He says in verse 11, all that you have done for your mother30700:18:41,760 –> 00:18:44,239in law since the death of your husband has been fully30800:18:44,439 –> 00:18:46,239told to me. Bethlehem’s a little town.30900:18:46,439 –> 00:18:47,880Word gets around fast.31000:18:48,079 –> 00:18:50,160And Boaz has heard31100:18:50,400 –> 00:18:53,239and he is a man of good character.31200:18:53,439 –> 00:18:56,239And so he is deeply impressed31300:18:56,439 –> 00:18:59,719by what he has heard about Ruth and31400:18:59,920 –> 00:19:02,280very simply he wants her kindness31500:19:02,479 –> 00:19:04,560to be rewarded.31600:19:04,760 –> 00:19:07,199Kindness such as you have shown to your mother31700:19:07,400 –> 00:19:09,800in law deserves a rich31800:19:10,000 –> 00:19:11,280reward.31900:19:11,479 –> 00:19:14,479And so Boaz himself is extending himself32000:19:14,680 –> 00:19:17,959in showing kindness to Ruth and his prayer32100:19:18,160 –> 00:19:20,599is that God will do the same.32200:19:20,800 –> 00:19:23,599The Lord repay you32300:19:23,800 –> 00:19:26,560for what you have done.32400:19:26,760 –> 00:19:28,880Now this brings us to a very32500:19:29,079 –> 00:19:31,280important Bible principle32600:19:31,479 –> 00:19:33,640which is this,32700:19:33,839 –> 00:19:35,959that God often deals with32800:19:36,160 –> 00:19:39,040us in a way that reflects32900:19:39,239 –> 00:19:41,959how we have dealt with others.33000:19:42,160 –> 00:19:45,599God often deals with us33100:19:45,800 –> 00:19:47,920in a way that reflects33200:19:48,119 –> 00:19:51,040how we have dealt with others.33300:19:51,239 –> 00:19:54,400King David observed this principle33400:19:54,599 –> 00:19:57,119in psalm 18 where he said33500:19:57,319 –> 00:19:59,959with the merciful33600:20:00,160 –> 00:20:03,280you show yourself merciful.33700:20:03,479 –> 00:20:05,920With the blameless33800:20:06,119 –> 00:20:08,959you show yourself blameless.33900:20:09,160 –> 00:20:11,479With the purified you34000:20:11,680 –> 00:20:14,520show yourself pure34100:20:14,800 –> 00:20:16,880and with the crooked34200:20:17,079 –> 00:20:21,439you make yourself seem torture us.34300:20:21,640 –> 00:20:24,239Now you say what David’s doing here he’s observing how34400:20:24,439 –> 00:20:26,160God acts34500:20:26,359 –> 00:20:28,400and you see it in the stories of the Bible the story34600:20:28,599 –> 00:20:31,040of Jacob and all of his twisted path twisted34700:20:31,239 –> 00:20:34,319person twisted path.34800:20:34,520 –> 00:20:38,239He’s seen how God deals with his people.34900:20:38,439 –> 00:20:40,719God often deals with his people in a way that35000:20:40,920 –> 00:20:44,079reflects how we have dealt with the others.35100:20:44,839 –> 00:20:47,119And of course you find the same very clearly in35200:20:47,319 –> 00:20:49,839the teaching of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament.35300:20:50,040 –> 00:20:52,640Jesus said with the judgment35400:20:52,839 –> 00:20:56,079you pronounce.35500:20:56,280 –> 00:20:59,520You will be judged.35600:20:59,719 –> 00:21:03,599And with the measure you use.35700:21:03,800 –> 00:21:07,439It will be measured to you.35800:21:07,640 –> 00:21:10,719Forgive and35900:21:10,920 –> 00:21:13,800you will be forgiven.36000:21:14,040 –> 00:21:15,719Give.36100:21:16,119 –> 00:21:19,239And it will be given to you.36200:21:19,560 –> 00:21:22,000Good measure, press down and shaken together.36300:21:22,199 –> 00:21:26,880Running over will be put into your lap.36400:21:27,560 –> 00:21:30,680Now you see the point here, Ruth has been unusually36500:21:30,880 –> 00:21:33,680kind to Naomi.36600:21:33,880 –> 00:21:36,479Now God is blessing Ruth with unusual36700:21:36,680 –> 00:21:39,520kindness that comes into her life through Boaz.36800:21:39,719 –> 00:21:41,839And this is what Boaz is praying for me.36900:21:42,040 –> 00:21:43,719May the Lord deal with you as37000:21:43,920 –> 00:21:45,560you have dealt with Naomi.37100:21:45,760 –> 00:21:48,640May you be shown unusual kindness and favor.37200:21:48,839 –> 00:21:51,040May you be richly rewarded37300:21:51,239 –> 00:21:54,839in regards to what you have done.37400:21:55,040 –> 00:21:57,920Now of course rewards do not always37500:21:58,119 –> 00:22:00,560follow virtue in this world.37600:22:00,760 –> 00:22:03,319Some rewards God gives now37700:22:03,520 –> 00:22:06,640and others he withholds until later.37800:22:06,839 –> 00:22:09,239So if you find yourself at this point saying, well now wait a minute37900:22:09,520 –> 00:22:11,920I do not think that I have received at all38000:22:12,119 –> 00:22:14,040in a way that reflects what I have given.38100:22:14,239 –> 00:22:18,319Well if that’s the case I’d just say to you don’t worry.38200:22:18,520 –> 00:22:21,079Jesus said not even38300:22:21,280 –> 00:22:24,920a cup of cold water will go without its reward38400:22:25,119 –> 00:22:28,040if it’s given in my name.38500:22:28,239 –> 00:22:30,760Your father in heaven sees38600:22:30,959 –> 00:22:34,199what you do in secret38700:22:34,400 –> 00:22:38,319and he will reward you38800:22:38,599 –> 00:22:40,239openly.38900:22:40,560 –> 00:22:43,239You’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith on open the Bible39000:22:43,439 –> 00:22:45,079with a message called Hope.39100:22:45,280 –> 00:22:47,439It’s part of our series ordinary people39200:22:47,640 –> 00:22:48,959extra-ordinary God.39300:22:49,160 –> 00:22:51,599And if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back39400:22:51,800 –> 00:22:54,280and listen again you can do that by coming online39500:22:54,479 –> 00:22:57,079to our website openthebible.org dot uk39600:22:57,280 –> 00:22:58,199.39700:22:58,400 –> 00:23:00,599Or again you can find us as a podcast and those39800:23:00,800 –> 00:23:02,520are on all the main podcast sites.39900:23:02,719 –> 00:23:05,000Search for open the Bible Uk.40000:23:05,199 –> 00:23:07,680Open the Bible is supported by our listeners40100:23:07,839 –> 00:23:10,319financially and if you already give to support40200:23:10,520 –> 00:23:13,640the work we want to say thank you so much.40300:23:13,839 –> 00:23:16,359If you’re considering supporting Open the Bible financially40400:23:16,560 –> 00:23:19,280in the future and you’re able to set up a new direct40500:23:19,479 –> 00:23:21,880debit in the amount of five pounds per40600:23:22,079 –> 00:23:24,479month or more or a one of gift of 5040700:23:24,680 –> 00:23:27,079pounds or more we’d love to thank you40800:23:27,280 –> 00:23:29,920by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s40900:23:30,119 –> 00:23:32,520book The Case for Easter along41000:23:32,719 –> 00:23:35,040with Pastor Colin’s booklet Six41100:23:35,199 –> 00:23:37,520Days That Changed the World and41200:23:37,719 –> 00:23:39,839a lovely Open the Bible tote bag,41300:23:40,040 –> 00:23:42,079pen and bookmark.41400:23:42,280 –> 00:23:44,800Colin, what makes this book so useful?41500:23:45,719 –> 00:23:48,160Oh, well its author, Lee Strobel, was a journalist41600:23:48,359 –> 00:23:50,640for the Chicago Tribune when he began exploring41700:23:50,839 –> 00:23:53,239the Christian faith and in The Case41800:23:53,439 –> 00:23:55,680for Easter he actually retraces his41900:23:55,880 –> 00:23:58,359steps, showing the biblical evidence42000:23:58,560 –> 00:24:01,040that led him to the conclusion that Jesus42100:24:01,239 –> 00:24:03,119really rose from the dead.42200:24:03,319 –> 00:24:04,880It’s a fascinating book because42300:24:05,079 –> 00:24:07,160he interviews experts42400:24:07,359 –> 00:24:09,520who help us to sort through the Bible’s evidence for42500:24:09,719 –> 00:24:10,479the Resurrection.42600:24:10,680 –> 00:24:13,199So, for example, he interviews a medical42700:24:13,400 –> 00:24:15,439doctor to help us examine the42800:24:15,640 –> 00:24:17,839evidence that Jesus really died42900:24:18,040 –> 00:24:20,040and a psychologist to help us43000:24:20,239 –> 00:24:22,439see that Jesus’ appearances could43100:24:22,640 –> 00:24:25,199not have been simply hallucinations.43200:24:25,400 –> 00:24:27,520So the Case for Easter really helps43300:24:27,719 –> 00:24:29,760Christians know why we believe in43400:24:29,959 –> 00:24:32,400the Resurrection and it can provide a wonderful43500:24:32,599 –> 00:24:34,839pathway to faith for someone who’s43600:24:35,040 –> 00:24:37,560beginning to explore the truths of Christianity.43700:24:37,760 –> 00:24:40,239Well we want to thank you by sending you a copy43800:24:40,439 –> 00:24:43,040of Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Easter43900:24:43,239 –> 00:24:45,479along with Pastor Colin’s booklet Six44000:24:45,680 –> 00:24:47,560Days That Changed the World and a44100:24:47,760 –> 00:24:49,760lovely Open the Bible tote bag,44200:24:49,959 –> 00:24:52,119pen, and bookmark if you are able to set44300:24:52,319 –> 00:24:54,599up a new direct debit to the work44400:24:54,800 –> 00:24:57,040of Open the Bible this month in the amount of five44500:24:57,239 –> 00:24:59,400pounds per month or more or a one44600:24:59,599 –> 00:25:01,800off gift of fifty pounds or more.44700:25:02,000 –> 00:25:04,280Full details, terms and conditions on our44800:25:04,319 –> 00:25:06,599website openthebible.org.uk44900:25:06,800 –> 00:25:08,760For Open45000:25:08,959 –> 00:25:10,719the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,45100:25:10,920 –> 00:25:13,079I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again45200:25:13,280 –> 00:25:13,920next time.45300:25:18,839 –> 00:25:21,000We’ll look at three things you need to do45400:25:21,199 –> 00:25:23,040when you want to find hope.45500:25:23,239 –> 00:25:25,319That’s next time on Open the Bible.
