A
Story of Love
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
C.I.:
An Introduction to Ruth
Sometimes
people comment that the Bible is an old book (while this is
true – they mean it is out of date/touch. But this is not
true). Today
we will begin a new series in which we look at a story in
the Bible which contains many modern elements; love, death,
sin, abandonment, compassion, etc.
How does this relate to us?!
I.
The Love of God is Seen by…
A.
Understanding their Times & Ours:
1. Their times:
(Ruth 1:1a), “Now it came about in the days
when the judges governed….”
a.
In the days of the judges – there was a cycle which constantly
repeated itself…
1) (Jgs. 3:7-11),
“And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight
of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served the
Baals & Ashteroth [SIN]. – So the anger
of the Lord was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them
into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of
Israel served him 8 years. [SUBJUGATION]. – And
when the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord [SORROW],
- the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel
to deliver them, Othniel.
– When he went out to war, the Lord gave the king of
Mesopotamia into his hand and he prevailed. [SAVIOR].
– Then the land had rest for 40 years and Othniel died.
– Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight
of the Lord…!”
2) Sin – Subjugation – Sorrow
– Savior (i.e., a Judge).
3) It was during one of these
cycles that the book of Ruth was written.
2. Our times: (Remember,
- there is nothing new under the sun!)
a.
Each one of us in this room – is currently in one of these
four areas
1) People don’t feel the
need for a savior till they find themselves under sin’s subjugation.
2) We make a mistake when
all we tell our children is that sin is “BAD!” – Because
once they try it, they will come away saying it wasn’t bad
to them
3) (Heb. 11:25), “…than
to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”
b.
Our children need to be taught about the very real consequences
(physical/spiritual) of sin!
1) Subjugation: (Rom.
6:16; II Pt. 2:19b)
2) Sorrow: (II Cor. 7:10;
Acts 3:19).
c.
Yet God’s love story for us - is seen in that He has provided
us with a Savior – who will not die nor will He ever leave
us!
1) (John 8:36), “If
the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed!”
2) (Heb. 13:5-6),
“I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you! –
So that we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper.’”
d.
So whether we are talking about Ruth (written 3300 yrs. ago)
– or today, God’s love is still reaching out to man – seeking
to free us from bondage!!!
3. Their Times: (Ruth
1:1b), “…that there was a famine in the land.”
a.
In the O.T. – God used various physical consequences – in
accordance with the people’s acts.
1) Good actions: (Deut.
28:1-4), “Moses said, ‘Now it shall be, if you diligently
obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments
which I am commanding you today … all these blessings shall
come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your
God. – You shall be blessed in the city & blessed in the
country. – Blessed shall be the offspring of your body &
the produce of the ground & the offspring of your flocks…!”
2) Bad Actions: (Deut.
28:15-18), “But it shall come about, that if you don’t
obey the Lord your God, to observe all His commandments, these
curses shall come upon you.
Cursed you will be in the city & in the country.
– Cursed will be your offspring & the produce…”
3) (Ruth 1:1), “Now
in the days when the judges governed – there was a famine
in the land.”
b.
God’s love, however, is seen in why He allows these things
to happen…
1) (Deut. 30:1-5),
“So it shall come about when all of these things come upon
you, - the blessings and the curse which I have set before
you… and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him
with all your heart and soul according to all that I command
you today, - then the Lord will restore you from captivity
& have compassion on you… prosper & multiply you”
4. Our Times:
a.
Someone today may ask, “Is my (cancer, divorce, etc.) due
to my lack of obedience to God?”
1) God, however, deals with
His people on an entirely different basis today.
2) While in the O.T. – God’s
consequences were physical – today’s consequences are spiritual!
b.
This is where our “Love Story” really heats up – by how God
demonstrates His love for us!!!
1) (Rom. 3:23-25),
“For all have sinned… - being justified as a gift by His
grace through the redemption which is in Jesus, - whom God
displayed publicly as a sacrifice in His blood.”
2) (II Cor. 5:21),
“God made Him who knew no sin, to become sin on our behalf,
that we….”
c.
Even as the consequences under the law were a demonstration
of God’s love – how much more are the consequences under Jesus
– a demonstration of an even greater love!!!
1) (Rom. 2:4), “Do
you think lightly of the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance
and….”
2) Contrasting Jesus &
Moses: (Heb. 8:6a), “Jesus has obtained a more
excellent ministry….”
(i)
(Rom. 7:6), “We serve in the newness of the Spirit,
and not the oldness of the letter.”
(ii)
(Gal. 5:18-23), “If you are led by the Spirit you
are not under law … against such things
3) Contrasting Jesus &
Moses: (Heb. 8:6b), “…by as much as He is the mediator
of a better C.”
(i)
(Matt. 26:27-28), “When He had taken the cup, He
said, ‘Drink from it all of you, for…’”
4) Contrasting Jesus &
Moses: (Heb. 8:6c), “…which has been established
on better promises.”
(i)
(Heb. 9:15), “He is the mediator of a new covenant
… that those who have been called may receive the promise
of an eternal inheritance.”
5) While physical consequences
are more visible – spiritual ones are more lasting!
CONCLUSIONS:
(Ruth is an ancient story but one that talks about the ever-present
love of God!)
1.
Book of Ruth took place during a time when the people
turned from God’s love & received physical
consequences
for their sin.
2.
We live in a time when God in His love promises to
bless our faith if we accept His gift of eternal life
through His Son, JESUS!
So
How Do We Respond to the Love of God? - Galatians 3:26-27;
Mark 16:16.
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