FHBC Sermon Notes

"Hope in the Heart of Sorrow" - Jim challenges us to read through the book of Ruth at least once a week as we study narrative book of the bible.

Intro
God works not only through individual lives, but in shaping history itself for one purpose, to demonstrate his will glory and will through his Son, Jesus Christ! Ruth is one of the stories, where the path to Christ shines very clear.
reading

1. Sorry and suffering are afflictions we can expect to experience in this present earthly life.
This story takes place right after the fulfillment of God's promises to his people to give them a land. In this time, there is no king or ruler over Israel. Instead it is a tribal regional model of governing. Each tribe and family was responsible for their members. The people were protected and held over by mostly military leaders, which here are called judges. These judges rose occasionally to redeem the people from oppression that often followed straight from the countries rebellious living. Political autonomy instead of covenantal living was the rule of the day. Many had forgotten the laws of God and the promises given.

Naomi's Experiences: Death of children, death of husband, a famine, living in a foreign land. daughters in law that she in responsible for, yet without any way of making a living. The was no welfare, no retirement, insurance, no safety net. Family was responsible for one another. Oh how we struggle with this as a society.

V.21 She knows from where judgement does come. She does not deny this. She is bitter, "call me bitter", she says.

Where is hope?
Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous... But the Lord delivers!
John 16:22-23 - We will have suffering in this world.... But there is rejoicing!

God is our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

The Lord is our hope. c
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Challenge: Don't get distracted in suffering. God is true to follow through.

How does God do this?

2. God provides hope and comfort in the heart of sorrow that enables us to and find hope.
a. The hope and comfort of Christian fellowship. (1:14, 16-17)
The bond of Ruth is more than just one of bond and marriage. It is a spiritual sisterhood as well. Joined together not just under early convenient, but in the covenant of the Holy Spirit. How awesome is it that we would be studying Mark 3:20-35. The bond of the Spirit reigns supreme!

b. The hope and comfort of God's sovereignty and providence.
Romans 8:28
At this point in the story Naomi is blinding by here suffering, and has forgotten the hope of God. Yet hope is there to be had. For though this judgement may be from God, God can turn his judgment into Joy.

c. The hope and comfort of abiding in Christ (1:16-17)
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.