Sermon #5 Ruth Series:
Title: “Change And Decay In
All Around I see”
Text: Ruth 1:19-22
Reading:
Subject: Contentment with God’s providence
Date: Tuesday Evening - May 4, 1993
Tape
#
Introduction:
“Swift to its close ebbs out
life’s little day,
Earth’s joys grow dim, its
glories pass away;
Change and decay in all
around (me) I see -
Thou who changest not, abide
with me!”
I
once heard Bro. Scott Richardson say, “Life in this world ain’t much. It begins
with a slap on the bottom and ends with a shovel full of dirt in your face, and
there ain’t much in between except bumps and bruises.” Certainly, Naomi would
agree with Bro. Scott. (Read Ruth 1:19-22).
Naomi
was a true believer, once highly esteemed in Bethlehem, a woman of wealth and
influence. But during a time of famine she left her country with her husband
and her two sons. When Elimilech and Naomi might have used their riches to
relieve great need, they chose to hang on to their money and leave their
people. But things changed in a hurry. After ten years’ absence, Naomi returned
from Moab bereaved and destitute. She had lost her husband and her two sons,
her money and her property. She came back to Bethlehem with nothing but the
ragged clothes on her back and a daughter-in-law who was as poor and destitute
as she was. How quickly things change! When Naomi arrived in Bethlehem, as she
walked down the streets, broken, weary, ragged, and worn with age and trouble,
the whole town was astonished by what they saw. They said to one another, “Is this Naomi?” The withered rose is so
much unlike the blooming flower that the one bears only a faint resemblance to
the other; and Naomi was so unlike the woman who left Bethlehem ten years
earlier that her friends could hardly believe it was her - “Is this Naomi?”
Proposition:
The afflictive hand of Divine Providence
makes great changes, sometimes shocking changes, in a short time.
Divisions:
May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher as we
meditate tonight on this woman’s trials and troubles, trials and troubles which
she ascribed to the hand of God.
1.
Naomi
stands before us as a picture of the fall of our race in Adam.
2.
Naomi
here represents the changing circumstances of life in this world.
3.
What
should our attitude be when we see great changes in the lives of our friends or
experience great changes in our own lives by the providence of God?
I. CERTAINLY, NAOMI STANDS BEFORE US IN THIS TEXT AS A PICTURE OF THE FALL
OF THE HUMAN RACE IN ADAM (vv. 20-21).
If we
could get some idea of Adam’s condition and circumstances in the Garden of
Eden, as God made him, we would look in the mirror every morning and say, “Is
this Adam? God made us full, but now we are empty!” (Eccles. 7:29).
Illustration: “I’ve seen better days!”
A. God made man in his own image and after his own likeness (Gen. 1:27). In the
beginning, Adam was full!
·
He
was righteous.
·
He
was spiritual.
·
He
was smart.
·
He
was powerful.
·
He
was peaceful.
B. But Adam sinned, and we sinned in him - Oh, how great was the fall
of man! (Rom. 5:12).
1.
We
all bear greater resemblance, by nature, to the devil than to God (Matt.
15:19).
2.
Now
we are empty!
·
No
righteousness, only sin!
·
Not
spiritual, but carnal!
·
Not
wise, but foolish!
·
No
longer strong, but weak!
·
“No
peace!” “Without peace!” “Without God!”
C. The only remedy for this lost, ruined condition is the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:14-16).
When
Naomi had lost everything, she returned to Bethlehem, she returned to her God
and his people. Even so, sinners who have lost everything in Adam must return
to the Lord God by faith in Christ Jesus. When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, she
came home to God.
1.
Bethlehem
means “House of Bread.”
In
the house of God there is always “bread
enough and to spare.” And there is always a warm welcome in the Father’s
heart for returning prodigals.
2.
The
word Judah means praise - Bethlehem-Judah was the Place of Praise.
Naomi
and Ruth came out of the place of sorrow and suffering, out of the place of
death and despair into the place of praise.
The
Mercy-Seat is the Place of Praise. There God meets with sinners and declares
that they are forgiven. That Mercy-Seat is Christ (Heb. 9; 1 John 2:2).
3.
Bethelehm-Judah
was The Place of God, the place of His Presence, His Power, His Protection, His
Promise, His Provision. That is what Christ is to all who trust him. He is our
Divine Refuge (Prov. 18:10).
II. In this text NAOMI ALSO REPRESENTS THE CHANGING
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE IN THIS WORLD.
What changes occur in this world! Every day
something new happens that either elevates or depresses our spirits.
A. We rejoice in favorable changes.
Naomi had been through some hard times. But
things were about to get much better. Even in this vale of tears there are some
joys that must not be overlooked or taken for granted.
·
The
maturity of our children.
·
The
prosperity of our friends.
·
The
conversion of lost friends and relatives.
B. But our text is not talking about favorable changes. The changes Naomi
had experienced were afflictive, trying changes, changes that are hard to
endure.
Though her friends appear to have been
terribly disturbed by Naomi’s great losses, she was composed. She resigned
herself to the will of God. She speaks honestly, but not scornfully of the
Lord’s dealings with her (vv. 20-21).
1.
Naomi
had endured a very sorrowful trial.
She
went out full. At least, she thought she was full. After all, she had
everything the world could offer.
·
A
strong, respected husband.
·
Two
healthy sons.
·
Great
wealth - Financial security.
But she came home empty!
a.
The
fulness of this world is soon gone (Eccles. 1:2-3; 1 Sam. 2:3-5).
b.
There
is a fulness that can never be taken away (Lk. 10:42).
2.
Naomi
acknowledged the hand of God in all her troubles.
She
said, “The Lord hath testified against
me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me.” “The Lord hath brought me home again empty!”
(See 1 Sam. 2:6-8).
a.
Nothing
will give your soul peace and satisfaction in the time of trouble like the
acknowledgment of God’s hand in your troubles.
·
Job
(Job 1:21).
·
Eli
(1 Sam. 3:18).
b.
The
One by whose hand Naomi had been afflicted and by whose hand she had been
brought home was, “The Lord, the
Almighty!” El-Shaddai!
·
God
of the Covenant (Gen. 17:1).
·
God
All-Sufficient.
·
God
Almighty.
3.
Naomi
acknowledged the pain she had felt and still felt by reason of her long trial.
She
said, “The Almighty hath dealt very
bitterly with me.” The cup of affliction is a bitter cup. Though it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness in the end, it is not joyous, but grievous
in the experience (Heb. 12:11).
·
Job
13:24-26
·
Lamentations
3:15-17
4.
Naomi
also acknowledged that the Lord God had dealt with her sharply because she had
given him reason to do so. She said, “The
Lord hath testified against me.” “He doth not afflict willingly” (Lam.
3:33).
God
had a controversy with her, so he laid the rod to her back that he might
retrieve her heart (Job 5:17-18).
5.
Naomi
humbly submitted to and acquiesced in the will of God.
She
said to her friends, “Call me not Naomi (Sweetness),
call me Mara (Bitter): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly
with me!”
Application:
God
will do what ever must be done to correct his erring children and turn their
hearts to him again. How many illustrations we have in the Scriptures. Naomi is
but one.
·
Lot!
·
Samson!
·
David!
NOTE:
·
Naomi
lived in Moab for 10 years.
·
Lot
lived in Sodom a long, long time.
·
Samson
did not lose his hair the first time he laid his head in Delilah’s lap.
·
David
spent a full year without communion with his God.
He says, “Give
me thine heart.” And if your are his, he will see to it that you give him
your heart.
III. WHAT SHOULD OUR ATTITUDE BE WHEN WE SEE GREAT CHANGES LIKE THIS IS THE
LIVES OF OUR FRIENDS OR EXPERIENCE THEM OURSELVES IN GOD’S GOOD PROVIDENCE?
Let me briefly give you these closing words
of exhortation. May God the Holy Spirit seal to our hearts this portion of his
Word by making it beneficial to our souls and by making us useful to one
another.
A. When you see one of God’s people suffering great adversity, be kind,
gracious, and sympathetic, even when you know they have brought the trouble
upon themselves (Eph. 4:32; Gal. 6:2).
1.
Relieve
them if you can.
2.
Love
them if you can’t relieve them.
3.
Receive
them when they return - 70 times seven!
B. When the Lord God fills your cup with bitterness, seek by his grace to
be content, even when you are made to suffer adversity (Phil. 4;12).
Illustration: Jan Bonar - “Fade, fade each
earthly joy!”
The man who lost two sons - “Borrowed jewels.”
1.
Trust
God’s providence; he knows how to turn your bitter waters into a fountain of
sweetness.
Illustration: Naomi was bettered by her
bitter cup.
Job 42:10-16
2.
Set
your heart upon the world to come (2 Cor. 4:17-5:1).
a.
We
are unworthy of the least of God’s mercies.
b.
The
Lord God has done great things for us.
c.
All
things are ours.
d.
Eternal
glory and eternal happiness await us.
3.
The
Lord knows exactly what he is doing (Rom. 8:28).
God moves in a
mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in
the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in
unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright
designs
And works His sovereign
will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh
courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and
shall break
With blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble
sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen
fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter
taste,
But sweet will be the
flower.
Blind unbelief is
sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter
And He will make it plain.
Hymn #256