{"id":4817,"date":"2019-05-12T13:22:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-12T17:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=4817"},"modified":"2019-05-12T13:26:49","modified_gmt":"2019-05-12T17:26:49","slug":"a-tale-of-two-mothers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=4817","title":{"rendered":"A TALE OF TWO MOTHERS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones<\/strong><\/h3>\n

rec0512-112639<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A TALE OF TWO MOTHERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Story of Ruth<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

A WIFE’S JOURNEY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 1:1-2 (ESV) <\/b>
\n1 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A WOMAN’S LOSS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 1:3-5 (ESV) <\/b>
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A MOTHER’S INSTRUCTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 1:6-11 (ESV) <\/b>
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD<\/span> had visited his people and given them food.
\n7 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
\n8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, \u201cGo, return each of you to her mother\u201d\u2122s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The LORD<\/span> grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!\u201d Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And they said to her, \u201cNo, we will return with you to your people.\u201d
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But Naomi said, \u201cTurn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A DAUGHTERS LOVE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 1:14-18 (ESV) <\/b>
\n14 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
\n15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And she said, \u201cSee, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.\u201d
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But Ruth said, \u201cDo not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
\n17 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.\u201d
\n18 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A CITIZEN’S RETURN<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 1:19-22 (ESV) <\/b>
\n19 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, \u201cIs this Naomi?\u201d
\n20 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0She said to them, \u201cDo not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
\n21 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD<\/span> has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?\u201d
\n22 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A DIVINE MEETING<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 2:1-7 (ESV) <\/b>
\n1 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Now Naomi had a relative of her husband\u201d\u2122s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, \u201cLet me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.\u201d And she said to her, \u201cGo, my daughter.\u201d
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, \u201cThe LORD be with you!\u201d And they answered, \u201cThe LORD bless you.\u201d
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, \u201cWhose young woman is this?\u201d
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, \u201cShe is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
\n7 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0She said, \u201d\u02dcPlease let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.\u201d\u2122 So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 24:19 (ESV) <\/b>
\n19 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0\u201cWhen you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD<\/span> your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

A KIND GESTURE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 2:8-16 (ESV) <\/b>
\n8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Boaz said to Ruth, \u201cNow, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.\u201d
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, \u201cWhy have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?\u201d
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But Boaz answered her, \u201cAll that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
\n12 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD<\/span>, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!\u201d
\n13 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then she said, \u201cI have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.\u201d
\n14 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And at mealtime Boaz said to her, \u201cCome here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.\u201d So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
\n15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, \u201cLet her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A SURPRISE BLESSING<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 2:17-23 (ESV) <\/b>
\n17 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
\n18 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.
\n19 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And her mother-in-law said to her, \u201cWhere did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.\u201d So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, \u201cThe man\u201d\u2122s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.\u201d
\n20 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, \u201cMay he be blessed by the LORD<\/span>, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!\u201d Naomi also said to her, \u201cThe man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.\u201d
\n21 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And Ruth the Moabite said, \u201cBesides, he said to me, \u201d\u02dcYou shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.\u201d\u2122\u201d
\n22 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, \u201cIt is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.\u201d
\n23 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A STRANGE CUSTOM<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 3:1-5 (ESV) <\/b>
\n1 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \u201cMy daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.\u201d
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And she replied, \u201cAll that you say I will do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (ESV) <\/b>
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0\u201cIf brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband\u201d\u2122s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband\u201d\u2122s brother to her.
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A WORTHY RESPONSE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 3:6-11 (ESV) <\/b>
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.
\n7 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
\n8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0He said, \u201cWho are you?\u201d And she answered, \u201cI am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.\u201d
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And he said, \u201cMay you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A CLOSER RELATIVE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 4:1-6 (ESV) <\/b>
\n1 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, \u201cTurn aside, friend; sit down here.\u201d And he turned aside and sat down.
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, \u201cSit down here.\u201d So they sat down.
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then he said to the redeemer, \u201cNaomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So I thought I would tell you of it and say, \u201d\u02dcBuy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.\u201d\u2122 If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.\u201d And he said, \u201cI will redeem it.\u201d
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Boaz said, \u201cThe day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.\u201d
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then the redeemer said, \u201cI cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A GRANDMA’S JOY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruth 4:13-17 (ESV) <\/b>
\n13 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.
\n14 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then the women said to Naomi, \u201cBlessed be the LORD<\/span>, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!
\n15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.\u201d
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.
\n17 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, \u201cA son has been born to Naomi.\u201d They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sermon by Rev. Richard Jones rec0512-112639   A TALE OF TWO MOTHERS The Story of Ruth   A WIFE’S JOURNEY Ruth 1:1-2 (ESV) 1 \u00a0In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages","category-sermons-by-rev-jones"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4817"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4817"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4820,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4817\/revisions\/4820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}