complete dependence upon the
Lord for all needed help this morning, which to direct your
very prayerful attention to the Book of Ruth. We'll consider
the entire chapter, but in many chapters in the Word of God there
is one text that acts as it like as a crux of the message of the
whole chapter. and sometimes of several chapters
of the whole book. And in this chapter we find it
in verse 16. And Ruth said, Entreat me not
to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For whither
thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my God. and Ruth said
I entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after
thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will
lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God this has seemed an appropriate
text there are a number of events from the week one being a funeral
I attended on Thursday of a dear friend of mine who was a pastor
in the north for many years and sometimes you can enter into
the truth of this text but also yesterday some of us
attended the meeting the Huntingtonian press at Jira Lewis and I felt
very much the same theme and subject upon my spirit there
is a unity in the things of God now this book of Ruth before
us we have to remember with all the Old Testament prophecies
they really happened they did the events that are recorded
in this book were real but you know as with all of the
Old Testament and this subject and this particular theme of
how we understand the Old Testament for various reasons has been
with me recently I state this because I think there's much
confusion in our day upon these things has to be made known and
that is not only are we to expound what we find within the chapter
but it's far more than that the book of Ruth as with all the
Old Testament points to the Lord Jesus Christ and is a picture
of redemption just as in the book of Judges we considered
from the book of the judges only a month or two ago in respect
of what was done in the two-edged sword of the
gospel and here we can find in the time
of the book of Ruth is approximately we believe about 1312 BC and was in direct correlation and took place, the events of
the Book of Ruth took place at the same time as Judges in Chapter
6 that is why I very deliberately read that chapter and the first
few verses, the first six verses bear this out because it speaks
of the famine that was in the land. No other famine is recorded
in Bethlehem, Judah, around that time. That is why we know that
this was the case. But as with the Book of the Judges,
in the Book of Ruth, we can see that picture of redemption, although
the two books are very different in their nature. Some of the
events that take place in the Book of the Judges are appalling
people boiling family members the number of deaths we read
and so on at the hands of others but you know the book of Ruth
is far more than some would make it in simply a romantic story
this is a picture of redemption now beginning at the first verse
we read now it came to pass when the days of the judges ruled
and that there was a famine in the lands such as we have read
in the sixth chapter of Judges and a certain man of Bethlehem
Judah went to Moab went to sojourn in the country of Moab he and
his wife and his two sons now there was a reason for this there
was a famine And the name of the man was Elimelech. Elimelech. Elimelech's name means,
my God, he's king. And he was a ruler in Bethlehem,
Judah. He wasn't the overall king, but
he was in charge of a region. He was a very wealthy man. And poverty had come to Bethlehem
Judah so he left and there was a reason he left because he wanted
simply to protect his wealth he did not want the poor people
of Bethlehem Judah to appeal to him too much to be a financial
burden to him he wanted to keep his wealth we hear of such things
wealthy people say that they occasionally receive begging
letters that we would call them and this was the kind of situation
he was desirous of avoiding and there was also much prosperity
naturally speaking in Moab you know you will always get people
like that their God is a pound note or a green dollar the sin of covetousness now I
just mention this as an aside I'm not saying that it's a sin
at all to buy a new car to drive a sports car or whatever we're
not into that here at Portsmouth we leave those rules for other
churches but the scripture says if riches
increase set not your heart upon them and that's the difference
this man was desirous to protect his wealth and to increase his
wealth his motives were karma and so he took his wife and his
two sons Marlon and Chilian Marlon meaning sickness and Chilean
meaning consumption we have to remember that names meant a great
deal more said a lot about a person in the Old Testament particularly
when they came into the country of Moab and they continued there
they lived there we notice this in Elimelech Naomi's husband
died He died. He died relatively young and
she was left of her two sons. And they took them wives of the
women of Moab. Now, as you know, it was forbidden
of Israelitish men to take wives of pagan gods. And thus, when such a thing takes
place, trouble always ensues. And this was what happened. They
disobeyed. But, you know, Elimelech set
for himself a very poor example. He'd left. Bethlehem, Judah,
where the God of Israel, the true God of Israel was worshipped.
And he went down to Moab. And you see, if we flirt with
the world in that sense, if we live amongst purely a worldly
people, then what are we to expect? The God of Israel was worshipped
in the house of Edimelech, but it was a household worship, there
was no gathering of God's people as far as we understand. But,
We sung that second hymn on the providence of God. And so often
the Lord brings out good from man's evil. And He overrules
to the glory of His great and His holy name. And He did so
here, as we see later. And we can see they took them
wives of the women of Moab the name of the one was Orpah her
name means declining, stiff-necked and the other Ruth her name means
companion and they dwelt there about 10
years a relatively short period of time for a marriage because
we read and Marlon and Chilean died also both of them and the
woman was left of her two sons another husband what a tragedy to befall Naomi
whose name means sweetness then she arose with her daughters-in-law
that she might return from the country of Moab and there was
a reason for this for she had heard that the country of Moab
how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread
and we know don't we through reading Judges and chapter 6
that not only did the Lord bring an end to the famine but he also
sent them a prophet in Gideon And this speaks not only of natural
food, but spiritual food. You notice all the way through
the scripture, Old Testament and New, whenever God has a thing
to say to a people, He always sends them a preacher. He always
sent them a prophet. He always sent a servant of the
Lord. And this is the way the Lord
works. You know, I have some correspondence
with, or I have corresponded with those of the primitive Baptist
denomination in America. And I have a great deal of respect
for many of them. But friends, I have to differ
with some in this respect. That we believe, as gospel standard
strict Baptists, that only through the preaching of the gospel do
men come to repentance and faith. Only through the preaching of
the gospel. This is God's ordered way. This is the way he chooses
to save. It is the preaching of the Word
that is central. How can they hear without a preacher? And the Lord sent Gideon. But
here we can see this. The Lord had visited his people.
He gave them bread. wherefore she went forth out
of the place where she was and her two daughters in law with
her and they went on the way and returned unto the land of
Judah sadness was upon her heart and what's more all Elimelech's
wealth had gone it had all gone so here was Elimelech hoping
to venture into Moab in the hope of increasing certainly protecting
his wealth but perhaps increasing it and they lost everything and Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law
go return each to her mother's house the Lord deal kindly with
you as they have dealt with the dead and with me Naomi was aware of the thoughts that there would
be towards women of Moab. And yes, she encouraged them
to go and find solace amongst their own people. Ruth and Orpah
were widows at relatively young ages. the Lord grant you that
you may find rest each of you in the house of her husband then
she kissed them and they lifted up their voice and wept you see
there was a natural affection here from both of these daughters-in-law
both of them and they said this is both of them unto her surely
we will return with thee and unto thy people and Naomi said turn again my
daughter why will you go with me? are there yet any more sons
in my womb that they may be your husbands? you can see here the
spirit of Naomi although her husband had died
and her two sons had died she still wanted the best naturally
speaking for the daughters-in-law that remained she held no grudge so she said turn again my daughters
go your way this is the thing that they may
perhaps marry again and perhaps may raise further children but
you know it's verse 14 really that says an awful lot about
the reality of this scene emotions were high emotions were high and they both at this point desired
to follow after Ruth but you know things that are said in the height
of emotion often don't last In verse 14 we read this, and
they lifted up their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed
her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her. Here was the difference.
You see, both these women had joined their husbands in the
worship of the God of Israel. They both heard of the God of
Israel. But you know, as with the sovereign
work of the Spirit, one is taken, and the other is left there is a Jacob and there is
an Esau and it's always been that way
and here we can see this is the truth and they lifted up their voice
and wept again And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law. But Ruth played
them too. There was a natural affection
from Orpah. And yes, she did love Ruth. But
she didn't love her enough to venture to Bethlehem Judah. Why?
Well, you see a lot of people start off well. But you know
it's not how we start, it's how we end. be that endureth to the
end she'll be saved and here we can see that Oprah was desirous
to go back to the pagan gods of Moab she was to go back to
those ways and there is always a separating effect to the gospel
who was speaking last night and I have to say that we find by
experience that as we go on that more and more we have to
separate and we have to separate not for the sake of it but we
have to separate from error doctrinal, practical and experiential this
is a separating work is the gospel work, it's a discriminating work
And this is what we see. This is what we've seen here. And she said, Behold thy sister-in-law
is gone back unto her people and unto her gods. Return thou
after thy sister-in-law. Here was the test, you see. And
you know, sooner or later, real religion is put to the test. You know, some people think that
it's all plain sailing. as a dreadful error, called the
Prosperity Gospel. Some of you may have met people
who believe this, I have. And there's this view that life gets better. Friends, the Scripture says,
in the world ye shall have tribulation. That's not referring to a future
age, it's referring to now, throughout the Christian Church. in the
world here ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have
overcome the world that was the Lord Jesus himself here we can see Ruth was put to the test the name of companion here was
something that she bore out and Ruth said entreat me be not against
me entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after
thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will
lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God now
here we have spiritual unity spiritual unity a real fellowship in the gospel and you know that will firstly
be found to have fellowship in the gospel there has to be a
doctrinal basis for it there does, there has to be a foundation this is where it starts this is why I feel so strongly
that the doctrines of the gospel and the doctrines that we believe
must be set forth they must be they can't be neglected you know our articles of faith they are They speak their doctrinal,
their practical and their experiential. And you see, this is where it
all starts, isn't it? It's the doctrine. Look how Paul
set forth his epistles. The doctrine was set forth. This
is what we believe. This is why we believe it. And
he then develops his arguments. We see that all the way through
the epistles. and here Ruth had heard from
the worship in Elimelech's house Ruth being also a type of the
Gentile church that was to be saved you see the Lord sometimes deals
with the least likely of characters Ruth naturally speaking was the
least likely character particularly as her husband had died to go to Bethlehem Judah and
worship the God of Israel to be called by grace and the Old
Testament saints were called by grace you know the Lord did
do a work in their souls don't listen to these people that tell
you that the Old Testament saints weren't born again they were
absolutely absolutely the Lord dealt with them and the Lord
dealt here with Ruth there was a change she was brought about
out of the pagan gods and brought to worship the God of Israel.
And here she saw spiritual unity in her mother-in-law. Spiritual
unity. This is not, as some people think,
following after a man or a woman. It's more than that. you know if we follow after men
some great preachers have had personal followings but you know that won't stand
us any stead in the day of judgment we were speaking yesterday of
William Huntington and Jenkins and the following he had at Gyre
Chapel and there were many that attended during his ministry
but there were those that came for the loaves and fishes and
it's always been that way but here we see the separation here
was a spiritual unity it's an inward unity sometimes we feel
these things sometimes you can meet a person you've perhaps
not known them very long but you feel a union this is what Ruth felt it was
not just a union to Naomi naturally but a union to a God where thou
diest I will die and there will I be buried the Lord do so to
me and more also he fought that death part thee and me she possessed
real religion and you know if you possess this
real religion you'll be desirous to worship God and hear a pure
gospel why do we come here? I ask that question you know
that you can answer in your own hearts why do we come here? I
came from the north to the south coast because I identified with
many of the people here that believe the same truth as I did
and we must have these things you see that's why we can't go
to the evangelicals that's why we can't go and hear mongrel
Calvinism because it's no good doesn't do the soul good We have
to identify with those who believe the same things. And this is
where it starts. It's a doctrinal basis. But you see, the doctrine that
Ruth had heard was put to the test, wasn't it? And she knew it experientially.
And this is what God brings his people to. She also knew it practically. She had to follow. She had to
go to Bethlehem, Judah. that's where we have to come
sooner or later we have to come here and we will say these things
spiritually whether thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest
I will lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God
this is what we say because we identify with the same truths when she saw that she was steadfastly
minded to go with her and she left speaking unto her she could see that this was what
he wanted she could see that this was the reality that this
was where she was desirous to be spiritual unity this is what she felt these things
go more they go further than the ties of nature so they too
went until they came to Bethlehem and it came to pass when they
were come to Bethlehem that all the city was moved about them
and they said is this Naomi now we know that by this time the
comfortable means of transport which they would have had in
venturing to Moab was gone they couldn't
go back that way they had to go back on foot this was no easy
journey we get very used to modern means of transport and remember
in the Middle East the heat would be severe and they would go all
the way from Moab back to Bethlehem Judah this was some journey if you want to put people to
the test on how much they love the truth how far will they go
to hear God's truth this is what we want isn't it We have to go where the truth
is found. And this is what they were determined to do. So when it came to pass, they
would come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about.
You have to remember that Naomi and her husband Elimelech were
well-known characters in the region. He was a ruler. And they were known. And there was a stir about the
town. There was a stir about the place. Who were these strangers? These two women. One of whom
would be physically very different. The people of Moab had dark skin. Whereas the people of Bethlehem
Judah had a lighter complexion. There was a physical difference. We can see here that the arrival of Naomi and
of Ruth caused a stir. And they said, is this Naomi? Is this Naomi? Naomi had left
Bethlehem, Judah, a young wealthy beautiful woman and she'd returned
old looking poor and feeling the heat and the
burden of the day is this Naomi? and she said unto them call me
not Naomi that is pleasant, sweet call me Mara for the Almighty
hath dealt very bitterly with me. I must make this point. This
doesn't mean that Naomi was a bitter woman. That is a mistake we could
very easily make. We can see from her spirit she
was not a bitter woman. She was desirous for the very
best for her remaining daughter-in-laws. But she felt the judgment of
God's hand in that she'd gone into Moab and dwelt with the
people there. A pagan, godless nation. But she was desirous to go back
to Bethlehem, Judah because that was where the Lord was worshipped. For the Almighty has dealt very
bitterly with me. She acknowledged the providence
of God. And sometimes the providence
of God may deal with us in this way. I went out full and the
Lord hath brought me home again empty. You see here we have also a type
of the fall. This book of Ruth is full of
types and shadows. Naomi went As Adam did. In the beginning, they had everything. In the garden, there was everything
for them. But Adam was desirous, and Eve,
they were desirous to be as gods. Naomi was desirous, her husband
was desirous to increase in riches. so they went their own way and
what was the result? Adam the created the perfect specimen
of mankind eventually became old, sick and died and here Naomi had become old. She lost everything
that she had. Seeking not after the Lord but
seeking more. Here is a type of before. I went out full and the Lord
hath brought me home again empty. Why then call ye me Naomi? Seeing
the Lord hath testified against me and the Almighty hath afflicted
me. so Naomi returned and Ruth the
Moabite as her daughter-in-law with her which returned out of
the country of Moab and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning
of the barley harvest well naturally speaking in that situation
who would feel any differently to Naomi at that time Her husband
had died. Her two sons had died. She lost,
naturally speaking, everything. She was at the end of herself. But you know the Lord can bring
hope where there appears to be no hope. And the Lord can overturn
even the strangest and the most desperate of circumstances. You see this book of Ruth has
these twin Themes that run all the way through.
That great theme of redemption. But that great theme of the providence
of God. The overruling hand of the Lord. And that's what, if the Lord
will this evening, we shall venture into the second chapter and we
will consider this. But just think of the state that
Naomi was in. She was sad. but it caused her to call upon
the name of the Lord and to go to the only place she could for
help she went at the beginning of
the barley harvest back to Bethlehem, Judah where they would plead
the cause of the kinsmen one who had the might and one
who had the right to redeem but yes, what was the root of
all of this? where did this journeying back
to Bethlehem Judas spring from? it sprung from that Holy Ghost
unity that oneness of the Spirit And Ruth said, entreat me not
to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For whither
thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy
people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. Well, I'll leave
it there. May the Lord have His blessing.
Amen.