Now let us open Ruth chapter 1. We are going to read Ruth chapter 1, verses 1 to 22. We are going to read the whole chapter together. Congregation, this is the word of the living God. In 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. The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives. The name of the one was Orpha and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about 10 years. and both Mahlon and Kilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then 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 had visited His people and giving them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to land of Judah. The Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you might find rest, each of you, in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, And they lifted up their voice and wept. And they said to her, no, we will return with you to your people. But Naomi said, turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters. Go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me. Then they lifted their voices and wept again. And Orpha kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, see, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law. But Ruth said, do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For wherever you go, I will go. and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where 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." And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said, no more. So 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 woman said, is this Naomi? She said to them, do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has testified against me? and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me. So now me return, 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. Amen. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his word. People of God, today we will look at Lord's Day 10, which contains the question and answer 27 and 28 to reinforce the doctrine of God's sovereignty in our minds and to apply it into our hearts. Lord's Day 10 is the continuation of Lord's Day 9. Together, they focus on the first article of Apostles' Creed. which is God the Father and our creation. Lord's Day 9 sets the scene for the Lord's Day 10, which is one of the most important doctrine that shapes our daily lives, but at the same time, one of the most misunderstood doctrines among 21st century Christians, the providence of God. The word providence comes from Latin word providentia, which has two parts. The first part means forward, and the second part means to see. So when you put those two words together and make a compound verb or word, it means to see forward or to foresee. And it's exactly the same in Hebrew. One example comes from Genesis 22, When God provides a sacrifice for the place of Isaac, Abraham says, so Abraham called the name of that place, the Lord will provide. As it is said to this day, on the mount of the Lord, it shall be provided. So the Hebrew word that is translated as provide is literally means to see. Abraham says, the Lord will see. The Lord will see my need. Even though it's beneficial for us to know the etymology of this word, these doctrines deal with some of the issues that exist in the heart of our daily lives. So we rightfully want to learn more about God's providence because we all have so many providence about this doctrine. So we will trace of God's providence today through a very ordinary lives of certain people we just read from Ruth chapter one. We will look into our passage with these two points that based on the question of Heidelberg Catechism, law state 10. Understanding God's providence and secondly, embracing God's providence. Understanding God's providence and embracing God's providence. The book of Ruth is a story of ordinary people. There are no records of any major conflicts or stories of war heroes in this book. Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz were ordinary people who just were interested to live ordinary lives. And in this book, we read about how God uses these ordinary people to accomplish His plans. Not just ordinary people, but foreigners, as He promised to Abraham. God's plans of redemption in this book is clearly at work. This is why this book is so fascinating. You read about how God uses these ordinary people like you, like me, to accomplishes his plan of redemption, the history of redemption. The doctrine of God is engraved almost in every verse in this book. Both the writer of this book and the main characters of this book, they have a very profound understanding of God's providence. The book of Judges precedes the book of Ruth. And the time of judges was full of chaos, crimes, wars, and bloodshed. And suddenly we come to Book of Ruth where we don't read any of those events. So when we read the Book of Ruth right after the Book of Judges, we might think that history also progress as we progress in our reading. But no, it's not the case. The first verse of the book of Ruth sets the scene for us. It's the time of the judges. And let us look at the last word, last verse of the book of Judges. Judges 21-25 gives us the context of the book of Ruth. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. So this brings us to our first point, understanding God's providence. Now let us remember question and answer 27 of Heidelberg Catechism because it will shed light into our first point and help us to understand the sequence of this event. Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 27. What do you understand by the providence of God? Providence is the almighty and ever-present power of God by which God upholds. It's with His hand, heaven and earth, and all creatures, and so rules them, that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty, Alton's things, in fact, come to us not by chance, but his fatherly hand. And when we read the first five verses of the Book of Ruth, we come across a very tragic sojourn story. In these verses, the first event we encounter is a famine. As we read in the last verse of the book of Judges, this was a time of everyone did what was right in his own eyes. And so Elimelech also did what was right in his own eye. So he took his family from Bethlehem and moved. They went to sojourn to the country of Moab which got clearly prohibited his people to leave. We read about an irony because Bethlehem means in Hebrew, the house of bread or granary. So those people should have something to eat because that's the granary, that's the house of bread, but they don't have anything to eat. A place that's supposed to be full of bread has no bread. And they probably traveled seven to 10 days towards the east of Jordan River, other side of the Jordan River. And when they settled there, we don't read about anything about famine. So we understand that this famine was a local famine, only took place in the west side of Jordan River, not the east side of Jordan River. And as we just read, this was not a random event. Rain and drought come to us, not by chance, but by God's fatherly hand. So the famine most likely was a result of Israel's disobedience to the law. And we can find in Deuteronomy 28 that famine was one of the covenant curses. So even though we are not given the exact reason, we can safely draw a conclusion that this famine was God's chastisement for his people because of their breaking the law. And rather than asking God for forgiveness, Israelites looked all kinds of other solutions as Elimelech did, including moving to Moab. Elimelech might have thought that I had left the worst situation behind when they left Bethlehem. But the tragic sojourn story doesn't end here. Elimelech dies and he leaves Naomi with two kids by themselves. Also, there was no prohibition of marriage with a Moabite woman in the law. Moabites were prohibited to join the assembly of God. Yet, Mahlon and Kilion, they married Moabite's wives. They spent 10 years in Moab. We don't know how long they were married, but one thing we know that they died as their father. And only in 10 years, Naomi lost her home, her husband, her children. She had no one to take care with her. And in that time, if you were a widow woman and without sons or children, you were considered homeless. You would have the lowest status in the society. You would be no one. People of God, Think about 10 years from now on. What kind of plans do you have? What are you excited about? What do you hope to accomplish? We all have plans. We all have hopes. And we will surely do our best to accomplish them. But we don't know where we will be exactly and how we will be. Sometimes we think that we have the control of our lives and we can do whatever we would like to do. But we are reminded a very crucial fact, which specifically in this parable that Jesus says, listen carefully, The land of a rich man produced plenty. And he thought to himself, what shall I do? For I have nowhere to store my crops. And he said, I will do this. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, fool, this not your soul is required of you and things you have prepared. Whose will they be? Even though we forget who is in control in our life, God has his own ways to remind us constantly. And when Naomi hears that God has visited, or in other words in Hebrew, God has come to aid to his people. He decided to return to Judah, the homeland, the place they should never have left in the first place. From verse 6 to 22, the verb return is used 12 times. So why this is significant? Because this verb is the main verb for Hebrew word repentance. So this gives us a clue about Naomi's intention. Naomi doesn't just want to change the place, but she is looking for repentance. She is looking for God. She is looking for Yahweh. She wants to return to Promised Land. However, she was not going to travel alone. As a homeless woman, In our day standard, she has nothing to offer her daughter-in-law. She could have behaved selfishly and not ask them to return. Rather, she could ask them, come with me. But she didn't. acknowledges that Yahweh, the great I Am, the covenant-keeping God, has been in control of her life. And she knows that nothing happens by chance. Even in her bitterness and pain, she deals with her daughter-in-law graciously. People of God, not just Ruth in this book, but Naomi also displays as a godly character for us to imitate. As Naomi endeavors to convince her daughter's-in-law to return her families, she finds herself against a very determined Ruth. After Orpha returns, she commands Ruth to return to her home four times. And after the fourth time, Ruth finally speaks, answers. As a result, we read one of the most remarkable examples of Hebrew poetry and one of the loftiest expression of commitment in the scripture. Ruth said, do 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. Where you die, I will die. And there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more. Also, if anything but that aparts me from you. And in verse 18, we read about Ruth's determination. We can translate this word determination from Hebrew also as a solid rock. So Ruth was like a solid rock before Naomi. She was bold. She was courageous. She wasn't in any doubt. She knew what she was saying. She was like a solid rock. So why did she say these words? What do you think? What was the reason? How she was courageous like this? The answer is simple, because of her faith. The true faith that makes you like a solid rock, even in the worst time of your life. Not just because Ruth loved Naomi, but the real answer was because of her faith. Ruth was convinced that Yahweh was the only true God of the universe, and he was alone worthy to be worshiped. She was convinced that Yahweh was sovereign, and she completely surrendered herself to God. and clings in love and commitment to the Lord as a result, to Naomi as well. The Lord has taken her husband. The Lord has taken her father-in-law. The Lord has taken her relatives. And now she has to leave her hometown, everyone that she knows of. But she clings to the Lord in love. How can you explain this situation? She could say all of this by faith. In Hebrew 11 verses 9 to 10, we read this about Abraham, but it is also, this verse is also talking about Ruth. By fate he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in the tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundation, whose designer and builder is God. She was looking for the same city as Abraham. And the same promise, she clings this promise and surrender herself to God's providence completely because she knew people of God. God prepared her a better city. Brothers and sisters, Ruth says, this God Yahweh is my God and nothing can change this. This is her response to everything that she experienced in her life. Every calamity she had to go through. Even though Ruth did not have the scripture in her hands, but this verse, Roman 8, 28 was engraved in her heart. That for those who love God, all things work together for good. Today, you have been saved by the same faith as Ruth was. What is your response to God's sovereignty in your life? What would be your response if God disciplines you according to his good purposes? Would you still say, this God is my God and only that parts from me. Only death parts me from Him. Would you still say that? And I would like to remind you that Jesus Christ did not forsake you, even on the cross while He was dying. His love and commitment to you was stronger than death. You are sons and daughters of a Savior who lied down his life willingly for you. And he said on the cross, while he's dying and suffering, you are my child. You are my children. What will be your response in the times of trouble? Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem in verse 19, but this is not more than a sorrowful return for them. Bethlehem was always a small town, even though it played a significant role in the history of redemption. There were only several hundred people were living in that town, maybe less at that time because of the famine. So that's why everyone recognized Naomi as soon as she returned to town. Everyone surrounds her because they knew that Naomi returned. And Naomi doesn't hide her bitterness. But there are three things that I would like to highlight from her response, brothers and sisters. First, she contrasts her return to the time when she left 10 years ago. She calls 10 years ago full, but 10 years later she calls herself empty. So for Naomi, the fullness is to have a family. The fullness is to have a full stomach. And emptiness is to not have any of those. And secondly, she calls Lord Shaddai, which is translated as Almighty in our English Bibles. This is another irony, because Shaddai means God who promises of blessings and prosperity. But she has nothing left, but she calls Lord Shaddai. And lastly, Naomi still knows that nothing happens by chance. Whatever happened in the land of Moab, she knows that it wasn't because of the gods of Moab. It was because of Yahweh. Yahweh afflicted her. He's the one who testified against Naomi. By faith, Naomi knows that God is severe, but she is struggling to accept it. Her soul has become bitter. And when we decided that God is against us, we usually exaggerate our hopelessness. This is what is happening here. Yet Naomi explained incredible pain and great losses. She blames God. She doesn't question any decision moving to the land that God prohibited them to move. She doesn't recall any moments that she lived in peace with pagans or accepted their lifestyle, even in her household. She doesn't remember anything, but she only blames God. She doesn't even realize how God is blessing her at that moment by a daughter-in-law who will be more than seven sons to her and was going to be a part of the most important lineage of the history. And this brings us to our second point, embracing God providence. But first, let me tell you a very crucial fact, or let me remind you a very crucial fact that usually Christians, they struggle to reconcile that word, reconcile it with the providence of God, providence of God, and this doctrine, we cannot reconcile it usually, which is the problem of sin. Let me tell you that, brothers and sisters, God is not the author of sin. Scripture is very clear about this. In James 1, 13, we read this. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. This is quite clear, but let us look at Westminster Confession of Faith. Very short answer, but I believe will help us to understand it. Westminster Confession of Faith says, God, from all eternity, did by the wisest and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. Yet so, as thereby, neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty of contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. So, summary, the man remains conscious and willing alter of his sinful action, not God. Now, for our second point, if you have your forms of prayers, book with you, you can follow or you can just listen. We are going to read Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 28 because it will also shape our second point. Question and answer 28. How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence help us? We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity. And for the future, we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature will separate us from His love. For all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will, they can neither move nor be moved. I would like to expand some section of this answer as our second point. First, I would like to look at being patient in adversity. Throughout the scripture, one thing we read, dear brothers and sisters, adversity creates stronger characters. God uses adversities to make you stronger in faith, make you better Christians, make you more Christ-like. And in our text, that's what we exactly read. Naomi and Ruth as our examples. Both Naomi and Ruth perfectly knew that nothing happened by chance and they were both believers. So what was different? However, Naomi becomes more bitter and bitter in her heart against God and fails to see how God is still working in her life, such as providing daughter-in-law more than seven sons. But in the other hand, Ruth looks only to Yahweh, focuses Him alone, and fixes her eyes to Him. Because Ruth was so much more aware of things that are not visible. This is what we read in 2 Corinthians exactly, right? Ruth was not looking to things that are seen, but to things that are unseen. And those unseen things, they were eternal things. And dear brother, dear sister, how often do we act like Naomi? How easily we can make our hearts bitter against God when we face adversities. We can easily pray and say, may your will be done. But when God sanctifies, begins to sanctify us for our sake, according to his good pleasure, good purposes, how quickly can we blame God? And on the other hand, we read about Ruth, a woman who lost her husband. relatives, friends, and had to live in a country that she doesn't know about anything. And Bible says she was determined. She was like a solid rock. Why? Because she had faith. She knew that Lord is strong enough to provide her needs in every situation. She did not doubt. But you, dear brother and dear sister, Don't let yourself doubt about God's sovereignty. Jesus says, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown to the oven, will he not much more cloth you? Will he not much more cloth you? Secondly, let us look at being thankful in prosperity. Thankfulness is one of the most apparent marks of Christians. God wants us to be thankful all the time in every circumstances. We must never forget that God is in control in every situation, brothers and sisters. Everything belongs to the Lord. If we really understand it, if we really understand it and apply it into our hearts, we can pray like Job. Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. This is also reflected in our passage. Naomi knew this very well. but she just couldn't accept it because knowing something and applying it, internalizing it are two different process. She knew it, but she couldn't apply that. But brothers and sisters, even your bodies do not belong to yourself. Even your bodies, what we read in 1 Corinthians 6, The Spirit says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bowed with a price. Your bodies, even your bodies don't belong to you. But this world teaches us the opposite, is it not? My body, my house, my rules, my money, my, and my, and my, and my, no end. We easily forget we are not in control of our lives. And when we are reminded this truth, we cannot deal with it. When the world we created with so many my's collapse, fearful, completely vulnerable and naked. Beloved, God is the one who controls your life, not you. And this is good. This is good for your soul. This is good for your body. This is good. Whatever God has given to you, you ought to be thankful. And whatever God has not, giving to you or will not give to you, you ought to be thankful. Remember that this world is not your home. This is not your home. As we reminded several times this morning, I'm gonna read the same verse. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. And thirdly, let us turn our attention to being confident in love. Beloved, let me tell you what happens when you're confident in God's love. You speak and live like Ruth. You become like a solid rock by God's grace that no one can take you away from the path of righteousness. And God has given you all the reasons to be comforted in his life. He even gave you his spirit because he knows that you cannot do all those things by yourself. So there's no reason for you to doubt in God's sovereign love. And brothers and sisters, do you really believe this? Will you be able to confess this in the time of trouble? Will you able to confess this? Will you able to say, what happened in my life is good? And God is just, as we read in Ruth's life. It's not going to be easy. It might be the hardest thing you might have to say, but if you're confident in God's love, you will able to say it. You will. And when we read the rest of the book of Ruth, which we are not going to read, Obviously, we read about how God blesses Naomi and Ruth. And he used this ordinary people like Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, how we read about how he uses in this history of redemption. El Shaddai creates a royal lineage from them. And we know that who comes from this lineage? The King of kings and the Lord of lords. Because of God's providence, we all become the witness of this Redeemer. From this lineage, our Lord comes, our Redeemer. Lastly, dear brothers and dear sister, there is no one millisecond God is not sovereign. If God is not sovereign, we would have no hope. Please listen what our Redeemer says. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods come, and the winds blew, and the beat on the house, but it does not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. May the Lord help us to understand. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty God, graciously grant your word, which we have heard may be inscribed inwardly on our hearts. As we receive your word meekly with pure affection, may our hearts be filled with love and reverence for you. All this we pray for the honor and praise of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.