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Emptiness · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  We're here to worship God. We're going to begin by singing to his praise in Psalm 139a.
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  ! So the Sing Psalms version of Psalm 139, you'll find that on page 180 in your psalm books.
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  We're going to sing from the beginning down to the verse marked 10. These are words that remind us of
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  God's awareness of everything about us. Psalm 139a on page 180. At the beginning,
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  O Lord, you have examined me. You know me through and through. My sitting, rising, all my thoughts
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  afar are known to you. Verses 1 to 10 of Psalm 139a to God's praise.
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  You have examined me. You know me through and through. My sitting, rising, all my thoughts afar are known to you.
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  My going and I'm lying down, I've been before you. Before I speak a word, O Lord,
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  our heart is well known to you. You have me in behind before. You lay on me in your hand. Such
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  The story is too wonderful, too high to understand.
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  Where can I draw your spirit dream, or from your presence go?
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  If to the heavens you are there, or in the depths below.
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  If I should take the wings of dawn, and dwell beyond the sea.
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  There also you will be my guide, your right and holding me.
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  Let's bow our heads as we call on God's name in prayer.
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  Let us pray together.
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  Lord, we praise you this morning for your knowledge of us, of all things.
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  There's everything, everything about us is known to you.
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  And Lord, that can be a great comfort to us at times.
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  It can also be something that unsettles us also.
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  Lord, even as the psalmist penned these words, it's not clear.
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  Whether he was comforted by that fact, or whether he was wanting to escape from you.
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  But he knew that wherever he went, Lord, you would be there.
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  And Lord, even when our circumstances are bleak, when we're in dark and difficult situations, Lord,
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  you're aware.
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  You are with us.
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  You know us.
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  We thank you, Lord, for that.
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  And we thank you that you're here today.
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  You're always there where your people meet to worship you.
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  We thank you for every individual that has come here today.
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  We're a large group of people, and yet we're all different.
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  And we're all known to you.
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  Everything about our circumstances, everything that's going on in our lives, Lord,
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  you are intimately aware of these things.
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  And we pray today, Lord, that you would meet us according to our need.
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  Whether we're young or whether we're old, bless the children with us, we pray.
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  And we desire, Lord, and long for your blessing on their young lives.
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  Every single one of them is loved by you with a love that is even greater than the love of their own parents.
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  And Lord, we pray for them today as they go out to Sunday school shortly.
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  We pray for those who teach them.
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  We pray for those who look after them and crash.
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  And we ask, Lord, that you would be part of their lives.
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  And even as they grow up, that they would grow up loving and following and deciding to serve the Lord Jesus.
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  Be with the teenagers here as well, Lord, at a different stage in their lives
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  when there are so many temptations and so many things that could draw them away from you and away from your word.
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  Lord, guard them and keep them, we pray.
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  And draw them ever closer to yourself.
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  May we all, Lord, regardless of age, young or old, may we be brought closer to you today.
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  Be pleased to bless us.
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  Speak to us through the Bible.
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  And forgive us for all our sins.
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  We ask this in Jesus' name.
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  Amen.
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  Okay, I want to speak to the young folk for a moment.
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  And I can see that you're dotted about all over the place.
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  Today, I brought in an Advent calendar.
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  So put up your hand if you have an Advent calendar.
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  Let me see some hands go up.
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  I bet you some adults have one of these as well.
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  So, yeah, okay.
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  Quite a few of you have an Advent calendar.
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  An Advent calendar is a strange thing because the less that's left of it, the better.
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  Because the less that's left of it, then the closer we are to Christmas.
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  But, you know, it would be really strange if you got an Advent calendar and it didn't have any doors open by this stage in the month.
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  If you had an Advent calendar and you didn't actually bother to eat the chocolates.
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  That would be really odd.
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  Because you would get...
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  I knew somebody who had one like that last year, year before.
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  Halfway through December, there was still no doors that had been opened on the Advent calendar.
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  And I don't get that.
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  Because you get no benefit from the Advent calendar unless you open the doors.
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  And, you know, people are like that with Jesus as well.
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  Particularly at Christmas time.
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  Christmas, we should be remembering Jesus.
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  That he...
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  His birth into the world.
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  It was an amazing event.
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  And the fact that he came to save us.
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  And yet there are people who celebrate Christmas and they forget about Jesus.
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  Now, if you forget about your Advent calendar for a day or two and you miss a few chocolates, that's not going to do you any harm.
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  It might actually do you some good to not eat so much chocolate.
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  But, you know, if we forget about Jesus, that will not be good for us at all.
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  So, I want you, if you have one of these, I want every single day that you open a door to have a chocolate.
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  I want you to remember Jesus.
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  And I want you to remember that Jesus came to save us from our sins.
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  So, every day when you have your chocolate, thank the Lord for Jesus.
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  He came to save you.
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  And I hope and pray that you will grow up to trust and follow him.
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  We'll do the Lord's Prayer together now as a congregation.
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  Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
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  Thy kingdom come.
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  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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  Give us this day our daily bread.
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  And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
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  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
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  Amen.
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  I'm going to sing again now.
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  This time we're singing from Psalm 146 in the Scottish Psalter.
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  You'll find that on page 446.
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  Page 446.
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  Psalm 146.
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  And at verse 5, the top of the page,
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  singing to the end of the psalm.
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  Psalm 146 at verse 5.
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  Oh, happy is that man and blessed,
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  whom Jacob's God doth aid,
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  whose hope upon the Lord doth rest,
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  and on his God is stayed.
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  Psalm 146.
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  We're singing verses 5 to 10 to God's praise.
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  O happy is that man and blessed,
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  whom Jacob's God doth aid,
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  whose hope upon the Lord doth rest,
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  and on his God is stayed.
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  Who made the earth and heavens high,
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  who made the swelling deep,
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  and all the cliffs within the sea,
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  who took the heaven of the Lord doth.
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  Who made the righteous judgment and saviour,
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  for those so blessed that he,
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  who to the hungry giveth food,
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  God sets the listeners free.
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  The Lord doth give the blind their sight,
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  that the legend doth raise.
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  The Lord doth fear the wise,
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  that walk in a bright place.
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  Let stranger's shield the widow's sting,
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  they o'er flat self-esteem,
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  but yet by him the wicked's clay,
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  turned up sight and shall be.
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  The Lord shall reign forevermore,
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  like God, O Zion, he.
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  Praise to all generations,
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  Praise to the Lord give thee.
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  We're going to read God's word now,
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  from the Old Testament,
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  in the book of Ruth.
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  So we're going to Bethlehem this morning,
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  but not for the birth of Jesus,
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  but for the story of one of his ancestors,
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  Ruth, from whom the Messiah was descended.
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  So we're going to read the first chapter of Ruth.
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  The first chapter of Ruth,
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  maybe on page 267 in your Bibles.
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  We'll read the whole of this chapter together.
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  So let's hear God's word.
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  Ruth chapter one.
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  In the days when the judges ruled,
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  there was a famine in the land,
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  and a man of Bethlehem in Judah
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  went to sojourn in the country of Moab,
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  he and his wife and his two sons.
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  The name of the man was Elimelech,
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  and the name of his wife, Naomi,
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  and the name of his two sons
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  were Malon and Kilion.
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  They were Ephratites from Bethlehem in Judah.
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  They went into the country of Moab
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  and remained there.
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  But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died,
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  and she was left with her two sons.
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  These took Moabite wives.
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  The name of one was Orpah
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  and the name of the other Ruth.
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  They lived there about ten years,
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  and both Malon and Kilion died,
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  so that the woman was left
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  without her two sons and her husband.
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  Then she arose with her daughters-in-law
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  to return from the country of Moab,
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  for she had heard in the fields of Moab
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  that the Lord had visited his people
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  and given them food.
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  So she set out from the place where she was
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  with her two daughters-in-law,
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  and they went on the way
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  to return to the land of Judah.
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  But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
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  Go, return each of you to her mother's house.
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  May the Lord deal kindly with you
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  as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
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  The Lord grant that you may find rest
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  each of you in the house of her husband.
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  Then she kissed them,
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  and they lifted up their voices and wept.
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  And they said to her,
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  No, we will return with you to your people.
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  But Naomi said,
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  Turn back, my daughters.
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  Why will you go with me?
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  Have I yet sons in my womb
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  that they may become your husbands?
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  Turn back, my daughters.
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  Go your way.
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  For I am too old to have a husband.
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  If I should say I have hope,
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  even if I should have a husband this night
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  and should bear sons,
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  would you therefore wait till they were grown?
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  Would you therefore refrain from marrying?
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  No, my daughters,
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  for it is exceedingly bitter to me
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  for your sake,
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  that the hand of the Lord
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  has gone out against me.
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  Then they lifted up their voices and wept again.
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  And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law,
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  but Ruth clung to her.
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  And she said,
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  See, your sister-in-law has gone back
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  to her people and her gods.
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  We turn after your sister-in-law.
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  But Ruth said,
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  Do not urge me to leave you
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  or to return from following you,
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  for where you go, I will go,
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  and where you lodge, I will lodge.
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  Your people shall be my people,
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  and your God my God.
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  Where you die, I will die,
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  and there will I be buried.
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  May the Lord do so to me,
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  and more also,
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  if anything but death parts me from you.
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  And when Naomi saw that she was determined
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  to go with her,
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  she said,
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  No more.
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  So the two of them went on
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  until they came to Bethlehem.
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  And when they came to Bethlehem,
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  the whole town was stirred because of them.
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  And the woman said,
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  Is this Naomi?
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  She said to them,
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  Don't call me Naomi.
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  Call me Mara,
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  for the Almighty has dealt
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  very bitterly with me.
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  I went away full,
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  and the Lord has brought me back empty.
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  Why call me Naomi?
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  When the Lord has testified against me,
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  and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me.
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  So Naomi returned,
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  and Ruth the Moabite,
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  her daughter-in-law with her,
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  who returned from the country of Moab,
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  and they came to Bethlehem
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  at the beginning of barley harvest.
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  Amen.
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  This is the word of the Lord,
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  and we trust and we pray
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  that he will follow it with his blessing.
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  Let's just bow our heads once more
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  in a word of prayer.
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  Let's pray.
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  Amen.
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  Lord, we thank you for your word,
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  the Bible,
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  that is just so honest
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  and shares with us
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  the struggles
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  that your people have.
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  Most of us would
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  be fearful of using
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  the kind of words
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  that Naomi used
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  when she said
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  that the Almighty
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  has dealt very bitterly with me.
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  But not only did she say that and more,
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  but the Bible reports it for us,
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  and it doesn't condemn her for it.
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  Lord, her pain is evident,
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  and her pain is understandable.
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  After she had lost so much
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  that was precious to her
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  in the world.
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  And Lord, we want to pray today
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  for those who have pain
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  in their hearts
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  and those who are struggling
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  this morning.
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  We thank you, Lord,
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  that while we can feel powerless
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  to help people very often,
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  we can pray to a God
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  who is able.
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  And so we ask you today, Lord,
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  that you would come alongside
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  those who are struggling.
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  The Bible tells us
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  that those that are broken
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  in their hearts
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  and grieved in their minds,
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  God heals,
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  and their painful wounds
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  he tenderly abides.
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  So, Lord, we ask that you
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  would deal tenderly
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  with all who face
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  challenging situations
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  in their own lives,
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  in their own homes,
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  in their own hearts,
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  in their own families today.
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  We pray, Lord,
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  for those whose turmoil
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  may be in their minds,
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  those who are cast down,
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  those who feel
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  that are in a dark place.
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  Lord, may you shine
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  your light of hope
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  into that darkness
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  and transform their situations,
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  we pray.
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  Bless your word.
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  Bless the gospel today
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  as it is preached
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  up and down our land
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  and to the ends of the earth.
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  We pray, Lord,
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  for the preaching
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  of your word here
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  and in the other churches
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  in the town
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  and throughout this presbytery.
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  We thank you, Lord,
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  that we have a promise
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  that your word
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  will not return to you empty.
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  It will accomplish
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  your purposes.
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  And, Lord,
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  we pray that you would purpose
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  that it would do us good today,
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  that your word
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  would be the means
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  of drawing us
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  closer to yourself.
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  And we pray, Lord,
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  that you would send workers
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  into your harvest field.
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  You've asked us
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  to pray that prayer,
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  to pray for laborers, Lord.
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  And you know
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  that the need is great
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  within this presbytery,
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  within our presbytery
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  in the north
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  and sky in Westeros.
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  Lord,
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  we ask that you
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  would be calling men
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  into ministry
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  and calling others
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  to serve you
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  in different ways
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  and that you, Lord,
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  would provide
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  for the need is great.
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  Bless this congregation.
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  Be with its minister,
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  its office bearers.
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  Be with all those
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  who are members
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  and adherents of it, Lord.
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  Bless the children
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  who've just gone out
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  to Sunday school
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  and creche.
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  And, Lord,
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  we pray that you would be
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  at work in their young lives.
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  Help calm them
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  in all the responsibilities
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  that he bears.
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  Be with himself
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  and Joan
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  and with the family
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  and uphold them, Lord,
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  and equip them
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  for the work, we pray.
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  And bless the congregation
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  in all its efforts
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  to reach out to others.
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  For the Christmas outreach
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  next Saturday
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  and the family service
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  on Sunday,
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  we ask, Lord,
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  that you would be in it
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  and that you would be
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  using these means
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  to draw people
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  to yourself.
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  So bless us now
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  as we turn to your word,
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  as we continue to sing it
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  and as we shortly
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  will study it.
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  We ask, Lord,
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  that you would bring
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  this book alive to us
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  and bring us alive to it.
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  And may your Holy Spirit
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  be our teacher
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  and our guide today
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  and make us willing students
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  of your word,
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  ready to learn from it
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  and to be changed by it.
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  And all of these things
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  we ask, Lord,
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  we ask with the cleansing
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  and the forgiveness
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  of our sins.
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  In Jesus' name.
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  Amen.
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  We're going to sing
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  once more this time
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  from Psalm 55
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  in Sing Psalms.
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  You'll find that
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  on page 71.
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  Sing Psalms 55
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  on page 71.
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  And we're going to sing
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  from the beginning
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  down to the verse
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  marked 8.
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  Page 71.
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  O God,
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  please listen to my prayer.
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  Do not ignore my plea.
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  My anxious thoughts
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  make me distraught.
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  O hear
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  and answer me.
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  Psalm 55.
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  We're going to sing
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  verses 1 to 8
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  to God's praise.
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  O God, please listen to my prayer.
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  Do not ignore my plea.
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  O God, please listen to my prayer.
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  My anxious thoughts
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  make me distraught.
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  O hear and answer me.
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  I'm troubled by the voice of hope.
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  By their malicious fear
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  For they bring suffering to me
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  The hatred I must bear
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  Within the anguish lifts my heart
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  It's ever shot the near
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  I tremble out of dead and fire
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  I know the wealth I fear
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  Though that I lie not on the wings
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  Then I would fly away
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  And be at rest
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  I'd live from here
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  And in the desert stay
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  Then would I do
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  My hiding place
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  Forever you see my fight
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  But from the raging of the storm
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  And from the tempest might
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  As we seek God's help
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  Can we turn back in our Bibles
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  To the passage that we read together
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  In the book of Ruth
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  And we're in chapter 1 today
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  We're looking at most of this chapter
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  But we can read again a verse 21
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  Ruth chapter 1
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  And at verse 21
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  Naomi is speaking
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  And she says this
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  I went away full
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  And the Lord has brought me back empty
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  Why call me Naomi
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  When the Lord has testified against me
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  And the Almighty has brought calamity upon me
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  I went away full
• 25:12
  And the Lord has brought me back empty
• 25:15
  If this first chapter of the book of Ruth
• 25:21
  Were to be made into a film
• 25:22
  It might be called
• 25:24
  Three Funerals
• 25:26
  And a Famine
• 25:27
  It is a chapter filled with hardship
• 25:30
  And with pain
• 25:32
  It's a story of a family going through
• 25:34
  An incredibly challenging
• 25:36
  And sad experience
• 25:40
  But it also reminds us
• 25:42
  That God is interested
• 25:43
  In our families
• 25:45
  The book that comes before it
• 25:47
  The book of Judges
• 25:48
  Gives us an insight into
• 25:50
  The life of the Israelites
• 25:52
  In broad brush strokes
• 25:54
  You could say
• 25:55
  But then when we come into Ruth
• 25:57
  It's as if the camera zooms
• 25:59
  Right in
• 26:00
  To focus on one household
• 26:03
  And one family
• 26:05
  And this particular family
• 26:07
  Is a family that is struggling
• 26:09
  A family that is hurting
• 26:11
  And if the camera were to zoom in
• 26:15
  On your family today
• 26:17
  Might it be a similar picture
• 26:22
  Difficulties
• 26:24
  Trials
• 26:25
  Struggles
• 26:27
  Pain
• 26:28
  But what this book reminds us of
• 26:31
  Is that God knows
• 26:33
  What's going on
• 26:35
  As you read through this chapter
• 26:37
  He ensures that
• 26:39
  The name of every person
• 26:41
  In this family
• 26:42
  Is recorded then
• 26:43
  A reminder that
• 26:45
  God knows each of us by name
• 26:48
  God knows us intimately
• 26:51
  And God knows whatever struggles
• 26:54
  Or hurts
• 26:54
  Or pains
• 26:55
  Or trials
• 26:56
  That you might be experiencing today
• 26:58
  And this book of Ruth
• 27:00
  Also reminds us of this fact
• 27:02
  That the Bible
• 27:03
  Always deals
• 27:04
  With reality
• 27:07
  There's no sugar coating here
• 27:09
  No airbrushing
• 27:11
  Of the fact that
• 27:12
  Life is incredibly tough
• 27:14
  There are times when it's painful
• 27:17
  There are times when it's really sad
• 27:20
  And yet even in the midst
• 27:22
  Of these sad circumstances
• 27:24
  In Ruth chapter 1
• 27:26
  God is at work here
• 27:28
  God's at work
• 27:29
  And the heartwarming
• 27:31
  Aspect of this story
• 27:33
  Is that Ruth
• 27:34
  This complete outsider
• 27:37
  A Moabite
• 27:39
  From among the enemies
• 27:42
  Of God's people
• 27:43
  She comes
• 27:44
  To be
• 27:46
  Attached to the people of God
• 27:49
  And more than that
• 27:51
  She comes to trust
• 27:52
  The Lord
• 27:53
  And even more than that
• 27:55
  The Lord Jesus himself
• 27:57
  Is descended
• 27:59
  From her
• 28:00
  You don't need to read
• 28:01
  Very far
• 28:01
  Into the genealogy
• 28:02
  At the beginning
• 28:03
  Of the New Testament
• 28:05
  In Matthew chapter 1
• 28:07
  To find the name
• 28:09
  Of this outsider
• 28:11
  Ruth
• 28:12
  Amongst the ancestors
• 28:14
  Of Jesus
• 28:16
  So God's great plan
• 28:18
  Of salvation
• 28:19
  For the world
• 28:20
  His plan for the coming
• 28:22
  Of the Messiah
• 28:23
  It's being worked out
• 28:24
  Right here
• 28:25
  In this chapter
• 28:26
  Among the mess
• 28:28
  And the misery
• 28:29
  Ruth
• 28:31
  Is one of only two women
• 28:34
  Who have a book
• 28:35
  Of the Bible
• 28:36
  Named after them
• 28:37
  The other is
• 28:37
  Esther
• 28:38
  And they're two
• 28:39
  Very different people
• 28:41
  Esther was a queen
• 28:42
  Who lived in a palace
• 28:44
  Ruth was a peasant
• 28:46
  Who lived
• 28:48
  In poverty
• 28:49
  Massively different
• 28:52
  Circumstances
• 28:53
  Opposite ends
• 28:54
  Of the social spectrum
• 28:55
  And yet God cared
• 28:57
  For both of them
• 28:59
  So today
• 29:00
  We're just going to study
• 29:01
  This first chapter
• 29:02
  In the book of Ruth
• 29:03
  You need to go home
• 29:05
  And read the rest
• 29:06
  Of the story
• 29:06
  You may already
• 29:07
  Be familiar with it
• 29:08
  Maybe you're not
• 29:08
  But in this first chapter
• 29:10
  The focus is actually
• 29:12
  More on Naomi
• 29:13
  Than it is on Ruth
• 29:15
  So we'll spend a little
• 29:16
  Of our time
• 29:17
  Talking about Ruth
• 29:17
  But most of our time
• 29:19
  Will be focused
• 29:20
  On Naomi
• 29:22
  So I want to look at this
• 29:23
  Under four headings
• 29:24
  This morning
• 29:25
  First of all
• 29:27
  The problem
• 29:27
  This famine
• 29:29
  That caused them
• 29:30
  To have to leave
• 29:31
  Their homes
• 29:31
  The problem
• 29:31
  And then the parting
• 29:33
  There are several
• 29:35
  Partings
• 29:35
  Bereavements
• 29:36
  In this chapter
• 29:37
  And then thirdly
• 29:39
  The pledge
• 29:39
  We'll look at Ruth
• 29:40
  As she pledges
• 29:42
  Herself to Naomi
• 29:44
  And to her people
• 29:45
  And to her God
• 29:46
  The pledge
• 29:47
  And then finally
• 29:48
  The poverty
• 29:49
  From the verse
• 29:51
  That we took
• 29:51
  As our text
• 29:52
  Where Naomi
• 29:53
  Talks about
• 29:54
  Going out full
• 29:55
  And coming back
• 29:57
  Empty
• 29:57
  So we'll break it up
• 29:58
  Into these four sections
• 29:59
  And we'll work our way
• 30:00
  Through the chapter
• 30:01
  The problem
• 30:02
  The parting
• 30:02
  The pledge
• 30:04
  And the poverty
• 30:05
  So let's begin
• 30:06
  With the problem
• 30:08
  What is the problem here
• 30:09
  Well verse 1
• 30:10
  Sets the scene
• 30:12
  For us
• 30:12
  By telling us
• 30:13
  That this took place
• 30:14
  In the days
• 30:15
  When the judges ruled
• 30:17
  And that immediately
• 30:19
  Alerts us to the fact
• 30:20
  That these were dark
• 30:21
  And difficult days
• 30:23
  In Israel
• 30:24
  We know that
• 30:25
  Because you only have
• 30:26
  To look across the page
• 30:27
  To the end
• 30:28
  Of the book of Judges
• 30:29
  To find out
• 30:30
  What these days
• 30:31
  Were like
• 30:32
  The closing verse
• 30:33
  Of the book of Judges
• 30:34
  Says in those days
• 30:35
  There was no king
• 30:36
  In Israel
• 30:36
  Everyone did
• 30:38
  What was right
• 30:39
  In his own eyes
• 30:41
  There was no leadership
• 30:43
  And the people
• 30:45
  Had drifted away
• 30:46
  From the faith
• 30:47
  And then the next thing
• 30:49
  You find out
• 30:50
  In Ruth chapter 1
• 30:52
  It's also something
• 30:54
  That should surprise us
• 30:55
  That is that
• 30:55
  There was famine
• 30:56
  In Bethlehem
• 30:57
  Because the very name
• 30:59
  Bethlehem
• 31:00
  It means house of bread
• 31:01
  And it was given
• 31:03
  Part of the reason
• 31:04
  It was given that name
• 31:05
  Was it was a fertile place
• 31:06
  So it was unusual
• 31:08
  To have famine
• 31:10
  In Bethlehem
• 31:11
  And then we meet
• 31:13
  The family
• 31:14
  In verse 2
• 31:16
  All of them are named
• 31:18
  And we're told
• 31:20
  That they decide
• 31:20
  To go to Moab
• 31:22
  For a while
• 31:25
  Verse 1 uses
• 31:26
  The word soldier
• 31:28
  Which just means
• 31:29
  A short trip
• 31:32
  But clearly
• 31:34
  The situation changes
• 31:35
  Because by the end
• 31:35
  Of verse 2
• 31:36
  We're told that
• 31:36
  They remained there
• 31:39
  So the plan
• 31:40
  Has changed
• 31:41
  They're going to go
• 31:41
  For a time
• 31:42
  Because there's famine
• 31:43
  But they end up
• 31:44
  Staying there
• 31:45
  Now going to Moab
• 31:46
  Is a strange choice
• 31:47
  Of place
• 31:48
  To go
• 31:49
  Because Moab
• 31:52
  Was enemy territory
• 31:53
  The Moabites
• 31:54
  Were enemies
• 31:55
  Of the people
• 31:56
  Of God
• 31:57
  If you read
• 31:59
  Through the book
• 32:00
  Of Judges
• 32:00
  You'll find that
• 32:01
  Moab
• 32:01
  Had attacked
• 32:02
  And subdued Israel
• 32:04
  Ruled over them
• 32:05
  For 18 years
• 32:06
  So it's an odd
• 32:08
  Place
• 32:08
  To go
• 32:09
  It's even worth
• 32:11
  Bearing in mind
• 32:12
  Where Moab
• 32:13
  Came from
• 32:14
  The Moabites
• 32:17
  Were descended
• 32:18
  From Lot
• 32:19
  From that
• 32:20
  Incestuous
• 32:22
  Encounter
• 32:23
  He had
• 32:24
  With his own
• 32:24
  Daughter
• 32:25
  When he got
• 32:26
  Drunk
• 32:27
  And one of
• 32:28
  The children
• 32:29
  Born
• 32:30
  Was called
• 32:31
  Moab
• 32:31
  The Moabites
• 32:33
  Came from there
• 32:33
  And they were
• 32:34
  Long term
• 32:36
  Enemies
• 32:36
  Of the people
• 32:37
  Of God
• 32:38
  And it's just
• 32:39
  A reminder to us
• 32:40
  That sin
• 32:41
  Has long
• 32:41
  Lasting
• 32:42
  Consequences
• 32:43
  Decades
• 32:45
  And decades
• 32:46
  And decades
• 32:47
  Later
• 32:47
  The Moabites
• 32:48
  Were a thorn
• 32:49
  In the side
• 32:50
  Of God's
• 32:51
  People
• 32:52
  We meet
• 32:54
  Elimelech
• 32:55
  He's the head
• 32:56
  Of this home
• 32:56
  His name
• 32:57
  Means my God
• 32:58
  As king
• 32:58
  Although
• 33:01
  Some will
• 33:02
  Suggest that
• 33:03
  He's not
• 33:03
  Really living
• 33:04
  Up to his
• 33:05
  Name
• 33:05
  If he's
• 33:07
  Leaving Bethlehem
• 33:08
  The house
• 33:08
  Of bread
• 33:09
  Where God
• 33:10
  Has blessed
• 33:10
  Them
• 33:10
  To go
• 33:12
  To enemy
• 33:13
  Territory
• 33:14
  To Moab
• 33:15
  Well maybe
• 33:18
  That's the case
• 33:19
  The passage
• 33:19
  Doesn't say
• 33:20
  So it doesn't
• 33:21
  Say that he
• 33:22
  Was wrong
• 33:22
  To go
• 33:23
  Should Elimelech
• 33:24
  Have stayed
• 33:25
  In Bethlehem
• 33:27
  Even when
• 33:28
  There was famine
• 33:29
  Would you
• 33:31
  Have
• 33:31
  It is hard
• 33:33
  To study this
• 33:34
  Chapter and
• 33:35
  Study this book
• 33:35
  Without forming
• 33:36
  A view
• 33:37
  Over whether
• 33:38
  He was wrong
• 33:39
  To go
• 33:39
  Or not
• 33:41
  But more
• 33:41
  Important
• 33:42
  Than what
• 33:43
  We think
• 33:44
  Of his
• 33:45
  Decision
• 33:45
  Is how
• 33:47
  We respond
• 33:48
  When trials
• 33:50
  And difficulties
• 33:51
  And challenging
• 33:53
  Circumstances
• 33:54
  Face us
• 33:54
  There are three
• 33:55
  Main options
• 33:56
  That are open
• 33:57
  To you
• 33:58
  When life
• 33:59
  Gets difficult
• 33:59
  Escape
• 34:01
  Try and run
• 34:03
  From it
• 34:03
  Endure
• 34:05
  Simply put up
• 34:08
  With it in some
• 34:08
  Stoic kind
• 34:10
  Of way
• 34:10
  Or embrace
• 34:12
  It
• 34:13
  See it as
• 34:14
  Part of God's
• 34:16
  Plan for your
• 34:16
  Life
• 34:17
  Now
• 34:17
  Embrace might
• 34:18
  Be too strong
• 34:19
  A word
• 34:20
  I used it
• 34:21
  Obviously
• 34:21
  Because the
• 34:21
  Other two
• 34:22
  Were ease
• 34:22
  But just
• 34:24
  Simply
• 34:25
  Accepting
• 34:26
  This is what
• 34:27
  God has
• 34:28
  For me
• 34:28
  Just now
• 34:29
  That is how
• 34:31
  We should
• 34:31
  Deal
• 34:31
  With our
• 34:33
  Trials
• 34:34
  But I'm not
• 34:35
  Saying it's
• 34:35
  Easy to do
• 34:36
  So
• 34:36
  It wasn't
• 34:38
  Easy for Elimelech
• 34:38
  He took the
• 34:39
  Other option
• 34:39
  He went
• 34:40
  For the
• 34:40
  Escape
• 34:41
  Route
• 34:41
  But that's
• 34:42
  The problem
• 34:43
  That he
• 34:43
  Faced
• 34:43
  There was
• 34:43
  Famine
• 34:44
  And he
• 34:45
  Had a
• 34:45
  Family
• 34:46
  Who were
• 34:47
  Hungry
• 34:47
  So that's
• 34:48
  Our first
• 34:48
  Point today
• 34:49
  The problem
• 34:49
  Life was
• 34:50
  Incredibly
• 34:50
  Difficult
• 34:51
  For this
• 34:52
  Family
• 34:53
  But we're
• 34:54
  Going to
• 34:54
  Look secondly
• 34:55
  At the
• 34:55
  Parting
• 34:56
  Life
• 34:57
  Wasn't
• 34:58
  Going to
• 34:58
  Get
• 34:58
  Easier
• 34:58
  By taking
• 34:59
  The escape
• 35:00
  Route
• 35:01
  The very
• 35:02
  Next thing
• 35:02
  We're told
• 35:03
  After we
• 35:04
  Read that
• 35:04
  They go to
• 35:05
  Moab
• 35:05
  Is that
• 35:06
  Elimelech
• 35:07
  Died
• 35:07
  How tough
• 35:10
  Was that
• 35:10
  They're in a
• 35:12
  New place
• 35:13
  Unfamiliar
• 35:14
  Territory
• 35:14
  And the
• 35:16
  Head of the
• 35:16
  Home is
• 35:17
  Gone
• 35:17
  Now
• 35:19
  There must
• 35:20
  Have been
• 35:20
  Some good
• 35:21
  Times in
• 35:21
  Moab as
• 35:22
  Well because
• 35:22
  They celebrated
• 35:23
  Two weddings
• 35:24
  While they
• 35:24
  Were there
• 35:25
  The two
• 35:25
  Boys
• 35:25
  Marlon
• 35:26
  And
• 35:26
  Killian
• 35:26
  Found
• 35:26
  Wives
• 35:27
  And got
• 35:27
  Married
• 35:27
  But clearly
• 35:29
  The good
• 35:31
  Times were
• 35:31
  Short lived
• 35:32
  Within ten
• 35:34
  Years
• 35:35
  It had all
• 35:36
  Fallen
• 35:37
  Apart
• 35:37
  And I've
• 35:39
  Called the
• 35:39
  Second point
• 35:40
  The parting
• 35:40
  Because there
• 35:41
  Are repeated
• 35:42
  Partings
• 35:43
  If you look
• 35:44
  At verse
• 35:44
  Five
• 35:44
  It says
• 35:45
  The woman
• 35:45
  Was left
• 35:46
  Without
• 35:47
  Her two
• 35:48
  Sons
• 35:48
  And her
• 35:50
  Husband
• 35:51
  It's just
• 35:54
  A few
• 35:54
  Verses
• 35:55
  And everything
• 35:56
  Changed
• 35:57
  Everything
• 35:58
  Changed
• 35:59
  First there's
• 35:59
  One widow
• 36:00
  Then there's
• 36:02
  Two widows
• 36:02
  And then there's
• 36:04
  Three widows
• 36:04
  And you know
• 36:06
  It's easy to
• 36:07
  Suggest
• 36:08
  Maybe even
• 36:09
  Tempting
• 36:10
  To conclude
• 36:11
  That they
• 36:13
  Must have
• 36:13
  Been wrong
• 36:13
  To go
• 36:14
  If it all
• 36:16
  Went
• 36:16
  So
• 36:17
  Pearship
• 36:17
  But we
• 36:19
  Need to
• 36:20
  Be careful
• 36:20
  We need
• 36:21
  To be careful
• 36:21
  In forming
• 36:22
  That kind
• 36:22
  Of view
• 36:23
  Because
• 36:24
  The bible
• 36:25
  Doesn't say
• 36:26
  So
• 36:26
  What we
• 36:28
  Can say
• 36:28
  With certainty
• 36:30
  Is that
• 36:30
  Naomi
• 36:31
  Believed
• 36:32
  That this
• 36:34
  Was
• 36:34
  God's
• 36:35
  Chastisement
• 36:36
  For something
• 36:38
  Wrong
• 36:39
  In her
• 36:40
  Life
• 36:40
  So you'll
• 36:41
  Notice
• 36:41
  That in a
• 36:42
  Few verses
• 36:42
  So say
• 36:43
  At the end
• 36:44
  Of verse
• 36:44
  Thirteen
• 36:45
  She says
• 36:48
  It's exceedingly
• 36:49
  Bitter for
• 36:49
  Me
• 36:49
  For your
• 36:50
  Sake
• 36:51
  That the
• 36:51
  Hand of
• 36:52
  The lord
• 36:52
  Has gone
• 36:52
  Out against
• 36:53
  Me
• 36:53
  God's
• 36:55
  Against
• 36:56
  Her
• 36:56
  She says
• 36:57
  And then
• 36:57
  Look at
• 36:58
  Verse
• 36:58
  Twenty
• 36:58
  One
• 36:59
  Middle of
• 37:02
  The
• 37:02
  Verse
• 37:03
  Towards the
• 37:03
  End of
• 37:03
  The
• 37:03
  Verse
• 37:03
  Why call
• 37:04
  Me
• 37:04
  Naomi
• 37:04
  When
• 37:04
  The lord
• 37:05
  Has
• 37:05
  Testified
• 37:06
  Against
• 37:07
  Me
• 37:07
  The lord
• 37:12
  Has testified
• 37:13
  Against
• 37:14
  Me
• 37:14
  She's
• 37:14
  Saying
• 37:14
  God
• 37:15
  Has
• 37:15
  Some
• 37:15
  Evidence
• 37:16
  Against
• 37:18
  Me
• 37:19
  And that's
• 37:20
  Why she
• 37:20
  Believes
• 37:20
  Everything's
• 37:21
  Gone
• 37:21
  So
• 37:22
  Pearship
• 37:23
  Why she's
• 37:23
  Had so
• 37:23
  Much
• 37:24
  Trouble
• 37:24
  Now
• 37:25
  Maybe
• 37:26
  She's
• 37:26
  Right
• 37:26
  Maybe
• 37:27
  She's
• 37:27
  Right
• 37:28
  But even
• 37:28
  If she
• 37:29
  Is
• 37:29
  Even
• 37:29
  If
• 37:29
  This
• 37:30
  Is
• 37:30
  And
• 37:30
  This
• 37:31
  Is
• 37:31
  Just
• 37:31
  Her
• 37:31
  View
• 37:31
  Okay
• 37:32
  This
• 37:32
  Is
• 37:32
  Not
• 37:32
  Scripture
• 37:32
  That's
• 37:33
  Saying
• 37:33
  This
• 37:34
  Is
• 37:34
  A
• 37:34
  Chastisement
• 37:34
  From
• 37:34
  God
• 37:35
  This
• 37:35
  Is
• 37:35
  Just
• 37:35
  Naomi's
• 37:36
  !
• 37:36
  Conclusion
• 37:36
  !
• 37:37
  But even
• 37:37
  If she's
• 37:38
  Right
• 37:38
  That this
• 37:38
  Is
• 37:39
  A
• 37:39
  Chastisement
• 37:39
  From
• 37:40
  God
• 37:40
  For
• 37:41
  Some
• 37:41
  Wrongdoing
• 37:42
  In
• 37:42
  Her
• 37:42
  Life
• 37:42
  We
• 37:43
  Can't
• 37:43
  Be
• 37:44
  Sure
• 37:44
  What
• 37:44
  Wrong
• 37:44
  What
• 37:45
  It
• 37:45
  Is
• 37:45
  That
• 37:45
  She
• 37:46
  Did
• 37:46
  Wrong
• 37:46
  Was
• 37:47
  It
• 37:47
  The
• 37:47
  Fact
• 37:48
  That
• 37:48
  The
• 37:48
  Family
• 37:48
  Left
• 37:49
  Bethlehem
• 37:50
  When
• 37:50
  They
• 37:50
  Ought
• 37:50
  Not
• 37:51
  To
• 37:51
  And
• 37:51
  Went
• 37:51
  To
• 37:51
  An
• 37:51
  Enemy
• 37:52
  Country
• 37:52
  Was
• 37:53
  It
• 37:53
  The
• 37:53
  Fact
• 37:53
  That
• 37:53
  She
• 37:54
  Allowed
• 37:55
  Her
• 37:55
  Sons
• 37:56
  To
• 37:56
  Marry
• 37:56
  Heath
• 37:57
  And
• 37:57
  Wives
• 37:58
  From
• 37:58
  Moab
• 37:58
  Was
• 37:59
  It
• 38:00
  Something
• 38:00
  Else
• 38:00
  All
• 38:00
  Together
• 38:00
  Or
• 38:02
  Was
• 38:02
  It
• 38:03
  None
• 38:03
  Of
• 38:03
  These
• 38:03
  Was
• 38:04
  She
• 38:05
  Just
• 38:05
  Misled
• 38:06
  In
• 38:07
  Thinking
• 38:08
  That
• 38:08
  This
• 38:08
  Was
• 38:09
  A
• 38:09
  Punishment
• 38:09
  Or
• 38:10
  A
• 38:11
  Chastisement
• 38:12
  Of
• 38:12
  Some
• 38:13
  Sort
• 38:13
  We
• 38:13
  Don't
• 38:14
  Know
• 38:14
  There's
• 38:14
  Lots
• 38:14
  Of
• 38:14
  Things
• 38:15
  We
• 38:15
  Don't
• 38:15
  Know
• 38:15
  What
• 38:16
  We
• 38:16
  Do
• 38:16
  Know
• 38:16
  Is
• 38:17
  That
• 38:17
  We
• 38:17
  Are
• 38:17
  Looking
• 38:18
  At
• 38:18
  A
• 38:18
  Woman
• 38:18
  In
• 38:19
  Turmoil
• 38:20
  !
• 38:30
  Hard
• 38:30
  For
• 38:30
  Her
• 38:31
  To
• 38:31
  Think
• 38:31
  Straight
• 38:32
  Maybe
• 38:34
  You
• 38:34
  Know
• 38:34
  What
• 38:34
  That's
• 38:35
  Like
• 38:35
  When
• 38:36
  You
• 38:36
  Go
• 38:36
  Through
• 38:37
  Circumstances
• 38:37
  Like
• 38:38
  This
• 38:38
  You
• 38:38
  Can't
• 38:39
  Think
• 38:39
  Straight
• 38:40
  The
• 38:41
  Following
• 38:41
  Verses
• 38:41
  They
• 38:42
  Show
• 38:42
  Us
• 38:42
  That
• 38:42
  Naomi
• 38:43
  Is
• 38:43
  All
• 38:43
  Over
• 38:43
  The
• 38:44
  Place
• 38:44
  Because
• 38:44
  She
• 38:44
  Decides
• 38:45
  To
• 38:45
  Go
• 38:45
  Back
• 38:47
  To
• 38:47
  Bethlehem
• 38:48
  With
• 38:48
  Her
• 38:48
  Two
• 38:49
  Daughters
• 38:49
  In
• 38:50
  Law
• 38:50
  And
• 38:51
  Then
• 38:51
  At
• 38:51
  Some
• 38:52
  Point
• 38:52
  On
• 38:52
  The
• 38:52
  Way
• 38:52
  She
• 38:53
  Decides
• 38:54
  No
• 38:54
  Maybe
• 38:54
  They
• 38:54
  Should
• 38:55
  Go
• 38:55
  They
• 38:55
  Should
• 38:56
  Go
• 38:56
  !
• 38:56
  She
• 38:56
  Tells
• 38:57
  Them
• 38:57
  To
• 38:57
  Go
• 38:57
  Back
• 38:58
  And
• 38:59
  She
• 39:00
  She
• 39:01
  Is
• 39:01
  At
• 39:01
  One
• 39:01
  Point
• 39:01
  Praying
• 39:02
  That
• 39:02
  The
• 39:02
  Lord
• 39:02
  Will
• 39:03
  Bless
• 39:03
  Them
• 39:03
  And
• 39:04
  Then
• 39:05
  In
• 39:05
  Another
• 39:05
  Moment
• 39:06
  She
• 39:06
  Telling
• 39:06
  Them
• 39:06
  Go
• 39:06
  Back
• 39:07
  To
• 39:07
  Your
• 39:07
  Own
• 39:07
  Gods
• 39:07
  This
• 39:09
  Is
• 39:09
  A
• 39:09
  Woman
• 39:09
  Who
• 39:09
  Is
• 39:09
  Deeply
• 39:10
  Confused
• 39:11
  Notice
• 39:12
  Her
• 39:12
  Prayer
• 39:13
  Or
• 39:13
  At
• 39:14
  Least
• 39:14
  It's
• 39:14
  A
• 39:14
  Desire
• 39:15
  For
• 39:15
  God's
• 39:15
  Blessing
• 39:15
  Verses
• 39:16
  8
• 39:16
  And
• 39:16
  9
• 39:16
  Naomi
• 39:18
  said
• 39:19
  To
• 39:19
  Her
• 39:19
  Two
• 39:19
  Daughters
• 39:19
  Go
• 39:20
  Return
• 39:20
  Each
• 39:20
  Of
• 39:21
  To
• 39:26
  She
• 39:33
  Is
• 39:33
  Asking
• 39:33
  God's
• 39:33
  Blessing
• 39:34
  On
• 39:35
  Them
• 39:35
  One
• 39:36
  Moment
• 39:36
  And
• 39:37
  Then
• 39:37
  Not
• 39:38
  Long
• 39:38
  After
• 39:38
  That
• 39:39
  She
• 39:39
  Is
• 39:39
  Telling
• 39:39
  Them
• 39:39
  Go
• 39:40
  Back
• 39:40
  To
• 39:40
  Your
• 39:40
  Own
• 39:40
  Gods
• 39:41
  Verse
• 39:41
  15
• 39:42
  She
• 39:43
  Said
• 39:43
  See
• 39:43
  Your
• 39:43
  Sister
• 39:43
  In
• 39:44
  Law
• 39:44
  Is
• 39:44
  Going
• 39:44
  Back
• 39:44
  To
• 39:44
  Her
• 39:44
  People
• 39:45
  And
• 39:45
  To
• 39:45
  Her
• 39:45
  Gods
• 39:45
  Return
• 39:46
  After
• 39:47
  Your
• 39:48
  Sister
• 39:48
  In
• 39:49
  Law
• 39:49
  If
• 39:53
  You
• 39:53
  Want
• 39:53
  To
• 39:53
  Be
• 39:53
  Whether
• 39:54
  You
• 39:54
  Want
• 39:54
  To
• 39:54
  Be
• 39:54
  Sympathetic
• 39:55
  With
• 39:56
  Naomi
• 39:56
  Or
• 39:57
  You
• 39:57
  Want
• 39:57
  To
• 39:58
  Criticize
• 39:58
  Naomi
• 39:59
  You
• 40:00
  Could
• 40:00
  Find
• 40:00
  A
• 40:00
  Verse
• 40:00
  To
• 40:01
  Support
• 40:01
  Your
• 40:01
  Argument
• 40:02
  And
• 40:03
  What
• 40:03
  We
• 40:04
  Actually
• 40:04
  See
• 40:04
  From
• 40:04
  This
• 40:04
  Is
• 40:04
  This
• 40:05
  Is
• 40:05
  A
• 40:05
  Woman
• 40:05
  Who
• 40:06
  Is
• 40:06
  In
• 40:06
  Torment
• 40:07
  Who
• 40:07
  Is
• 40:07
  In
• 40:07
  Turmoil
• 40:08
  !
• 40:09
  And
• 40:09
  No
• 40:09
  Wonder
• 40:09
  Berement
• 40:11
  Is
• 40:11
  Painful
• 40:12
  And
• 40:13
  One
• 40:13
  After
• 40:14
  Another
• 40:14
  After
• 40:14
  Another
• 40:15
  Incredibly
• 40:16
  So
• 40:17
  Naomi
• 40:18
  Has
• 40:18
  Been
• 40:18
  Parted
• 40:19
  From
• 40:19
  Three
• 40:20
  People
• 40:21
  Who
• 40:21
  Were
• 40:21
  Precious
• 40:22
  To
• 40:22
  Her
• 40:23
  In
• 40:24
  Just
• 40:24
  One
• 40:24
  Decade
• 40:25
  Of
• 40:25
  Disaster
• 40:26
  And
• 40:28
  Now
• 40:28
  We
• 40:28
  See
• 40:28
  Her
• 40:28
  And
• 40:28
  She's
• 40:29
  All
• 40:29
  Over
• 40:29
  The
• 40:29
  Place
• 40:29
  So
• 40:31
  That's
• 40:31
  Our
• 40:31
  Second
• 40:32
  Point
• 40:32
  To
• 40:32
  The
• 40:32
  Parting
• 40:33
  The
• 40:33
  Parting
• 40:34
  There
• 40:34
  Were
• 40:34
  Several
• 40:35
  Partings
• 40:35
  Here
• 40:36
  So
• 40:37
  We
• 40:37
  Looked
• 40:37
  At
• 40:37
  The
• 40:37
  Problem
• 40:37
  We
• 40:38
  Looked
• 40:38
  At
• 40:38
  The
• 40:38
  Parting
• 40:38
  I
• 40:38
  Want
• 40:39
  To
• 40:39
  Come
• 40:39
  Now
• 40:39
  And
• 40:39
  Think
• 40:39
  About
• 40:39
  The
• 40:40
  Pledge
• 40:40
  The
• 40:41
  Pledge
• 40:41
  From
• 40:42
  Verse
• 40:42
  !
• 40:49
  Takes
• 40:49
  Its
• 40:50
  Name
• 40:50
  And
• 40:58
  Ruth
• 40:58
  Refuses
• 40:59
  To
• 40:59
  Stay
• 41:00
  In
• 41:00
  Moab
• 41:00
  Even
• 41:01
  Though
• 41:01
  Her
• 41:01
  Sister
• 41:01
  In
• 41:02
  Law
• 41:02
  Orpah
• 41:02
  Has
• 41:03
  Decided
• 41:03
  To
• 41:04
  Go
• 41:04
  Back
• 41:05
  And
• 41:05
  She
• 41:05
  Makes
• 41:05
  This
• 41:05
  Impassioned
• 41:06
  Plea
• 41:06
  To
• 41:07
  Naomi
• 41:07
  That
• 41:08
  She
• 41:08
  Really
• 41:09
  Must
• 41:09
  Go
• 41:09
  With
• 41:09
  Her
• 41:09
  You'll
• 41:10
  See
• 41:10
  It
• 41:10
  In
• 41:10
  Verse
• 41:10
  16
• 41:11
  And
• 41:11
  17
• 41:12
  And
• 41:12
  As
• 41:13
  You
• 41:13
  Read
• 41:13
  These
• 41:13
  Verses
• 41:13
  You'll
• 41:14
  See
• 41:14
  That
• 41:14
  This
• 41:14
  Is
• 41:14
  A
• 41:14
  Professional
• 41:15
  !
• 41:15
  Faith!
• 41:17
  She's
• 41:17
  Come
• 41:17
  To
• 41:18
  Trust
• 41:18
  The
• 41:19
  Lord!
• 41:19
  Let
• 41:19
  Me
• 41:19
  Read
• 41:20
  16
• 41:20
  And
• 41:20
  17
• 41:20
  But
• 41:21
  Ruth
• 41:21
  Said
• 41:21
  Do
• 41:23
  Not
• 41:23
  Urge
• 41:23
  Me
• 41:23
  To
• 41:23
  Leave
• 41:33
  I
• 41:34
  Will
• 41:34
  Die
• 41:34
  And
• 41:34
  There
• 41:34
  Will
• 41:35
  I
• 41:35
  Be
• 41:35
  Buried
• 41:35
  May
• 41:36
  The
• 41:36
  Lord
• 41:36
  Do
• 41:36
  So
• 41:37
  To
• 41:37
  Me
• 41:37
  And
• 41:37
  More
• 41:37
  Also
• 41:38
  If
• 41:38
  Anything
• 41:38
  But
• 41:38
  Death
• 41:39
  Parts
• 41:39
  Me
• 41:39
  From
• 41:40
  You
• 41:40
  This
• 41:41
  Is
• 41:41
  It's
• 41:42
  More
• 41:42
  Than
• 41:42
  Just
• 41:42
  A
• 41:42
  Commitment
• 41:43
  To
• 41:44
  Israelite
• 41:44
  Religion
• 41:45
  In
• 41:48
  Verse
• 41:48
  17
• 41:48
  She
• 41:48
  Calls
• 41:49
  God
• 41:49
  The
• 41:50
  Lord
• 41:50
  The
• 41:51
  Hebrew
• 41:51
  Name
• 41:52
  Yahweh
• 41:52
  Which
• 41:53
  Is
• 41:54
  Covenant
• 41:55
  People
• 41:56
  The name
• 41:57
  That
• 41:57
  The
• 41:57
  Covenant
• 41:57
  People
• 41:58
  Would
• 41:58
  Use
• 41:59
  This
• 41:59
  Is
• 41:59
  Her
• 42:00
  Showing
• 42:01
  Her
• 42:01
  Allegiance
• 42:02
  To
• 42:03
  The
• 42:03
  Lord
• 42:03
  And
• 42:04
  You
• 42:04
  Have
• 42:04
  To
• 42:05
  Ask
• 42:05
  How
• 42:05
  Did
• 42:06
  That
• 42:06
  Happen
• 42:07
  Here
• 42:07
  Is
• 42:07
  A
• 42:07
  Woman
• 42:07
  Brought
• 42:08
  Up
• 42:08
  Steeped
• 42:09
  In
• 42:09
  Idolatry
• 42:10
  The
• 42:10
  Moabites
• 42:11
  Worshipped
• 42:11
  Chemosh
• 42:12
  One
• 42:12
  Of
• 42:13
  The
• 42:13
  Worst
• 42:13
  Idols
• 42:14
  One
• 42:14
  Who
• 42:14
  Accepted
• 42:15
  Human
• 42:15
  Sacrifice
• 42:16
  That's
• 42:16
  How
• 42:16
  This
• 42:16
  Woman
• 42:17
  Was
• 42:17
  Brought
• 42:17
  Up
• 42:17
  Steeped
• 42:19
  In
• 42:19
  Idolatry
• 42:20
  How
• 42:21
  Is
• 42:21
  It
• 42:22
  That
• 42:22
  She
• 42:22
  Come
• 42:22
  To
• 42:23
  Trust
• 42:23
  The
• 42:24
  Lord
• 42:24
  Well
• 42:24
  Conversion
• 42:25
  Is
• 42:26
  Always
• 42:26
  A
• 42:26
  Work
• 42:26
  Of
• 42:27
  God
• 42:27
  God
• 42:27
  Alone
• 42:27
  Can
• 42:27
  Do
• 42:33
  Circumstances
• 42:34
  You
• 42:34
  Might
• 42:34
  Think
• 42:35
  That
• 42:35
  The
• 42:35
  Loss
• 42:36
  Of
• 42:36
  Her
• 42:36
  Husband
• 42:36
  Might
• 42:36
  Have
• 42:36
  Had
• 42:36
  The
• 42:37
  Opposite
• 42:37
  Effect
• 42:37
  Might
• 42:39
  Have
• 42:39
  Driven
• 42:40
  Her
• 42:40
  Away
• 42:40
  From
• 42:40
  Any
• 42:41
  Thought
• 42:41
  She
• 42:41
  Might
• 42:41
  Be
• 42:42
  Having
• 42:42
  About
• 42:42
  God
• 42:42
  And
• 42:44
  Yet
• 42:44
  It's
• 42:44
  Quite
• 42:46
  Possible
• 42:47
  That
• 42:48
  It
• 42:48
  Was
• 42:49
  Standing
• 42:49
  At
• 42:50
  The
• 42:50
  Graveside
• 42:51
  Of
• 42:51
  Her
• 42:51
  Husband
• 42:52
  That
• 42:53
  Ruth
• 42:54
  Realized
• 42:54
  There
• 42:56
  Must
• 42:56
  Be
• 42:56
  More
• 42:57
  To
• 42:57
  Life
• 42:57
  Than
• 42:58
  This
• 42:58
  You
• 43:00
  Know
• 43:00
  It's
• 43:00
  Not
• 43:00
  Uncommon
• 43:01
  For
• 43:02
  Beream
• 43:02
  To
• 43:03
  Bring
• 43:03
  Us
• 43:03
  Face
• 43:04
  To
• 43:04
  Face
• 43:05
  With
• 43:06
  The
• 43:06
  Realization
• 43:07
  That
• 43:08
  We
• 43:08
  Need
• 43:08
  God
• 43:09
  Ruth
• 43:10
  Lost
• 43:11
  Her
• 43:11
  Husband
• 43:11
  She
• 43:12
  Lost
• 43:12
  Her
• 43:13
  Father
• 43:13
  In
• 43:13
  Law
• 43:13
  She
• 43:14
  Lost
• 43:14
  Her
• 43:15
  Brother
• 43:15
  In
• 43:15
  Law
• 43:15
  And
• 43:16
  Yet
• 43:17
  It's
• 43:17
  To
• 43:17
  God
• 43:18
  That
• 43:19
  She
• 43:19
  Turns
• 43:19
  In
• 43:20
  The
• 43:21
  Middle
• 43:21
  Of
• 43:21
  Her
• 43:21
  Pain
• 43:22
  It's
• 43:23
  To
• 43:23
  God
• 43:23
  That
• 43:24
  She
• 43:24
  Turns
• 43:25
  And
• 43:26
  Here
• 43:26
  She
• 43:26
  Is
• 43:26
  Professing
• 43:27
  Her
• 43:27
  Faith
• 43:27
  And
• 43:27
  There's
• 43:28
  Nothing
• 43:28
  More
• 43:29
  Wonderful
• 43:29
  Than
• 43:29
  Hearing
• 43:30
  Someone
• 43:31
  Say
• 43:31
  That
• 43:32
  For
• 43:33
  The
• 43:33
  First
• 43:33
  Time
• 43:34
  I'm
• 43:34
  Trusting
• 43:34
  The
• 43:34
  Lord
• 43:35
  I'm
• 43:36
  Trusting
• 43:36
  The
• 43:36
  Lord
• 43:37
  But
• 43:38
  I want
• 43:39
  You
• 43:39
  To
• 43:39
  Notice
• 43:42
  And
• 43:42
  That
• 43:43
  Is
• 43:43
  That
• 43:43
  In
• 43:43
  The
• 43:44
  Same
• 43:44
  Sentence
• 43:45
  That
• 43:45
  Ruth
• 43:45
  Commits
• 43:47
  Herself
• 43:47
  To
• 43:47
  The
• 43:47
  Lord
• 43:48
  She
• 43:48
  Also
• 43:49
  Commits
• 43:49
  Herself
• 43:50
  To
• 43:50
  The
• 43:50
  Lord's
• 43:50
  People
• 43:51
  Verse
• 43:52
  16
• 43:52
  At
• 43:52
  The
• 43:53
  End
• 43:53
  Your
• 43:53
  People
• 43:54
  Shall
• 43:55
  Be
• 43:55
  My
• 43:55
  People
• 43:55
  And
• 43:56
  Your
• 43:56
  God
• 43:57
  My
• 43:58
  God
• 43:59
  And
• 43:59
  That's
• 44:00
  The
• 44:00
  Biblical
• 44:00
  Pattern
• 44:01
  From
• 44:01
  Beginning
• 44:02
  To
• 44:02
  End
• 44:03
  Of
• 44:03
  The
• 44:03
  Bible
• 44:03
  That
• 44:04
  God's
• 44:05
  People
• 44:05
  Are
• 44:05
  Meant
• 44:06
  To
• 44:06
  Be
• 44:07
  Together
• 44:08
  We
• 44:10
  Are
• 44:10
  Sheep
• 44:11
  In
• 44:12
  A
• 44:13
  Flock
• 44:13
  We
• 44:15
  Are
• 44:15
  Soldiers
• 44:16
  In
• 44:17
  An
• 44:17
  Army
• 44:18
  We
• 44:19
  Are
• 44:19
  Stones
• 44:20
  In
• 44:21
  A
• 44:21
  Building
• 44:22
  God's
• 44:23
  People
• 44:23
  Are
• 44:23
  Meant
• 44:24
  To
• 44:24
  Be
• 44:24
  Together
• 44:25
  And
• 44:25
  That's
• 44:26
  Why
• 44:26
  It's
• 44:26
  Sad
• 44:27
  When
• 44:27
  Anybody
• 44:28
  Who
• 44:28
  Professes
• 44:29
  To
• 44:29
  Be
• 44:29
  A
• 44:30
  Christian
• 44:30
  Excludes
• 44:32
  Themselves
• 44:32
  Or
• 44:32
  Stays
• 44:33
  Away
• 44:34
  From
• 44:35
  The
• 44:35
  Fellowship
• 44:35
  Of
• 44:36
  God's
• 44:37
  People
• 44:37
  Ruth's
• 44:38
  Pledge
• 44:38
  Of
• 44:39
  Commitment
• 44:39
  To
• 44:40
  The
• 44:40
  Lord
• 44:40
  Also
• 44:42
  Included
• 44:43
  A
• 44:44
  Commitment
• 44:45
  To
• 44:45
  The
• 44:46
  Lord's
• 44:46
  People
• 44:46
  So
• 44:48
  That's
• 44:48
  Our
• 44:48
  Third
• 44:48
  Point
• 44:48
  The
• 44:48
  Pledge
• 44:49
  The
• 44:49
  Pledge
• 44:49
  We've
• 44:50
  Looked
• 44:50
  At
• 44:50
  The
• 44:50
  Problem
• 44:51
  We've
• 44:51
  Looked
• 44:52
  At
• 44:52
  The
• 44:52
  Parting
• 44:52
  We've
• 44:52
  Looked
• 44:53
  At
• 44:53
  The
• 44:53
  Pledge
• 44:53
  Fourthly
• 44:55
  And
• 44:55
  Finally
• 44:56
  !
• 44:56
  The
• 44:58
  So I'm
• 44:59
  Taking
• 44:59
  That
• 45:00
  Word
• 45:00
  Poverty
• 45:01
  From
• 45:01
  Naomi's
• 45:02
  Statement
• 45:03
  On
• 45:04
  Returning
• 45:04
  To
• 45:04
  Bethlehem
• 45:05
  The
• 45:05
  One
• 45:05
  We
• 45:05
  Read
• 45:05
  At
• 45:06
  The
• 45:06
  Start
• 45:06
  Verse
• 45:07
  21
• 45:07
  Which
• 45:08
  Says
• 45:08
  I
• 45:08
  Went
• 45:08
  I
• 45:08
  Went
• 45:08
  Away
• 45:08
  Full
• 45:09
  And
• 45:10
  The
• 45:10
  Lord
• 45:10
  Has
• 45:10
  Brought
• 45:11
  Me
• 45:11
  Back
• 45:11
  Empty
• 45:12
  She
• 45:13
  Feels
• 45:13
  Impoverished
• 45:15
  And
• 45:16
  She
• 45:16
  Feels
• 45:16
  It's
• 45:16
  God
• 45:17
  That
• 45:17
  Has
• 45:17
  Impoverished
• 45:18
  Her
• 45:19
  And
• 45:21
  It
• 45:22
  Becomes
• 45:22
  Very
• 45:22
  Clear
• 45:22
  That
• 45:23
  The
• 45:23
  Hardship
• 45:23
  That
• 45:24
  Naomi
• 45:25
  Has
• 45:25
  Experienced
• 45:26
  In
• 45:26
  Moab
• 45:26
  Has
• 45:27
  Taken
• 45:27
  Its
• 45:27
  Toll
• 45:28
  On
• 45:29
  Her
• 45:29
  Even
• 45:30
  On
• 45:30
  On
• 45:31
  Her
• 45:31
  Appearance
• 45:32
  Because
• 45:33
  Look at
• 45:33
  What
• 45:33
  The
• 45:34
  Women
• 45:34
  Of
• 45:34
  The
• 45:34
  Town
• 45:34
  Say
• 45:35
  When
• 45:35
  She
• 45:35
  Returns
• 45:36
  Verse
• 45:36
  19
• 45:36
  Middle
• 45:39
  Of
• 45:39
  The
• 45:39
  Verse
• 45:39
  When
• 45:39
  They
• 45:39
  Came
• 45:39
  To
• 45:39
  Bethlehem
• 45:40
  The
• 45:40
  Whole
• 45:40
  Town
• 45:41
  Was
• 45:41
  Stirred
• 45:41
  Because
• 45:42
  Of
• 45:42
  Them
• 45:42
  And
• 45:43
  The
• 45:43
  Woman
• 45:43
  Said
• 45:44
  Is
• 45:45
  This
• 45:45
  Naomi
• 45:46
  Is
• 45:48
  This
• 45:48
  Naomi
• 45:48
  It's
• 45:49
  As
• 45:49
  If
• 45:49
  They're
• 45:49
  Not
• 45:50
  Even
• 45:50
  Certain
• 45:50
  If
• 45:51
  This
• 45:52
  Is
• 45:52
  The
• 45:52
  Same
• 45:52
  Woman
• 45:52
  Who
• 45:53
  Left
• 45:53
  There
• 45:53
  Just
• 45:54
  Ten
• 45:54
  Years
• 45:55
  Earlier
• 45:55
  And
• 45:58
  It's
• 45:58
  Not
• 45:59
  It's
• 46:00
  Not
• 46:00
  The
• 46:00
  Same
• 46:01
  Woman
• 46:01
  In
• 46:02
  Many
• 46:02
  Ways
• 46:02
  That
• 46:04
  Had
• 46:04
  Left
• 46:04
  There
• 46:04
  A
• 46:04
  Decade
• 46:05
  Previous
• 46:05
  To
• 46:06
  That
• 46:06
  Because
• 46:08
  Hardship
• 46:08
  Changes
• 46:08
  Us
• 46:09
  Look at
• 46:12
  What
• 46:12
  She
• 46:12
  Says
• 46:12
  Verse
• 46:12
  20
• 46:13
  She
• 46:15
  Says
• 46:15
  Don't
• 46:16
  Call
• 46:16
  Me
• 46:16
  Naomi
• 46:17
  Because
• 46:18
  Her
• 46:19
  Name
• 46:19
  Meant
• 46:20
  Pleasant
• 46:21
  Don't
• 46:22
  Don't
• 46:22
  Call
• 46:22
  Don't
• 46:22
  Call
• 46:22
  Me
• 46:22
  Pleasant
• 46:23
  She
• 46:23
  Says
• 46:23
  Call
• 46:24
  Me
• 46:25
  Mara
• 46:25
  That
• 46:26
  Name
• 46:26
  Means
• 46:27
  Bitter
• 46:27
  Or
• 46:29
  Bitterness
• 46:29
  And
• 46:30
  She
• 46:30
  Explains
• 46:31
  Why
• 46:31
  For
• 46:31
  The
• 46:32
  Lord
• 46:32
  Has
• 46:33
  Dealt
• 46:33
  Very
• 46:34
  Bitterly
• 46:35
  With
• 46:36
  Me
• 46:36
  And
• 46:38
  Then
• 46:38
  Later
• 46:39
  The
• 46:39
  Almighty
• 46:39
  Has
• 46:39
  Brought
• 46:40
  Calamity
• 46:41
  Upon
• 46:43
  Me
• 46:43
  Naomi
• 46:44
  Felt
• 46:45
  Utterly
• 46:47
  Empty
• 46:48
  Maybe
• 46:54
  You can
• 46:54
  Follow
• 46:54
  That
• 46:54
  Today
• 46:55
  In
• 46:57
  A
• 46:57
  Gathering
• 46:58
  This
• 46:58
  Science
• 46:58
  Maybe
• 47:00
  That's
• 47:00
  How
• 47:00
  You
• 47:00
  Feel
• 47:01
  Today
• 47:01
  Utterly
• 47:03
  Empty
• 47:04
  But
• 47:05
  The
• 47:05
  Wonderful
• 47:06
  Thing
• 47:06
  As
• 47:06
  You
• 47:06
  Continue
• 47:07
  To
• 47:08
  Read
• 47:08
  Through
• 47:08
  This
• 47:08
  Book
• 47:09
  And
• 47:09
  Read
• 47:09
  It
• 47:09
  When
• 47:09
  You
• 47:09
  Go
• 47:09
  Home
• 47:10
  God
• 47:11
  Is
• 47:11
  Just
• 47:12
  About
• 47:12
  To
• 47:12
  Change
• 47:13
  All
• 47:13
  Of
• 47:13
  That
• 47:13
  God
• 47:14
  Is
• 47:14
  Just
• 47:15
  About
• 47:15
  To
• 47:15
  Fill
• 47:16
  Naomi
• 47:16
  With
• 47:18
  Reasons
• 47:18
  To
• 47:18
  Rejoice
• 47:19
  You
• 47:22
  Know
• 47:22
  Sometimes
• 47:22
  Sometimes
• 47:24
  We
• 47:25
  Have
• 47:25
  To
• 47:25
  Be
• 47:25
  Emptied
• 47:25
  Before
• 47:27
  We
• 47:27
  Can
• 47:27
  Be
• 47:27
  Filled
• 47:28
  I'd
• 47:29
  Like
• 47:29
  To
• 47:29
  Quote
• 47:30
  Some
• 47:30
  Verses
• 47:30
  To
• 47:30
  You
• 47:30
  From
• 47:31
  A
• 47:31
  Poem
• 47:31
  Called
• 47:33
  Treasures
• 47:33
  They
• 47:34
  Go
• 47:34
  Like
• 47:35
  This
• 47:35
  One
• 47:37
  By
• 47:37
  One
• 47:38
  He
• 47:38
  Took
• 47:38
  Them
• 47:39
  From
• 47:39
  Me
• 47:39
  All
• 47:40
  The
• 47:41
  Things
• 47:41
  I
• 47:41
  Treasure
• 47:41
  Most
• 47:42
  Until
• 47:44
  I
• 47:44
  Was
• 47:44
  Left
• 47:45
  Empty
• 47:45
  Handed
• 47:46
  Every
• 47:46
  Glittering
• 47:47
  Toy
• 47:47
  Was
• 47:48
  Lost
• 47:48
  And
• 47:50
  I
• 47:50
  Walked
• 47:50
  Earth's
• 47:51
  Highways
• 47:51
  Grieving
• 47:52
  In
• 47:53
  My
• 47:53
  Rags
• 47:54
  And
• 47:54
  Poverty
• 47:55
  Till
• 47:56
  I
• 47:56
  Heard
• 47:57
  His
• 47:57
  Voice
• 47:57
  Inviting
• 47:58
  Lift
• 48:00
  Those
• 48:00
  Empty
• 48:00
  Hands
• 48:01
  To
• 48:01
  Me
• 48:02
  So
• 48:03
  I
• 48:03
  Held
• 48:03
  My
• 48:03
  Hands
• 48:04
  Towards
• 48:04
  Heaven
• 48:04
  And
• 48:06
  He
• 48:06
  Filled
• 48:06
  Them
• 48:06
  With
• 48:06
  A
• 48:06
  Store
• 48:07
  Of
• 48:07
  His
• 48:07
  Own
• 48:08
  Transcendent
• 48:08
  Riches
• 48:09
  Till
• 48:10
  They
• 48:10
  Could
• 48:10
  Contain
• 48:11
  !
• 48:12
  No
• 48:12
  More
• 48:13
  God
• 48:29
  Had
• 48:29
  A
• 48:29
  Plan
• 48:29
  For
• 48:30
  Naomi
• 48:30
  And
• 48:31
  For
• 48:31
  Ruth
• 48:31
  And
• 48:32
  He's
• 48:32
  Working
• 48:33
  Out
• 48:33
  His
• 48:33
  Plan
• 48:33
  Right
• 48:34
  Here
• 48:35
  Even
• 48:35
  Through
• 48:36
  The
• 48:36
  Hardships
• 48:37
  That
• 48:39
  Naomi
• 48:39
  Experienced
• 48:40
  You
• 48:42
  Know
• 48:43
  Now
• 48:43
  Would
• 48:43
  Not
• 48:43
  Be
• 48:43
  A
• 48:43
  Time
• 48:44
  To
• 48:44
  Go
• 48:44
  And
• 48:44
  Visit
• 48:45
  Her
• 48:45
  And
• 48:47
  Quote
• 48:47
  To
• 48:47
  Her
• 48:47
  The
• 48:48
  Scripture
• 48:48
  That
• 48:48
  Says
• 48:49
  God
• 48:51
  Works
• 48:51
  All
• 48:51
  Things
• 48:52
  For
• 48:52
  The
• 48:52
  Good
• 48:52
  Of
• 48:53
  Those
• 48:53
  Who
• 48:54
  Love
• 48:54
  Him
• 48:54
  There
• 48:56
  Are
• 48:56
  Times
• 48:57
  When
• 48:58
  It's
• 48:59
  Not
• 48:59
  Appropriate
• 49:00
  To
• 49:01
  Quote
• 49:01
  A
• 49:02
  Verse
• 49:02
  Like
• 49:02
  That
• 49:02
  But
• 49:03
  It
• 49:04
  May
• 49:04
  Be
• 49:04
  That
• 49:04
  Somewhere
• 49:05
  Down
• 49:05
  The
• 49:05
  Line
• 49:05
  She
• 49:06
  Would
• 49:06
  Come
• 49:07
  To
• 49:07
  Understand
• 49:07
  That
• 49:08
  For
• 49:08
  Ourself
• 49:08
  You
• 49:11
  See
• 49:11
  Trying
• 49:11
  To
• 49:11
  Work
• 49:12
  Out
• 49:12
  Why
• 49:14
  The
• 49:14
  World
• 49:14
  Is
• 49:14
  The
• 49:14
  Way
• 49:15
  It
• 49:15
  Is
• 49:15
  Why
• 49:16
  So
• 49:16
  Much
• 49:16
  Bad
• 49:17
  Stuff
• 49:17
  Happens
• 49:18
  Why
• 49:18
  God
• 49:19
  Allows
• 49:19
  Suffering
• 49:20
  And
• 49:20
  So
• 49:20
  On
• 49:20
  These
• 49:20
  Questions
• 49:21
  Will
• 49:21
  Will
• 49:22
  Just
• 49:22
  Tie
• 49:22
  Us
• 49:23
  In
• 49:23
  Knots
• 49:24
  Sometimes
• 49:26
  Sometimes
• 49:28
  You
• 49:28
  Need
• 49:28
  To
• 49:29
  Just
• 49:29
  Trust
• 49:30
  God
• 49:30
  Rather
• 49:31
  Than
• 49:32
  Question
• 49:32
  Him
• 49:32
  Or
• 49:34
  By
• 49:34
  All
• 49:34
  Means
• 49:34
  Bring
• 49:35
  Bring
• 49:35
  Your
• 49:37
  Tormile
• 49:37
  To
• 49:37
  Him
• 49:38
  Pour
• 49:38
  Out
• 49:38
  Your
• 49:38
  Heart
• 49:38
  To
• 49:38
  Tell
• 49:39
  Him
• 49:39
  How
• 49:39
  You
• 49:39
  Feel
• 49:39
  Tell
• 49:40
  Him
• 49:40
  What
• 49:40
  You're
• 49:40
  Struggling
• 49:41
  With
• 49:41
  But
• 49:43
  Always
• 49:44
  Remember
• 49:44
  That
• 49:44
  God
• 49:44
  Doesn't
• 49:45
  Owe
• 49:45
  Us
• 49:46
  An
• 49:46
  Explanation
• 49:47
  He's
• 49:49
  God
• 49:49
  And
• 49:50
  We're
• 49:50
  Not
• 49:51
  God
• 49:53
  I
• 49:54
  Heard
• 49:54
  A
• 49:54
  Heard
• 49:54
  A
• 49:54
  Story
• 49:54
  Not
• 49:56
  That
• 49:56
  Long
• 49:56
  Ago
• 49:56
  But
• 49:56
  Maybe
• 49:57
  You've
• 49:58
  Heard
• 49:58
  It
• 49:58
  Or
• 49:58
  A
• 49:58
  Version
• 49:59
  Of
• 49:59
  It
• 49:59
  But
• 50:01
  A
• 50:01
  Dad
• 50:01
  He
• 50:01
  Was
• 50:01
  He
• 50:01
  Was
• 50:02
  Working
• 50:02
  From
• 50:02
  Home
• 50:02
  And
• 50:03
  He
• 50:03
  Was
• 50:03
  Looking
• 50:04
  After
• 50:04
  His
• 50:04
  Son
• 50:04
  And
• 50:05
  His
• 50:05
  Son
• 50:05
  Was
• 50:05
  Demanding
• 50:06
  Attention
• 50:07
  And
• 50:07
  Board
• 50:07
  And
• 50:08
  Wanting
• 50:08
  To
• 50:09
  Be
• 50:09
  Entertained
• 50:10
  And
• 50:11
  Dad
• 50:11
  Didn't
• 50:11
  Have
• 50:11
  Time
• 50:11
  To
• 50:12
  Entertain
• 50:12
  !
• 50:12
  Him
• 50:12
  He
• 50:12
  Had
• 50:12
  Work
• 50:13
  To
• 50:13
  Do
• 50:14
  And
• 50:15
  So
• 50:15
  He
• 50:15
  Tored
• 50:16
  a page out of a magazine that had a map of the world on it. And he tore the map into pieces and
• 50:23
  gave it to his son. And he said, you put that back together the way it should be. And when you're done,
• 50:28
  come and show it to me. And he didn't think the boy would be able to do it because he'd never
• 50:32
  really seen a map of the world before. But before long, the boy came back, dad, he said,
• 50:39
  I've pieced it all together and he'd stuck it with tape. And his dad was shocked.
• 50:42
  And he said to him, how did you do that? You don't even know what the map of the world looks like.
• 50:49
  And the boy said, yes, but there was a picture of a man on the back. And he said, I recognized him.
• 50:57
  And so by looking at him, I was able to put it all back together. He knew the man behind the picture
• 51:06
  and that helped to put it together. And friends, if you know the one who is behind the jumbled mess
• 51:17
  that may be your life today, that helps. That helps. It might not enable you to make sense of everything,
• 51:26
  but how reassuring to know that he's there behind it all. Notice one final thing just as we finish.
• 51:35
  Naomi said she was empty and we have no reason to doubt that she was. Her hands were empty. Her heart was empty.
• 51:46
  Her head. Her home. But just notice this glimmer of hope in the closing words of the chapter
• 51:53
  where it says, they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
• 52:01
  There will be food at least. There will be food at the very minimum should be fed.
• 52:09
  But we know because we know the rest of the story that there were further blessings to follow.
• 52:17
  God was about to do something new in Naomi's life.
• 52:21
  God was about to do something new in Jerusalem as well. Amen.
• 52:30
  Let us pray.
• 52:32
  Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it just tells us the story as it is, with all its pain.
• 52:42
  It doesn't seek to make people out to be better than they are.
• 52:45
  It doesn't edit comments that are made about you that we might be uncomfortable with.
• 52:55
  We thank you, Lord, that it tells us how people dealt with the troubles that came into their lives.
• 53:02
  But we thank you also, Lord, that it reminds us there is a God who is in control,
• 53:07
  even when everything seems out of control.
• 53:11
  So bless us today. Be with us, each one of us.
• 53:14
  We're known to you, Lord. Meet us as you see our need today.
• 53:18
  We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
• 53:23
  I'm going to finish singing in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 126.
• 53:27
  You'll find that on page 419.
• 53:29
  Page 419.
• 53:44
  Psalm 126. We're going to sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise.
• 53:48
  When Zion's bondage, God turned back.
• 53:51
  As men not dreamed were we, then filled with laughter was our mouth, our tongue with melody.
• 53:57
  Psalm 126. The whole of this psalm to God's praise.
• 54:00
  When Zion's bondage, God turned back.
• 54:02
  When Zion's bondage, God turned back.
• 54:10
  As men not dreamed were we, then filled with laughter was our mouth, our tongue with melody.
• 54:27
  We hung the hill and said the Lord, great things for them have brought.
• 54:41
  The Lord hath done great things for us, when joy to us is brought.
• 54:53
  That streams of water in the south, brother, voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy
• 55:23
  who in precious
• 55:26
  seed
• 55:27
  enjoyed
• 55:29
  for the
• 55:32
  morn
• 55:33
  in darkness
• 55:36
  bringing
• 55:37
  back this
• 55:39
  seed
• 55:40
  rejoicing
• 55:42
  shall return
• 55:45
  Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
• 55:50
  the love of God
• 55:51
  and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
• 55:53
  be with you all. Amen
• 55:55
  Amen
• 56:21
  Amen
• 56:25
  Amen
• 56:43
  Thank you.