Sermon

Refuge

July 11, 2020 St. Paul's Anglican Church Chatswood - Sermons

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It's great to be with you again.
My name is John Lau.
I'm one of the interns here.
We're in our second talk in the Book of Ruth.
Last week, Steve, our senior minister,
pointed out as Bethlehem, God's promised land,
meaning the house of bread,
suffered famine because they disobeyed God.
A family went to Moab.
They were planning to stay there for only a short while.
But ended up staying for 10 years
with their husband and the two sons died.
Naomi, with her daughter-in-law, Ruth,
had now come back to Bethlehem
to be a refugee in her own country.
They came back for a better life,
looking for a place where they can have security,
sympathy, and support.
They found out that God knew they needed more than that,
more than just a temporary refuge,
and have a permanent refuge prepared for them in Boax.
God also knew what we need in our life
and has given us Jesus as a permanent refuge for us.
Please have your Bible open to Ruth chapter 2.

Ruth 2 chapter mention
If you have access to our app,
there will be an outline in there with my three points today,
which is the refugees, the rich man, and the refuge.
Naomi and Ruth came back to Bethlehem.
The whole town was stirred because of them.
The people welcomed them with a homecoming party,
and the next day, Ruth said to Naomi in verse 2,
Let me go to the field and pick up the leftovers.
Leftover grain behind anyone whose eyes I find favor.
I wonder where she got those ideas from,
because she was referring to a system that God has set up
to take care of all people in Leviticus,
a system where during harvest,
the harvester is not to go back to the field again.
They are to leave leftovers for the poor and the foreigner.
Maybe it was during the welcoming party
that they had talked about it.
Here and there is a system,
but not confident about how it worked
and not sure it was true or not.
What would be the best action that Ruth can take?
She got up and went out to try to find the answers.
Last week, we saw Ruth's faithfulness shown through her loyalty to Naomi.
This week, we will see a few more qualities of Ruth's faith.
Firstly, she has a tried and tested faith.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
Ruth's faith is a willingness to take a step into the unknown,
even into what is seemingly dangerous and futile.
Ruth could have been harmed, as Naomi later told us.
But she went.
Based on what she heard,
Naomi did the same last week in Chapter 1,
heading back to Bethlehem,
based on hearing some good news.
Most refugees also left because of some good news.
They went to a foreign place,
hoping for a better life,
somewhat wild thing for their lives.
Based on the information about what God had promised all people,
Ruth went out looking for a way to sustain herself and Naomi.
Had you stepped out into the unknown,
into uncertainty, hoping for a better life?
What was the promise that you were holding on to
or trying to test out?
How do you feel each step of the way?
Let's see what happened to Ruth.
She went to a field,
and that very first field belongs to her relative, Boax.
She asked the overseer to let her glean
and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.
And they let her.
As she said to Naomi,
she asked to follow along with the harvester.
The system that God had set up
was for the poor and foreigner
to wait until the harvester finished for the day,
then they can pick up the leftovers.
But she seems to be doing all she can do
to get to the best position,
not waiting for the end of the day.
Maybe her survival instinct kicks in.
I believe trying to get to the best position
is why so many refugees and their children
do better in life in a new country.
They knew what it means to survive,
and they were willing to try.
They were willing to ask questions
that seem to be opportunistic
or even offensive sometimes.
If you want to be safe
or stay alive,
physically,
but more importantly spiritually,
we need to be sure
that we are on the right way
and the best way that we can get there
and to ask questions and investigate.
God did not just put her
in the right field at the first try.
God put her in the best field,
experiencing his full kindness.
Boaz allowed her to stay
and get enough to take care of herself and Naomi.
He did not rebuild the overseers
and stop her from falling behind the harvester.
Instead, he had a conversation with her
that offered more than food for survival.
He offered what a refugee would want,
security,
a chance to improve herself,
recognition and approval,
and most importantly, a refuge.
God knows we need those things,
and he used Boaz
to give them to Ruth.
In verse 10,
at this,
she bowed down with her face to the ground.
She asked him,
why have I found such favor in your eyes
that you notice me,
a foreigner?
He explained it was because
of the great things you had done for Naomi.
He finished by saying in verse 12,
may the Lord repay you
for what you have done.
may you be richly rewarded by the Lord,
the God of Israel,
under whose wings
you have come to take refuge.
Then she replied,
saying in verse 13,
may I continue to find favor
in your eyes,
my Lord.
You have put me at ease
by speaking kindly to your servant,
though I do not have the standing
of your servants.
He just gave her a high praise.
Instead of thinking of how great
and worthy she is,
not patting her on back
for how much she had sacrificed for Naomi,
Ruth acknowledged
instead that
Boaz
and the God of Israel
were far more important
and far more significant.
That brings me
to the second quality
that I want to highlight,
is Ruth has a humble
and realistic faith.
She was humble
because she acknowledged
that there was someone
more significant
than herself.
Ruth accepted her status
as a foreigner
or a servant
who needed mercy
from others.
No matter how
great her achievement was,
she knew
how she stands
with others
and with God,
the ultimate provider.
Ruth has an
other-centered heart
that keeps her humble.
Knowing what she did
for her mother-in-law
was approved
by everyone,
but approval
is not worth
her motivation.
She did it
out of deep concern
and deep care
for Naomi.
And her faith
was realistic
because Ruth
gave Naomi
the leftover
after she had
eaten enough.
She did not
let herself
go hungry
and unable to work.
She ate as much
as she needed
to keep working.
And at the end
of the day,
she collected
a ether,
which is
13 kilograms
of grain.
Ruth went out
to confirm
whether what she
heard about God
was real.
She came back
with food
and a promise
from Boax.
God gave her
something
substantial
and tangible
to hold on to
when she set out
to find out
if what people
said about God
was real.
God gave her
certainty
in things
that she could
not see,
not just
for herself.
God guided
Ruth to
experience
his blessing
and through
her
brought his
blessing
to Naomi.
Often,
when someone
stepped out
in faith,
it would end
up not just
that person
got to
experience
the greatness
of God.
they would
bring blessing
to those
that needed
the reassurance
from God
more than
them.
As Ruth
went out,
she got to
experience
God's word
come true
because God
put her
where she
needed to
be.
But what
about the
other refugees?
The other
refugee in the
story was
Naomi.
Back in
verse 2,
when she
told Ruth,
go ahead,
my daughter.
did she
intend to
join her?
We could
not be
sure of
the reason
or the
reason why
she did
not,
but we
knew she
stayed at
home.
Ruth
had such
a great
experience
by going
and God
blessed her
tremendously.
Naomi did
not go,
but God
still can
bless her.
God still
can confirm
what she
believed
about him.
Naomi
needed to
restart
on her
faith
journey
after a
series
of
family
tragedies.
God
used a
different
way
to
open
her
eyes
to
his
merciful
purpose.
As if
God
is saying,
even if
you don't
leave the
house,
I will
bring you
the proof
that I
am who
you have
always
believed
me to
be.
When
she saw
Ruth with
the grain
in verse
20,
she said,
Naomi's
faith
towards
God
had a
jump
start.
It was
dead and
had become
back to
life again.
She saw
the mercy
of God
because of
Ruth.
She was
reconnected
with God
who had
not stopped
showing
his
kindness
to her.
Ruth.
Those
were the
story of
the
refugees
from
Ruth.
Now we
look at
the rich
men.
In
first one,
when he
introduced
Boaz,
he said
Boaz is
a man
of
standing.
What
did he
do to
get such
a title?
A man
of standing
can mean
a man
of great
wealth,
but it
also
translates
as a
nobleman.
Can
this
two
coexist
on
someone?
Can
someone
be a
rich
man?
Can
a rich
man
also
be a
nobleman
at the
same
time?
In
first
four,
it
says he
came to
the
visit.
What
would you
expect
to see?
Was
he there
to just
check on
his
workers to
make sure
they
meet their
quotas for
the day?
Like many
of our
boss
would do.
Let's
read on,
it
say when
he came
to visit,
and when
he arrived,
he greeted
the harvesters,
the Lord
be with
you,
and the
Lord
blessed
you,
they
answered.
I can
only imagine
from this
interaction
that they
have excellent
relationship.
Then no one
when he
arrived
ran away.
And he
seems to
know his
workers enough
to notice a
new young
woman was
working in
the field.
after he
had spoken
to the
overseer,
Boaz
spoke to
Ruth.
In a
conversation,
he told
her to
drink from
the water
jar if
she got
thirsty.
It's
said in
verse 14,
at mealtime,
Boaz
said to
her,
come over
here,
have some
bread and
dip it
into the
wine vinegar.
When she
sat down
with the
harvester,
he offered
her some
roast grain.
He
seems
genuinely
kind and
not anything
we would
expect from
a boss.
I guess
Boaz's
daily life
could be
like this.
Get up
in the
morning,
make bread,
go to
a well,
get the
water.
When
everything's
ready,
he'll head
out to
the field
to get
there just
before
lunchtime.
When he
gets there,
he grates
everyone,
and then
seeing what
they have
to harvest,
he get
the barbecue
cranking,
and then
start roasting
grain,
and when
everything's
ready,
he'll tell
everyone to
stop work,
come and
eat.
He'll hand
out the
food to
everyone
to eat
together.
When he
told Ruth
to drink
from the
jars,
I think
it's because
he actually
just brought
the water
there,
so he
know where
the jars
is,
and he
offered
those
water
to her.
When he
offered
the
roast
grain
to
Ruth,
as if
he was
just
handing
it out,
if Ruth
joined
the man
alone
to eat,
it would
be very
awkward.
So every
man and
woman
must be
eating
together
already.
And after
lunchtime,
he stayed
and worked
with them,
because Ruth
said to
Naomi in
verse 19,
the name
of the
man I
work with
today is
Boaz.
Boaz was
such a
kind and
merciful man,
kind and
merciful person.
We will
see more
of what he
does for
Ruth next
week.
he
exhibited
someone
greater
than
himself
as he
took care
of others
that were
in need.
He let
God use
him as
a refuge
to
refugees
that
needed to
experience
God's
kindness
and God
working
in their
life.
For
some,
it should
provide
physical
need,
others
spiritually.
For
some,
a
journey
starter
of
their
faith
and
for
others
maybe
like
a
jump
start
to
get
their
faith
going
again.
Boaz
was a
refuge
to
all
the
refugees.
So
my
question
for
you
is
what
about
Boaz?
Would
the rich
man
like
Boaz,
a man
of standing,
need a
refuge
too?
What
kind of
refuge
would he
need?
What
kind of
refuge
would
you
and
me
need?
There
are only
two kinds
of
refuge,
a
permanent
one
and a
temporary
one.
A
temporary
one
is like
what we
saw in
Ruth
chapter
one,
the
country
of
Moab.
In
Ruth
chapter
one,
one,
a
limonet
took his
family to
Moab
to leave
for a
while
during
the
famine.
He
might
think
to go
there
to
ride
out
the
famine.
After
all,
Moab
was
only
on
the
other
side
of
the
sea.
But
what
happened
when he
got
there?
He
died.
Then
his
two
sons,
Marlon
and
Kilion,
married
more
by
woman.
Why
didn't
they
go
back
when
their
father
died?
Would
it
be
because
Bethlehem
was
still
in
famine?
Maybe
they
had
good
lives.
You
know,
Marlon
married
Ruth,
Cleland
married
Oprah.
Both
daughters-in-law
got along
well with
their
mother-in-law.
Your spouse
got along
well with
your
partners
or
parents.
What more
could we
want?
I guess
for someone
that would
be
closer to
experiencing
heaven on
earth.
But
what
followed?
Marlon
and
Cleland
died
also.
There
was a
system
established
in
Israel
to
look
after
the
poor
and
we
have
a
man
of
standing
like
Boax.
Why
did
Elimelech
still
decide
to go
to
Moab?
I
wonder
would
it
be
because
he
had
the
mean
to
move
his
family
over
to
Moab
and
did
not
want
to
use
his
wealth
to
help
others.
If
he
followed
God's
requirement
in
Ephesians
to
help
his
fellow
Israelites
so
they
can
continue
to
live,
his
wealth
could
disappear
in
matters
of
days.
He
could
not
impoverish
his
own
family
to
sustain
his
fellow
Israelites.
The
Lord
also
said
when
they
lent
to
their
fellow
Israelites
they
could
not
charge
interest
which
is
in
Ephesians
25
35
to
37.
I
own
a
business
and
have
some
savings
as
well.
What
Unlimit
did
with
his
moving
was
the
most
sensible
thing
to
do
for
a
businessman.
It's
only
for a
short
time.
Let
other
people
help
do
the
helping
first.
He
might
have
thought
if I
stay
in
Bethlehem
I
cannot
charge
interest
or make
any
profit
from
helping
others.
Which
is
the
best
time
to
make
profit.
You
know
when
people
are
down
and
out
you
can
exploit
them
for
their
situation.
He
might
say
I
may
as
well
go
to
Moab.
The
country
of
Moab
is a
place
of
foreign
God.
Their
God
will
have
better
business
sense.
I
wonder
would
those
be the
reason
Eliminate
moved to
Moab.
But I
was
convicted
that I
could think
of so
many
justifications
for
Eliminate
because I
have been
living like
him.
I
have
been
justifying
all
my
words
and
deeds
to
make
sure
I
look
righteous
in
the
eyes
of
others.
No
one
had
any
terrible
things
to say
about
me.
They
may
have
some
inkling
here
and
there.
But
overall,
John
Lyle
is
very
hard
working,
nice,
a rich
man,
who
is
faithful,
loyal,
and
humble.
But
God
had
been
telling
me
again
that
I
am
not.
Unlike
Ruth
and
Boax,
I
live
for
my
own
reputation
instead
of
the
life
of
others.
I
keep
a
smiling
face
instead
of being
honest
with
myself
and
God
and
be
broken
like
Naomi.
I
am
righteous
in
my
own
eyes,
always
comparing
myself
with
others,
looking
for
loopholes
in
God's
requirement
to do
the
bare
minimum
to
gain
praise
and
approval.
I
do
not
live
as
I
am
a
foreigner
or
refugee
on
this
earth.
I
live
like
an
eminent
as
I
am
the
king
of
my
own
life.
Whatever
is
our
most
sensible
solution
to
what
we
are
facing
will
most
likely
be
our
temporary
refuge.
And it
could lead
to
death.
Our
most
sensible
option,
our
intention,
no matter
how
justifiable
they were,
are tainted
by our
own sinful
nature.
They
will
always
end up
glorifying
ourselves
instead
of God.
That is
the challenge
I face
and the
challenge
I have
been
convicted.
Paul
says in
the New
Testament
in 1

1 Corinthians 15:56
Corinthians
15
verse
56
that
the
state
of
death
is
sin
and
the
power
of
sin
is
the
law.
Eliminate
and his
two
sons
died
after
they
went
to a
temporary
refuge
which
became
their
permanent
grace.
we
were
not
told
the
exact
cause
of
their
death
but
one
thing
we
saw
they
died
while
they
were
out
of
the
promised
land.
But
what
about
Naomi,
Ruth,
and
Boax
who
were
inside
God's
promised
land?
Did
they
escape
death?
The
fact
that
we
are
reading
their
name
in
biblical
history
shows
that
they
did
not.
None
of us
can.
this
body
that
we
are
in
is
temporary,
is
not
permanent,
and
we
will
all
have
to
die
one
day.
We
all
need
a
permanent
refuge
that
only
the
one
conquered
death
can
give.
And
the
one
person
ever
conquered
death
was
Jesus
Christ.
He
came
from
the
little
town
of
Bethlehem
and
we
got
to meet
Jesus
through
Boak's
words
and
deeds.
When
he
greeted
the
workers
saying
the
Lord
be
with
you,
Jesus'
name
was
Emmanuel,
means
God
is
with
us.
When
he
took
notice
and
knew
all
his
workers,
Jesus
our
shepherd
knows
all
his
sheep.
When
he
told
Ruth
to
listen
and
not
be
afraid,
Jesus
said
the
same
thing
on
many
occasions.
He
told
her
to
drink
the
water
if
she
is
thirsty.
Jesus
told
the
woman
by
the
well,
he
is
the
living
water
that
will
cringe
her
thirst.
He
offered,
Boaz
offered
Ruth
food
that
was
more
than
satisfied
her.
Jesus
provided
food
to
thousands
and
they
ate
and
they
were
leftovers.
And
he
said,
I
came
to
give
life
and
give
it
to
the
food.
Boaz
gave
Ruth
bread
to
dip
in
wine.
On
the
night
before
Jesus'
death,
he
took
bread
and
dipped
it
in
wine
to
hand
to
his
disciples
and
told
them
to
keep
remembering
what
he
had
done
by
going
to
the
cross
to
pay
the
penalty
of
their
sins.
Boaz's
last
word
was
stay
with
my
workers
until
they
finish
harvesting
all
my
grain.
Jesus'
words
recorded
in
Matthew

Matthew 9:37–38
9
verse
37
to
38
God
gave
Ruth
her
faith
so
she
will
help
Naomi
to
restore
her
faith.
God
gave
Boaz
plentiful
so
he
can
help
others
in
great
needs.
Jesus
came
to
bear
our
sin
to
die
in
our
place
so
that
we
can
be
in
God's
permanent
refuge.
He
did
not
save
you
just
for
yourself.
He
saved
you
so
you
can
be
a
fisher
of
men
to
bring
salvation
to
all
corners
of
the
earth.
Will
you
be
his
workers
to
the
harvest
field?
To
be
with
Jesus
is
not
just
about
where
we
go
after
we
die.
It's
about
having
a
permanent
refuge
in
our
heart
where
our
life
is
being
renewed
every
day
where
we
no
longer
need
to
be
afraid
we
experience
what
it
means
to
live
to
the
fool.
We
got
to
live
our
life
where
we
are
confident
of
God's
everlasting
kindness
to
us
where
happiness
and joy
will
never
cease.
We
read
earlier
in
John
14
1
Jesus
said
do
not
let
your
hearts
be
troubled.
You
believe
in
God
believe
also
in
me.
My
father's
house
has
many
rooms.
If
that
were
not
so
would
I
have
told
you
that
I
am
going
there
to
prepare
a
place
for
you.
And
if
I
go
and
prepare
a
place
for
you
I
will
come
back
and
take
you
to be
with
me
that
you
also
may
be
there
where
I
how
have
you
been
living
your
life?
Are
you
feeling
uncertain
about
your
future?
Are
you
suffering
the
consequence
of
your
sins
of
disobedience?
Have
you
been
holding
back
on
using
what
God
has
given
you
for
the
goods
of
others?
God
has
offered
us
Jesus
as
our
permanent
refuge
where
we
can
call
home.
He
has
not
stopped
showing
his
kindness
to
the
living
and
the
dead.
So
come
to
Jesus.
Come
and
stay
with
our
merciful
God.
Let
God
take
you
to
where
he
wants
you
to
be.
Let
God
use
you
to
show
his
merciful
kindness
to
those
who
need
it
most.