3. Lord, I’m Coming Home

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes, Prayer Meeting, Sermon Audio 2015, August 2015 Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: 266 I Am Coming, Lord 267 Only Trust Him 268 Lord, I’m Coming Home

Ruth 1:19-22

19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Under His Wings

– Lord, I’m Coming Home

OUTLINE

  • Blessedness and not Brokenness (v19 cf. 22b)
  • Sweetness and not Bitterness (v20-22)

 

INTRODUCTION

With God is blessing and sweetness and not brokenness and bitterness. As the psalmist testified in Psalm 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Naomi’s homecoming after 10 years of wandering away from home in backsliding in wasted, regrettable years gathering “wood, hay and stubble” (1 Cor. 3:12) is taking a new turn and we help her to take stock and count her blessings. God will do a work of renewing a right spirit in the returning prodigal’s heart. Back in the centre of God’s will, she is going to experience God’s blessing anew. Meanwhile, God will have to work in her heart by His greater grace to renew a right spirit, binding the brokenness and healing the bitterness.

Two thoughts – (1) Blessedness Not Brokenness (v19 cf. v22b) (2) Sweetness and Not Bitterness (v20-22)

 

(1) Blessedness Not Brokenness (v19 cf. v22b)

19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

The way home from Moab to Judah was a 120 km journey that would take up to 10 days on foot going downhill about 4500 ft to the Jordan Valley and 3750 feet of ascension through the hills of Judea to arrive in Bethlehem. A journey fraught with danger for two women to travel unprotected in the volatile time of the Judges. The two widows would probably make the last visit to the graveside of their beloved departed husbands before departure. A long journey and we can imagine the toll of the journey and their weary state when they arrive in Bethlehem.

Our text tells us that “all the city was moved about them”, paints a vivid portrait of the scene of a city in commotion, the people were stirred to see the sorry state of Naomi. It was probably a great contrast to the stately Naomi whom they knew 10 years ago when she and her family left home. There is surprise and bewilderment at the state of what they saw.

It prompted them to ask, “Is this Naomi?” Her name means “sweetness or pleasant”. They could hardly recognize her by her appearance.

Matthew Henry observed well, “it appears that she had formerly lived respectably, else there would not have been so much notice taken of her. If those that have been in a high and prosperous condition break, or fall into poverty or disgrace, their fall is the more remarkable…Those with whom she had formerly been intimate were surprised to see her in this condition; she was so much broken and altered with her afflictions that they could scarcely believe their own eyes, nor think that this was the same person whom they had formerly seen, so fresh, and fair, and gay: Is this Naomi?

So unlike is the rose when it is withered to what it was when it was blooming. What a poor figure does Naomi make now, compared with what she made in her prosperity! If any asked this question in contempt, upbraiding her with her miseries (“is this she that could not be content to fare as her neighbours did, but must ramble to a strange country? see what she has got by it!”), their temper was very base and sordid. Nothing more barbarous than to triumph over those that are fallen.

But we may suppose that the generality asked it in compassion and commiseration: “Is this she that lived so plentifully, and kept so good a house, and was so charitable to the poor? How has the gold become dim!” Those that had seen the magnificence of the first temple wept when they saw the meanness of the second; so these here. Note, Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. When we see how sickness and old age alter people, change their countenance and temper, we may think of what the Bethlehemites said: “Is this Naomi? One would not take it to be the same person.” God, by his grace, fit us for all such changes, especially the great change!”

The returning prodigal had to be courageous to face the people at home’s curious stare.

We must not forget God’s response to the returning prodigal – Luke 15:22-24 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Although Naomi may not be able to see the rejoicing of the Father in heaven, God was preparing indeed blessing for her and Ruth, her daughter-in-law. As we see in verse 22b that it is the time of barley harvest. It was also the time of the Passover. Although in the mind Naomi, she came home so as not to die of hunger in a foreign land, God is not only going to bless her with physical renewal but also spiritual renewal.

When we return to God, our souls shall be satisfied as the psalmist testified in Psalm 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

 

(2) Sweetness and Not Bitterness (v20-22)

20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

She asked that she be called Mara which means “bitterness”. We recall in Exodus the bitter waters at Marah in the place Elim lined with springs of water and palm trees.

Exodus 15:23-27 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. 27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

 Indeed, God by His grace is leading Naomi to be renewed. Watch the bitter spirit that gripped her.

 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

She blamed God for her affliction rather than reflecting upon her waywardness. She is broken but not repentant unlike the prodigal son. But God is graciously helping her to come back.

Luke 15:14-19 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

At least Naomi could see that it was God who was in charge of the circumstances though she had chosen to disobey God.

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest

God is doing her good although she was still bitter in her spirit.

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

We are to be careful to not blame God when we are the ones who choose to depart from God’s blessed way and face afflictions.

CONCLUSION

God is working His marvellous plan amidst all to bring about His redemption plan for all mankind.