Ruth 3 “Patience”

Ruth 3 – Brandon Hatmaker “Patience”
Austin New Church – South Austin Cares
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Patience. Since that’s a topic I need as much work on as anyone, I’ll just share something I wrote from someone better qualified. I was encouraged. Hopefully you will be as well.

“Ruth had done all that was fit for her to do, she must patiently wait the event. Boaz, having undertaken this matter, would be sure to manage it well. Much more reason have true believers to cast their care on God, because he has promised to care for them. Our strength is to sit still, Isa 30:7. This narrative may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ: He is our near Kinsman; having taken our nature upon him. He has the right to redeem. Let us seek to receive from him his directions: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? He will never blame us as doing this unseasonably. And let us earnestly desire and seek the same rest for our children and friends, that it may be well with them also.”

My favorite part is “HE will never blame us as doing this unseasonably.” When we wait on the Lord, and when our seeking is truly of Him, His timing is perfect and we will not be found guilty of getting ahead of him.

Ruth 2 “Refuge and Favor”

Ruth 2 – Brandon Hatmaker “Refuge and Favor”
Austin New Church – South Austin Cares
Monday, September 29th, 2008

“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?"

Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 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."

"May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls." – Ruth 2:10-13

I simply love this dialogue. There is a great correlation to God’s favor and refuge. Even more so, how we find it, and how we should respond to it. In verse 10, Ruth’s blatant humility is evident, this is no coincidence, it’s requirement. Then Boaz tells her why she has found favor with him. It is not only her heart, but her sacrifice and action. Her response? Thanksgiving and more humility. The more grace and favor he lavished on her, the more thankful she was.

This is a great word picture of our heart and posture of worship. We simply cannot do it with out the right heart and perspective. Can you imagine feeling this kind of refuge before God while worshipping Him? It would change everything.

A good friend of mine (And fellow staffer of Austin New Church) Micah Caswell, wrote in his BLOG this morning some great stuff on Ruth 2. I thought I’d share it as well:

“Naomi’s family had sought refuge under the Moabite gods. She saw the error of her ways and returned to find refuge under Yahweh. Even though Ruth had to cross many cultural barriers she also chose to find refuge under Yahweh. We all need a covering to hide under. We need someone to protect us and care for us and provide for us. Yahweh is our refuge.

Notice HOW Yahweh provides “refuge” for Ruth and Naomi, it is via the man Boaz. This is key, God provides refuge through his people! Boaz seemed to understand this and I pray that the Church would grab this. God’s primary agent for refuge is his Bride the Church. This means that the Church needs to embrace this call and care for those who need a covering.”

Ruth 1 “It Still Hurts”

Ruth 1 – Brandon Hatmaker “It Still Hurts”
Austin New Church – South Austin Cares
Friday, September 26th, 2008

"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." – Ruth 1:20

It’s so easy to skip over Naomi's pain in chapter one and go on to the story of Ruth and Boaz. Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons. No one should have to outlive a child, needless to say both of them. I cannot imagine the grief that would cause. But don’t forget her husband had died as well… Naomi had no person to heal with but her daughters-in-law. This was real pain.

But we know how the story goes, right? We know how God literally redeems the situation and a son was born whose lineage just two generations later would birth King David, and eventually Jesus. Although those victories were born out of extreme pain, Ruth would have never married Boaz with out the death of a son and husband.

It’s so easy to look at someone else’s pain and say, “Just trust God, He is faithful”. It’s easy because it’s true, and especially when it’s someone else’s pain. But although we know God will be proven faithful… it still hurts and we should never forget that.

So Today I'm thinking of all those I know who are in pain. I think of all of those who are suffering in this moment who have lost a loved one, are from broken homes, have broken relationships, are jobless, maybe homeless, are living under circumstances that are from things that are out of their control or even those that are from personal mistakes, for those experiencing consequences of others actions, the list goes on…

May God comfort you in your season of need. Forgive me if and when I have ever neglected your feelings. Forgive us as the church when we are not understanding or worse for not responding to your pain. May God teach each of us how to humble ourselves and care for one another. May God give us compassionate and empathetic hearts as we wait for His rescue and healing.

Judges 21 "Still no King"

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" Judges 21:25

This was stolen from a friend today. He wrote... "If people did not die in Judges 21, you would almost have to laugh in disbelief. Israel makes a silly oath that threatened the future of one of the tribes of Israel; then they attack an unsuspecting people to try and rectify the situation…then they craft some ruse to try and get around their promise. I am sure that none of us have ever done that. Once again, through it all they did not test their actions against any type of standard, against any compass."

I look at the actions contained within the border of verse 17:6 and verse 21:25, where the same words are used ‘Israel had no king and everyone did as he saw fit’. In between these verses are actions that just make us shake our head in disbelief; false idols, betrayal, bombastic oaths unable to be filled, twisted reasoning, individual satisfaction over the needs of the group. With no King, there is no Rock, no Standard, no Compass. We are just adrift with no bearings, traveling on instinct, living without really living.

Jesus be our King.

Judges 19 “Blind Leading...”

Judges 19 – Brandon Hatmaker “Blind Leading the Blind”
Austin New Church – South Austin Cares
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

“In those days Israel had no king.” – Judges 19:1

The following verses are simply horrific. Over the next three chapters we see the condition of man and nation without a king, the life that becomes the norm (a Levite taking a concubine, etc.), and the gruesome form of vengeance that results.

Israel needed a king. In our depravity, so do we.

Psalm 72 gives the following purpose for the leader: "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor" (v. 4). It is a task that is identified as the work of justice (1-3, 7). Leaders in power should deliver the economically weak and guarantee the "rights of the poor" (Amos 5, Jeremiah 21 & 22)

In essence, Biblical leadership acts as and ensures a moral compassing more than anything. Keeping on point the things that are good, pure, and right… the things of God.

Prophecies about the coming Christ continue to develop the picture of the ideal ruler: Isaiah writes that with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. He will act like a good shepherd, taking responsibility for the needs of the people: "He shall feed them and be their shepherd" (Ezekiel 34:23). Ezekiel 34:4 denounces the failure of the shepherds of Israel to "feed" the people. Throughout the scriptures we see leaders called to restrain evil. (Romans 13)

But just having a leader doesn’t mean they are a good leader. Matthew 15:14, both reminds us and warns us that, “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

The scriptures are full of stories of oppressive kings and over-powerful, evil leaders and the damage they can do. History shows us that this can be as bad of a situation (if not worse) as not having a leader at all. God's sovereignty challenges all earthly leadership. The Pharisee’s and teachers of the law held governing positions in biblical times. Jesus reminded them regularly that they were missing the mark. At his trial, Jesus directly reminded Pilate and Caesar that their authority came from God. This was in the middle of a time when Roman emperors were claiming to be gods themselves. Jesus reminds them that they are servants of God, not gods.

As leaders, this is a lesson to all of us. It’s a reminder. It’s all about God and our dependence on Him, even more so as we lead others.

Father, I often want to take over and do things my way. That’s a confession of guilt, not a plea. So here is the plea: please give me the strength, the faith, and the desire to trust your ways in all things as I both lead and follow. Amen