Introduction
So far we have looked at Abraham and Moses, Joshua and Caleb.
We've discussed obedience, leaving the past behind, embracing what God has for us and not letting ourselves be limited by the barriers we sometimes place in front of us.
Today we will look at Ruth and Esther. Two women living in two very different worlds from two very different countries. Ruth was not even a Hebrew, an Israelite, she was a Moabite, and in from a group of people despised by the Israelites.
She was living in her own land when strangers from Israel arrived, and eventually she was married to one of them. She then chose, after her husband died, to move away from her homeland to a strange land, a strange culture and a new life.
In many ways life had not been fair - married to someone from a different place, who died and left her alone in a strange family with no hope of furthering herself. If you read the whole book of Ruth, its a great picture of redemption, and how Jesus takes us from having no future and no hope, to giving us a future and a hope.
Esther was from the Diaspora - a group of jews who had been captured and had now begun to live and settle in their new countries.
Most of Jeremiah 29 is letter to people living in exile. Earlier than Esther, but it gives a background to why they were there.
Jeremiah 29:4-14
4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Esther is living in The persian Empire a long way from her "homeland". In many ways she is most like us, of all of the "strangers" so far, because she was probably born in captivity, and knew it as home. Yet her culture was different, her aspirations were different.
What can we learn from these girls.
1. Loyalty - to family
Ruth showed absolute commitment to her new life and her new family.
Orpah was committed to her family as well. But Ruth showed a commitment to a new life. She was willing to embrace the new life even when it was not going to be easy.
Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth replied, "don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go I will go: wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there i will be buried. May teh Lord punish me sevelely if I allow anything but death to separate us"!
She showed absolute loyalty to Naomi. She embraced a new faith and a new life and lived with loyalty to that life. When we become followers of Jesus we are committing to a new life. An exciting life, but there is also the unknown. But as we commit to the process, as we remain loyal to the people in our lives, God brings blessing.
Ruth was greatly blessed because she chose to be loyal to her new family, loyal to her new life and committed to following through even though there was a cost to her.
Proverbs 19:22
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest
Prov 20:6
Many will say they are loyal friends,
But who can find one who is truly reliable.
David showed loyalty to Saul, even when Saul was being a pain in the butt. David spared saul's life.
Sam 26:23
The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and i refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord's anointed one.
Loyalty means firmness, fidelity and steadfastness. It is about commitment and faithfulness.
How committed are we to living for God's Kingdom at all times?
How loyal are we to those we do life with?
Ruth was loyal, committed and steadfast in her relationship with Naomi. Ruth faithfully lived out her commitment to Naomi of "your God will be my God and your people will be my people"
How do we express this commitment in our lives?
2. Honouring- one another
Especially honouring those in authority over us. Ruth chose to honour Naomi and her influence in her life. This is closely linked to loyalty.
Mother's-in-law are not always easy people to embrace - though they should be- but Ruth honoured Naomi, because Naomi was the one in authority. Ruth chose to do this, she didn't have to.
Honouring one another is something that we say we do as part of Citylife Women. We place honour on people. Honour is valuing someone. It is placing value and worth on the life of another person.
But honour is more than just placing value. Honouring others in our lives, especially those in authority over us is not always easy. Honouring people when we disagree with them, or we are not happy about their behaviour, can be difficult.
Ruth sets us an example by honouring her Mother in law, by submitting to her and by placing trust in her. Naomi was a good woman. But she had experienced a very difficult life of famine, sojourning in what must ahve been a strange environment for her and her family. Her husband had taken them to Moab of all places and then unceremoniously died. Both her sons died. This is not a great place to be and she was quite bitter about it.
In the midst of all of this she does try to do the right thing by her daughters-in-law according to custom of the day. But she was bitter and that could not have been easy for Ruth to live with.
In all of that, Ruth chose to honour her, not just by being loyal to her, but by taking the initiative to help her, to enable them to survive and by doing what had been asked of her.
In the book of Esther we read that the king wanted to honour Mordecai. This is because he had been a faithful servant and had acted in a way that honoured and saved the king.
Read about it in Esther 6. Proverbs also has a lot to say about honour.
Proverbs 18:12
Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 25:27
It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
Proverbs 29:23
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.
The word honour means to ascribe price, value, preciousness, to esteem.
In Ruth, we see how she ascribed value to Naomi, she esteemed her.
Honour is something that we ascribe to someone else, but don't look for, for ourselves. Ruth did not look for honour for herself, instead she chose to live in a place of humility, gleaning the left overs and submitting to Naomi.
Let others ascribe honour to you. We talk alot about repsect and honour being earned and in many ways that is true. However, God values everyone and we are meant to do the same. So, we ascribe honour to people, by valuing them, treating them the right way, acknowledging them, whether we believe they have earned it or not.
Zacheus had done nothing to deserve honour, but Jesus honoured him by choosing to eat at his house. Jesus gave him value, and honour in a world that did not value him.
Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
The word honour here means:
-a valuing by which the price is fixed
-of the price itself
-of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
-honour which belongs or is shown to one
-of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
-deference, reverence
We are not to look for honour for ourselves, but to act honourably - doing the right thing - and placing value and honour on others. We are to live prefering others, in other words, putting others before ourselves.
Who is God challenging you to give honour to - even if they haven't earned it?
How can we honour those around us in a practical way?
3. Wisdom
God's wisdom to make a difference
Esther knew that in the situation in which she found herself, she could not do it alone. She need the wisdom of God and she sought that wisdom. She found herself in a very difficult situation, literally a life and death situation. She neded all the wisdom she could get.
She did not rely on her human wisdom. Instead, she relied totally on God's wisdom. She asked the women to fast (and to pray). Then she rose and put her plan into practice. God gives us wisdom when we ask for it. The only condition is that we ask and do not waver.
James 1:5-7
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver for a person with didvided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James does not mince words. He says: Need wisdom? Ask God. But make sure you are fully trusting him and not having a bet both ways.
I believe that even though she was probably a little fearful, Esther fully trusted that God would show her what to do and how to approach the king. Wisdom is about Action. It is not just a good idea. Wisdom is about how to put the idea into practice in a way that is of benefit.
Joseph sought God for wisdom, when he was brought before Pharoah, and he was given wisdom, not only for what the dream meant, a gift of knowledge that God gave him, but also what action Pharaoh shoud take.
Joseph was also an alien in a strange land. But by totally trusting in God, by not wavering, both he and Esther were able to save people; the beginning of the Israelite nation with Joseph and for Esther the Jewish people of the diaspora.
What do you need wisdom for today?
God says ask him, without wavering. Trust him completley and he will show you. Ensure that when he shows you that you put it into practice. Wisdom is not just a nice idea, its about practical solutions.
Concluding thoughts
The three points - loyalty, honour and wisdom are actually closely connected.They exist together in people. You cannot be loyal if you are dishonouring. If you have wisdom, you will act in a way that is both loyal and honouring towards others.
Honour is something that we ascribe to others, and we show in a practical way by being loyal, and by choosing to act with God's wisdom.
What is God asking you to work on this week? Is it wisdom, loyalty or honouring others?
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