Precarious Solution

I was told by several members that I preached a G rated version of the R rated tale of Ruth and Boaz-It is summer and children are present in the congregation-I'll let you be the judge. enjoy!

Sermon Ruth 3:1-18 July 16, 2017 Ordinary Time

Precarious Solution

I looked up the word precarious in the Merrium-Webster online dictionary because I wanted to be sure of its meaning before I used it in the title of today’s sermon. I wanted to be absolutely sure I didn’t misrepresent the word as it relates to Ruth and Naomi in this situation of their lives. And the  Definition of precarious. 1 : depending on the will or pleasure of another. 2 : dependent on uncertain premises : dubious precarious generalizations. 3a : dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developmentsb : characterized by a lack of security or stability that threatens with danger.

After listening to the text this morning, I would definitely have to agree that Naomi took a huge risk with her daughter-in-law Ruth that night.

Naomi was concerned for her future and the future of Ruth. Already the

two had taken enormous chances coming back to Bethlehem to find their way after the tragic loss of their husbands and their livelihoods.

Clearly, these two are dependent on the will or the pleasure of another.

They seek out a way to have food and Ruth gleans in a field. Which ‘just so happens’ to be the field of a ‘kinsman’, a relative.

The sovereignty of God is all over this story.

As Ruth falls under the protection of Boaz who owns the fields, she is able to glean more than is needed for herself and for Naomi.

God is clearly present, working the behind the scenes, ever present, ever watching.

The plan set forth by Naomi for Ruth to enter into the presence of Boaz on the threshing floor is a risky situation, to say the least.

It’s one thing to fall into one’s favor to receive the choice leftovers from the field; but an entirely different story to think a forward proposal for marriage will be accepted.

But, for Naomi, she determines this risk is their only hope for the future.

These women are already vulnerable in a patriarchal society.

Yet, they throw themselves into chance circumstances,

unknown conditions,

in a place where Ruth’s actions

could threaten her safety and

place her in utmost danger.

And Naomi endorses and encourages it!

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Tangled in this mess is the story of love.

Mixed in the innuendos is the message of acceptance.

Woven through the action on the threshing floor is redemption.

When we look around us-

and I don’t mean just here among us-

but out there among people we know,

or people we hear about-

there are some of the oddest matches of people.

People who are friends

or couples,

or business partners,

are people you would never have dreamed of belonged together.

And yet, somehow, in some strange way, as you learn about them-it is clear they-in their uniqueness-they are a perfect match-God ordained-one might say.

We have this crazy assumption about how the traditional family is supposed to look.

And we get our assumptions, we say, from Scripture!!!

We assume the make-up of families is like the Leave it to Beaver show of the 60’s.

And yet, we have our own Lord and Savior Jesus born to a woman in the most unusual, and scandalous, circumstances. Her fiancé was ready to ditch her until he was stunned by the power of God through the words of an angel.

The story of God’s people is filled with a mismatch of personalities and of nationalities and of a whole lot more.

Perhaps that’s where the story of love comes in.

There is an unexplainable attraction that brings the two together.

From an outsider looking in there is nothing good about their relationship.

There is an age difference,

they are from opposite ends of the country,

one is a city dweller, the other from the holler,

one with a degree and the other a laborer.

God’s love for us draws the strangest folks together as a people called the ‘people of God.’

God chose Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, all of which had personalities that would make us all worry about our future. God chose Tamar, Rahab; women who many would have shunned.

God pours out hesed-grace-unmerited love on all these unions, whether marriage, or partners, or neighbors, or townspeople, or congregations.

As people fall in love with each other in the most precarious circumstances, God’s hesed-grace-unmerited love is pouring down and sealing their bond.

Ruth has been identified more than once in this story as a Moabite woman.

She is a descendent of the daughters of Lot-as told in Genesis.

She worshiped other gods,

she looks different-

she comes from another country-

she speaks a different language-

and yet,

God doesn’t hesitate to let her

into the story of salvation.

It’s remarkable how these stories in the Bible to which we trace our heritage are filled with people who shouldn’t belong.

What we learn is Boaz, who is placed in an embarrassing moment with Ruth, has it in his power to ruin her life.

She has placed herself in a threatening situation

and Boaz chooses to accept her

and protect her as an equal!

Wow!

The question for us is: ‘have we ever been in such dire circumstances that we would risk our safety, our reputation, our life to get what we need to survive not knowing the outcome and being completely dependent on someone else’s hoped for kindness?’

And if we can’t relate to that question,

then have we ever been approached by someone

who put us in an awkward situation

and instead of exposing them,

we accepted them and protected them?

We can preach acceptance all we want but when we are tested in the most precarious circumstances such as in this story-it causes us pause.

In 1974, my pastor-the one who officiated my marriage to Mike-had a predicament before him. Mike’s sister was in love and they wanted to be married. However, theirs was an unconventional relationship. She was a blonde white girl and he was a dark, black man-with African American and Native American heritage. As a pastor he was filled with the dilemma of whether or not to accept them as a couple and officiate their wedding. He prayed, he searched the Scriptures, he wrestled with God. He announced to them, to the congregation, and to the family-he saw nothing in scripture to prevent their marriage but everything to accept their love as in the Lord. And so, an example was set, just as God has loved us, so we are to love one another.

We have these stories in Scripture to continuously remind us to place ourselves within each character. As we experience the story through the different lenses we offer ourselves to God to allow us to experience God’s presence in the life of each. These stories are for the formation of God’s people from one generation to another. They are to remind us that God’s grace and God’s acceptance of all kinds of mismatches has been around since the beginning.

Finally, we discover the power of redemption-the will to save. Boaz, known in other translations as the kinsman redeemer, not only offers love and acceptance to Ruth, but he paves the way to save her and Naomi.

If redemption means to restore, to reconcile, to renew, to recover that which was lost, then Boaz is acting in a manner that will do just that for Ruth and Naomi.

We trust God to be the one who provides for our redemption through the grace of Jesus Christ.

We trust God to be the One to save people.

Yet, in this Old Testament story,

we are reminded that God moves through his people.

We are not inactive participants in the work of God’s salvation in the world.

We have a job to do.

Let us remember to live with the power of God’s love, acceptance, and salvation with every breath we take.

Amen. 

Love & Loyalty

Sermon Ruth 1:1-19 June 25, 2017 Ordinary Time

Love & Loyalty

Love, commitment, joy, sweetness, are all the wonders we hear when people get married. June & July are the months that seem to be alive with weddings and anniversary celebrations. In our own two congregations, we have each had the pleasure of celebrating a nuptial in our sanctuaries.

I think we are still fascinated with weddings.

We witness all the froo froo and just enjoy watching two people make a commitment to each other and then seal it with their vows.

I often ask couples who have been together for years,

why they even want to get married when they’ve proven their commitment through the way have lived their lives together.

Their response is most often the desire to make their commitment public-to ‘seal the deal’, so to speak. Living together through commitment is one things but, making vows to each other are clearly another thing altogether.

Whether people believe in God or not,

God is present wherever vows are made.

Marriage vows, whether in a church, a courthouse,

a field somewhere, are made before God.

Vows are binding.

Vows are not to be made lightly.

They are for a lifetime-unless one partner breaks the vow-and that’s a whole other story-they are what seals us, and sticks us like a magnet to the other.

In this story, Ruth makes a vow to Naomi-it is one we’ve often heard at weddings. The story behind those words is worth your time learning about. And that is what we will do beginning today.

The story of Ruth is really the story about Naomi.

 It is a story about turning.

It is a story about God’s impact and influence in the lives of others.

It is about grace and mercy. It is about a woman who suffers so much, without the possibility of rising above the miserable circumstances which have befallen her.

Naomi had nothing to do with the tragedy that came upon her.

We are often so quick to judge and this story puts calamity in perspective.

Sometimes horrible things happen to ordinary, regular people. ‘It is what it is.’

Naomi, with her husband, moved from her homeland to a foreign country to find food. During difficult times, people seek to find the way to turn their circumstances around. Sometimes it’s through a move, a change of jobs, or a change of environment. To turn in a new direction and to leave behind everything is a challenge in itself. Naomi and her husband Elimelech did just that.

They lived as foreigners in the land of Moab. While there her sons married. They were there for more than ten years. Then within a short period of time all the men died.

Tangent: While Ruth is part of the lineage to King David and therefore also the lineage to Jesus, the story seems to also be a significant parable. Because in the telling of the story the names of the characters signify their fate-Mahlon means sickness, and Chillion means failure. However, Elimelech means, God is my King.

Naomi was left a widow and a childless mother.

Her daughter in laws were also childless. So, here in this foreign place to which Naomi had turned and moved to with the intent to build a new life, has now left her utterly alone with no future. So, she struggles with what to do. In a culture that is not your own, it is really difficult to navigate problems and solutions. Naomi has heard that things had improved in her homeland and so she turns and faces the place from which she came. She decides to go back to Bethlehem and the customs she understand for widows. She still has a relative left alive so she chooses to go to his house and rely on the Jewish custom of caring for the family.

All of us here have moved at one time or another.

We know what it’s like to pick up and all of our belongings and plunk down in a new place.

It’s hard.

Even if the move was to something exciting and wonderful, it is still hard.

Even if the move was just down the street from the old house, it is still like starting over because the neighbors are different and new relationships have to be built.

Naomi’s decision to move in the first place was for survival because of famine.

Now her decision to move is again based on survival.

This time because of culture.

As a woman, she could not be independent and was required to be under the protection of a male.

As she is thrown into another survival situation her heart turns bitter.

She is bitter to her circumstances,

she is bitter to her surroundings,

she is bitter toward her God.

She cannot see any good in her life.

And this is where the grace of God enters into the life of Naomi through the words of a woman who worships other gods.

Here in this beautiful story is the beginning of how one woman’s emptiness is turned to hope, and then to fullness.

As you go home today and read this short Old Testament story you discover the power of God at work in the people that surround Naomi. Four short chapters.

God is in the business of constantly surprising us through the grace and mercy offered in unimaginable ways.

Naomi had her way set and turned toward Bethlehem.

In her bitterness, she cuts off the very people who love her. Her daughter in laws adore her and only want to stay with her. But, she sends them away hoping for them they can begin a new life with another husband. Orpah obeys her and leaves. But, Ruth, as stubborn as she is, disobeys.

In our lives we do the same, we get so caught up in our grief, or our bitterness, or our hurt, that we cut off and cut out the very people who love us most.

I’ve heard it asked by some special folks over the years,

‘Why do people stop coming to church when they experience hardship?

Isn’t church the very place where people love and support you through the hard times?’

In our emotional turmoil of things, we tend to behave in some crazy ways.

It’s in times like those that we need a Ruth in our life.

We need a Ruth to ignore our ever so rational and logical statements and tell us like it is.

We need a Ruth to hold on tighter to us when we try to shake her off and get her out of our life.

We need a Ruth to grab us around the waist and hold on to us saying she will never let us go.

We need a Ruth to say she loves us forever, she loves us no matter what we say to her, she loves us even if we try to leave her.

We need a Ruth in our lives who makes a vow to bind herself to us.

Friends, I hope more than anything, that we the church, can be the Ruth for those who need a Ruth in their lives.

We have a job to do.

Let us be faithful for those who struggle to be faithful.

Let us be faithful to those whose lives need a binding.

Let us be faithful even when we are pushed aside.

Let us be the lineage that holds firm to a future we don’t even know.

Let us learn how to be Ruth for the world. Amen.