A Study on the Book of Jonah - "Are We Ready?"

This is a book about mission and engagement. God asks us to partner with him in reaching out to the community around us with the good news of Jesus. This is our mission. The book of Jonah explores whether we are we prepared to embrace this mission? It asks, ‘Are we ready’?

Jonah himself was given a mission. Read Jonah 1:1-3.

Jonah’s mission was to go to a place called Nineveh and convince them of the error of their ways (1:2). We know that Jonah, rather than going to Nineveh, fled in the other direction, even seeking to escape the presence of the Lord (1:3). Nineveh is due east – Jonah heads due west … as far as he could possibly go … to Tarshish. Jonah couldn’t deny God’s call – so he had to try to lose God’s voice from his head. Jonah was trying to offer his resignation!

We are given possible reasons for Jonah’s reluctance (1:2). These reasons for reluctance to obey God could resonate with us. These are worth considering, even though the biggest reason behind Jonah’s reluctance is revealed later.

Nineveh was a big city – the capital of Assyria – so seemingly this was a big task. Also, this was a nation not known for its friendliness to Jews, in fact was a traditional enemy of God’s people in Israel. And Jonah was asked to face off against “wickedness” and call people to account. The Assyrians could be brutal, and tolerated commercial exploitation. Nineveh was known as the ‘robber city’, looting neighbouring places. One could only imagine the variety of transgressions that Jonah would encounter, and the opposition that he would imagine coming up against. If he was to tackle injustice, violence and abuse in that place, he would be likely to become a victim himself … or so he must have thought. Reluctance or resistance usually comes down to fear. Perhaps Jonah was stuck in pre-conceived notions as to how he would be received, and couldn’t move past these. Thus there was a tension between Jonah’s level of faith and God’s call on his life. As we shall come to see, there was something else in the back of Jonah’s mind as well!

What Jonah failed to realise was that if God calls someone to a task, God will also equip them for that task. Not only this, but as this is God’s mission, not just a human endeavour, God would be present personally in this effort. This would still be the case … for individuals, and certainly for churches on mission together. So Jonah, it seems, lacked faith in what God could do. And, as we come to see, these pre-conceived notions about failure were completely unfounded. Change may have seemed improbable, but that’s just a way a human would think!

Now, this escape attempt doesn’t work out too well! Running from God and his purpose for your life is very unlikely to lead to better places or safer pastures. As we know from Psalm 23, ‘green pastures’ are found inside of God’s will. There was a “mighty storm” that threatened to break up the ship that Jonah was travelling on. While Jonah slept, perhaps in some state of apathy or denial, there was general panic on board. The sailors all cried out to their gods and took practical steps to lighten the load. Ironically, it was the ship’s captain, hoping for a miracle, who had to wake Jonah up and suggest prayer to him. And when the crew came to the opinion that it was Jonah’s fault that they were in this threatening position, they sought answers from Jonah. To discover that Jonah was trying to flee his God made them even more scared for their lives.

At this moment Jonah had the self-realisation that this storm was all his fault. One couldn’t ignore God without repercussions … and these repercussions are not confined to the disobedient party. Larry Richards writes, “Our lives and the lives of others are woven together; we cannot disobey God without in some way affecting others for ill”. The only way that these other sailors could be safe, was if Jonah was thrown overboard. In 1:12 we read … [Jonah] said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you”. A statement made with new understanding and the beginnings of repentance.

Yet this directive to throw Jonah overboard was seen as extreme by the sailors, even in this situation, because of the guilt and responsibility they would feel for Jonah’s probable demise. So they kept trying to save the ship. But, reluctantly, when they seemed to be left with no alternative, for reasons of self-preservation, they chucked Jonah over the side. Jonah, it would seem, would be doomed.

However, in a spiritual sense, Jonah was already on the way back to God. He had admitted taking the wrong path. Instead of drowning, Jonah was scooped up by a great big fish, and found some temporary accommodation in this fish’s belly. Now for a re-think! Over the next three days and three nights in the fish’s belly, Jonah got to engage in some serious reflection and prayer.

Read Jonah 2:2 … I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Remember that fear, that lack of faith, exhibited by his attempted flight – what was that!?! And where did it leave Jonah. Jonah recalls his recent experience, a near-death experience, and comes to this conclusion –

Read Jonah 2:7-9 …

As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord (2:7-9).

What was the “vain idol” Jonah struggled with? A reliance on self perhaps – a preference for seeing things his own way! Jonah had not fully committed to God, and thus experienced a blip on the radar. He had gone missing for a while. But, here’s some good news! God had never lost sight of Jonah, and now he was back! The anxiety-ridden incident on the ship had taught him something. The place to be is where God wants you to be! And for Jonah that was to be Nineveh. Jonah had broken his covenant with God, but now that had been restored. So the fish now spewed Jonah out on to dry land.

Take two! Read Jonah 3:1-5.

We would note how quickly the people of Nineveh responded, and on mass (including the king – 3:6-9). Any pre-conceived notions of failure were indeed misplaced! God had gone before Jonah, and prepared the people in advance to receive the prophet’s message (once he was prepared to step up)! It was an extreme message, related in very few words (3:2b). But it obviously, in that time and place, connected with the hearers in a big way. Jonah did not need to spell out what the required response was. It was understood naturally and acted upon spontaneously. There was clearly a dissatisfaction … that was looking for a solution.

The evil and violence being committed in that city was occurring through habit … it’s just how they lived, it’s just what they did; and they lacked any alternative course. No one was happy about that state of affairs … but what could be done about it? When the message of the prophet of God came, the people were ready for something new (more positive and life-giving).

In 3:10 we are reminded about the God of second chances, even in the most dark of circumstances. God sends prophets NOT TO CONDEMN, but to seek repentance, change and transformation. This is all consistent with Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the prodigal son. Just one step back in the right direction, and God is there with open arms. This threat then resolution dynamic … reminds us how deeply God is seeking right living. God is passionate about our lives bearing fruit, and not being wasted (with idols or evil). We note that God positively responded to the people practically turning from their evil ways (not just the outward fasting and mourning).

NOW, YOU WOULD THINK WITH RESULTS LIKE THIS, THAT JONAH WOULD BE DOING HANDSTANDS, CARTWHEELS & HIGH-FIVES ALL OVER THE PLACE!!

But, Read Jonah 4:1-5.

We see here that other reason, maybe the main reason, why Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh. Not just fearing the possibility of failure, Jonah also feared the possibility of success. What’s going on there?!? Sometimes we may prefer certain people to get their just desserts … rather than changing and receiving the same grace we have received. Jonah was actually happy with the dire judgment he envisaged over Nineveh (they were such a violent threatening people)! It would be good, in Jonah’s mind, if another nation came and did to them what they had done to others!

It’s NOT that Jonah was ignorant about God’s character. Jonah knew what God was about … “gracious, merciful, slow to anger/patient, abounding in steadfast love” … Jonah knew that God’s intentions are always towards transformation; HE JUST DIDN’T LIKE IT!

Sometimes we might be involved in the mission, but have a negative view of the outcome. Worse, we may not be ready for the turnaround – not ready to receive people who have freshly experienced God’s grace. They may still be pretty rough, and just at the beginning of God’s work within their lives. We are actually all still a little rough around the edges (in the process of change). We sometimes deny this with a bit of ‘appearance management’. Who are we to deny others grace – who was Jonah to deny Nineveh grace!!

Jonah went off to sook. Worse than that, he wanted to reverse God’s lifesaving work in his life, and die! This was like the character of Javert (the town policeman) in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, who would rather die than accept that Jean Vanjean could change (from sinner to hero).

But of course God wasn’t finished with Jonah. God took Jonah on a process of understanding (as described in 4:6-11), which we hope Jonah came to fully appreciate.

Read Jonah 4:6-11.

Jonah was worried about the loss of shade that was gifted to him without any effort on his part. This surely pales into insignificance when faced with the big picture of ‘lostness’ in Nineveh and ‘despair’ in the world generally. And this also pales into insignificance when compared to the creative crafting of the world and all its inhabitants and features that God has invested in. Jonah, it seems, was too focussed on his own sense of righteousness, thus ignoring the needs of others. Sometimes we would prefer vindication – an acceptance that we are right – above all else. However, this neglects God’s mission to the outermost. The grace Jonah felt personally (expressed in his earlier prayer – chapter 2), has not transferred into his feelings toward others. Jonah has been exposed as being ‘small-minded’.

Maybe Jonah has had a bad personal experience with Nineveh we have heard nothing about. Can we accept that God may want to forgive someone who has hurt our community or offended us personally, even using us to express this grace? Do we really believe that God is full of mercy, such that we actively offer it to others?? Might we sing about God’s love in church, but restrain it outside these walls!

The reality is that God deeply cares for what he has laboured over – a great city – over 120,000 people – and lest we forget our responsibility over the wider creation, animals are mentioned as well (4:11). In the magnificent last verse, God has an emotional investment in all that he has created. What God has created and deemed “very good”, God will want to redeem and restore relationship with. Are we ready to partner with God in bringing transformation to people’s lives and the community around us? Are we ready to receive, welcome and offer hospitality and care to those who start to appreciate the light?

This involves engaging. We should never be content with occupying a seat on Sundays or going through the religious motions. Yes, God brings the growth, but God chooses us to make the connections. Usually we don’t even have to ask how – we already have neighbours and opportunities to serve in various community groups. We are God’s hands and feet, channels of God’s blessing!

Jonah first ran, and then didn’t align easily with God’s compassion and love. We leave Jonah with the sun beating down on his head, wondering (refer 4:8). We should wonder what happened next in Jonah’s life. Did he get it? Did he grow? The book carrying Jonah’s name challenges us to get on board with God. 

"Whose Approval Counts?" (Proverbs 29:25)

Who do we seek approval from?

When we want to feel appreciated and valued where do we look?

Who do we look to for acceptance?

The need for approval and acceptance is something planted deep within us, as is evident from an early age. The thoughts and opinions of parents matter to their children. What my mother and father thought about me as I was growing up meant a whole lot. Their thoughts and opinions could crush me or lift me in a moment. As we are made for relationship we are also made for approval, and though our parents are often the first ones to give this (or withhold it from us), the truth is that we seek this approval from others all the time. Our sense of approval consciously or unconsciously affects our thoughts, choices and actions every day [with acknowledgement to Jonathan K Dodson here].

This can also lead to ‘appearance management’ (or, ‘impression management’), where we try to be more than we are; we ‘fluff up’ our resume a bit, or talk ourselves up because we just want to be accepted. Ultimately though, the truth will be seen, and in any case, this doesn’t really make us feel any better. We are trying to enhance our reputation ahead of developing our character.

Sometimes we need so much applause.

I know that sometimes when I have posted something on Facebook, I have waited and hoped a certain person will put a ‘like’ there. This is but one example of seeking to build our own feeling of self-worth on the basis of what another person might think. Needing human approval sets up co-dependencies. Men can be dependent on the approval of women, and women on the approval of men. Men seek approval from other men, women from other women. All this is fraught with danger! This is because many times what we think we need, we just do NOT get.

We seek approval from those who are just as broken, if not more broken, than ourselves. If we look into a broken mirror we will only see distorted messages. People often set themselves up as judges, but mostly are not very good ones (judges). And we can be really undone through the criticism of others. This leads to broken relationships, and the inability to deal with relationships properly.

We know the negative power of internalising the non-acceptance of others (as if this is all there is to be known). Sometimes our habit of negative self-talk means that we only hear statements of disapproval.

We want to be liked, accepted and included; we don’t want to be left out.

An ‘approval addiction’ is based on the false idea that I can’t like me unless you like me. This very thing would tend to compromise our behaviour at times, behaving in ways aimed at inclusion, rather than growing who we really are. Rather than doing what is right for us, we do what is desired by others according to their agenda. We sometimes say “yes” to something we really didn’t want to do. We do and say different things for different people, depending upon the predicted response, thus fracturing our lives. We can start to be led by the wrong people down a slippery slope! Sometimes this occurs in something of an unconscious blind spot for us – something that we don’t really recognise in ourselves.

Others don’t want to be challenged by us, so they will seek to get us to conform to their image. A guy called Jesus resisted this himself many times in his life.

So many people bring a variety of expectations of us, some fair, some not so fair. Trying to address such expectations or please these people can leave us in a spin, tied up in knots. This is such a trap! I’ve been here!! I can talk about this with some personal experience. I used to desire approval from my teachers … and I was destroyed when I didn’t get it. For others it might be a colleague, a teammate, a coach, or a partner. And I know that it can be a long journey to that point of no longer internalising negatives. I’m probably still on that journey.

This proverb (29:25), like so many in the Bible, really makes sense:

The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.

It’s not that we’re afraid of other people so much (although sometimes we may be), it’s more that we’re deeply concerned with what they think about us or say about us.

Another version of this proverb (from “The Message”) reads:

The fear of human opinion disables, trusting in God protects you from that.

People in the public eye get a lot of feedback … in the newspapers, in social media. The poison tongue of human opinion can disable a person (in a spiritual and emotional sense) just as much as being hit by a bus can (in a physical sense).

People playing competitive sport get all sorts of things yelled at them over the fence (as do umpires). For followers of AFL, think of Adam Goodes, and all the commentary he had to deal with. I’m not saying Adam Goodes is an approval seeker per say, but using him as an example of what sporting people in the limelight, and many others, have to endure. Some people say to people like Adam Goodes that they should ‘harden up’. Really!?! This would not be any sort of solution for a person struggling with the opinion of others – it just represses them and isolates them further.

People struggling with the criticism of others need healthy and encouraging community around them to help rebuild their sense of value. If it is often said, that it takes at least one hundred pieces of real encouragement to offset one cutting putdown. Yet what is needed is for us to start with that first single offer of encouragement.

As natural as it is at times, we should NOT look to others for our approval or sense of value. Only God can really fill this void.

For those of us who believe in God, there is another way.

The Bible suggests (in the very same proverb) that there is safety in trusting in God.

How so?!? The world has the appearance of a dangerous place.

Where is the security in trusting in God?

This trust would be based on an unconditional love that reaches out beyond any offences, shortcomings and personality flaws.

God has created us all in God’s own image, and therefore only sees potential.

God loves us all intimately and has a purpose for our lives.

God rejects no one who comes for help.

As we shall soon reflect on over Easter … God sent his son Jesus into the world to show us how much he cares for us.

God is available to us every day in every situation.

When life gets on top of us, God wants to hug us.

There is our value – there is our approval – let us reflect on that!

The Christian Gospel promotes that we can embrace God, and then learn to be our true self.

A new appreciation of God’s radical love can break through all the old cruel remarks that have burned into out brain over the years. The approval that God brings can liberate us from damage done in the past; and when the next cruel remark or unthinking action occurs, we can more easily ignore it, and forgive it, and NOT internalise it – because all our sense of value rests in God. This level of security is deep and enduring. The only thing we should internalise is God’s gracious love, and the caring and encouraging voices that are speaking to us on God’s behalf. We have been rescued from the need for human approval.

What the young people of our town need are good supporters. Good supporters are those whose hearts and hands are full of love and encouragement. This follows an ultimate example. God is a loving parent and a keen supporter and a loyal friend.

"Standing Out in the Crowd" (Daniel 3)

What would you like to be known for?

What about Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego? What were they known for?

Last week we studied Daniel’s test. When he was commanded not to worship any other than King Darius, he carried on nonetheless to pray with his windows open, in praise and intercession, three times a day (Daniel 6:10). This ultimately led, under the miracle-working hand of God, to an escape from the lions, and a complete change in the attitude of King Darius. Daniel chose allegiance to God over allegiance to the king, to great effect. Daniel expressed his primary citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

This week, under the previous king Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel’s friends, also exiled Jews, also high-ranking public servants, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, are commanded to directly worship a “golden statue” … an idol of the King’s own creation … ridiculously large and completely self-indulgent – this also under threat of death if they did not (refer verse 12). The king was seeking to exercise maximum power over people. [in chapter 6, King Darius had to be tricked into this sort of behaviour, but with King Nebuchadnezzar, he already had a hugely inflated ego.]

For Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, this was totally opposed to what they had come to appreciate in their lives. They worshipped their real and living God – a gracious God who offered people an opportunity to worship Him, not through compulsion and threat, but through their free choice. What would it have meant if they actually worshipped this statue and meekly come under this king’s power?? Would it have mattered?? Others, either apathetically or fearfully, succumbed!

It certainly would have suggested that all Gods/gods were equally deserving of worship; and you could switch allegiance depending on circumstance and self-interest. It wouldn’t have said much about the capabilities and faithfulness of the real and living God, if these ‘boys’ had succumbed to the pressure! Having said that, this was serious pressure.

There are various ways we can be derailed!

There are various interests competing for our loyalty!!

And there can be pressure brought to bear.

It is sometimes very subtle.

There are various challenges to our focus or commitment!

There are various alluring temptations!!

There are various responsibilities that we need to prioritise!

How do we decide these matters?

Where is our measuring stick??

Are we leaders or followers? If a leader, who do we follow? If a follower, who leads us??

What activities aid our progress, or conversely … what activities inhibit our growth?

The threat that Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego faced, seemed even more severe than Daniel’s, because this came right out of the ego and ambition of King Nebuchadnezzar himself (he didn’t need to be manipulated). Just simply worship as I say, and avoid the fiery furnace! Fail to worship as I say, and the “furnace of blazing fire” awaits. Nebuchadnezzar clearly had the expectation that these three would buckle.

There is this staggering statement by the king (verse 15b), “… who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands”. King Nebuchadnezzar is saying that there can be no greater force or higher authority than him. No one can overrule his decisions. He, the king, is the ultimate judge. He defies any other being or ‘god’ to overrule him. There is such arrogance in this statement. There is here the cultural assumption that there is no greater power or authority to be concerned with. Is that not also prevalent today … an unawareness of any greater authority through which to assess/examine/evaluate our moral and ethical behaviour. So, says the king, give in, join the mob, just worship what I say to; like everyone else is doing!

How did these three guys respond?? A basic ‘No’!

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (with Daniel) had been tempted by this same King Nebuchadnezzar previously (in chapter 1). There was an attempt to get them to buy into the whole extravagant and elevated palace lifestyle. In their minds this would have clearly dented their primary relationship with God. They wanted to stand out in their faith, not be absorbed into something else. It’s interesting how temptations keep returning in different guises, but each tend towards depleting our relationship with God and our possibility of growth.

It was ‘no’ then, and it is ‘No’ now!!

Verse 16 has the statement of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, that “we have no need [O king] to present a defence to you in this matter”. Their lives stood as their own testimony. No point debating – words are unlikely to help in this instance. They would just be … who they are … in God! This would need to be enough. This is why we have to let God do a deep work within us, so our life would be enough witness, without the need for words. Sometimes people are deaf to words, but open to the example of a lifestyle. Of course they wouldn’t worship a false god when they knew the real God! These ‘boys’ knew they were smack bang in the middle of God’s will for them, and that’s where they would stay.

Sometimes our bad decision-making puts us in danger. Ironically, it was good decision-making that put these ‘guys’ at risk.

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego do not doubt the power of their God to rescue them from the king’s furnace, but they have no right to presume that he will do so. If God happens not to rescue them (in a physical sense), they are ready to take the consequences of rejecting the king’s wishes, rather than compromise. Yet they also knew that God will be with them in all circumstances and situations, including any sufferings, that lie ahead. They act from the depths of their belief system (irrespective of the consequences). The continual application of faith builds courage! And it is courage (and the encouragement of others), that takes us beyond our comfort zones into the places where God would have us be!!

As you might imagine, this stirred up an arrogant man to even greater anger and the severest of reaction. Such was the king’s state of mind, that he would not have thought it possible that anyone could have stood against him. He didn’t really want to destroy these men (for they were good workers) – he just wanted to control them. But the penalty was applied with extreme prejudice (v.19-22).

Yet to Nebuchadnezzar’s astonishment, while expecting to witness the end of these three, quite the opposite occurred. Three “bound” men had been thrown in to the raging furnace (where they were expected to last for only seconds), but four “unbound” men were visible (within the fire), untouched by the flames – with the “fourth” having the appearance of a [REAL?] god (refer verse 25).

This reminds me of words from the prophet Isaiah:

Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour (from Isaiah 43:1-3).

This also reminds me about another ‘test’ recorded in the Bible concerning worship. Right at the start of Jesus’ ministry, just after his baptism, he had that face off in the wilderness. We read in Matthew that Jesus was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). It’s like such temptations had to be soundly dealt with before Jesus could move on. It’s like sometimes we have to be tested before we can grow.

The third of Jesus’ temptations went this way:

Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to [Jesus], “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me” (4:8-9).

Now it’s irrelevant whether the devil could actually make good on a promise like this, the issue is the possibility of such a temptation. This is the human desire to want it all, to rise above others, to rule and exercise power … whether on the big stage of government or business, or on the small stage of family or community. But what idols or false ‘gods’ would we have to embrace to get there? [Likely these wouldn’t even be the right goals for us anyway!] What would be the outcomes of such behaviours unrestrained?? Broken and strained relationships! Unrealised expectations leading to all sorts of negative health outcomes! Not to mention the complete deadening of our spirit!!

Jesus, of course, handles this perfectly:

                                “Away with you, Satan, for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him’.”

                That dealt with that!! And what happened then??

                                                Then the devil left [Jesus], and suddenly angels came and waited on him (4:10-11).

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego got it right. Short-term gain could not override long-term loss. We put aside the false ‘gods’ of this world, and humbly worship the One True God that brings freedom and salvation. It was in the midst of faith and fire, that we see Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego “unbound” (verse 25) in the company of God.

What are the false ‘gods’ (or pervasive norms) of our time?? Materialism; personal fulfilment to the exclusion of others (individualism); power and control; bitterness, defensiveness and revenge; fame and success; comfort and ease; apathy; to be one’s own ‘god’ (without the threat of contradiction or change); unhindered living without accountability!?! Only you can decipher what alternative ‘gods’ you are tempted with, and make the needed determinations.

Here’s the key question:

What is it that would tend to stop you worshipping God? And if this is in the area of faith for you (where there might be fear or doubt), what might lie behind this in the past. If you need help with this, I strongly encourage you to seek help. Any sense of defeat, if nipped in the bud, can turn to victory very quickly. Though … negative feelings unchallenged, can be very problematical.

All our ambitions should be centred in God. Ambition outside of God’s will for our lives will only lead to anxiety. Contrary to worldly ambition, our leader Jesus denied himself to the point of sacrificial death with the ambition of opening a new path to God for all of us. True ambition is seen through the lens of loving God and serving others, not promoting self and stepping on others.

So we can be ambitious to become the best … fill in the occupation here … via seeking to please God and build-up others. This is very different to how worldly ambition often plays out. You can refer to a great short article on “ambition” by Greg Clarke (Bible Society Aust. CEO) in the February Eternity magazine.

For those who have abided in God, God has abided with them! Alas, those who have stood up for God don’t always survive in this life, but they always have this abiding presence in their suffering. The dichotomy between the consequences of a fallen world and the activity of a loving God is not always easy to work out. But this we know, Jesus promised to be with us always. Faith is again connected to God’s provision – there was a “fourth” person in that furnace!

That this “fourth” entity had made an impression on the king, we know from his next words, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, come out” (v.26)! It seems that the radical turnaround of both kings, Darius and Nebuchadnezzar, based on the strong testimony and committed actions of Daniel and the three friends, was immediate. Verse 28 reflects an amazing turnaround indeed. Yet, verse 29 shows that he, like Darius, had a long way to go before understanding fully the God that had been revealed to him.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood out in the crowd. But it was all about their own character, together with God’s faithfulness. They didn’t point the finger at others or judge others; just made sure they were on the right track themselves, and relied on the integrity of their faith in God. They didn’t stand aside from the community, indeed they embraced their civic responsibilities. They just made a difference where they stood, and lived lives that counted. They stood clearly for what they believed in, without erecting barriers between them and others.

It is only the true Jesus-followers who can change what we all bemoan, and restore people and communities to the way they should be.

When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood out in the crowd, God was standing with them!!

Daniel 6 - "New Citizenship"

Introduction

Sometimes, within the complexity of life, we find ourselves betwixt and between, or confused. We waver, and we worry about gaining approval, being accepted by people, even about being popular. Daniel gives us an example of being well-grounded, properly focussed, and thereby really effective within the community he lived. Daniel embraced the concept of being a citizen of heaven active on earth. In his life, Daniel had a strong sense of identity as one of God’s people.

Daniel has gained a good reputation in the Babylonian kingdom. Daniel was an exile from Judah, taken there when his nation had again been vanquished by the power to the north. But Daniel had been able to gain respect for his abilities in Babylon. Daniel was one who had heeded the words of Jeremiah some time earlier – to seek the welfare of the city in which he was living despite being in exile. Successive kings had come to value Daniel, and trusted him with positions of influence. Daniel had used his power well, and brought his God into a good light. We find him here (at chapter six) in the top-rung of government. Yet not everyone was happy about that! Some may not have liked that he was a foreigner. Some may not have liked that Daniel had demonstrated his faith in a God they did not know. Some may have just been outright jealous. So a plot was hatched!

For Daniel, this would be a challenge; a test of how real and deep his faith and commitment really was. How would Daniel react? Would he give in to this threat to his life? Would fear get the better of him? Whose approval would he ultimately seek? What sort of witness to the true God would he be? Would Daniel try to find some wriggle room? In Daniel chapter 1, he resisted the temptation to accept all the trimmings of distinguished life, preferring to stand somewhat apart, pointing towards a different primary allegiance. Daniel was not going to get caught up in the excesses of royal life, and be absorbed in the that self-serving culture. The palace was where Daniel worked, but not where he gave his ultimate loyalty. So the reader is already primed to expect that Daniel will succeed in staying true to himself. But we wouldn’t want to underestimate the threat of being torn apart by a pack of hungry lions.

The Plot against Daniel

Daniel had gained the respect of King Darius – he had “distinguished himself” in service, and was seen as having an “excellent spirit” (v.3). Even the plotters, no matter how hard they looked, could not find one thing that he could be accused of – “no negligence or corruption could be found in him” (v.4b). But for Daniel to become the number one man, over everybody and under only the king, that was too much for many. Self-interest, jealously, and reckless human ambition was going to be unleashed on the best government official Babylon (or Persia) could possibly have! And this involved a bizarre, yet dangerous, plan to manipulate King Darius into an awkward position. This was politics at its worst; as we see insincerity and personal agendas at play.

First you stroke the king’s ego … as if you’re his best friends and tightest supporters – “O King Darius, live forever” (v.6b)! Then come up with a suggestion that would make the king more powerful and revered: ‘Why don’t we make it illegal to worship anyone else but you’. ‘No prayers shall be offered unless they are to you’. This was something unusual in the usually tolerant Persian empire of the time. Yet offering the powerful even more potential power is often too alluring to resist. And then, you attach a death penalty to anyone who doesn’t take heed of this law! And then, you help set this law in concrete so there is no way out for anyone – a law so permanent even the king can’t change it afterwards. All this without ever letting on who your target is!!

King Darius was completely blindsided, as he would have had no idea that it was Daniel they were after. The king had been tricked, even though his ego had made it easy for the plotters against Daniel. Such was the reliable and public nature of Daniel’s faith in his God, these plotters knew they were potentially on to a ‘winner’! Daniel’s exposed form was such that there was no way he could not pray to his God for one day let alone thirty days!! The very real threat to Daniel, was not just the loss of his job and his place of influence, but the loss of his very life. What would he do? Try and see out thirty days without any obvious adherence to God? Pray in secret maybe? Run? Try to catch a plane to South America? No! Look at verse 10.

Daniel’s Response

In full knowledge of the possible repercussions, Daniel prayed for all to see … on his knees (with the windows of his house wide open) three times a day! What is most impressive about this is that this seems to be so instinctual, so natural; Daniel just continued to do exactly what he had been doing previously. This praying included “praise”, suggesting what? That God’s faithfulness to Daniel in the past would undoubtedly be experienced again. It’s as if he didn’t blink … had no second thoughts … but, any human would have to be affected by the level of this threat hanging over his actions. Yet, if we know what we are doing is right, and exactly what God would have us be doing, then in a way the threat becomes irrelevant. At least this is how Daniel seemed to think and act.

How could this be??

While Daniel lived, worked and served in Persia under King Darius, he was a citizen of a different kingdom. Through the ‘new testament’ we come to know this kingdom as the Kingdom of God. This is the Kingdom that we become a citizen of after we are born anew through accepting what Jesus has done for us. Yet, even in ‘old testament’ times we see individuals who were wholly and utterly God’s people – and Daniel is a primary example of such a one! God came first, and everything else had to fall in behind this primary allegiance. For me, verse 10 is the crescendo and highpoint of this story. Everything that follows is just the natural outflow of Daniel’s commitment.

What else did Daniel pray about??

Fair enough (as we read in verse 11) that Daniel was actively praying for God’s mercy (likely to be applying this to his own current situation). But from what we know about Daniel, it is likely that he was also praying for the bigger picture: for the nation, for the king, for his enemies, for changed hearts, that things could turn around to the good. Through this Daniel would have been open to new insight and Divine encouragement. Daniel would also know that if he was to be thrown into the lion’s den, then God would be there with him.

We note that the windows of Daniel’s house were “open toward Jerusalem”!! For this is the place where his unshakable trust in God had begun. Sometimes when things in life get tricky, or we feel under attack, or we are in a flat spot, we need to open the window to our past assurances of God’s faithfulness. We need to lift the blinds in our rooms and seek the light to enter our darkness. We constantly need to draw on our experience of our ‘first’ love, and all those times when we just know that God is with us blessing us and teaching us and renewing us!

The Outcome

The plotters dob Daniel in, and demand the full force of the law, much to the king’s distress. King Darius, has discovered he has been manipulated and tricked, and wants to save Daniel, and obviously applies some delaying tactics. However, the king is put under extreme pressure, and feels locked into applying capital punishment. Yet still, King Darius, in full regret, hopes that Daniel can in some way survive (refer verse 16b); proposing that Daniel’s God may be able to perform this miracle. In a way, the king, with his hands tied behind his back, was trusting Daniel into God’s hands. Daniel’s life had truly touched the life of King Darius; for this king fasted and laid awake all night in concern for Daniel’s fate, and then rushed to the lion’s den first thing in the morning.

While Daniel may have been a pain to those other misguided officials, he was impressive to the king! And this may have alerted the king to the reality and truth of Daniel’s God. In the morning, King Darius calls out to Daniel with some level of hope and expectation (verse 20). Imagine, for a moment, the guilt this king would be carrying! And what further understanding has this king gained from his night of concerted reflection, when he refers to Daniel as the “servant of the living God”?! A new possibility has been raised in the king’s mind. When Daniel does survive, once again vindicating the rightness of his faith and the truth of his God, the king dispenses with the architects of this evil plot. The righteous one is vindicated, while Daniel’s enemies are defeated.

What King Darius then did to all those who plotted against Daniel, and not just them, but innocent family members as well, is extreme. This king still needed to learn a lot about measured justice. But the point being made here is that God delivered Daniel from a threat that was absolutely real! We also might notice that the law, once seen as irrevocable, that sent Daniel to the lions, was now set aside, under the greater authority of God. The king was liberated from his political straight jacket, and is able to act according to common sense. Daniel was to be released and re-established in his leadership; for surely God had deemed him innocent.

We might want to consider why Daniel survived. According to Daniel’s own words (in verse 22), this was because he was found to be, quote, “blameless” before both God and the king. And then the storyteller tells us (in verse 23) that Daniel was completely uninjured, “because he had trusted in his God”. God honours faith and commitment, and the contribution that Daniel can make … as a citizen of the Kingdom of God – bringing heaven to earth. “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This is not how it always turns out for the righteous, but it surely is exciting when it does. In this particular case what a testimony could be told, and it was none other than the king of Persia who told it (refer verses 25-27).

Conclusion

How did all this happen? Daniel’s safety, King Darius’ enlightenment, the vindication of God? Despite being under extreme pressure NOT to do so, Daniel took up his place of prayer, and showed all those around him, friends and detractors alike, that he was God’s person, and that his ultimate citizenship lay with the Kingdom of God. This gives great inspiration and hope to the modern-day followers of Jesus, that nailing our colours to the Jesus-mast, despite the cost, will have the most effective of outcomes.

"A New Start" (a sermon on John 3:1-21)

We have a character here named Nicodemus. Despite being a Jewish religious leader, he did not yet understand where his Scriptures pointed. Nicodemus was still in the dark. We are led to this conclusion because we are specifically told he came to Jesus “by night”. People will often come out at night, when daytime hours would clearly expose them and their life choices (refer v.19-20). John’s Gospel has a continuing theme throughout of light and darkness. People who were living in the “darkness” would be confronted by Jesus who was the “light”.

Nicodemus did have some appreciation for Jesus. He saw Jesus as a teacher and a miracle-worker. Changing water into wine at a wedding feast, and throwing people out of the temple who were disrupting worship, were seen as signs that Jesus carried the presence of God. In this, Nicodemus would have been well ahead of the rest of the Pharisees who were lining themselves up against Jesus. Here was a seeker! But perhaps this was more of an intellectual quest … more of the head than of the heart. Therefore Jesus didn’t present Nicodemus with a complete theology of who he was, but rather cut to the chase – he went to the personal … Jesus turned to Nicodemus’ own (greatest) need.

Whoever Jesus was, and surely Nicodemus was on the right track, the question is … how this is going to affect Nicodemus personally? It’s how each of us handle this good news deep into our personhood that is most important. We can argue about this or that as our mind carries us through various points of teaching, however this is all secondary to the work God wants to do within us. It is possible for a person to believe in the existence of God, and also in the worthiness of God’s law, but still remain the dark! How is this so??? They lack a personal relationship with God!!!

This would be the type of personal relationship in which one gets to know God, and personally experience all of what God wants to give to a person. A proper spiritual pursuit leads to a personal relationship with one’s creator. The terminology Jesus uses (in verse 3), depending on how this is translated, is being “born from above”, or “born anew” or “born again”. [in verse 8 add “born of the Spirit”.] What does it really mean to be “born again”? Now Nicodemus really has something of worth to ponder! This all suggests a new start!

Why (the need for) a new start?! The human state is often such that a minor repair or a ‘band-aid’ will never do! The wound is too great. A temporary repair job is just that … temporary. Sometimes we might just layer more and more things on to ourselves, to try to make ourselves feel better – e.g. activities, “works”, material goods, food, relationships. Yet the problem goes way too deep to be helped by any of these. We don’t need a ‘band-aid’, but an operation! We really need to strip everything back.

Nicodemus himself queries all this. This was new territory. This was unique thinking. Could you re-enter your mother’s womb and start again as a baby? No! We cannot reverse what has come before … the facts and history of our physical lives remain. This is a spiritual re-birth! We remain human as we were born human. We remain the physical age we are. But something deep and spiritual happens, meaning that we nonetheless have a new start. And such is the power of the Spirit, that a rebirth like this can change so much. Being “born anew” is not a reversal, but rather a spiritual revolution.

This was radical, and Nicodemus couldn’t quite get his head around it. Nicodemus brings the question, “How can these things be” (v.9)? In response to this Jesus sort of tees off on those who should have known better (v.9-12) … the religious “teachers” of the day, that seem to be resistant or unwilling to respond. Change! Humility! Not easy, when one has become so set in their ways! Yet human need is so plain to see!! The question Nicodemus put (v.9), gave Jesus the opportunity to address all those who were unprepared to step into the light … in his time, and beyond his time.

The answer … to be “born anew”! Where does being “born anew” begin?? Well, of course, it’s not really a ‘where’, but a ‘who’! Being “born again” begins with the person who was “lifted up” (v.14). This “lifting up” refers first to the “Son of Man” Jesus being lifted up onto a cross by a sinful humanity who did not recognise their visitation from God. This “lifting up” also refers to the way in which God glorifies, honours and exalts Jesus for his willing sacrifice for all humanity … that we see in the resurrection.

What we need to do is identify ourselves with this act of love and grace on the cross, and admit that this was for me! Then, as we experience forgiveness and cleansing, we are also able to participate in Jesus’ resurrected life. We are given a human identity at our first birth, the second birth brings a new identity closely aligned to Jesus (along with new citizenship papers)! Our new papers are marked, ‘citizen of the Kingdom of God’ (refer v.3).

This whole process is so beautifully and famously expressed in John 3:16. What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus?? It does not mean just intellectual assent to certain facts. To “believe” means to accept and appreciate all of what Jesus brings to a life. To “believe” means to completely buy into something, and to stake your life on its credibility. To “believe” is to wholly commit your life over to Jesus. To “believe” is to say ‘YES’ to God’s grace! To “believe” is to receive the offer of forgiveness, and then pass on that forgiveness to others. To “believe” is to follow in the Jesus way, seeking to emulate how he lived (in compassion and liberation). This all takes enough humility to accept we need help. And this all originates out of God’s enormous heart of love.

Where does being “born anew” lead?? Eternal life!! “Eternal life” is often misunderstood as meaning ongoing life after earthly death. This is part of it, but not where it begins. “Eternal life”, which really means “life in all its fullness”, begins in the here and now when we experience this new birth. “Eternal life” is living NOW in the assured and unending presence of God. We have already said that what we can embrace is the resurrected life of Jesus in all its victory (over negativity and death). We participate in the process of becoming like Christ (recovering that image of God that we were born into), by following Jesus now. We anticipate life in heaven, by living as citizens of heaven now.

How can we really appreciate this “eternal life” in the present??? In (corporate) worship; through participation in Jesus-centred community (where all the gifts of the Spirit are shared in the common good); in mutual encouragement and care; in service of our neighbour; through alleviating injustice; by expressing joy and peace in knowing Jesus. Sure cracks will appear – we remain human … vulnerable and fallible. Rough edges will emerge under pressure. Our progress can stall from time to time under life’s testing. Ultimately though, a fresh birth experience in Jesus has the potential of overcoming all past failures and hurts – break the chains that bind – and cause us to dance.

If we reflect back to our study of Ruth, we will remember how Naomi was broken and empty through the losses that she experienced. Having first been encouraged by the loving-kindness of Ruth, Naomi was then given, through her “kinsman-redeemer” Boaz, all that would make her life new again – land and descendants. Jesus is our “kinsman-redeemer”, in that when our life was lost to other interests, or struggling in guilt and shame, Jesus offers us a new start, where he takes all our burdens upon himself, and gives us a whole new way of living.

We see in verses 18-19 that people bring negative judgment or condemnation upon themselves for ignoring the light or resisting believing in Jesus. This is judgment by one’s own decision! This is because their (“evil”) deeds or their life-style reveals that they prefer the darkness. Or it may just be because, for any number of reasons, they just cannot come to terms with believing in the person and character of Jesus. Such a shame!! Such statements, rather than leading us to any sort of feelings of vindication or superiority, should actually move us and motivate us. For, “God so loved the world” – this is our blueprint too! Verse 17 says it all! Jesus came that none might be lost!!

If Nicodemus was willing, Jesus would take him on the journey of being “born anew”, from darkness to light, from night-time to morning. What further do we hear about Nicodemus? In chapter 7, Nicodemus courageously raises concerns about the Pharisees' blanket rejection of Jesus, suggesting that Jesus should be given a better hearing (7:50-51). And in chapter 19, Nicodemus assisted with Jesus’ burial after his crucifixion. I think these are telling words (John 19:38-40):

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

We see here a generous act of love beyond the norm. One imagines that the response of Nicodemus had moved from the head to the heart. What about us? Where are we on this journey?? Resisting? Or opening ourselves to something new?? Thinking about God and Jesus in an intellectual sense … just with the mind? Or opening all our lives to Jesus’ great gift of “eternal life – life in all its fullness”??

Ruth part three: "A New Future" (Ruth chapters 3 & 4)

1.     The Story So Far …

Naomi with her husband and two sons had previously moved from Judah to Moab because of a famine. First Naomi’s husband dies, followed later by the death of both her sons. Naomi is just left with her two Moabite daughters-in-law, and is in desperate grief. The famine ends in Judah, so Naomi sets off home to Bethlehem in Judah, with her daughter-in law Ruth determined to “cling” to Naomi. We reflected on the “loving-kindness” that was so extensively expressed in chapter one, especially in Ruth’s strong commitment to the well-being of Naomi.

Then when the young foreign woman Ruth is seeking food, and finds her way to the fields gleaning leftover grain, she is discovered there by a prosperous and well-regarded landowner in Boaz (who also happened to be a relative of Naomi). For Ruth, Boaz remarkably provides protection, wise advice and more access to food in his field than would ever have been expected. This was truly a blessing for Ruth – a sense of coming under the refuge of God’s wings. We reflected in chapter two, about the generous welcome and awesome hospitality that Boaz provided for this newly arrived foreign woman.

In both the “loving-kindness” of Ruth, and the extraordinary generosity of Boaz, we reflected that such attitudes and expressions come right out of the heart of God. And as we are called to be agents of God (and followers of Jesus), “loving-kindness” and warm generosity are attitudes and expressions that we are meant to emulate. And sometimes, as we have seen in the early chapters of Ruth, such expressions of love are often needed as against what might have become normal practice (i.e. fear, selfishness and exclusion).

2.     The Dilemma

Yet, Naomi, having moved back to Bethlehem, following the death of her husband and two sons, was still a destitute widow. Despite the kindness of Ruth, in returning with Naomi and providing food for her … Naomi’s life was still in tatters.

Ruth, despite having the love of her mother-in-law Naomi, and now the extraordinary generosity of Boaz, in allowing Ruth unlimited access to his fields and their bounty … Ruth remains another widow in limbo.

Is there a real way forward for either Naomi or Ruth? Given their respective losses, is there any way that life can feel fully blessed again for them??

What about any sense of human depletion? What about any of us? Can there still be a future when life has hit a brick wall??

3.     The Kinsman-Redeemer

Underlying chapters 3 & 4 is this role of the ‘next-of-kin’. Understanding all this is a little illusive – it’s not fully clear and things changed over time. It seems there was a parcel of land in Judah to be inherited from Naomi’s husband Elimelech. Because Naomi and Elimelech had been in Moab up until the time of Elimelech’s death, that land in Judah may have been sold off or leased out for someone else to farm (or otherwise surrendered and utilised by others). One could not leave land idle having moved away. Different to our time, such a sale or arrangement only applied until the time when a family member could buy this land back i.e. redeem it. Alternatively, this land may be, due to Naomi’s current poverty, up for sale now, but with a preference for a relative to purchase it (rather than having to be redeemed from another in the future). In any case, family property was never sold off permanently, ownership ultimately rested within a certain family line, who had the right to buy it back (if it had been temporarily let go).

A ‘next-of kin’ or close relative would be needed to do whatever it took to redeem that land for its original owner. In this case, responsibility would initially be with Elimelech’s closest known relative, and then if necessary pass down the chain. This role had become known as the ‘kinsman-redeemer’. There was also another role to perform for this so-called ‘kinsman-redeemer’ – a far more personal role. This ‘kinsman-redeemer’ could also make arrangements for the line of his relative/s, in this case Elimelech and Naomi, to be continued. As Naomi would have been too old to bear children, this ‘kinsman-redeemer’ could still fulfil this role by marrying Ruth, taking the role of Ruth’s deceased husband who had been Elimelech and Naomi’s son. Culturally speaking, any child from this marriage would be seen as providing an heir for Naomi.

4.     Overview of Chapters 3 & 4

Naomi thought that Boaz might be that “kinsman-redeemer”; she clearly hoped this would be the case. Naomi, then, thought that it would be a good idea for Ruth to make Boaz understand that, if he was of such a mind, she [Ruth] would be happy to have Boaz as her husband. Certainly Naomi had a scheme going to attract Boaz to Ruth … we might raise our eyebrows a bit, but her heart was in the right place, and Ruth was willing to go along with it (trusting Naomi’s judgment). This was something akin to throwing herself at Boaz; yet Boaz didn’t need too much convincing, while at the same time having honourable intentions. From Ruth’s side, she certainly wanted to do what was best for Naomi, and provide some security and descendants for her (if that was at all possible).

So not any man for Ruth, but rather the right man (for all concerned)! Ruth could have provided her own descendants through marrying any young man willing and available, but she could only address Naomi’s need of a male heir to inherit her deceased husband’s responsibilities, if she married a close relative of Naomi. This level of loving concern and kindness is behind Boaz’s comment to Ruth in 3:10: “May you be blessed by the Lord; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, rich or poor”.

Often being kind on a one-off basis is not that much of an issue, but continuing on with that kindness through challenging and self-sacrificing circumstances can really mark a person out. Ruth’s level of loving-kindness is crowned with this sense of loyalty (or selfless devotion)! Ruth continues to respond to Naomi’s feelings of emptiness, in the most active of ways.

Boaz, ever the gentleman, was NOT going to take advantage of the situation, as he was already aware that there was someone else who was a closer relative, and that this person may be prepared to be the “kinsman-redeemer”. There is no doubt that Boaz wanted the role, and wanted to be Ruth’s husband, but he had to go through the right channels. Boaz assures Ruth that he will act in her best interests, and also protects her reputation from any accusation of impropriety.

Boaz didn’t waste any time seeking to make contact, and again we see the hand of God in this, as that ‘closer relative’ “came passing by” (4:1). When this closer relative was unwilling to take on this “kinsman-redeemer” role in all its implications and responsibilities, then the way was clear for Boaz. This other relative was willing to redeem the land, but not take on the further responsibility of Ruth and producing a descendant. It seems that the financial implications, given his current situation, may have been too great (4:6). But we know, as the reader, that Boaz was the man of God’s choosing!

5.     A New Future

Boaz and Ruth plan to marry, and despite Boaz marrying a Moabite women, the community are able to add their blessing and celebrate (4:11-12). Perhaps this is because both Ruth and Boaz have great integrity, and have expressed such caring devotion to Naomi. Soon following their marriage, a son whose name was Obed was born. And Naomi, who had lost her sons, was now given the opportunity of participating in the upbringing of this new boy, who would be considered her descendent (refer 4:16). And not only Naomi’s descendent, but through the line of Boaz, Obed would be the grandfather of David, ultimately leading to Jesus (through Joseph).

Boaz was no doubt a very happy man. And Ruth would now have a secure future in Judah. But the biggest turnaround of all … was for Naomi. She was deeply and desperately depressed and grieving when she first returned to Judah. The community heard her cries: I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the Lord has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me? (1:21). Naomi was at her lowest point, even doubting the loving-kindness of God.

But now she has a descendant! Her prior emptiness caused by the death of her husband and sons, and the state in which this left her, has been alleviated. Life cannot actually be put into reverse, former loses remain abiding tragedies – but a new future, with new opportunity, can open up. We may need to live with the consequences of our past actions, but we do NOT have to live as a prisoner to them. Praise God! Naomi’s grief was displayed for the whole community to see, but now this same community can celebrate a huge turnaround.

The loving-kindness of God, sometimes doubted, has been made real through the actions of Ruth and of Boaz. Naomi’s empty life has been filled. No longer “Mara” (meaning ‘bitter’), Naomi is “Naomi” (i.e. ‘pleasant’) again! When there was no other source of hope, and where human resources had reached an end – God’s loving-kindness prevailed. As it turned out, God had NOT abandoned Naomi, as she had thought, far from it! There is a new completeness to Naomi’s experience of life (“Ruth is more to you than seven sons” – 4:15b).

Turnarounds in our lives can indeed stir the community around us, and that is why we need to tell the stories publicly of what God has been doing in our lives. Naomi’s community said (4:14-15):

Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.

6.     Our New Future

This is a model for a turnaround and a new future that all human beings can experience. This is especially the case in a spiritual sense, where, at the moment we think we might have lost God, God offers us the grace that brings forgiveness and defeats guilt and shame. We learn again that our home can be with God. This is where we belong, this is where we are accepted, this is where we are valued. When the criminal on the cross next to Jesus was at a complete loss, he humbly sought the grace of Jesus, and Jesus responded to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). There is another turnaround!

This spiritual renewal can then travel to all aspects of our lives, meaning that those troublesome facets of our lives … emotional, relational, behavioural and physical … can all be touched by the transforming power of God. This is surely a great model of the possibilities before us, right here and right now, as the child born to Ruth and Boaz, named in their joy by the whole community as Obed (meaning ‘servant’), was the grandfather of David, whose earthly line would progress through to Jesus himself. As Boaz was “kinsman-redeemer” for Naomi; so Jesus is “kinsman-redeemer’ for each of us.

Just like in Naomi’s case with Boaz, our redemption comes through someone else’s faithfulness. Jesus takes that role of closest relative, that no one else can or would (take), and returns to us what has been lost. Jesus offers to redeem us. Jesus, in a once-for-all loving sacrifice, buys back what was sold off to other interests, or lost seemingly without hope of return. In this way, lives are brought back to the heart of Creator God. In the case of Jesus, one act of redemption leads to the redemption of the whole world.

Now this new future, this complete turnaround can be our personal experience – it has been mine, and I trust it has been yours. Yet, our new future doesn’t end there, it is just the beginning. For our new future is (or, should be) a foretaste of what each and everybody’s new future could be. When Naomi’s life was in tatters the community around her in Bethlehem noticed. We have now seen the community rejoicing when Naomi’s life became transformed and God-filled once again. They were stirred! So it can be today!

Ruth 2 - "A Generous Welcome"

1.     The Story So Far …

Naomi with husband and two sons moved from Judah to Moab because of a famine. Husband dies, then later both sons die, and Naomi is just left with her two daughters-in-law. Famine ends in Judah, so Naomi sets out with Ruth and Orpah to return home. Along the way, Naomi realises that her daughters-in-law may be better off in their birthplace of Moab and tries to send them back … eventually Orpah agrees to return, but Ruth will hear none of it and “clings” to Naomi. Just as well too, for soon is revealed the depth of Naomi’s pain and grief.

And this is what really captured my imagination! As Naomi returns to Bethlehem supported by Ruth, the local community is “stirred”. What does this mean? A clearly distraught Naomi supported by a young foreign woman! Even though Naomi feels that God has abandoned her, she enters her home town of Bethlehem with the evidence right beside her, that she has been afforded a special measure of loving-kindness. This was a remarkable scene.

What grabs your attention in chapter 2??

2.     Finding the Place to Be (v.1-3)

At chapter 2 verse 2, we see that Ruth was willing to go out and work; indeed this would have been necessary, to support herself and Naomi. Naomi supported Ruth in this initiative. They were both hoping that there would be some kind and compassionate person in the fields who would make Ruth’s endeavours to gain food successful. Sometimes we take on a new job and it works out well; other times, not so! But we can always be hopeful, and it is surely better to be positive, than to go into something new with a negative mindset. Yet, Ruth would likely have concerns as a young foreign woman in the fields amongst strangers, especially the men. How would she be received?! There is the later suggestion of danger or exclusion in certain fields.

* This is the dilemma of anyone moving into the unknown: new country, new community, new situation!

I wonder what it is like having the idea of coming to church, or responding to an invitation to a church activity, without knowing too many of the people, and not having an understanding of the culture one is entering, and being unsure concerning the level of welcome that will be received!?! There might be those who have a sense of need, even spiritual need, or who are experiencing tough times, but fear whether they will be accepted or not (within a new or different community of people).

In such a field there would those cutting with hand sickles teamed with those bundling up the sheaves. The background to Ruth’s endeavour, was that when a field was being harvested like this, the workers would leave behind bits and pieces, and not be too pedantic about collecting everything up. This was because the landowner was probably more well-off than most, and the poor or ‘landless’ would be able to follow behind and pick up the grain (and be able to make a meal out of it). So the grain at the edges of the field might be left, and the workers wouldn’t be concerned about other bits that were accidentally missed along the way. How often this was practiced we can’t know – there were likely to be landowners hostile to foreigners; but obviously Ruth was hopeful concerning the field that she went to.

We might sense that Ruth was seeking some Divine guidance so that she would arrive in the right field. Usually there would have been one very large field, divided into areas belonging to various owners … but where to go?! Back in verse 1, we are introduced to the character of Boaz, and the situation of him being a rich relative of Naomi; this verse suggesting to us that we should expect some positive outcomes ahead. We then read in verse 3 that, “As it happened, [Ruth] came to the … field belonging to Boaz”! “As it happened”!! As we proactively seek God’s lamp over our path, a lot of good things might happen; or at the very least, we will be where God would have us be – which is the place of ultimate blessing.

We know that from this moment, Ruth’s fortunes, so to speak, turn around (for the better). But we haven’t yet got to the part where we see the quality and impact of the welcome and hospitality that Boaz provided that lay behind this.

3.     A Kindness Hero

If Ruth was our ‘kindness hero’ last week, then Boaz is this week! Boaz was clearly one who practiced kindness towards the poor, allowing people in need to walk behind his “reapers”, and making sure these “reapers” left enough behind to make it worth their while. As well as this, Boaz clearly had a great reputation and relationship with his workforce – refer verse 4. He obviously treated his workers well, as he brought his spirituality into his management of people. Boaz probably gained kudos and respect for his attitude to the less fortunate. When he suddenly arrived at the field, as verse 4 suggests, he found his workers being industrious and commended them. These workers had clearly also been cooperative with people in situations like Ruth, and we might sense that they had acquired such consideration from the fine example of Boaz.

Who was this new woman asked Boaz! He was to find out that she was the Moabite woman who had emigrated to Bethlehem with his relative Naomi. Do you sense God’s hand in all this! The prospects for Ruth coming to Judah as a stranger may have been frightening, but God had already provided. And Boaz was to be the (chosen) instrument of blessing. Boaz also found out that this Ruth had approached his field humbly seeking permission, and had been working all morning without rest. His welcome and consideration of Ruth was complete. Boaz went on to suggest to Ruth that she should stay in his field, because clearly she would be safe there, and Boaz would make sure there was to be more than enough left around to meet her needs.

Why was Boaz favouring her in this way, Ruth wondered out loud. ‘I’m not from here … I don’t really belong’! Ruth actually fell with her face to the ground in wonder (refer verse 10). We mentioned last week that people from Moab were not well thought of in Judah … quite the opposite! They were tainted, they had a different religion, they could taint us … according to common opinion. They should be shunned, it was thought. Not by Boaz though! And especially not … on the evidence of Ruth’s loving-kindness to Naomi (refer verses 11-12). Far from shunning Ruth, Boaz announces a blessing upon her (verse 12). [We might wonder if something has happened behind the scenes and Naomi has already put in a good word for Ruth with her relative Boaz!]

* Also, we notice that Boaz has thought about Ruth's own personal loss!

In any case, well over and above what would be considered normal, Boaz provided for Ruth. First, the water that was offered, which would have come from the supply that the other workers would have taken the trouble to draw from the village well and bring to the field. Some might have raised their eyebrows, but for Boaz this was just a natural thing to do. Then, when it came to the lunch break, Boaz raised Ruth’s status in Judah, by inviting her to “sit beside” his own workers and eat with them. And just like with Jesus’ miracle of feeding the five thousand, rather than there being a shortage, there was food left over (refer verse 14).

Grace was abounding for Ruth. You would imagine that there might have been the more hardhearted or prejudiced few there that day, who might have resented this affirming treatment of Moabite Ruth; some who would seek to protect their own interests at the cost of newcomers. But Boaz seemed to just keep pressing the point!

4.     Generous Welcome

We remember that the loving-kindness that Ruth has showed Naomi, and that Boaz has shown Ruth, is like the loving-kindness that God continually shows us: generous, sacrificial, in solidarity with our human need. This is the loving-kindness that we all received from Jesus. This is the loving-kindness that we are all expected to offer to those seeking and needing a welcome and caring hospitality. When we ourselves have already received this from God, who are we to hold it back from others!?!

We think of all those people forced to cross borders looking for a new home. We think of all those who have become stranded in refugee camps or detention centres experiencing less and less hope. We think of all the difficulty and complexity of all this, but then are caused to think about this generous sense of welcome that comes out of the heart of God. And we wonder who needs a generous welcome within our own neighbourhood!?

It’s sad that Ruth was threatened by this move from Moab to Judah. It’s disturbing that the reader of chapter one, would have feared for Ruth on her arrival in Bethlehem. It should not have been this way! Boaz teaches us this. Boaz responds as a person of God would naturally respond. Boaz goes on to give Ruth even easier and more generous access to the sheaves of wheat, so there would be some for her mother-in-law Naomi as well. As Boaz told his workers to allow Ruth access to the “standing sheaves” (v.15), again, her status, her level of acceptance, and her prospects are lifted. This was a tremendous outcome for Ruth, and there was even more blessing to come.

In verse 12, Boaz incisively states that Ruth had moved from Moab to Judah, under the refuge of God’s wings. And it was Boaz himself that confirmed God’s loving-kindness to Ruth, in the extraordinary level of encouraging and practical welcome he provided. Boaz also personally saw to Ruth’s protection, first in his own field amongst his own workforce, and then by making it unnecessary to go anywhere else to get help. I think we could agree with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who in 2012 said: “More and more people are forced to flee in search of refuge. Together we must care for some of the most vulnerable people in the world, people who have been uprooted and dispossessed, people who need our support to rebuild their lives and to restore their vision of the future.”

Happily, the “Welcome to Australia” movement, founded by South Australian pastor Brad Chilcott, has been very proactive in providing welcome and hospitality to many hundreds of newcomers. And many here have been supporting Andy and Jan’s efforts in terms of resettling Chin refugees from Burma . As a church we have been supporting, in a number of ways, a family originally from Sri Lanka with various needs. And, on another front, there has been great financial support recently for the Zoe’s Hope project, so that a community in Zambia can have simple access to clean water. We know that this is not a side issue to the Gospel … this activity is central to the Gospel.

5.     God’s Agency

Boaz blessed Ruth (v.12) and said, “May the Lord reward you for your deeds [i.e. of kindness to Naomi] … the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge”. When she heard this, Ruth knew that it was to be Boaz himself that would be an agent of God’s blessing to her. Ruth replied to Boaz (in verse 13), as anyone would reply, “May I continue to find favour in your sight … for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants”. This was a welcome that reached out beyond one people group, across an artificial boundary that the complexity of life had thrown up. May we continue to be a party to many coming under the refuge of God’s wings.

We sense how Ruth would become such an asset to Judah – a model of the “unexpected asset” (J Waldron). We need to be able to offer a sincere welcome with open minds and hearts, sometimes against the tide of our comfort levels (and also common opinion).

Where might I or you fit into this narrative? Am I the shy newcomer like Ruth, aware of my possible level of difference, knowing that without assistance I am unlikely to survive? Will I put in a good word for others as Naomi may have done? Or am I the well-resourced employer like Boaz, who has great power for good or for evil in the way in which I treat those working for me? I can set a good culture of fairness and kindness, or I can promote a sort of dog-eat-dog survival of the fittest! What will happen when the shy newcomer enters my workspace?? How will they be treated? As that shy newcomer in need of support, how will I act in response to the kindness I receive? Even if we are not in any of these situations, what is it about Ruth or Boaz that inspires us? In whatever role we have, and from whatever situation we come from, how can we make a positive difference in others, and how can we build community?

Where is God in all this? Doesn’t all loving-kindness begin with God! Doesn’t God seek to carry all of us, throughout the whole world, under His wings! Isn’t there a welcome for us all! Aren’t each of us asked to live out this loving-kindness and welcome as agents of God!