Strong medicine for difficult times

There is no doubt that our nation is facing difficult times. China saves, invests and grows at 8 percent. America, awash in debt, has a shrinking economy, a huge trade deficit, a gutted industrial base, an unemployment rate surging toward 10 percent and a money supply that’s swollen to double its size in a year. The 20th century may have been the American Century. The 21st century shows another pattern.

“The United States is declining as a nation and as a world power with mostly sighs and shrugs to mark this seismic event,” writes Les Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, in Foreign Affairs magazine.

“Astonishingly, some people do not appear to realize that the situation is all that serious.”

In many ways the situation we face today is similar to the situation in the book of Judges. The theme to the book of Judges is “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6, 21:25). Judges is built around a series of cycles of oppression and deliverance. The five-part cycle involved: rest, rebellion, retribution, repentance and restoration. The rest consisted of a time when Israel was obedient to God and enjoyed rest. This usually occurred during the time of a strong leader — a judge. With the rise of a new generation came rebellion. This brought apostasy and disobedience usually by means of idolatry. Retribution involved a divine judgment upon Israel. She was defeated by her enemies. Repentance came when Israel cried out to the Lord for help. Restoration occurred when God raised up a judge to deliver Israel from her enemies. Restoration began a new period of rest and a new cycle began. This cycle occurs seven times in the book of Judges.

Judges records Israel’s struggle to settle the Promised Land. Unfortunately, God’s people became more and more like the Canaanites. Judges records God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s unfaithfulness. The book of Ruth is an appendix to the book of Judges. The book of Ruth teaches that in the midst of apostasy there was still faith and obedience. God had his remnant. Ruth’s theme is that God is faithful in his work of loving, superintending and providentially caring for his people. In the midst of depravity and difficulty, God raised up David to lead his people.

Are there lessons for America today from the books of Judges and Ruth? Definitely. The Book of Ruth teaches three great lessons for us today. Each of these lessons revolves around God’s extraordinary covenant love for his people.

The first lesson is that God’s covenant love requires extraordinary commitment. The historical background is found in Ruth 1, verses 1-5. Three women are listed: Naomi, Ruth and Orpah. In the midst of a terrible drought all three of their husbands died. This was a terrible situation. Yet, Ruth possessed an extraordinary commitment. Ruth 1:14 reads, “Then they lifted up their voices and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law (Naomi), but Ruth clung unto her.” Orpah kissed Naomi. This was a kiss of farewell but Ruth clung to Naomi. The word clung means “to stick like glue.” Ruth did the extraordinary, unexpected thing. She chose to remain a daughter for the purpose of taking care of Naomi.

Ruth also demonstrated extraordinary commitment spiritually. Ruth said, “Ask me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).

The great hope for America lies in the God of the Bible. Samuel Chadwick said, “There is no book like the Bible. It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a wonderful book of surprises, a revelation of mystery, an infallible guide of conduct, an unspeakable source of commitment.” We must be deeply committed to the God who sent his son Jesus to redeem us. God has sent his best for us — his son. We must be deeply committed to him.

The second lesson is that God’s covenant love demands that we take extraordinary risks. In chapter 2 an individual named Boaz is introduced for the first time. Boaz was a godly, successful farmer. Ruth 2, verse 3, in the Hebrew text reads, “…..she (Ruth) chanced, chanced upon the field of Boaz….” From the human perspective, it seemed to be simple good luck. From the divine perspective, God was working providentially. Ruth took extraordinary risks. She asked Boaz to marry her. (Ruth 3:1-5) Boaz also took a great risk — he married her. (Ruth 4:1-12)

God worked in the midst of very difficult circumstances for his people. One of the results of this marriage was King David (Ruth 4:17). David became Israel’s greatest king. Faith is hearing the word of God and then obeying it. You must walk by faith and obey God’s commands.

The third lesson is that God’s covenant love demands that things be done in a proper way. Throughout the book of Ruth things were done decently and in order. Ruth was marked by loyalty, service, hard work and perseverance. Boaz was a man of kindness, generosity, morality and faith. Great nations are comprised of great individuals and strong families. We need people today who do things in a godly, proper way.

God’s covenant love toward you is best demonstrated in his son, Jesus. He died that you might live. As God, Jesus offered an infinite sacrifice upon the cross. As man, he died for our sins. We as a nation must lean on God with all of our weight.

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reached at ehansen@biglakefaithbible.org