Community - Ruth 2

Study Notes

Things Don’t Just Happen:  Community

Ruth 2

      In our last episode in the story of Ruth, we saw in chapter 1:

• The migration: To rescue his family from starvation, a man named Elimelek had moved his family from Bethlehem to Moab, a place no God-fearing Jewish man would ever take a young family.  Soon, he died and then his two sons died after marrying Moabite women thus leaving Elimelek’s wife Naomi and two daughters-in-law to survive without men in a man’s world.  One daughter-in-law, Orpah, went back to her people and their gods.  But, Ruth made a clear commitment to the God of the Bible and to her mother-in-law.  “Where you go, I will go, Naomi,” she said.  “Your people will be my people and your God my God.”  So, these two widows began the trip back to Bethlehem.
• The “Hesed”: We thus saw that Ruth, the immigrant, Moabite, widow demonstrates “hesed” by the way she lived her life.  Hesed is the word summing up many of the attributes of God, e.g., kindness, faithfulness, grace, mercy, love and loyalty.  It’s beautiful to see hesed in action in young Ruth while, at the same time, it’s shocking to see it coming from an immigrant widow who was new to knowing Jehovah God.
• The Return: Finally, in the last verse of the first episode (1:22), we last saw Naomi arriving in Bethlehem as a bitter and angry old woman.  Ruth was at her side – but no one even seemed to acknowledge the presence of this young immigrant from the hated country of Moab (1:19).  But there is a ray of hope that breaks in. As Ruth enters Bethlehem, at long last, the famine ends and the barley harvest is beginning.

     Today, we’re going to let the story address this question: What does it mean for us to live in this world as the people of God (both individually and as a church family)?  Ruth 2 will show us that what it means is that those who represent God in this world are placed where we are in order to demonstrate in practical ways the heart of God to the people in the places where he puts us.

     As episode 2 begins, “Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor (2:2).”

     We see that Naomi and Ruth have lodging on Elimelek’s family property but they otherwise have no means of support.  Remember that Naomi had family in Bethlehem.  It will become clear later in the story that there were family members in Bethlehem who should have stepped in to support these two widows but they are nowhere to be found in these women’s time of need. The family was the basic unit of the support structures of Israel.  In their nation’s laws, family members had deep and clear obligations to help and protect one another when needs arose.   But, Elimelek’s family did not step in to meet needs for Naomi and Ruth.

     But, God knew that there would be people always entering into Israel who did not have family support.  These were always immigrants, orphans and widows.  The God who made and loves all people had established laws about how his people are to treat those in our neighborhoods who are in need and without support.  Just one of those places was in Dt 24:19-22:  When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the immigrant, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands… Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

     This was one of the clear ways that the people of God, i.e., the people of Israel, were to be different from other nations.  The people of God were to reflect God’s ways very practically through caring for anyone who came into their country in need.  And, Ruth somehow seems to know about these laws.

      But, the people in Bethlehem as a whole were not doing what God had commanded.  So, as ch. 2 opens, these two widows obviously were on their own. So, Ruth asks permission of Naomi to go out into the fields of Bethlehem to find scraps of grain that were supposed to be left in the fields. 

     Note this: In that time, it was very dangerous for her to do this.  Sexual assault was widespread – and that included places like Bethlehem.  That reality becomes a major theme in chs 2-3, i.e., that Ruth was walking into danger when she headed out to the harvest fields.  But, as I have learned from so many people who have found themselves in situations like this, the human desire to survive forces people into very difficult places.  Many of the immigration problems all over the world have come about because people are trying to find a way to survive.  Naomi knew Ruth’s decision would put her in danger but, in the midst of Naomi’s depression, she grants permission and, Ruth goes out into the countryside and into a place of peril in service to her mother in law.  It’s another act of Ruth showing “hesed”.

“As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz… (2:3)”

     I love how the writer writes this in v.3. Literally, the Hebrew writer wrote, “By chance Ruth chanced into the field owned by a man named Boaz.”  Her being in that field looks fully coincidental.  But, as we learned in ch. 1, “things don’t just happen”.  Mark this down: Ruth made a real decision to go into that field – but, just as certainly, God was at work at the same time as Ruth was deciding. 

     What Ruth didn’t know is something that we as readers were told about in 2:1, i.e., that this Boaz was a “man of standing” from the clan of Elimelek – yes, the same Elimelek into whose family Ruth had married. When Ruth meets Boaz in what seems to be a fully accidental way, we as readers are in the know. “Aha!!” we should think.  “God seems to be orchestrating something.””   

     This description of Boaz being a “man of standing” is significant. It meant he had financial resources, owned property, was the boss over a number of employees, and that he was a community leader.  In our way of thinking, Boaz had power and privilege.  How would he use it?  To put it concisely, Boaz used what he was and had to show God’s hesed to this young immigrant woman named Ruth.  Let me show you how that is described:

Boaz’s life of practicing hesed (2:4-16)

1. He Sees -- Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to (2:5)?”

     In v.6, for the 1^st time in Bethlehem, we discover someone who consciously and openly notices Ruth’s presence – though, as we will see, others did know that she was in Bethlehem.  This is what so many people, who do not feel welcome in a place, say when I speak to them.  “I’m in a place but it’s as if I don’t even exist.”  What Boaz wonders about when he asks to whom Ruth belongs is this:  “What’s that young woman doing out there alone?"  That’s dangerous.  Whose family is she a part of?  Who’s watching out for her?” 

     We know as followers of Jesus, of course, that all people are important to God.  We even know that Jesus was willing to die for all people.  Knowing this should change the way we see all people who are in our neighborhood.  The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “Christ died for all so now we can look at no one from the world’s point of view…  For, if anyone is in Christ, that person becomes a new creation (2 Cor 5:14-17).”

     Ruth is shocked when Boaz “sees” her: She asks, “Why do you even notice me as an immigrant (2:10)?”    

     This is where hesed begins:  I’ve discovered that God’s people begin to show God’s hesed to others, especially to those in need, when we begin to see all people as God sees people.

 

2. He Protects – “Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you (2:9).”

     I cannot overemphasize the danger that Ruth was in as she went out into the fields to gather scraps of food so that she and Naomi would not starve.  She was a young, immigrant woman with no one to protect her in a world in which abuse and sexual assault were rampant.  Sadly, Boaz knew that she was in danger even in his own field. That’s why he had to warn his own men.  How will a young woman alone like this be able to escape the assault that inevitably would come?  So, Boaz used his place of authority to protect her.  And, when he had secured safety in his own field, he said to Ruth in v.8, “Stay here and work.  Let this be your place of safety.”

     I have heard the stories of how those who work in the agricultural fields of our own state experience this kind of danger.  And, as I alluded to last week, these kinds of dangers of women and children being assaulted in the entertainment industry, in the political world, in business and in religious circles are flooding into our consciousness in recent weeks and months.  The church must be a place where those who are vulnerable find safety.  We must all watch out for that as Boaz did.  And, when we leave our church gatherings and go to our places of residence or work, we must learn from Boaz, i.e., to use whatever influence we have toprotect those in danger whenever we have opportunity and ability.

3. He Provides – “Whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled…” Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her.  Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her… (2:9,15-16).”

     It’s clear to me that Boaz had the kind of view of his possessions that the Bible teaches us all to have, i.e., he didn’t view what he had as something to be consumed only by himself – but as a stewardship to further God’s hesed in the lives of others.  So, he made it so that Ruth didn’t have to lug her own water to work.  He made the water brought for the employees available to her.  And, Boaz allowed Ruth not only to snack on whatever leftovers she was able to find in the field but to share in the lunchtime food provided for his workers.

     Just as God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides, Boaz provided.

4. He helped her belong -- “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me… (2:8)”

     This “man of standing” calls this immigrant woman, “My daughter”.  He refuses to let her be alone and isolated out on the edges of the field.  Instead, Boaz brings her into “the women who work for me”.  He personally serves her bread.  In grateful amazement, Ruth can only say, “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants (2:13).”

Bringing This Home to Us

     How might this story change our lives and our church?  That’s the question I’ve been asking all week.  I believe we see the answer to that in what is the heart of this second chapter of the story, vv.11-12: 

Boaz said to Ruth, “I’ve been told… all about how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.  May the Lord repay you for what you have done.  May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 

     This is beautiful language that speaks of God being one who provides wings of provision, protection and belonging for all people who come to him.  The point is that when Ruth had made Naomi’s people and God her own people and God, she came under the wings of the Lord.  And, where are those wings to be experienced?  They should have been experienced in the community of God’s people.  That community of God’s people to which Ruth had come out of love for her mother-in-law was itself supposed to be the place of God’s protection. 

     But, sadly, she needed protection there!  It took a person like Boaz, one who was committed to the ways of the Lord and to applying them to people like Ruth, to reach out to her, sacrifice for her in practical ways, in order for the “wings of the Lord” to enfold this wonderful, young, immigrant, single widow.  That is how you and I are supposed to see people – and how we are to live.

     Brothers and sisters, what we see in this passage is central to our calling as a church – and as followers of Jesus.  Here is the principle:  God intends for much of his hesed to be shown through his people.  God’s blessing comes to the people of our neighborhood by us living lives of hesed.  God plants communities in this world to make his ways known.  When the Apostle Paul asked about his ministry to the Gentiles, the 1^st C church leaders told him in Gal 2:10 that he was to preach the gospel and to remember the poor.  When church leader James told church people about what genuine religion looks like, he said that “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).”

     I see so much of this in the hearts of so many of you who are a part of Lake Avenue Church.  That’s a part of why I love being a part of this church family. Over the past week, we have learned of the deaths of several long-time members of our congregation who have lived life to the glory of God and then the Lord has recently taken home to be with him, people like Roger Jensen, John Heck, and John Benton. 

     I could say much about each of them. However, because John Benton’s life seemed to mirror Boaz’s in many ways, I want to tell you about him.  He and his wife Elsie founded the Walter Hoving Homes, one of which is located here in Pasadena.  In that home, women in distress and in danger have found Jesus and then found provision, protection and places of belonging.

     At John’s memorial service, his grandson said, “My grandfather was guided by such a simple and clear principle: “I will step in to meet needs in the name of Jesus.”  That’s what guided him. In that memorial service, I heard the testimonies of one woman after another who had found a place of belonging, freedom from a past and a new life in Christ.  Over 23,000 women have been touched by the ministry. What people saw in John and Elsie Benton is what I see today in this man named Boaz.  Truthfully, it should be seen in all of us who claim that Jesus is our Lord and in this church that declares that Jesus is lord here.

     So, let me challenge us all: each one of us should develop a way of life like that of Ruth and Boaz or of John and Elsie Benton.  When you come to church, look for people like Ruth – people who may not feel like the fit, people who may seem to be in trouble, people in distress.  Go to them and see them, provide for them, protect them and help them to belong.

     And when you leave church, approach the workplace (or your neighborhood or school) as Boaz did.  Look for those to whom you might show the “hesed” of God.  This is not just something that the super-people like Ruth and Boaz should engage in.  They weren’t super-people!  She was an immigrant woman in a foreign land.  Boaz was a business leader in his own country.  The whole community of those known as the people of God should have been characterized by hesed.

     The Book of Ruth is a call to all of us to deal with people the way we see Ruth dealing with Naomi and Boaz dealing with Ruth. It became a way of life for them.  That’s clear from Naomi’s words in 2:20: “The Lord bless Boaz!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.”  In other words:  This is the way he always was – and this still is the way he is.  Loving others as God loves needs to be a daily way of life.  This is the way I want to live.  I call us all to be Ruths and Boazes here at LAC. Let us be a people and place of refuge, a place of providing the wings of God’s care for people.

Episode 2 Draws to a Close

     The effect of Boaz’s actions was that Ruth took home that first day between 26-50 pounds of grain.  And, she would be enabled to do the same for the duration of the barley and then the wheat harvest, usually about 7 weeks.  And Naomi is astounded.  She said to Ruth, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers (2:20).”  With that comment, there seems to be hope that these two widows will find a lasting refuge.

      However, episode 2 ends with a note that states a harsh reality that Ruth would have to face, i.e., that the harvest was ending.  Naomi and Ruth’s pantry is full now -- but it looks like their lives will soon be empty again.  They would soon be back to where they started.  This episode ends with a thud! 

     During the harvest, Ruth had a place of belonging.  At its end, she has only Naomi – and everyone knows that Naomi is old and won’t be around long.  Sadly, Ruth seems to have lost contact with Boaz.  Ruth finds herself is in one of those ambiguous waiting games that so many of us have experienced.  But, we have already begun to learn that “things don’t just happen.” 

     Ruth is now in a place in which she doesn’t know what’s next.  But, she seems already to have learned that God does know.  She has proven to be faithful to God in such times – and to trust his ways.  She will need to do the same again. 

     And so will you and I – again and again and again.  May this Jesus-centered community we call Lake Avenue Church grow in being a place that when we are here, we experience together that we are under the wings of our loving and gracious Lord who is at work at all times and in all things.

Chinese Study Notes

事出有因：共同體

 

                                      路得記第二幕

上次的講道，我們查考了路得第一幕：

• 移民：為了全家人不至餓死，以利米勒舉家從伯利恒搬遷到摩押。摩押是一個敬畏上帝的猶太人絕不會帶著家眷移民的地方。不久，他過世了，他的兩個兒子娶了當地人做妻子，之後也相繼過世，於是留下以利米勒的妻子拿俄米和兩個兒媳孤苦伶仃在男人的世界卻無男人可靠。一個兒媳俄珥巴重歸摩押娘家和他們的神祗懷抱。路得卻表示要堅定跟隨聖經上顯示的神與她的婆婆同往。她說，“你 往 哪 裡 去 ， 我 也 往 哪 裡 去。。。你 的 國 就 是 我 的 國 ， 你 的 神 就 是 我 的 神 。”於是，兩個寡婦踏上了返回伯利恒之路。
• 盟約之愛：我們看到路得，一個移民，一個摩押人，一個寡婦通過她的生活見證了“盟約之愛”。“盟約之愛”是一個彙集了上帝許多屬性的詞，如神的良善，信實恩典憐憫，愛和忠誠。在年輕路得身上能看到盟約之愛是很美、也是一件很稀奇的事，畢竟她是一位移民寡婦，初識耶和華神。
• 回歸：最終，第一幕的最後一節經文（1:22）讓我們看到拿俄米，一位懷著憤怒和苦毒的老婦人，終於回到伯利恒的情形。路得一直陪伴在側---雖然似乎沒人注意到這位從他們所憎恨的摩押地來的年輕移民的存在（1：19）。但一線希望的曙光若隱若現。當路得進伯利恒的時候，持續了多年的乾旱終於停止，大麥收割的季節到了。

      今天，我們要討論的問題是關於：作為神的百姓生活在這個世界到底意味著什麼（作為個人和教會）？路得記第二幕讓我們看到的是，被上帝放在這個世界的百姓正是要活生生地見證上帝對我們周圍人的心意。

     

第二幕一開始便是：“ 路 得 對 拿 俄 米 說 ， 容 我 往 田 間 去 ， 我 蒙 誰 的 恩 ， 就 在 誰 的 身 後 拾 取 麥 穗 。 拿 俄 米 說 ， 女 兒 阿 ， 你 只 管 去 。”（2：3）

      我們看到拿俄米和路得雖然已經站在以利米勒的家產土地上，卻無法得到幫助。拿俄米的家就在伯利恒。故事發展至此，本來理應是她伯利恒的家人在兩個寡婦最需要的時候站出來支援她們的，但家人卻沒有出現。家族原本是以色列人最基本的支持體系。他們的法律清楚界定，當一人遇到困難時，家庭成員間彼此保護是首當其衝，義不容辭的責任。但是，以利米勒的家人在這個時候卻沒有為拿俄米和路得挺身而出。

      然而，上帝知道有些後來加入以色列的人是沒有家族彼此支援的。總是會有外來移民，孤兒和寡婦。這位創造並愛護萬民的神設立了法律，要求他的子民善待他們周圍那些無依無靠的鄰舍。申命記4：19-22寫到“你在田間收割莊稼，若忘下一捆，不可回去再取，要留給寄居的與孤兒寡婦。這樣，耶和華你神必在你手裡所辦的一切事上賜福於你。 你打橄欖樹，枝上剩下的不可再打，要留給寄居的與孤兒寡婦。 你摘葡萄園的葡萄，所剩下的不可再摘，要留給寄居的與孤兒寡婦。 你也要紀念你在埃及地做過奴僕，所以我吩咐你這樣行。”

      上帝對他子民的心意是清晰確定的，以色列人要從其他民中分別出來。神的子民要通過關愛有需要的人來反映出上帝的心意。路得似乎是瞭解這些法律的。

      但是，伯利恒人卻沒有按照神的吩咐去行。所以，從第二章一開始，我們就看到這兩位寡婦孤苦伶仃。所以，路得就求拿俄米允准她去伯利恒的田間拾取殘留的麥穗。

      請注意：她那時這麼做是很危險的。性騷擾到處可見---伯利恒也不例外。這個問題在2，3章中表現得很清楚。路得走進田間就是接近危險。據我瞭解，許多處在這樣境遇中的人會被生存本能逼到十分尷尬艱難的境地。世界上許多移民問題都是因人們的求生欲望造成的。拿俄米知道路得的決定可能會陷她於不利之境，但因自己無能為力，只得同意。路得於是冒險走向田間為要侍奉婆婆。這是路得又一次表現出“盟約之愛”。

    

             “她 恰 巧 到 了 以 利 米 勒 本 族 的 人 ， 波 阿 斯 那 塊 田 裡。。。（2：3）”

            我很喜歡作者在第三節裡的描寫。字面上看，希伯來作者是這樣寫的，“路得碰巧來到以 利 米 勒 本 族 的 人 ， 波 阿 斯 那 塊 田 裡。”她來到那塊田似乎完全是巧合。但當我們讀第一章時知道，凡事都“事出有因。”請記住：路得是定意要去田間---但也是必然地，上帝在路得做決定時同時工作了。

            路得不知道我們在2：1節讀到的，波阿斯是以利米勒親族的“大財主”----是的，路得嫁入的以利米勒家族。在路得看與波阿斯的相遇是完全出於偶然，在讀者看卻是順理成章。我們會想，“啊哈，上帝好像在導演一齣好戲。”

            波阿斯是“大財主”的描寫是很有意義的。說明他有經濟能力，擁有財產，傭人成群，還是社區領袖人物。用我們的理解就是，波阿斯有權有勢。他會怎樣用呢？具體說，波阿斯利用他的優勢向這位名叫路得的女子彰顯出上帝的“盟約之愛。”我們來看看聖經是如何描述的：

波阿斯實踐盟約之愛的生活（2：4-16）

1. 他在看--波 阿 斯 問 監 管 收 割 的 僕 人 說 ，“ 那 是 誰 家 的 女 子 ？”

            從第六節我們第一次看到，伯利恒終於有人公開地、有意地關注到路得的出現了。我聽到不少同樣境遇的人說過類似的話。“我在那裡就像不存在一樣。”波阿斯關注路得的身世時說：“ 那 是 誰 家 的 女 子 ？”單身在田裡是很危險的。誰是她的家人？誰照看她？

            作為耶穌的門徒我們當然知道，萬民對上帝而言都是重要的。我們還知道耶穌甚至願意為萬民而死。知道這一點會改變我們對待鄰舍的看法。使徒保羅這樣說，“既然基督為所有人死了，我們就不再從世界的眼光看待任何人。。。因此，如果有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人；舊的已經過去，看哪，新的已經來臨（2 Cor 5:14-17 CSBS)。”

            路得因為波阿斯“看見”她感到很吃驚：她問，“我 既 是 外 邦 人 ， 怎 麼 蒙 你 的 恩 ， 這 樣 顧 恤 我 呢 （2：10）？”

            這就是盟約之愛開始的地方：我注意到當百姓以上帝的眼光看待萬民的時候，特別是對那些有需要的人，人們會開始對他人表達上帝的盟約之愛。

 

2. 他在保護 -- “我 的 僕 人 在 那 塊 田 收 割 ， 你 就 跟 著 他 們 去 。 我 已 經 吩 咐 僕 人 不 可 欺 負 你 。 你 若 渴 了 ， 就 可 以 到 器 皿 那 裡 喝 僕 人 打 來 的 水 (2:9).”

            我不用過份強調路得為糊口去到田裡揀麥穗是多麼危險。她是一個少婦，外來人，在一個充滿性騷擾和虐待的世界，又沒有人保護，處境可想而知。波阿斯知道甚至在自己的田裡，路得也會有危險，所以他警告了他手下。一個年輕獨身女子如何避免可能的騷擾呢？於是波阿斯用自己的領地保護她；並在確保路得安全後，他對路得說：“不 要 往 別 人 田 裡 拾 取 麥 穗 ， 也 不 要 離 開 這 裡 ” （8節）

            我聽過許多在加州的農田裡出現危險的事，回顧上周所說的，近來對婦女、兒童的騷擾危險也頻頻出現在娛樂界、政界、商界，甚至宗教界，不斷挑戰我們的良知。教會一定要成為讓弱者、受傷害者找到安全感的地方！我們要留意波阿斯的所為，當我們不在教堂去工作、生活時，也能向波阿斯一樣利用一切機會，盡我們可能去保護在危險中的弱小。

3. 他在供應 – “你 若 渴 了 ， 就 可 以 到 器 皿 那 裡 喝 僕 人 打 來 的 水… 波 阿 斯 吩 咐 僕 人 說 ， 她 就 是 在 捆 中 拾 取 麥 穗 ， 也 可 以 容 她 ， 不 可 羞 辱 她 。並要從捆裡抽出些來，留在地下任她拾取，不可叱嚇她 (2:9,15-16)”

            很清楚，波阿斯對個人財物的觀念符合聖經中有關個人財產的教導，他沒有把自己的一切看作是唯有自己享用的----而是作為神的管家，要為神的計畫所用，影響別人的生命。於是路得不需要自備水來工作，她可以飲用給僕人們的水。波阿斯不僅允許路得撿拾田裡一切可以撿拾的麥穗，而且也讓她可以分享給僕人們的午餐。

            這正是耶和華以勒，神透過波阿斯在供應。

4. 他在幫助 -- “女兒啊，聽我說，不要往別人田裡拾取麥穗，也不要離開這裡，要常與我使女們在一處… (2:8)”

          波阿斯竟然叫外邦女子“我的女兒”。他不想讓路得孤立無援，被排斥，而是看她為“給自己做工的女人”，於是他自己負責路得的食物。路得只有充滿感恩地說： “我主啊，願在你眼前蒙恩。我雖然不及你的一個使女，你還用慈愛的話安慰我的心 (2:13).”

           

把這帶回家

這故事如何改變我們的生命和教會？這是我一周來不斷問的，我相信答案就在第二幕的核心 vv.11-12:  波阿斯對路得說： “自從你丈夫死後，凡你向婆婆所行的，並你離開父母和本地到素不認識的民中，這些事，人全都告訴我了。願耶和華照你所行的賞賜你。你來投靠耶和華以色列神的翅膀下，願你滿得他的賞賜.” 

            這是何等美麗的語言，說明了神對投靠在他恩翅下的人就是全然的供應、保護和幫助者。重點是，當路得把拿俄米的同胞和上帝當作是自己的，她就是進入了上帝的恩翅。在什麼地方可以經歷這些呢？就是在神的子民共同體中---路得因著愛婆婆和她一起來到這樣的共同體，進入神的保護。但不幸的是，她在那裡也需要保護，需要一個像波阿斯的人，委身在神的旨意中，看顧路得、為她付代價，好使神的恩翅遮蔽這個年輕美麗外來的獨身女子。我們當這樣待人，當這樣生活。   

           弟兄姊妹們，這段經文是我們教會和耶穌門徒所蒙的核心呼召：神非常想把他的盟約之愛彰顯給他的子民。神的祝福是透過我們活出他的愛而臨到我們的鄰舍的。為此，神在世界上設立了盟約的共同體。當使徒保羅問到向外邦人的使命時，世界上第一間教會的領袖告訴他（加拉太2：10）要傳福音並紀念窮人；當教會領袖雅各告訴人們什麼是真敬虔時，他說：“在神我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦”（雅1：27）

            我看見我們教會許多人都是這樣，這也是我願意成為教會大家庭一部分的原因。過去的一周，我們聽到幾位資深會友比如 老羅傑、約翰去世的消息。他們的一生活出了神的榮耀見證，現在主把他們接到天家。對他們每一個人，我都可以說很多。比如約翰就是波阿斯的翻版。他和他太太愛麗絲在帕薩迪納創建了Walter Hoving 之家，使在破碎和危險中的婦女可以找到耶穌，找到供應、保護和歸屬。

            在約翰的葬禮中，他的孫子說：“我爺爺有非常簡明的原則：我要奉耶穌的名與有需要的人相遇。”這是他的準則。我聽見一個個婦女見證說她們找到了歸屬、自由和新生命。這個事工接觸過2萬3千婦女。人們從約翰和愛麗絲身上就看見了今天的波阿斯。事實上，我們每一個稱耶穌為主的人和在教會中自稱基督徒的人都應該如此。

            讓我給大家一個挑戰：我們每一個人都要像路得、波阿斯或約翰、愛麗絲那樣生活。當你來到教會時，去找路得那樣的人---可能看起來不合群、或在困境中或在沮喪中的人，去他們那裡看望他們，保護他們、幫助他們。

            當你離開教會，進入你的工作場地或左鄰右舍或學校，要像波阿斯那樣，尋找你在他們身上可以彰顯神盟約之愛的人。這不是只有超人約翰、愛麗絲能做，他們不是超人！路得是一個在外國的移民，波阿斯是本國的一個商業領袖。神的子民所在的共同體就有神的愛的特質。

《路得記》呼召我們每一個人像路得待拿俄米，波阿斯待路德那樣對待他人，那是一種生活方式。拿俄米在 2:20清楚地說： “願那人蒙耶和華賜福！因為他不斷地恩待活人死人。” 換句話，這就是神一貫的作為，現在也是。效法神去愛他人是每天的功課，也是我想要的生活方式。我們教會每一個人要作路得和波阿斯，成為保護別人的，成為神的恩翅所看顧之人的幫助。

第二幕帶來了親密

波阿斯讓路得第一天就帶回家26-50磅的大麥。可以想像，在整個收穫季節她都可以如此，那大概是7周時間。想想看拿俄米是多麼驚訝。她對路得說： “他是我們本族的人，是一個至近的親屬 (2:20).”  這句話表明了兩個寡婦有希望找到一個持久的庇護。

            不過第二幕是以一個路得不得不面對的現實結束的，因為收穫季結束了。儘管她們的儲藏滿滿，但她們的生活很快就會再次空空如也，又返回起點。實際上，這一幕是以某種擔心結束的。

            在收穫季節，路得有所屬的地方，但現在又只有拿俄米---拿俄米已經老邁，年日無多。更糟的是路得可能和波阿斯失去了聯繫。路得似乎在一種焦急等待的中，不過我們已經知道：“事出有因”。

            路得在一個不知下一步的處境中，但她似乎已經瞭解神知道一切。在許多這樣的時刻，她都證明了自己對神的忠誠，就是相信他的道路。她需要再一次做同樣的事。

            你我也要如此，持續不斷地這樣做。但願我們教會，這個以耶穌為中心的共同體得以健全成長：讓我們在這裡一起經歷主的愛與主恩典的翅膀。他在一切事上既不打盹、也不睡覺。