Let the Shepherd Lead

Originally Proclaimed 11/04/18

Intro:

• How many of you have known or have a friend who has pushed you away in the aftermath of their personal crisis?
• I had a pastor who was my friend at another church setting who did just that.
  • He led the largest Baptist church in town. He had staff and volunteers in the church to help him. He was even the chaplain of the football team.
  • He had a family that supported him. He had a church that supported him. He had a network of pastor friends like me who supported him. And He supported and encouraged all of us.
  • He cared for his dad through a long term illness until his father’s death.
    • After His father’s death, he began to push everyone and everything away.
    • He stopped showing up at the pastor’s breakfasts.
    • He resigned as the teams chaplain and then as the pastor of his church. He left ministry altogether.
    • He then even separated from his wife to begin divorce proceedings.

Hook:

• I remember clearly one of the days early on after his dad’s death seeing him out and hearing him say, “I struggle every day with the want-tos”
  • And little by little those things that he did not want to do, the things and people he has some sort of bitterness towards he pushed them out of his life and alienated himself.
  • His own bitterness and struggle with the “want-tos” betrayed him.
• Do you know someone like that? Or maybe, are you someone like that?
• Today, my desire is to show you three ways that bitterness betrays us, and three solutions that avoid that betrayal.

Message Points:

• Bitterness comes from the recognition of humans that some things are disagreeable to our sense of taste. In time bitterness came to express the state of a person’s desperation, pain, despondency and even enmity. (Eerdmans Bible Dictionary)
• Just as a little bitterness, like the bite of lemon juice in our water, adds flavor to our lives and is good. But what we are talking about today is the type of bitterness that we harbor and that grows to dominate all of our lives.
• All of us have events that occur which we sense are bitter.
  • The loss of a loved one, a relationship gone sour, a job that we have lost, a chronic illness that we live with; all of these and many more interrupt our lives.
  • When those bitter events occur our routines are interrupted, our relationships put on hold, and that is natural and necessary.
  • But the type of bitterness we are talking about, the type of bitterness Naomi struggled with, does not let go.
  • When we harbor that kind of bitterness, it demands that we continue to push others away ourselves and interrupt our normal patterns.
    • Spiritually We stop going to worship and our bible study groups. We stop volunteering. We stop having a regular devotion and prayer time.
    • Physically, we stop exercising and doing what we can to eat well. We stop sleeping as we should and perhaps pick up bad habits like drinking or smoking.
    • At work we, we begin to go through the motions instead of give 100 percent. And we cannot wait for the escape into our homes where we can watch TV or some other activity that allows us to avoid the real world.
    • With our friends, we cease to meet with them or go out for dinner, or enjoy our favorite activities like golfing or shopping. When they call or drop by we do everything we can to get them out of our house as soon as possible.
  • I hope we all see that this kind of bitterness betrays us. By isolating us and having us abandon all of our normal patterns, bitterness pushes us farther down the spiral of depression, anxiety, and despair.
• 1ST, To begin with, bitterness betrays us when it lies to us and tells us “all hope is lost.”
  • Remember last week, as we talked about Naomi having nowhere to turn, it would be easy for her to face the bitter events in her life and begin to feel bitterness overwhelming her.
    • She had lost her home.
    • She had lost her husband.
    • She had lost her sons, and the hope there was for a future.
  • As we said last week the remedy for the this lie of bitterness is to cling to hope.
    • In verse 1:6-7 we see Naomi begin to see a sliver of hope. She hears that the Lord had come to the aid of His people in Judah.
    • This tiny hope for these three women gave them the motivation to prepare to travel home.
      • Now just realize that this journey was not in a climate controlled car, on a well maintained highway, with local and state patrols protecting us as we travel. (https://donotdepart.com/naomis-journey-home)
      • In a blog written as bible study for this portion of text describes the journey this way –
        • And so they began to make the 7-10 day journey from the plains of Moab to the town of Bethlehem. It was only a little over 30 miles. It seemed so close but the dry, dusty and treacherous terrain seemed to mirrow what was in Naomi’s heart.
• It was a dangerous journey for the two women to take. They were vulnerable widows taking a trip few women dare to take without a man during those chaotic and often violent days when judges ruled. For Naomi and Ruth, there were no street lights, no paved roads, no rest stops and no security. They were easy prey for the bandits in the bushes – and then there was the Jordan River to cross and the 2,000 foot slope they had to climb – but these women were determined to make it home.
• It was the bitter events of her sons deaths that gave her the opportunity to choose.
  • She could choose to pursue the path of bitterness which lied and told her all hope was lost.
  • Or she could choose to seek and cling to hope.
  • Praise God, Naomi choose the latter. She hoped enough to risk this harrowing journey, with both her daughters-in-law, that would bring her back to the land God had promised to her.
• Friends, bitter events give us the opportunity to choose as well.
  • And God intended those bitter events so that you could have this choice to do good as well.
  • Isaiah 38:17 says, “behold it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.”
  • When we come to the bitter events of life, we have an opportunity to change course.
  • We can leave our own personal Moab and head for God’s promised land.
  • We might be living in unnecessary Moabs       right now but we do not have to live in
    • Misery
    • Oppression
    • Anxiety or
    • Bitterness
  • Listen to that verse again.
    • It tells us that God in love delivers our lives and casts all our sins behind Him.
    • When we hope in God just enough to turn to Him in the midst of our bitter events, He overwhelms us with his love and support.
• I believe it was God’s overwhelming love and support show to Naomi as she clung to hope that gave her the courage to begin this journey.
  • And I believe that same divine love and support is available to you today.
  • Do not believe the lie of bitterness that there is no hope. Turn to our Lord and cling to the hope there is in him.

• Even as you cling to hope friends, recognize 2ND that the bitterness betrays us by springing up in unlikely places.
  • Read verses 8-9 again slowly.
    • Naomi encourages these daughters-in-law to return to their mothers’ homes.
      • It is hard for us in this world of cohabitation and no fault divorce to fathom what a stain even a widow would have if she had to return to her home of origin.
      • But Naomi would have understood this. Even if she encouraged them to return due to the hardship of the journey or the feelings of hatred she knew the Jews had towards Moabites, Naomi still told the women to return.
    • Why? If you read carefully the rest of these verses you see the bitterness springing up again.
      • Notice what Naomi says about the Lord, and what she does not say.
      • The beginning of her blessing of the women is good – “May the Lord show you kindness”. So too is the final part of her blessing that the women would find new husbands.
      • But in the middle notice she says “as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and me.”
      • Naomi, bases the blessing not on the kindness and goodness of her God, but on the kindness and goodness of these two women.
      • She is recognizing God as all powerful, but not as the source what is good, loving, and kind.
    • Even though the women do not want to leave her in verse 10 we can see as the account continues that Naomi’s bitterness will continue to grow.
  • With these subtle words against the Lord the root of bitterness has sprung forth again and shown its wicked bloom.
    • So what should we do when we notice bitterness springing forth?
    • Hebrews 12:15 tells us to “see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”
    • In the context of Hebrews 12 Esau is mentioned. His bitterness caused him to make impulsive, sinful decisions that alienated himself from his family and caused him to abandon the birthright that was his.
    • Whenever we sense the urge to alienate ourselves or abandon something we know God has called us to do, we should “Round-Up” those feelings.
      • Round-Up is designed for us to be able to spray it, leave it to die, and go on with our lives. Their slogan is “kill weeds in your landscape while comfortably guarding the good stuff”.
      • Do not misunderstand me, not all impulses to have a few minutes alone or to abandon fruitless pursuits are bad.
      • But notice again in the verse from Hebrews that the bitter root springs up and it also causes trouble. When a bitter root begins to cause trouble, we should Round it Up.
        • In our lives, this means that when we notice that urge to be alone we should first examine it to see if we do need some time with God, or some time to reflect and regroup
        • Or similarly when we have the urge to abandon our routines we should consider if something we are doing keeps us from friends, family, and most importantly from the Lord.
        • Only when we determine the urge is not leading us to a closer relationship with God or others, we should turn around, or repent, and choose to do what will help us grow in the grace of God.
        • Repentance is the Roundup in our lives, and anytime we recognize that sin or suffering is causing us to drift from the Lord we should stop, turn around, and run to Him.
• But that is not what Naomi did, even when her daughters-in-law told her that they were willing to bear the shame of being Moabites in Israel.
• Naomi allowed bitterness to betray her in this 3rd way. Bitterness betrays us by isolating and abandoning us.
  • Look at these verses and see the full vent of Naomi’s bitterness. It pushes back on every person and part of her life.
    • Verse 11 points out that she has no more sons.
    • Verse 12 tells us that she is too old for another husband.
    • Naomi then returns to bitterness’ first betrayal, that there is no longer any hope for her.
    • Verse 13 then says that even if she had sons that night it would be too long for them to wait.
    • Finally verse thirteen culminates with these words “It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”
  • Friends, life is hard. It pummels us and I would think most of us would understand Naomi’s point.
    • With everything that happened to her, we could easily conclude that her Lord had turned against her.
    • Does that not echo the Lord’s own words as he suffered on the cross, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”
    • That is the sum total of suffering and sin. It leads to death, and the deadening of our hope and faith in the Lord.
    • Bitterness deadens us by pushing us towards isolation from God and people. It also deadens us by making it seem okay to abandon all the routines of our lives.
  • But notice that while Naomi can push Orpah out, Ruth clings to her in verse 14.
  • Can I tell you friends that the way Ruth clings to Naomi is a testament to the way that our God clings to us?
    • Ephesians 4:31 tells us to let all bitterness with other deathly actions and attitudes be put away from us while the verse 4:32 tells us to put on kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness as avenues of hope for our lives.
    • But the most important part of those two verses is the last few words, “just as God in Christ forgave you”.
    • No matter what sins may spring up like bitterness does in our lives; no matter how well we put on the compassionate and forgiving attributes of Christ – those final words tell us that Christ clings to us with his own forgiving love.
  • When we cling to those in our church family that push away into the fringes, we testify to a Savior worth seeking.
    • When we won’t abandon hurting, bitter people but try to finds ways to help and minister to them we serve Christ who is our Lord.
    • When we share love with unlovable people we are the most like Christ that we will ever be.
  • So friends, guard yourself against becoming bitter by clinging       to those hurting people who want to push away from you as our Lord clings to you.
    • Make that phone call or visit with the absent member of your Bible Study Group.
    • Invite that estranged family member to Thanksgiving.
    • Continue to be neighborly to that person in your neighborhood who looks at you strangely when you throw up your hand to wave.
  • And friends if you are that person who is pushing others away from you, cling to the hope that there is in someone who just will not abandon and isolate you.
    • That is a reminder of how Christ clings to you.
    • His love and forgiveness available to you.
    • So receive Him and that one who cares so much for you.

Conclusion:

• In the next few minute you have an opportunity. You have a choice.
• Today can be just another day. You can just go home and continue in bitterness and despair.
• Or you can Repent today, turning away from the past and turning and clinging to Christ for your future.
  • You can “round up” that root of bitterness in your life and receive those believing friends and godly routines back into your life.
  • You can guard yourself against the root of bitterness by turning to others and clinging to them the way Christ clings to us.
• Friends do not leave here today the way you came into this place. Leave with the hope and help that Jesus offers you today.