100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,320Everyone who endures shock, trauma, or loss200:00:09,320 –> 00:00:18,920knows what this is like. The crisis comes and you endure it and you think you’ve300:00:18,920 –> 00:00:25,120got through it and then something triggers a whole new wave of sorrow and400:00:25,240 –> 00:00:31,940you find, to your surprise, that your loss feels even more painful than it did500:00:31,940 –> 00:00:38,040before. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smyth. I’m David Pick, glad600:00:38,040 –> 00:00:41,599you could be with us today. Colin, I think many people listening today700:00:41,599 –> 00:00:46,959will identify with this at some level. You think you’re over that difficult800:00:46,959 –> 00:00:52,160time, that traumatic event, that devastating loss, but then suddenly it900:00:52,240 –> 00:00:57,439all comes flooding back? Yeah that’s right, that’s how it is and if you’re1000:00:57,439 –> 00:01:01,919walking sorrows path today I’m so glad that you’re listening to the program.1100:01:01,919 –> 00:01:09,620We’re looking, in the Bible, at one of the great stories of someone navigating the1200:01:09,620 –> 00:01:16,040path of sorrow and loss and the help that this lady found from the Lord as1300:01:16,120 –> 00:01:22,419she went through the difficulties that she experienced and one of the things1400:01:22,419 –> 00:01:28,040that’s so helpful in the scriptures is that God has actually given to us real1500:01:28,040 –> 00:01:33,980life examples of the kind of experience that you’re going through right now and1600:01:33,980 –> 00:01:40,279in this story I think you’re going to find as well that there is real help1700:01:40,279 –> 00:01:47,660from God that is found especially on the path of sorrow and of loss. So, join us if1800:01:47,660 –> 00:01:52,540you can in the Bible today in the book of Ruth chapter one as we begin the1900:01:52,540 –> 00:01:56,360message, Grief. Here’s Colin. We are following2000:01:56,360 –> 00:02:02,860the story of the lives loves and losses of an ordinary family and we are seeing2100:02:02,860 –> 00:02:10,360how our extraordinary God weaves his hidden plan into their lives in order to2200:02:10,360 –> 00:02:16,639bring blessing to the world. Now, the spotlight in this first chapter of Ruth2300:02:16,639 –> 00:02:23,559is on Naomi, who lived in Bethlehem with her husband Elimelech and her two sons2400:02:23,559 –> 00:02:30,580Melon and Chilian. And when this family were faced with a famine, they moved to2500:02:30,800 –> 00:02:36,500Moab. While they were there, Melon and Chilian got married, and the names of2600:02:36,500 –> 00:02:43,500their wives were Orpah and Ruth. But along with this joy, Naomi suffered2700:02:43,500 –> 00:02:49,580great loss through a triple bereavement. She lost her husband Elimelech, and2800:02:49,580 –> 00:02:56,539then she lost both of her sons Melon and Chilian. So this is a story of great2900:02:56,539 –> 00:03:05,039grief, and of great loss. Now when Naomi heard that the famine in Bethlehem was3000:03:05,039 –> 00:03:10,259over, she decided that it was time for her to return home. And we saw last time3100:03:10,259 –> 00:03:18,440that in an astonishing act of loving commitment and faith, her daughter-in-law3200:03:19,020 –> 00:03:26,419Ruth decided to go with her. Where you go, I will go. And where you lodge, I will3300:03:26,419 –> 00:03:34,139lodge. Your God will be my God. So that’s the story that we now take up in verse3400:03:34,139 –> 00:03:40,96019, which was read to us where Ruth and Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem. So the3500:03:40,960 –> 00:03:47,020two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to3600:03:47,100 –> 00:03:52,500Bethlehem the whole town was stirred because of them and the women said, is3700:03:52,500 –> 00:04:01,059this Naomi? Now ten years had passed since Naomi had left Bethlehem. Ten years3800:04:01,059 –> 00:04:06,960is a long time a lot changes in ten years. And three bereavements had clearly3900:04:06,960 –> 00:04:13,240taken their toll on Naomi and when she arrived home her friends barely even4000:04:14,139 –> 00:04:21,279her, is this Naomi? She had left Bethlehem of course with her husband4100:04:21,279 –> 00:04:26,980and her two sons and so when her friends realised that indeed it was Naomi back4200:04:26,980 –> 00:04:30,700the natural first thing for them to say would be,4300:04:30,700 –> 00:04:38,059Oh Naomi, welcome home, how’s the limelight? He died shortly4400:04:38,279 –> 00:04:46,160after we moved to Moab. Oh Naomi, so sorry, so you were left all on your own with4500:04:46,160 –> 00:04:54,019these two lads? How are the boys doing? Oh they both died too.4600:04:54,019 –> 00:05:03,739So no wonder the whole town was stirred by the grief and the sorrow of this4700:05:04,420 –> 00:05:08,140returning woman. Now the title of our message today is4800:05:08,140 –> 00:05:14,839grief and we’re looking at the words of Naomi and from them I want us to gather4900:05:14,839 –> 00:05:21,579two things today. I think there is some real wisdom for us here in regards to5000:05:21,579 –> 00:05:30,679navigating sorrow. For anyone who endures trauma, who endures loss, who walks the5100:05:30,679 –> 00:05:37,480path of sorrow in any way. There is wisdom that we can gain here from the5200:05:37,480 –> 00:05:42,660words in the experience of Naomi. That’s the first thing. Wisdom for navigating5300:05:42,660 –> 00:05:50,299sorrow and the second is going to be a strategy for growing in faith. Two things5400:05:50,299 –> 00:05:56,920then. Wisdom for navigating sorrow and a strategy for growing in faith. First5500:05:56,920 –> 00:06:02,179wisdom for navigating sorrow. And I want you to notice it seems quite clear to me5600:06:02,179 –> 00:06:07,820here that we’re being reminded of this truth that sorrow comes in waves. It does5700:06:07,820 –> 00:06:13,459not come at one time. It overwhelms at particular moments and for particular5800:06:13,459 –> 00:06:22,279reasons. Verses 19 and 20, so the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.5900:06:22,799 –> 00:06:28,600And when they came to Bethlehem the whole town was stirred because of them and the6000:06:28,600 –> 00:06:33,000woman said is this Naomi and she said do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara for the6100:06:33,000 –> 00:06:40,420Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Now I’m struck by the fact that when6200:06:40,420 –> 00:06:47,320Naomi began the journey back it seems that she was really doing quite well. And6300:06:48,320 –> 00:06:53,859we read the rest of the story, she seems remarkable in her poise and in her6400:06:53,859 –> 00:07:00,760steadiness and in her faith. When she reached the crossroads with her two6500:07:00,760 –> 00:07:05,059daughters in law and the conversation took place that we looked at last time6600:07:05,059 –> 00:07:11,299she was quite composed as she spoke to them. She was clear in her counsel. She6700:07:11,299 –> 00:07:16,440was steady in her resolve. She was generous in her spirit as she prayed for6800:07:16,559 –> 00:07:21,940God’s blessing to be on them and for his peace to go with them. But when she came6900:07:21,940 –> 00:07:29,679back to Bethlehem, she was hit by an overwhelming and perhaps even7000:07:29,679 –> 00:07:36,239unexpected wave of sorrow. You see that the two of them went on their way until7100:07:36,239 –> 00:07:43,559they came to Bethlehem. Bethlehem! Of course, this was where Elimelech had7200:07:43,559 –> 00:07:51,239accorded Naomi. This was where Naomi had had her wedding. This was where the boys7300:07:51,239 –> 00:07:59,260had been born. This is where they had played. Every street in this little town7400:07:59,260 –> 00:08:05,559evoked memories of Naomi’s past life. And when she returned to Bethlehem, oh boy,7500:08:05,559 –> 00:08:12,399then the memories flooded back and she was absolutely overwhelmed with sorrow.7600:08:12,420 –> 00:08:23,519Everyone who endures shock, trauma or loss knows what this is like. The crisis7700:08:23,519 –> 00:08:32,799comes and you endure it and you think you’ve got through it and then something7800:08:32,799 –> 00:08:40,380triggers a whole new wave of sorrow and you find to your surprise that your loss7900:08:40,659 –> 00:08:45,500feels even more painful than it did before.8000:08:45,500 –> 00:08:54,859Sorrow comes in waves. One passes another comes. So here as we’re gathering wisdom8100:08:54,859 –> 00:08:59,440for navigating sorrows path is something that we should expect to be forewarned8200:08:59,440 –> 00:09:04,500is to be forearmed. Waves of sorrow come and go in the8300:09:04,500 –> 00:09:12,679wake of trauma of shock and of loss. That’s the first thing. Second observation8400:09:12,679 –> 00:09:19,380from this is that grief distorts. Notice what she says in verse 21.8500:09:19,380 –> 00:09:27,500I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Now these are the8600:09:27,500 –> 00:09:34,599words of a believing woman when her heart was filled with sorrow. And what8700:09:34,599 –> 00:09:41,000Naomi says here is clearly true. When she had left Bethlehem Naomi had a8800:09:41,000 –> 00:09:46,979husband and she had two sons, but none of them were with her when she returned.8900:09:46,979 –> 00:09:55,880I went away full, the Lord has brought me back empty. When she left it does appear9000:09:56,219 –> 00:10:01,400that Naomi may have been quite prosperous she certainly owned some land,9100:10:01,400 –> 00:10:09,320but when she came back it’s clearly the case that she arrived in poverty. So what9200:10:09,320 –> 00:10:16,700Naomi says here is true, but it’s not the whole truth. It’s not the whole truth.9300:10:16,700 –> 00:10:22,559I went away full.9400:10:22,719 –> 00:10:29,900Yes but why did she go away? She went away because there was famine in the9500:10:29,900 –> 00:10:37,859land, so life was not as full as her grieving memory was suggesting and then9600:10:37,859 –> 00:10:45,479she says, the Lord has brought me back empty. Well then Naomi who is this who is9700:10:45,479 –> 00:10:53,239standing beside you? Ruth has made an extraordinary commitment of love and of9800:10:53,239 –> 00:11:00,320lifelong loyalty to her mother-in-law. Where you go I will go, where you lodge I9900:11:00,320 –> 00:11:05,559will lodge, nothing but death will ever separate me from you.10000:11:05,559 –> 00:11:10,260Naomi with a love like that you can hardly say the Lord has brought you back10100:11:10,299 –> 00:11:25,119empty grief distorts it embellishes what God gave in the past and it loses sight10200:11:25,119 –> 00:11:35,460of what God is providing now. So here is wisdom for navigating sorrows path when10300:11:35,460 –> 00:11:44,580you feel the weight of how much you have lost look at what God is providing for10400:11:44,580 –> 00:11:49,619you now the help you receive the opportunities that you enjoy the people10500:11:49,619 –> 00:11:56,859that God has placed around you making much of what God has given will help you10600:11:56,859 –> 00:12:02,760to bear what he has taken away you are listening to open the Bible with10700:12:02,760 –> 00:12:06,760Pastor Colin Smith and we’ve been hearing about how grief comes in waves10800:12:06,760 –> 00:12:11,200and sorrow distorts and when we come back in a moment we’ll hear about10900:12:11,200 –> 00:12:16,419bitterness. At open the Bible we’re excited about an event happening this11000:12:16,419 –> 00:12:21,780Easter all over the world. 70% of the world’s population will have the11100:12:21,780 –> 00:12:26,580opportunity to see the one hour film version of Pastor Colin’s book Heaven11200:12:26,580 –> 00:12:32,039how I got here, the story of the thief who was crucified with Jesus. It’s a11300:12:32,039 –> 00:12:36,679powerful performance by the actor Stephen Baldwin in which we see how the11400:12:36,679 –> 00:12:42,320thief starts to understand and fear God and reaches out to Jesus who in turn11500:12:42,320 –> 00:12:48,520accepts the thief as a repentant sinner. It’s been translated into 23 different11600:12:48,520 –> 00:12:53,780languages and we’re making it available to watch for free this Easter. Learn more11700:12:53,780 –> 00:12:59,799when you visit openthebible.org.uk. Back to the message now where in11800:12:59,840 –> 00:13:09,619Ruth in chapter 1, here’s Collin. Grief comes in waves. Grief distorts. But11900:13:09,619 –> 00:13:13,820surely the most obvious area of wisdom as we look at these verses is the12000:13:13,820 –> 00:13:22,099reminder to us here that bitterness lurks at sorrow’s door. It’s in verse 1312100:13:22,099 –> 00:13:28,400and in verse 20….’Know, my daughters, it is exceedingly bitter for me to me12200:13:28,400 –> 00:13:32,840for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.’ That’s verse 1312300:13:32,840 –> 00:13:38,080or verse 20. She said to them, do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, which means12400:13:38,080 –> 00:13:47,080bitter, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Now the name Naomi as12500:13:47,080 –> 00:13:55,080many of you will know, means pleasant, and after her great loss and the experience12600:13:55,080 –> 00:14:01,059of these years of grief, Naomi just did not feel that her name was a good fit12700:14:01,059 –> 00:14:06,679for her experience. Pleasant? That certainly doesn’t describe my life. Call12800:14:06,679 –> 00:14:14,359me Mera, which means bitter. That’s what these last years have been for me. Now12900:14:14,359 –> 00:14:18,179here’s a question and again you’ll find that folks who write on Ruth come to13000:14:18,380 –> 00:14:30,479conclusions on this. Was Naomi bitter or was it simply that her experience was13100:14:30,479 –> 00:14:36,799bitter? There was obviously a big difference between these two things. I13200:14:36,799 –> 00:14:43,780don’t think that Naomi was bitter. One reason for that is just to look at how13300:14:43,780 –> 00:14:49,280she prays for Orpah and for Ruth. We looked at this last time, that God’s13400:14:49,280 –> 00:14:53,580blessing would be on them. That God’s peace would go with them. You can’t pray13500:14:53,580 –> 00:14:57,820for another person like that if your heart is filled with bitterness. You just13600:14:57,820 –> 00:15:03,659can’t. There’s a big difference between enduring a bitter experience that all of13700:15:03,659 –> 00:15:09,580us will do in some ways at sometimes and becoming a bitter person, and I don’t13800:15:09,739 –> 00:15:14,739think that Naomi herself was bitter. What is certain is that she had a great13900:15:14,739 –> 00:15:19,640battle with bitterness. And there may have been the times14000:15:19,640 –> 00:15:24,460with all of us where what she was battling against got the better of14100:15:24,460 –> 00:15:27,900her, it may have been that it got the better of her when she returned to14200:15:27,900 –> 00:15:35,659Bethlehem. But bitterness did not win the battle in the heart of this godly woman.14300:15:35,700 –> 00:15:44,539I want us to take in today that there are certain sins that we need to guard14400:15:44,539 –> 00:15:49,039against at particular times and in particular circumstances of our lives.14500:15:49,039 –> 00:15:54,239Knowing what they are is very important to winning the battle. There are certain14600:15:54,239 –> 00:15:59,119sins that we need to guard against at particular times and in particular14700:15:59,440 –> 00:16:08,520circumstances of our lives, and when you endure trauma, sorrow, or loss, watch out14800:16:08,520 –> 00:16:21,340for bitterness because bitterness lurks at sorrow’s door. The letter of Hebrews14900:16:21,340 –> 00:16:28,400in the New Testament was written very specifically to believers who had15000:16:28,400 –> 00:16:38,039suffered great loss. And the writer says there, see to it that no one fails to15100:16:38,039 –> 00:16:44,719obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble,15200:16:44,719 –> 00:16:54,119and by it many become defiled. Now you see, he’s writing with a pastoral heart15300:16:54,299 –> 00:17:00,539to people who have experienced great loss. And he’s warning them about a primary15400:17:00,539 –> 00:17:06,739danger that they will face inevitably in this situation. A great danger that you15500:17:06,739 –> 00:17:13,939will face when you experience great loss. He identifies it, the thing that you’re15600:17:13,939 –> 00:17:21,699going to battle against the most is the temptation to become bitter. When you15700:17:21,760 –> 00:17:29,500endure sorrow, when you endure loss, the seeds of bitterness they’re gonna be15800:17:29,500 –> 00:17:36,020blowing in the wind, like the seeds of dandelions in the spring. You know,15900:17:36,020 –> 00:17:40,560those white little seeds and they’re all over the grass and they’re blowing in16000:17:40,560 –> 00:17:45,400your face. They’re everywhere.16100:17:45,579 –> 00:17:54,140Seeds of bitterness will be blowing everywhere, when you endure sorrow and16200:17:54,140 –> 00:18:03,859loss. And you see what He’s saying? These seeds will land but if you let them16300:18:03,859 –> 00:18:11,459remain in your heart, they will spring up. And at all costs, you must make sure that16400:18:11,680 –> 00:18:18,140that does not happen. You must not allow these seeds of bitterness that will blow16500:18:18,140 –> 00:18:24,199around you in a season of loss. You must not allow them to grow because, if you16600:18:24,199 –> 00:18:28,300allow them to take root in your heart they will spring up and they will16700:18:28,300 –> 00:18:35,859produce a poisoned plant that, notice what he says, causes trouble. If you16800:18:36,099 –> 00:18:41,619allow bitterness to take root in your soul it will cause you all kinds of16900:18:41,619 –> 00:18:49,260trouble. It will take hold of you. It will make you its prisoner and when it has17000:18:49,260 –> 00:18:57,300you captive it will torture you. And if you allow bitterness to grow17100:18:57,300 –> 00:19:05,619within you, something else will happen. It will spill out onto the lives of people17200:19:05,680 –> 00:19:10,579around you. Notice what he says by it that, is by a root of bitterness that17300:19:10,579 –> 00:19:19,199might spring up, many become defiled, many become defiled. If you allow17400:19:19,199 –> 00:19:24,640bitterness to grow in your heart it will spill out on to your loved ones, on to17500:19:24,640 –> 00:19:32,380your children, your neighbors, your friends, nobody wants that. So, what are17600:19:32,380 –> 00:19:42,459you to do? Well he says, see to it, see to it, see to it that no root of bitterness17700:19:42,459 –> 00:19:49,739springs up and causes trouble. Give bitterness no place in your life, refuse17800:19:49,739 –> 00:19:57,939to indulge it, reject it, give it no accommodation and no space whatsoever.17900:19:58,420 –> 00:20:07,579And notice what he says, by the grace of God you will be able to do this. And18000:20:07,579 –> 00:20:11,119taking up the same theme that’s so important in the New Testament, the18100:20:11,119 –> 00:20:18,380Apostle Paul says, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed18200:20:18,380 –> 00:20:25,479for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and18300:20:26,280 –> 00:20:33,079slander be put away from you, along with all Malice. What are you to do instead? Be18400:20:33,079 –> 00:20:41,819kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as18500:20:41,819 –> 00:20:51,739God in Christ forgave you. You see what he’s saying. The Spirit of God lives in18600:20:51,739 –> 00:21:02,780you. You’re a redeemed child of God. God has loved you and God has forgiven you18700:21:02,780 –> 00:21:11,939all your sins in Jesus Christ. Now bitterness has no place in your life. Put18800:21:11,979 –> 00:21:14,300it away.18900:21:14,900 –> 00:21:23,540Forgive others as God in Christ forgave you.19000:21:23,819 –> 00:21:30,660Now clearly, we can only do this with the help of God that’s why in Hebrews it19100:21:30,660 –> 00:21:34,800says don’t miss the grace of God otherwise you’ll not be able to do what19200:21:34,800 –> 00:21:41,579we’re being called to do here and that leads us to the second thing today. We’ve19300:21:41,579 –> 00:21:47,680looked at navigating sorrow. Sorrow comes in waves. Grief distorts, bitterness lurks19400:21:47,680 –> 00:21:53,939at sorrow’s door. Well then, now how are we to overcome these waves of sorrow? How19500:21:53,939 –> 00:22:00,540are we to deal with these distortions of grief? How are we to stand against the19600:22:00,540 –> 00:22:07,640bitterness that lurks at sorrow’s door? We’ve got to pause the message there but19700:22:07,640 –> 00:22:11,479we’ll look at the answers to those questions as well as a strategy to grow19800:22:11,479 –> 00:22:16,400in faith in our next broadcast. You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on19900:22:16,400 –> 00:22:21,479Open the Bible and a message called Grief, part of our series, Ordinary People20000:22:21,479 –> 00:22:26,079Extraordinary God and if you’ve missed any of the series, or if you ever want to20100:22:26,079 –> 00:22:30,040go back and listen again, you can easily do that by coming online to our website20200:22:30,040 –> 00:22:35,520OpenTheBible.org.uk. There you’ll find all the messages which have already20300:22:35,520 –> 00:22:40,560been broadcast. You’ll also find Pastor Colin’s messages as a podcast and those20400:22:40,560 –> 00:22:44,699are on all the main podcast sites. You can find them by searching for Open The20500:22:44,699 –> 00:22:50,439Bible UK. Here’s Open the Bibles Amanda Cunningham. Now I wonder what plans you20600:22:50,439 –> 00:22:54,520have for Easter? At Open the Bible we have something that might be of20700:22:54,520 –> 00:23:00,040interest to you and your church we filmed a one actor one performance of20800:23:00,040 –> 00:23:05,300Colin’s well-known book Heaven how I got here the story of the thief on the cross20900:23:05,300 –> 00:23:10,060it’s a really powerful gospel message and we’re making the film available to21000:23:10,060 –> 00:23:15,099you for free if your church wanted to show the film this Easter we have21100:23:15,099 –> 00:23:20,199created a free resource pack to help you. To find out more go to21200:23:20,199 –> 00:23:25,619OpenTheBible.org.uk. Open the Bible is supported entirely by our21300:23:25,619 –> 00:23:28,959listeners that’s people just like you and if that’s something you’ve been21400:23:28,959 –> 00:23:33,319considering doing and you want to start a new Direct Debit this month in the21500:23:33,319 –> 00:23:38,119amount of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or21600:23:38,119 –> 00:23:43,520more we have a brilliant offer for you this month, we’ll send you a copy of21700:23:43,520 –> 00:23:48,579Lee Strobil’s book the case for Easter along with Pastor Colin Smith’s booklet21800:23:48,579 –> 00:23:54,599six days that changed the world as well as a lovely Open the Bible tote bag pen21900:23:54,599 –> 00:24:00,359and bookmark. Colin what is the book about? Well Christian faith is not a22000:24:00,579 –> 00:24:04,459blind leap in the dark and the compelling evidence on which we can take22100:24:04,459 –> 00:24:09,260a reason step of faith in Jesus is placed before us in the Gospels but I22200:24:09,260 –> 00:24:13,140think there are many, many people who’ve never really carefully considered the22300:24:13,140 –> 00:24:18,420evidence and the case for Easter is about the evidence for the resurrection22400:24:18,420 –> 00:24:23,959of the Lord Jesus Christ the author Lee Strobl examines the medical evidence22500:24:23,959 –> 00:24:29,780that Jesus did indeed die, the evidence of Jesus missing body from the tomb and22600:24:29,800 –> 00:24:33,839of course the evidence of Jesus resurrection appearances. It really is a22700:24:33,839 –> 00:24:39,479wonderful, clear book that will help Christian believers know why we believe22800:24:39,479 –> 00:24:42,520in the resurrection and it will help those who are beginning to explore22900:24:42,520 –> 00:24:47,300Christian faith to find a pathway to faith in the Risen Lord. We’d love to23000:24:47,300 –> 00:24:51,819send you a copy of that book if you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the23100:24:51,819 –> 00:24:56,099work of Open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a one23200:24:56,099 –> 00:25:01,380off gift of fifty pounds or more. Full details, terms and conditions are on our23300:25:01,380 –> 00:25:07,760website openthebible.org.uk. For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith23400:25:07,760 –> 00:25:12,579I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time on Open the Bible.23500:25:19,060 –> 00:25:24,319Pastor Colin Smith shows us how the sovereignty of God is a great comfort to23600:25:24,319 –> 00:25:30,260us in times of sorrow. That’s next time on Open the Bible.