Sermon Illustrations on Home — page 2

The Odyssey: the Wholeness of Longing

Though thousands of years old, Homer’s famous epic poem, The Odyssey, remains a perennial favorite — a classic.

As Ken Boa says, “Homer established the epic as a genre in Western literature and set the standards by which later works would be judged. Moreover, the values reflected ... in The Odyssey not only shaped Greek culture but also persisted into the Roman era and influenced the Renaissance centuries later.”

Homer’s works were a major influence on poets through the centuries, from Virgil to Dante to Milton and beyond. Even Hollywood still uses it as source material, as in the popular film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

That’s quite a legacy for an ancient epic. Just what is it that makes Homer’s work, in particular The Odyssey, so special?

Homer’s 12,000-line poem tells the story of the journey of the Greek warrior Odysseus after the end of the Trojan War. Twenty years after leaving home, Odysseus is still battling against various obstacles and dangers, including angry or deceitful gods and treacherous monsters, in order to get back to his home and family in Ithaca.

At the same time, his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, are facing their own struggles without him. It takes Odysseus’s eventual return to make things right at home and drive out the wicked men who have been trying to win over his wife and take over his household.

This epic is all the more remarkable for having been conceived and created in the oral tradition of Homer’s time, by a bard who was probably illiterate and may have been blind. It would have changed many times in the telling before being preserved in the written form in which it was passed down to us.

But it’s not just the method of its creation that makes this epic narrative one of the great achievements of literature. Ken tells us, “The Odyssey is thematically rich, and its principal themes include creativity, imagination, deception, heroism, the human condition, love and loyalty, order and disorder, heroic craftiness, triumph over temptation, the nature of women, the concept of home, the epic journey, the theme of revenge, and the gods’ involvement in humanity.”

In other words, there’s something here for just about everybody!

The myth of Odysseus encompasses an incredibly wide range of experiences, emotions, and ideas. And the tale is permeated by the longing for home — something we Christians know is a longing for God — that’s so strong that it again and again leads Odysseus to forsake a life of easy pleasure and to keep pursuing his goal.

As Ken puts it, “The fullness of life demands the wholeness of longing.”

In this way, Odysseus’ journey shows us something about the condition of humanity as a whole, about our need for home, for God and our capacity for endurance. Ken calls it “a timeless journey into self-understanding and completeness.”

It’s no wonder, then, that this work of genius resonates so powerfully with us, so many centuries later.

________

Christmas: Yearning To Be Home

Luke 2:8

During World War II hundreds of thousands of service personnel were spread around the world. When Bing Crosby released a song in October 1943, written as if from a G.I. far away from home at Christmas, it shot up the music charts.

It has remained a Christmas classic ever since:

“I’ll be home for Christmas

You can plan on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents on the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light gleams

I’ll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.”

During the war years, I’ll Be Home for Christmas was an anthem for “The Greatest Generation” and has touched hearts every Christmas since. This and other songs remind us: Home is where we want to be at Christmas.

Note: “Home” is where we want to be, not just in a house. Most people have seen the original “Home Alone” movie about an 8-year-old boy whose family flies to Paris for Christmas and leaves him “home alone” by mistake.

At first, young Kevin enjoys his newfound freedom as he entertains himself, orders pizza, watches old movies and defeats two bumbling burglars.

But eventually he misses his family. He was in his house for the holidays, but he wasn’t really at home because his family was thousands of miles away. It was only when they returned, once again turning their house into a home, that Christmas became a reminder of what’s most important in life.

Bickering and busyness had caused Kevin’s separation from his family. An argument the previous night had sent Kevin to the attic room alone, and a rushed departure the next morning caused the large family not to notice that he had been left behind. Such problems -- and a host of others -- can cause us to feel like we’re “home alone” for the holidays as well. Even if we can’t be in our own physical home, it’s important to share the love of Christmas with those who are important in our lives.

Interestingly, almost everyone involved in the first Christmas wasn’t at home for the holidays.

Joseph and Mary had left their home in Nazareth and journeyed to Bethlehem where she gave birth to their baby. The angels who announced the birth of Jesus in the sky over Bethlehem left home to accomplish their mission. And the Magi who traveled to see the newborn king were definitely a long way from home. Perhaps the shepherds “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8) were the closest to home, presumably being from Bethlehem.

Most important, the baby Jesus was far from His heavenly home.

Leaving the glories of heaven and the eternal company of the Father and Holy Spirit, Jesus came “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7) to a lowly stable in the tiny village of Bethlehem. The reason He and the others were far from their own homes was so we could find our way back to our true home with God.

As wonderful as it is to be at home with family and friends at Christmas, there is still something in us that tells us we are not home yet. As the Bible says, we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” looking for the “heavenly country” that God has prepared for us (Hebrews 11:13,16). Our “expatriate” status adds an extra sense of urgency to creating as much “heaven on earth” as we can during the Christmas season.

Busyness, bickering, budgets, the blues -- those and more can steal the joy from the most joyous time of the year. Even if you aren’t in your own house for the holidays, do your best to be home for the holidays by sharing your love for Jesus with family and friends -- and especially those who may have few family and friends to be with. Home is about love, generosity, warmth, sharing, hugs, laughter and forgiveness. And because Christmas is about those same things, there is no better place for Christmas than home!

As you celebrate the first coming of Jesus, let the fact that we’re not yet in our true home keep you focused on His second coming -- and your eternal, heavenly home.

Please Come Home Early

“Please come home early.” This was the most unreasonable request ever made by my wife of almost 40 years. She didn't make this request often. It came mostly on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but it seemed that I always had so many things to do that in spite of her gentle urging, I rarely came home early. I don't want to give the impression that I was never at home. I was at home a lot. We rarely did anything out of the ordinary. We enjoyed the kids and the grandchildren. We listened to music, read the paper, and had meals together. Sometimes we would just talk about how the day had gone.

Now I know why she asked me so often to “Please come home early.” She wasn't just lonely, she was lonely for me. When she passed away a short time ago, I learned firsthand what loneliness is all about. I have a supportive family and many good friends. I'm free now to go places and do things, but I'm lonesome. Lonesome for her. Now that she's gone, I've found the time to “come home early,” but there is nobody to come home to. There is nobody to do those simple little things with, such as watching the evening news, listening to music, and reading the paper. And nobody cares how my day went. If I should get a call from the good Lord to “Please come home early,” I won't fight it.

Surviving A Crisis

Luke 11:17

Satan's strategy is to use a problem situation to put you and your spouse at odds with each other. Jesus said, "A house divided against itself falls" (Luke 11:17). Many times I have said to parents, "Don't let this pull you apart." Inevitably they glance at each other, because that's precisely what's been going on.

"If you would have been more firm with our child, this wouldn't have happened," one blames.

"It's because you didn't set the standards by having family devotions every night," the other retorts.

Or if they did have devotions, "You just read to the children, you never communicate with them!"

"If you were home more often, I'd have more time to communicate with them!"

There may be a grain of truth in every statement above. But it's history, and tearing each other down will only make the problem worse. You must be united in order to survive the crisis. Character-bashing is from the pit.

Many parents are intimidated by a child's threats or find it easier to give in to a temper tantrum than not to. But you cannot let a rebellious child rule the home. It takes an iron will and the grace of God to stand your ground and not let your child control you. Sad are the children whose parents let them rule the roost. Even sadder are the children whose parents rule without love. If you manage to control through loveless intimidation and force, your child will be emotionally crippled. Rules without a relationship lead to rebellion.

Any crisis in the home can make or break you. You can choose to grow through the crisis and become a better person than you were before. Romans 5:3, 4, encourages, "We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope."

Lord, I refuse Satan's strategy to divide our home by quenching our love or overemphasizing rules. Help me do my part to keep our home united in You.

Naomi Cares For Ruth

Ruth 2:17

1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1

The Beauty of Ruth

Naomi Cares for Ruth

Ruth 2:17-3:6

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. Today we continue our looking at the story of Ruth, a story of God’s grace and a picture of the message of good news, the gospel, that is revealed in Jesus Christ. "Care" means "looking after the interest of."

2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2

A Quick Review of the story

A. Elimelech and his family during a famine in the time of the judges, left Bethlehem in Judah to live in Moab. More than 10 years later, his wife Naomi returned a widow, along with Ruth, the widow of one of her sons. At their coming, the town was stirred in surprise that this woman could be Naomi. Having found a place to live, Ruth volunteered to go out to glean the remnants of the harvest to help them live. She “chanced” into the field of Boaz who noticed her and made sure that she was able to do well in her gathering of barley.

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. We have suggested that Elimelech was a man of means. Two week’s ago we found that one of his near relations was Boaz, of the same “clan”. This meant that they had the same father, grandfather or great-grandfather. We learn a little more about this ancestor that they shared in Numbers 1:4 (Nahshon the son of Amminadab was the head of the tribe of Judah after they came out of the land of Egypt), 7:12-17 (the offerings of Nahshon as prince of tribe of Judah) and 10:13-14 (Nahshon was head of armies leading way during the travels in the wilderness, over-commander of armies of Issachar and Zebulun) …this Nahshon begat Salmon who begat Boaz (Ruth 4:20-21) … so Elimelech’s grandfather or great-grandfather was this Nahshon.

3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3

Ruth displays the produce, 2:17-19a

A. Ruth shows and shares with Naomi the day’s results, and begins to tell what has happened.

B. How many loaves did we guess the ephah of barley would produce?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. So, last week our title was “Boaz Cares for Ruth” because of the way he look after her to ensure that she was safe and got a good amount of grain. Today, our title is “Naomi Cares for Ruth” as Naomi seeks Ruth’s best interests as a result of what has taken place. This seems so very appropriate, given the way Ruth has expressed her care for Naomi in both word and deed. Today we commence with the same verse we concluded with last week, Ruth 2:17 … 17 So she gleaned in the field until the evening and beat out that which she had gleaned; and there was about an ephah of barley. 18 and she picked it up and entered the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought out and gave to her what she had kept over from her meal-time abundance. 19 So her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where have you gleaned today and whither have you laboured? May the one who recognized you be blessed!’ And she told of him with whom she had worked, …

B. It was about 30 pounds (or maybe double that), enough for 30 to 35 loaves (basic food for a month).

4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4

2:17-19a, continued

A. Does Ruth justify the evaluation that we have made of her character thus far?

B. What lesson does Ruth provide here as a type of the church or the Christian?

C. What does Naomi realize when Ruth produces the day’s results before her? What is the character of the last part of her statement to Ruth, verse 19?

D. What lesson does Naomi, as one of God’s people, provide to us here?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. Industry: at the end of gathering, she then finished the job of separating the grain (temptation would be? … to take it home and have Naomi do this tedious work). Kind, considerate, generous: she saved and gave to Naomi what she had left over from the lunch she had received (temptation to eat it herself after a days work).

B. Sharing the good things that we receive from God (both material and spiritual)

C. This was a bountiful result, beyond expectations for a days work, that can only be explained by someone’s having intervened on Ruth’s behalf – “the recognizer”. For whoever it is she offers a prayer of thanksgiving, that God may reward this person.

D. Thankfulness to God and to those He uses to bring blessing to us, both material and spiritual

5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5

Naomi learns of Boaz, 2:19b-20

A. Here Ruth tells about Boaz and Naomi responds.

B. To whose mercy does Naomi refer? …how can it be shown to the dead?

C. What further item do we learn here concerning Boaz?

D. In what way is this illustrative of our Go‘el, Jesus Christ?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. 19 … And she told of him with whom she had worked, and she said, ‘The name of the man with whom I have worked today is Boaz.’ 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he by Yahweh, whose mercy has not left the living nor the dead;’ for Naomi said to her, ‘This man is a near relation, though he is not our redeemer-kinsman.’

B. It can be interpreted two ways and the Hebrew does not preclude either, God’s mercy or Boaz’ mercy. The mercy can be shown to the dead (Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion) either while they were alive (which Naomi now recognizes) or through their family who have survived them.

C. That Boaz is not in point of fact, the Go‘el, Kinsman-Redeemer, to Ruth, for there is another more closely related by birth. But, we will find out later that Boaz takes upon himself that role, he becomes the Go‘el, when the near relative is unwilling to do so, when there is no other who can carry out this responsibility.

D. The Christ, in point of fact, is the eternal Son of God, God by nature, and became eligible to be our Kinsman-Redeemer, by the incarnation, by the taking on of the nature of man; read Philippians 2:5-8 and Galatians 4:4—5.

6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6

Naomi instructs Ruth, 2:21-23

A. Ruth elaborates on what happened and Naomi gives instruction to heed Boaz’ invitation.

B. Here we are told for the first time the extent of Boaz' invitation; for how long was it good?

C. How long did this apply for Ruth? (Compare Exodus 9:31-32, 34:22)

D. Compare Ruth’s words with Naomi’s and with those of Boaz in 2:8; what picture do you see?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, ‘Surely for he has also said unto me, “you shall stay with the menservants belonging to me until they are finished all the harvesting of that which belongs to me.”’ 22 So Naomi said unto Ruth, her daughter-in-law, ‘It is better, my daughter, that you should go out with his maidens and not have others molest you in the field of another.’ 23 So she stayed with the maidens of Boaz in order to glean until the completion of barley harvest and the wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.

B. The ‘abide here’ (‘do not pass on from here’) of 2:8 was intended to apply as long as the harvest was going on. One note is that we may conclude that Naomi was unable to bear the rigours of working alongside Ruth, perhaps due to age or health.

C. We have already noted that the barley harvest began with the feast of first fruits right after Passover; the wheat harvest first fruits took place at the feast of weeks (Pentecost) some 7 weeks later. So this continued for a couple of months, sufficient to lay in store enough food for a year.

D. Naomi understood the harvesting process; as they all harvested, the men provided support and protection around the women.

7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7

Naomi seeks rest for Ruth, 3:1-4

A. Naomi now gives unusual (at least to us) instructions to Ruth with respect to what she is to do that night.

B. How much time has passed since their return from Moab? …what opportunity has this provided?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. 1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, shall I not seek a place of rest for you, which shall be well for you? 2 And now, is not Boaz, with whose maidens you have been, our friend? Behold, he winnows the threshing floor of the barley tonight. 3 Therefore, wash and anoint yourself and put your garments upon you. Go down to the threshing floor; do not let yourself be observed by the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 See that when he lies down, that you shall observe the place where he lies down; then you shall uncover the place at his feet, and you shall lie down. Then he will tell you what you shall do.’

B. They did not have combines! They would gather all of the harvest into sheaves, bring those into the storage. Except for immediate needs, winnowing was left until the harvest was complete. So we are now some 2 to 3 months after their return. Boaz has had time to evaluate Ruth’s character and Naomi, that of Boaz.

8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8

3:1-4, continued

A. What is Naomi’s intent (for the word "rest" check Ruth 1:9)?

B. In those circumstances what would this necessarily involve?

C. Did Naomi intend that Boaz personally provide this? …what indications are there that this is the case?

D. What did Naomi intend that Boaz should do?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. She is seeking a place of rest for Ruth; a permanent home that will provide her with security and a respite from her cares and sorrows.

B. Only by Ruth’s gaining a husband could she know such rest.

C. She did not plan specifically that Boaz should marry Ruth. Naomi has already pointed out that their was a nearer kinsman who had that duty. Here, the word she uses (AV, NAS, NIV: kinsman or kindred) is a different term than Go‘el, and is literally, “one that is known,” a close acquaintance

D. That he would see to it that she should have a home.

9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9

3:1-4, continued

A. What do you think of Naomi’s instructions to Ruth?

B. How did Naomi expect Boaz to respond?

C. How was Ruth to prepare herself for this? …what did she not do?

D. How could Naomi be confident in giving such advice?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. In today’s environment it would have been asking for trouble! There is no information elsewhere in the Bible on this, nor in other ancient literature, but it appears to be a custom in that culture. Before commenting further on this, let’s ask the question …

B. She expected him to give instructions to Ruth. This appears to have been a cultural action permitted with near relations. The attitude Ruth was taking would convey the messages:

1. I am dependent upon you (under the wings of your garment)

2. I am submissive to you, as a servant (under your feet)

3. I am under your protection

C. She prepared herself by

1. Being cleansed and covered

2. Not bejewelled or painted

D. She had seen

1. The consistent life and character of Ruth for some years

2. The consistent kindness and character of Boaz for the past 2 to 3 months

10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10

Ruth obeys, 3:5-6

A. Ruth hearkens to Naomi’s commands

B. What reservations did Ruth show?

C. What consistency does Ruth show that was not evidenced in the two sons in Jesus’ parable found in Matthew 21:28-31?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. 5 And she replied to her, ‘All that your are saying unto me, I will do.’ 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in- law had commanded her.

B. None: “I will do”

C. What she said is what she did: not just going through the motions but “all you say … did according to all”

11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11

3:5-6, continued

A. What lesson does Ruth provide to the church and the Christian? (Cf. 1 John 3:18)

B. What does the believer show when he lies at the feet of Jesus?

- - - - - slide above, notes below - - - - -

A. To obey Christ not just in our words but in our actual deeds

B. Submission and dependence; trust and reliance on His protection

12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12