Sermon - Decision Points

 2022-10-9 Ruth 1:1-19a 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Luke 17:11-19

In the name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I have not read the book, but I have always liked the title of President George W. Bush’s book about his presidency: Decision Points.  All presidents have to make decisions that not only invite scrutiny upon their presidency, but that also have intended and unintended consequences and can affect millions of people in this country as well as throughout the world. 

The title Decision Points came to mind as I reflected upon the different decisions that Ruth and our unnamed leprous Samaritan made. If we were privileged to read their life and faith memoirs, we would be impressed by their similarities.  There is a paralyzing desperation. Ruth’s husband, brother in law, and father in law have all died. There is no obvious way forward. The Leper has leprosy, a certain, ugly, and painful death sentence. In the border lands, he is forced to leave all that is familiar and take up with 9 Israelis. While the disease may be the equalizer that brings them together, I am confident the 9 would never let him forget that he is not one of them. 

Their future is bleak. Ruth and the leprous Samaritan are bereft of community, family, financial resources or a way of making a living. The temptation to despair is strong.  The temptation to no longer trust in God is strong. They could choose to assert themselves as the god of choice. They could have decided to take matters into their own hands.  They could have lived a life of theft or solicitation.  The temptation to no longer honor her mother in law Naomi was ever present as the crisis grew. She could have followed Orpah’s example and returned to her family of origin. She could have let Naomi attempt the perilous journey alone. The temptation to live within their minds a life of fantasy that was filled with covetous desires is strong. They could get lost in the intense desire to have someone else’s life.  They could certainly desire someone else’s food, clothing, house, spouse, ox or donkey. In falling into the coveting trap, they could have dwelt in self-pity and anger toward God for the unjust way they have been treated. 

They were at one of those decision points. How they chose to respond to this crisis matters.  They could fall headlong into any and all temptations of the flesh and mind.  They chose to retain their faith. Out of that faith sprung hope and love.  

This is where their lives diverge. At this point, their memoirs stop sounding similar. Their faith connects with God’s promises in different ways.  While they are both gentiles, they do have faith in the Lord God.  

Ruth was introduced to the Lord God through her husband and his family. She would have heard of the way God created the universe in 6 days. She would have experienced their family custom of resting on the Sabbath. As the reason for observing the Sabbath is explained, she would certainly have heard how God led Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  To speak of the Exodus is to tell the story of God’s victory over Pharaoh through the plagues.  And, the inauguration of the Passover meal.  The parting of the Red Sea.  As well as the revelation of God’s commands on Mount Sinai.

If God can do these miraculous things, certainly He can save Naomi and Ruth.  If Israel can travel all those years in the desert under God’s direction, then surely the Lord can keep Naomi and Ruth safe as they travel to Bethlehem.  

In all faith in the God of the Exodus and with deep love and devotion to Naomi, Ruth declares her intention to go to Bethlehem.  “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”  

Ruth is the very picture of discipleship.  She has counted the cost of moving forward with faith in the one true Lord. She will honor the fourth commandment. She will leave all that is familiar and embrace an even more uncertain future in a foreign land.  Her trust in God is profound.  Her love for her mother-in-law is extraordinary.  

As it so happens, while Ruth is about 1100 years before the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, she is a part of Jesus’ ancestry.  Ruth eventually marries Boaz.  Together they have Obed. Obed and his wife have Jesse.  Jesse is the father of King David.  King David is one of Jesus’ ancestors. One of the messianic titles that Jesus was called is “Son of David.” 

The Samaritan had the privilege of encountering Jesus face to face. In the time that he shared with the nine Jewish lepers, he would have heard of their hope for the coming messiah.  For they lived in perilous times and the hope for the Messiah was pervasive.  Then, as God’s providence allows, they all meet up with Jesus. The Samaritan cries out in faith too. He joined the nine others in seeking Jesus’ help. “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  When Jesus says to go to the priest, he heads to Jerusalem too. Yet, as they all saw that they were healed and may be declared clean, only the Samaritan returns to offer his profoundest joy and heartfelt thanksgiving. 

We know that the Samaritan is a person of faith because Jesus says so. As the now healed Samaritan is prostrate before Jesus offering his praise and thanksgiving, Jesus tells him, “Rise, and go your way; your faith has made you well.” 

The Samaritan’s faith in Jesus as a healer connects him to Jesus as Savior.  His faith allows him to experience the power of Jesus’ Word.  Jesus declares the ten clean. He speaks and as the lepers move toward Jerusalem in faith, they are healed.  Because of his faith, the fruit of gratitude is expressed. The Samaritan returns to the source of his healing to offer his gratitude.  

One of the commentators I read, makes the point that the faith of the Samaritan is not soteriological faith.  In other words, it is not justifying faith that saves the soul.  But, his faith in Jesus as healer prepares him for the Good News that Jesus dies on the cross and rises on the third day.  

When the news reaches him, the Samaritan will be able to proclaim that Jesus healed him.  His faith will receive the good news of the cross and understand that Jesus has died for him.  Our heavenly Father will declare him righteous because of his faith in Jesus as the one who has the power to heal and the power to save us through his death. 

We all have our own version of Decision Points to tell.  When did God’s accusatory Word convince us of our sinfulness?  When did we learn that we cannot by our own effort satisfy the expectations of God? God’s Word teaches us that we cannot merit God’s favor on our own.  When did we come to the conclusion that we have to receive God’s good news of Jesus and His cross with faith alone?  When we received our Father’s declaration of righteousness for Christ sake alone, did we return with thanksgiving, knowing that we are forgiven and set free from Satan’s tyranny? 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that we have to love our enemies and pray for them.  By their place of origin, Ruth and the Samaritan are enemies of God.  They are gentiles. Yet, at the same time, God’s love for us all is incomprehensible.  Ruth and the Samaritan stand out as examples of God’ providential care for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.  It is probably best to use Jesus’ own language from John 3:16 and elsewhere. They are examples of how God loves the whole world. Jesus loves his enemies.  So much so, that he dies on the cross for all sinners. The Holy Spirit provides the faith so necessary for us to trust this proclamation.  In faith in Jesus as the Christ, confessing our sins, receiving the Lord’s forgiveness, we are no longer enemies of God.  We are saved, healed, grafted into the promise of salvation. In faith, our ancestors include Ruth and the Samaritan. For this we give thanks to God. 

In the name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.