Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”  v17

Ruth is basically making a covenant with Naomi, to death do us part, Ruth is forsaking her heritage and homeland, being buried with the Jews as a Moabite, almost like a foreshadow of our old selves being buried with Christ

As mentioned previously , I see a foreshadow of the Church in Ruth , the Gentile, being united with Naomi (Jew) in the Covenant with Christ

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4

When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.  V18

Remember Naomi pleaded with Ruth previously to go back to her homeland, but she sees that Ruth is committed to this Covenant with Naomi, she stopped trying to change her mind

Ruth made the profession of faith, and is not looking back as The Lord instructed us as followers

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62

Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”  v19

While Naomi was probably hesitant to come back to Bethlehem, after leaving and suffering many failures and hardships. Her return was well greeted, “the city was excited because of them” 

Another interesting point to this response is Naomi is bring her Gentile Daughter in Law Ruth, they were probably unsure how they would be accepted back into the Jewish community

But also reminds you of when Mary and Joseph made that far journey back to Bethelehm, to bring the Christ child into the world for Gods salvation plan for humanity

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. / While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.  Luke 2:4-6

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  V20

The name Naomi means pleasant or , Mara means bitter After all Naomi has been through, she feels as if she has been cursed by God. But was it really God who did this or Naomis and her husbands choice to leave Bethlehem during the famine?

Again we see a foreshadow of the New Covenant in Christ, where our old self has died and we are a New Creation in Christ. While Naomi does’nt understand it right now, but she is actually blessed and provided for by her Redeemer , which leads to Christ

I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”  v21

Naomi believed she was “full” secure because of her daily provision (husband, family) When all of that was stripped away, she felt like she was abandoned or empty, however what God has demonstrated to her, is that God is our provider and not us. Even through her sorrows, she is still full and taken care of by Christ our Redeemer

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.  V22

Naomi returns back to God , to Bethlehem her provided inheritance by God, and God will return back to her. This is a valuable lesson I think we can all learn, to be more obedient to God than obedient to ourselves. Trust in The Lord!

God calls His people to return to His decrees, promising, “Return to me, and I will return to you  Malachi 3:7