There are four:-

• A Bitter Sojourn (1:1-22).

1. Elimelech’s family moves from Bethlehem to Moab to escape famine (1:1-2).
2. Elimelech dies in Moab (1:3).
3. Two sons marry Moabite women (1:4a).
4. Two sons die (1:4b-5).
5. Naomi returns to Bethlehem with daughter-in-law Ruth (1:6-18).
6. Naomi changes her name to reflect circumstances (1:19-21).
7. Conclusion (1:22).

• Ruth Meets Boaz (2:1-23).

1. Ruth gleans (2:1-3).
2. Boaz discovers Ruth’s identity (2:4-7).
3. Boaz cares for Ruth (2:8-16).
4. Naomi discovers where Ruth gleaned (2:17-22).
5. Conclusion (2:23).

• Naomi Secures Boaz as a Husband for Ruth (3:1-18).

1. Naomi instructs Ruth (3:1-5).
2. Ruth and Boaz meet at night (3:6-13).
3. Boaz gives Ruth a gift (3:14-15).
4. Ruth returns to Naomi (3:16-18).

• Marriage of Ruth and Boaz (4:1-22).

1. Boaz secures Ruth as his wife (4:1-12).
2. Ruth has a child (4:13-17). Child is born (4:13) 2. Child is blessed (4:14-15) 3. Naomi becomes his nurse (4:16) 4. Local women name him Obed (4:17a) 5. Obed becomes the grandfather of David (4:17b).
3. Descendants of Perez (4:18-22).

• Literary value – It is a very beautiful pastoral story situated in the country.
• Historical values – There are three:-

1. It gives us the ancestry of David and so Christ as well.
2. It is in marked contrast with the book of Judges. During this period there are exemptions to the norm. The “godly” Boaz and Ruth. They were not all in apostasy in Israel, especially in the country.
3. It links the theocracy with the monarchy.

• It presents to us the high ideals of married life in the Old Testament There is much immorality in the Old Testament and it is a lovely change to turn to Ruth and see that although immorality was the norm, there were those who lived “godly” marriages.
• The scope of the Grace of God. Ruth is a Gentile. This book shows us that in the Old Testament Gentiles also received the Grace of God.
• It gives us some insight into the way of salvation in the Old Testament Ruth was converted and her conversion came about when she accepted as her own personal God, the God of Israel. See Ruth 1:16,17. This is her expression of faith in the God of Israel. And so conversion in the Old Testament was an act of faith. We are saved today by faith
• The role of the kinsman redeemer. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth. See Isaiah 59:20.
• Boaz is a type of Christ. He is the one who redeems Ruth. He purchases the land and Ruth he marries her, assuming the responsibility of a kinsman redeemer.
• Ruth is a type of the Church. She was a Gentile girl who was redeemed by Boaz and brought into a covenant relationship with God. Ruth pictures the Church, as the bride of Christ who has been redeemed by Him through Christ’s death upon the cross. This book is a picture of what is happening today. There is much apostasy, but there is still the love relationship between Christ and His Church.