Lesson 4 – Outline of Isaiah
Part One – Chapters 1-39
II.
PROPHETIC DISCOURSES DIRECTED AGAINST FOREIGN NATIONS (ch. 13-23).A. DOWNFALL OF BABYLON, HEIR OF ASSYRIA (13:1 – 14:27).
1. Judgment upon the city – its utter destruction (ch. 13).
a. The decree against Babylon (vs. 1-5 ).
b. The – a day of Jehovah (vs. 6-16).
c. Jehovah’s instrument: the Medes – and the completeness of destruction (vs. 17-22).
2. Restoration of Israel – and the "taunt" song ( triumph ) over the king (14:1-27).
a. For Israel – deliverance and restoration (vs. 1-2).
b. Fall of the tyrant king of Babylon (vs. 3-23).
3. Certain destruction of Assyria, pledge of Babylon’s destruction (vs. 24-27).
B. A SERIES OF SHORT PROPHECIES AGAINST THE NATIONS (14:28 – 21:17).
1. Oracle against Philistia – rebuke for rejoicing over the death of Uzziah (14:28-32)
2. Oracles against Moab (ch. 15-16).
a. the severity of the devastation (ch. 15).
b. An offer of mercy if Moab will give allegiance to the House of David (16:1-5).
c. Moab rejects the offer (16:6-12).
d. The time is fixed for the visitation (16:13-14).
3. Oracles against Damascus (Syria), Ephraim (Israel), and Assyria ( ch. 17 ).
a. Damascus – a ruinous heap (vs. 1-3)
b. Israel – the glory of Jacob shall be made thin (vs. 4-11).
c. Assyria – here today, gone tomorrow (vs. 12-14).
4. Ethiopia homage to Jehovah (ch. 18).
a. Ethiopia summons her people – probably against Sennacherib (vs. 1-3).
b. God rests and waits (vs. 4-5).
c. Assyria given to the fowls of the air – Ethiopia honors God (vs. 6-7) see Psalm 68:31.
5. Oracle against Egypt (ch. 19).
a. Threat – judgement ready to fall on Egypt (vs. 1-17).
- Internal strife leading to fall (vs. 1-4).
- Drying up of the streams and the wise (vs. 5-15)
- Fear becomes their heritage (vs. 16-17).
b. Promise – "smiting and healing" (vs. 18-25).
- When they turn (vs. 18-22).
- Egypt, Assyria, and Israel blessed by God together (vs. 23-25).
6. Oracle against Egypt and Ethiopia (ch 20).
The sign of Isaiah, barefoot and naked. Shame !
7. Oracle against "the wilderness of the sea" (ch 21:1-10) – Babylon.
( As certain to go down as Egypt, therefore, not a fit ally for Judah. )
8. Oracle against Dumah – Edom (ch. 21:11-12).
( Dumah: "silence," "the land of the silence of death, the grave." – Smith. )
9. Oracle against Arabia (21:13-17).
10. Oracle concerning Jerusalem – the foreign temper within the theocracy (ch. 22).
a. Condemnation of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (vs. 1-14).
- rejoicing of the city unwarranted (vs. 1-4).
- panic and preparation for the siege (vs. 5-11).
- Call to the mourning of sin unheeded (vs. 12-14).
b. Denunciation of Shebna and the weakness of Eliakim (vs. 15-22).
- Shebna, the steward deposed for his pride (vs. 15-19).
- Eliakim exalted by God, but falls under exaltation (vs. 20-25).
11. Oracle against Tyre (ch. 23).
a. Divine judgment against Tyre and Sidon (vs. 1-12).
b. Tyre’s restoration and prosperity (vs. 13-18).
( Concerns Assyria’s assaults by either Shalmanezer and Sargon before 722 BC, or Sennacherib in 703.)