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The prophecy of Isaiah leads up to the same glorious conclusion as that of Paul's
epistle to the Colossians--"Christ is all."
Before we can hope to appreciate the teaching of a book of this length (it has 66
chapters), it is incumbent upon us to discover its structure. This is not an easy task, and
yet our experience over the last twenty-five years and more compels us to attempt it, for
we have so often in the past been richly rewarded for the hours that the investigation has
entailed. Some readers may perhaps be inclined to ask, "Why not accept the structure
already set out in the Companion Bible?" Our reply is that, valuable as these structures
undoubtedly are, we are under a self-imposed obligation to live up to the title of this
magazine, and "search and see" for ourselves. In the course of our studies we have
obtained, over a period of years, a few helpful books on various parts of the O.T. and
among them one or two commentaries on Isaiah. One of these was responsible for
starting us off on the present investigation, and although the author, the Rev. T. R. Birks,
does not carry his own suggestions to their conclusion, the hint that he throws out with
regard to the structure of Isaiah was enough to provide the incentive and direction. The
final result we present to the reader below. A detailed analysis of the sixty-six chapters
of the book would obviously not be practicable at this stage, and we must therefore ask
the reader to be satisfied with the following outline, which can be filled in as the details
are given in subsequent articles.
The Sevenfold Prophecy of Isaiah.
A | PRE-ASSYRIAN INVASION (1:-35:).
a | 1:-12: THE REMNANT SHALL RETURN. |
(1) 1:
Zion like a lodge (Melunah).
(2) 2: - 4: 6.
Zion's future glory.
(3) 5:
Zion, the Lord's vineyard.
(4) 6:
The Tenth. It shall return.
(5) 7: - 9: 7.
Virgin's Son. Immanuel.
(6) 9: 8 - 10: 34.
Remnant shall return.
(7) 11:-12:
The root and offspring of David.
b | 13:-27: BURDENS AND BLESSINGS. |
(1) 13: - 14: 23.
Babylon and Jerusalem.
(2) 14: 24 - 18: Philistia, Moab, Damascus.
(3) 19:, 20:
Egypt.
(4) 21:
Desert. Dumah. Arabia.
(5) 22:
Valley of Vision.
(6) 23:
Tyre.
(7) 24:-27:
The earth like a cottage (Melunah).
c | 28:-35: WOES AND GLORIES. |
(1) 28:
Ephraim. Instruction.
(2) 29:
Ariel. Redemption.
(3) 30:
Egypt. Grace.
(4) 31:, 32: Apostates. Righteous King.
(5) 23:
Assyria. King in His Beauty.
(6) 34:
Idumea. Recompenses.
(7) 35: 1-10.
Wilderness. Glory and Excellency.
B | ASSYRIAN INVASION AND DELIVERANCE (36:-39:).