Isaiah Outline by John Oswalt, 2003

1-5    Intro: Introduces the idea/problem of servanthood. Who will you trust? God or man?

6       Call to servanthood/to trust God. It is the solution to the problems addressed in 1-5. It is the pivotal chapter in Isaiah.

7-39   Lessons in Trust (7-35: No Trust. 36-39: Trust).

    7-12    God or Assyria? No Trust. Ahaz fails to trust God and the consequences.

    13-39    Study lessons on trust again.

        13-23    Don’t trust the nations.

        24-27    God is the sovereign actor on the stage of history.

        28-33    Woe to those who will not wait/trust.

        34-35    Conclusion

        36-39    God or Assyria? Trust. Hezekiah passes the test of trusting God.

40-55    Grace motivates us to trust God.

56-66    Grace enables us to live in the righteousness of God.

1. Introduction: God's Servants, Now and Then (1-5).
2. A Call to Servanthood (6).
3. Lessons in Trust--the Basis of Servanthood (7-39).
4. The Vocation of Servanthood (40-55).
5. The Marks of Servanthood--Divine Character (56-66).

      I.        Introduction: God's Servants, Now and Then (1-5). The present and future of God's people.

A.     God's Denunciation, Appeal, and Promise (1:1-31).

B.     The Problem: What Israel Is Versus What She Will Be (2:1-4:6).

1. The Destiny of the House of Jacob (2:1-5).

2. The House of Jacob Forsaken (2:6-4:1).

3. Israel Restored (4:2-6).

C.     A Harvest of Wild Grapes (5:1-30).

     II.        A Call to Servanthood (6).

    III.        Lessons in Trust--the Basis of Servanthood (7-39).

A.     God or Assyria? No Trust (7-12).

1. Children, Signs of God's Presence (7:1-9:6).

2. Measured by God's Standards (9:8-10:4).

3. Hope for Restoration (10:5-11:16).

4. The Song of Trust (12:1-6).

B.     God: Master of the Nations (13-35).

1. God's Judgment on the Nations (13-23).

2. God's Triumph over the Nations (24-27).

3. The Folly of Trusting the Nations (28-33).

4. Trusting God or the Nations: Results (34-35).

C.    God or Assyria? Trust (36-39).

1. The Assyrian Threat (36-37).

2. The Human Limits of Trust (38-39).

    IV.        The Vocation of Servanthood (40-55).

A.     Introduction: The Servant's Lord (40).

B.     Motive for Servanthood: Grace (41-48).

1. The Servants of the Lord: His Witnesses (41:1-44:22).

2. The Lord Delivers His Servants (44:23-46:13).

3. The Lord's Testimony (47-48).

C.    Means of Servanthood: Atonement (49-55).

1. Anticipation of Reconciliation (49:1-52:12).

2. Revelation of the Means of Reconciliation (52:13-53:12).

3. Invitation to Reconciliation (54-55).

     V.        The Marks of Servanthood--Divine Character (56-66).

A.     Human Inability (56-59).

B.     The Lord Has Glorified You (60-62).

C.    Divine Ability (63-66).

1. Israel's Faithfulness; the Lord's Faithfulness (63:1-65:16).

2. The Final Judgment (65:17-66:24).