Outline of Isaiah chapters 28, 29, 30, 31
—Warnings to Jerusalem
This lesson provides an outline of Isaiah chapters 28 to 31 for your reference. The complete outline of Isaiah is spread over several lessons.
1 Context Overview
In chapters twenty-eight to thirty-nine of Isaiah, Jerusalem is issued with a series of warnings,especially that their trust in Egypt as an ally is misplaced, and they should be trusting in God. These warnings are followed by encouragement, in the form of poems about the Messiah, "the King in his beauty." Next Isaiah warns all nations that they are accountable to God. Isaiah then tells the story of how God helped king Hezekiah in Jerusalem to save the city from destruction by Sennacherib king of Assyria. He then records how God extended Hezekiah’s life, and promised him that Jerusalem would not be destroyed until after his death.
2 Warnings to Jerusalem (Isaiah 28-29)
- Ephraim a warning by example. Ephraim in drunk decline and soon to be destroyed, is an example from which Judah should learn (Isaiah 28:1-8).
Note —EPHRAIM: was the name of Joseph’s son. Jospeh’s other son was Manassseh. When the twelve tribes of Israel entered Canaan and divided up the land, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh each received a major territory. The name “Ephraim” is also used (here in Isaiah for example) as an equivalent to “Israel”, when referring to the ten (mostly northern) territories that broke away from Judah and Benjamin in Solomon’s time.
- Two crowns compared. Ephraim’s and the Lord’s (Isaiah 28:1,3,5).
- Hear God’s word. A warning to receive the word attentively, "line upon line, precept upon precept" (Isaiah 28:9-14)
- A corner stone in Zion. God will lay a new foundation with a strict measuring line. In view of this, injustice, deceit, and scoffing, will be swept away by a storm of destruction (Isaiah 28:15-22).
- Parable of the farmer to illustrate God’s wondrous purpose and counsel. He will plow and thresh Jerusalem, but not forever, only to the extent necessary to a harvest (Isaiah 28:23-29).
- Woe to Ariel (Lion of God, referring to Jerusalem) but with a note of hope that the destruction will be like a dream to Jerusalem’s enemies (Isaiah 29:1-8).
- The sealed book, imagery expressing Judah's lack of discernment and heart toward God’s word (Isaiah 29:9-14).
- Potter and the clay. Warning those who think they can manipulate God (Isaiah 29:15-16).
- An end to the ruthless. Encouragement for the oppressed and afflicted (Isaiah 29:17-21).
- They will sanctify. God’s optimism (Isaiah 29:22-24).
3 Help is Not in Egypt (Isaiah 30-31)
- Woe to those who execute a plan but not God’s plan, who look to Egypt for help. The result will be shame and reproach (Isaiah 30:1-5).
- The Egyptian rulers are characterised as the feared "beasts of the Negev" the wilderness of the south, contrasted to the tamed beasts of burden that pointlessly carried Judah's treasures to Egypt as tribute. Egypt would take the treasure but give no help in return (Isaiah 30:6-7).
- Isaiah is to record Judah’s rebellion and rejection of God on a scroll.
- 1. A rebellious people who will not hear (Isaiah 30:8-11).
- 2. Judah will be smashed like a clay jar (Isaiah 30:12-14).
- 3. The Lord will graciously wait and restore Judah (Isaiah 30:15-18).
- A song about God’s grace and Judah’s restoration (Isaiah 30:18-26).
- It will be the Lord, (not Egypt) who deals with the enemy Assyria. His breath will kindle the funeral pyre of Assyria (Isaiah 30:27-33).
- Woe to those who go to Egypt for help, instead of to God. The Egyptians are men, not God. Their horses are flesh, not spirit. They will perish (Isaiah 31:1-3).
- God will save Judah from Assyria with "a sword not of mankind" (Isaiah 31:4-9).