1. Seems like the book should close with chapter 55, yet it does not. Why?

a. What is deliverance about, and what is it for?

b. It is about fellowship with God and making that fellowship available to others.

c. Neither of those is possible without godly character.

2. When we examine the division we see a remarkable paralleling of elements.

a. Most obvious are the two Divine warrior segments: 59:15a-21 and 63:1-6.

b. Then we see preceding the first Warrior segment and following the second two sections dealing with the sinfulness of God’s people.

c. On the other hand, between the two Warrior segments there is material celebrating the light God’s people bring to the nations and the righteousness they display to them.

d. At the beginning and the end of the division are sections relating to righteous foreigners.

3. All this being said, it appears that the material in the division is arranged chiastically.

a. A and A` Righteous Foreigners 56:1-8 and 66:18-24

b. B and B` Unrighteous Israel (“You”) 56:9 – 59:15a and 63:7 – 66:17

c. C and C` The Divine Warrior 59:15b-21 and 63:1-6

d. D and D` Light and Righteousness before the Nations 60:1-22 and 61:4 – 62:12

e. E The Spirit-Anointed One 61:1-3

4. What is the purpose of such a structuring of the material?

a. On the one hand, it allows for a climax of the central unit.

b. But without diminishing the importance of the end points and those leading up to the central unit.

5. So what is the message?

a. Birthright does not in itself produce the character necessary for the servant of God. Righteous behavior is what is called for.

b. God’s desire is for all nations to see his glory and share his character.

c. Righteous behavior is impossible unless God himself defeats the sinful disposition.

d. The Divine Warrior is none other than the Spirit-anointed Servant.

e. When the Warrior has done his work, the nations will see the light of his divine character in his servants.