The prophet will use a theme in a group of verses, and use words from that theme. Then, in a few verses later, he will use a completely different one. Once you notice the similarities between them, you can see the groups.

I think he uses these to show, in contrast, how the people or the situation is.

• 1:2 - heavens, earth
• 1:3 - the ox, the ass; his owner, his master's crib
• 1:4 - sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters

There are also arching summaries as well, across the groups of verses:

• 1:2-1 - they have rebelled against me
• Israel doth not know
• my people doth not consider
• they have forsaken the Lord
• they have provoked the Holy one of Israel unto anger
• they are gone away backward

• 1:5-6 - the whole head, the whole heart, the sole of the foot, the head
• wounds, bruises, putrifying sores
• closed, bound up, mollified with ointment