Isaiah 28:9 "Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12 to whom He said, "This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little," that they might go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and caught.

If we had the time to study the context of this passage, we would learn a great deal about the future restoration of Israel. As with many passages, this passage has an immediate application for Israel, at the time it was given, and a principle that applies to all times for all people.

In the immediate context, the rulers and most of the people had turned away from God. Not only had they turned away from God, they had turned to reveling and intoxication. So much so, that God was asking the questions -- Who are the prophets going to teach and who will understand what they teach?

It was so bad that the only ones left, who had not destroyed their reasoning ability through drunkenness and reveling, were the children, who were too young to enter into such activities. Therefore, the rhetorical question is ask, Who can we teach? The children who have just been weaned?

The answer to such a rhetorical question is "No. We can't teach the infants, BECAUSE orFOR… Isaiah 28:10 starts with "for" = the reason we can't teach those who are drunk, those who are living in reveling OR the very young children is that… to understand the Word of God, you must put one precept with another and one line with another.

Those individual bits of God's truth, referred to here as "lines", and those organized thoughts of truth called "precepts", were given at different times and in different places.

Therefore, it takes an ability to think and stick with it, to put those lines upon the other lines and those precepts upon other precepts.., in order to see and comprehend God's great plan. That was true in Isaiah's day, and it is equally true in this day and age.

This problem of perceiving God's eternal truth (the truth that was given peace-meal over time, a line here and a line there and a precept here and precept over there), is compounded because, as God said, most people will not endure sound doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

The commission is to "preach the Word",

not philosophy, not social reform, not stories, etc….

BUT

"Preach the Word".

Paul, a great teacher, taught Timothy, who himself was a very good preacher. Yet, Paul warns Timothy that the time will come when those being taught would not endure sound doctrine. Instead, they will reach out to teachers who teach in a manner that satisfies their own desires. As a result, they will turn from the truth to fables.

Doctrine = (Greek) [in the simplest from] A teaching; [in the usual Biblical form] An orderly teaching of a subject, as presented throughout all the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Paul could speak as a persuasive orator.

Paul could "wow" the crowd

with his great human wisdom..,

BUT

he chose

NOT

to use either.

His great desire was to teach in the same manner as the Holy Spirit teaches. Paul wanted to teach as the Holy Spirit teaches so that their faith, AND ours would NOT be in the wisdom of men BUT in the power of God.

The Bible does not leave us in the dark as to the method the Holy Spirit uses. That method should also be the model for all other Biblical teachers. The teaching style of each should be different, BUT the method should be the same.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

We are to take the precept given in one book and place it on or fit it to the precept given in another book. We are to take the "one liners" given in this chapter and compare it with the "one liners" given elsewhere.

We are to continue to gather and sort the information given throughout the Bible, and make sure that each piece fits with the next, and that each conclusion is in harmony with the whole.

If we have not compared all Scripture with all Scripture and rightly divided it, we CANNOT see the whole picture of God's redemption, and our teaching will only be the teaching of men, NOT the precepts of God.

In the last lesson, I tried to demonstrate this truth by a very elementary drawing. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Please, do not put a "value" on this picture. Just look at it and smile, thereby humoring an old man.

I do hope the TRUTH that this picture illustrates will be burned into our minds, and that the TRUTH will be a guiding principle in our Bible study and understanding.

These marks and lines were taken from the picture below. Please let your imagination run "wild" for a while, and allow the picture below to illustrate God's program for time or His redemptive program.

Then, allow the box to the left to illustrate how God revealed, to mankind, over time, the information concerning His redemption program. That information was given in bits and pieces at different time and places.

Our divine given task is to take those "bits" of information and compare, categorize and arrange them in harmony to see God's great eternal plan.

God did not choose this method of revelation, so we would have "busy-work". We will look at some of the reasons for this type of revelation, in later lessons.

1 Corinthians 10:5 But with most of them (Israelites in the Wilderness) God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust (greed) after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,

As we follow the story of Israel in the wilderness, there are several actions and attitudes that give us a summation of all their failures. The Holy Spirit points to this summation here in v.10 as well as other passages. The example, and the truth we are to learn is also pointed out.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust (greed) after evil things as they also lusted.

(1) Should not lust or be possessed by greed v.6

1 Corinthians 10:7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

(2) Should not place any thing or any person above God v.7

1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

(3) Should not be engaged in improper sexual activities v.8

1 Corinthians 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

(4) Should not tempt Christ v.9

1 Corinthians 10:10 nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

(5) Should not murmur v.10

These examples are for our admonition.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

Admonition = (Greek) A rebuke by means of calling attention to a matter through teaching, with the intent of correction

As we study these examples and their Spiritual truths for us today, we will be taught and admonished to make some major and some minor correction is our manner of living.

The tabernacle and its services are shadows, given by God so we can better understand..:

1. God
2. Holiness
3. Heavenly things
4. Things to come
5. Etc.

The Passover is a divine

shadow

of the

Cross

and so much more. 

The Passover is the "starting gate" of all that follows in the recorded history of the Jewish people. Often, a spectator thinks that the race begins when the horses are in the "starting gate" or the runners are in the "starting blocks" and the signal is sounded "to go".

However, the events that take place before the starting gun and away from the public eye are as important, and sometimes more important to winning or losing than the start, itself.

Obviously, the months and sometimes years of training and preparation for the race are important. Also, the events, distractions, warm-ups and mental attitude of the racers, as they approach starting time, can make the difference between winning by a tenth of a second, or losing.

It is also important to understand that God's plan and Person are eternal and do not change. God was not different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament. God did not "grow-up" and mature with the passing of time. God's outward actions towards mankind may differ with time, BECAUSE His plan is in a different phase of completion.

You don't get to really know a person by reading a list of facts about that person. You get to know a person by being with them in all types of situations, talking to them about all types of subjects, observing their reactions in all kinds of circumstances, etc.

If we are to know God, we must do more than know lists made by humans about God. If we are to know God, we must know more than some person's presentation of their systematic theology.

We are human and God is divine, and the two have no common ground, nor can the human mind understand or perceive Spiritual truth or the person of God, Himself.

Therefore, through the redemptive program, particularly the aspect of New Birth, God has provided the common ground or "link" so that we have the capacity of knowing Spiritual truth, and entering into a personal relationship with God, Himself.

Our Salvation or New Birth becomes ours through no meritorious effort of our own. However, to learn and understand Spiritual truth and enter into a personal relationship with God does require certain actions and attitudes on our part.

Those actions and attitudes, that enable us to enter into the Spiritual realm, are NOT Spiritually meritorious of themselves. Those actions and attitudes are simply acts of obedience to God's instructions and provision.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Therefore, if we want to

understand

God's person and His plan we must see

all

revealed information

from

beginning to end.

God does not change in His person. However, God's plan is progressive. Therefore, there is advancement in that plan. As a result, the manner of interaction between God and mankind is different, in the different stages of God's plan. As we see and understand the totality of the plan, we will see that the plan has real logic beyond the thinking of mankind.

Because God's plan is "progressive", and the information about His plan has been given at different times, in different places and in different ways, we must understand that the complete revelation from God is "ACCUMULATIVE". Therefore, we must bring together, the many different bits of information, given at different times and make sure that those "bits" match the revealed progression of God's plan.

Look briefly at a few passages and see the progressive aspect of God's plan, and how the different phases and the information accumulate and harmonize to give the picture.

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came (present) to destroy the Law or the Prophets (past). I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled (some present and some future).

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do (far past) in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by (near past) sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement (present) of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently (past), who prophesied of the grace that would come to you (present), 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand (far past) the sufferings (near past) of Christ and the glories (future) that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves (past), but to us they were ministering the things which now (present) have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things which angels desire to look into.

Folks, if we don't carefully distinguish between the past, present and future aspects of our redemption, we will draw some of the strangest conclusions, and therefore, we will have some of the strangest attitudes and actions.

This fact is true, no matter the amount or type of education, experience or how long a person has been in the ministry. The teacher may have a great style of presentation, and say many good things, BUT the fact is still true…

If we do not careful distinguish between these different aspects of Redemption, it will influence our theological stand and we may find ourselves standing contrary to the Word of God. If we don't make such distinctions, we will more than likely turn to allegorical type interpretation of the Scriptures.

Allegory = A literary, dramatic, or pictorial device in which characters and events stand for abstract ideas, principles, or forces, so that the literal sense has or suggests a parallel and/or a deeper symbolic sense.

It is also important to understand that God's plan is carried out in stages, and that each stage is inseparately a part of the total, and no one stage can be fully understood without a clear understanding of all stages -- in harmony.

Therefore, the revelation from God must be

"RIGHTLY  DIVIDE"

according to

the different stages of God's plan.

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

It is also important to understand that God and His plan are in perfect unity. No passage of the Word of God will contradict any other passage. No action of God will be untrue to His essence.

Therefore, the revelation from God will be in

"COMPLETE  HARMONY"
with itself.

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us that no information given in any stage, first to last, can be in conflict with any other information. Some information, such as the "Mosaic Covenant" was given for a purpose, and that purpose was for a specified length of time.

In this case, the specified time period was -- until the "Seed" came. We learn from other passages that when Christ, the "Seed", came, He fulfilled the contract or the "Mosaic Covenant". Because the terms of the covenant or contract were fulfilled, that covenant was no longer binding, and became only "examples" and "shadows" to aid in our Spiritual learning and living.