Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Precept must be upon precept"
Text: Isaiah 28:10
PEOPLE LIVING IN EXILE
Israel had gone so far away from God that it needed to be taught basic religious knowledge. The context is that of exiled Israel where there is no Temple, and many were in danger of losing their mother tongue!
“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?
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
Isaiah 28:9-10
1. A series of relevant questions that need answers.
a) The question of knowledge.
i) Was there anyone interested at all?
ii) How would knowledge about God be communicated at all?
b) The question of understanding.
i) Knowledge of God is not merely acquiring information.
ii) It extends to understanding the relevance of the knowledge of God.
c) When should the impartation of knowledge begin?
i) An infant would not understand.
ii) But a child that has been weaned can begin to understand
the knowledge of God.
2. Knowledge of God is compared to learning a language.
a) Precepts are basic grammatical rules.
b) Precepts must be learned thoroughly.
c) The usual method is stated here.
i) One precept is laid upon another.
ii) Writing is done, line upon line.
iii) Knowledge is slowly gained: “Here a little, there a little”.
3. Israel must be prepared to learn about God “from scratch”
a) It would take time.
b) It would require interest.
c) Perseverance must be found and applied.