RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-22	What Does 'Precept Upon Precept' Mean? (Is.28:13)
		Isa 28:13  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. Isaiah, the son of Amoz, ministered in and around Jerusalem as a prophet to Judah (740-680 B.C.) In Isaiah 28 he began a series of “woe” messages to warn the people of Israel and Judah of coming judgment. The people used the phrase 'precept upon precept' repeatedly. The term precept means “a guiding rule, command, or principle.” So what does Isaiah mean when he uses this phrase? Isaiah tried to get Israel's rulers to stop depending on political strategies and international treaties for peace. He called them to return to the Lord and to trust in Him. As it seems the case with many political leaders they were proud, and self-reliant. They were supposed to be examples to the people. Instead they staggered around drunk (Is.28:7-8). Even the people showed no interest in hearing from God. They mocked Isaiah because in their estimation he was treating them like little kids (Is.28:9-10). Isa 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? Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little." They spoke these words to mock Isaiah's preaching as simplistic and like baby talk. The intoxicated priests and prophets viewed the Word of God as meaningless jabber. They perceived God's Word as a set of rules and regulations, thus mockingly they called them, “precept upon precept.” They considered themselves above such basic principles and scorned Isaiah for treating them as little children. So the leaders were seeing without perceiving and hearing without understanding (Mt.13:14-15). Their hearts were calloused, their ears were dull, and their eyes were closed (Is.28:9-10). I guess today instead of calling God's Word, “precept upon precept”, they would cry, “yada yada,” or “blah-blah-blah.” Their disrespect for Isaiah and God's Word was met with God's pronouncement of judgment. God first addresses the drunken priest and prophets (Is.28:11-13). Since they claimed Israel's preaching was nothing more than babble, God would bring a foreign tongue nation (Assyrians) upon them (Is.28:11). These Assyrian taskmasters would give them instructions in a foreign language. Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people. Interestingly, Paul quotes this verse in the context of “unknown tongues” (1Co.14:21-22). As this “unknown tongue” was a sign to unbelieving Israel in Isaiah's day, so it was a sign to unbelieving Israel in Paul's day of coming judgment (70 A.D.). Isaiah threw the mocking words of the leaders back at them. He repeated their words as if in a mirror (Is.28:13a). God's message would continue to be given to them in small portions. Because they were children in understanding they will be treated like children. Paul referred to those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2Tm.3:7). As the people in Israel's day needed the Word of God, so we today need to love and learn God's Word. There is no shortcut to success in the Christian life. It is through the daily grind of getting into God's Word. To some this method is not very exciting, but line upon line and precept upon precept is the only way you are going to grow in the Christian life. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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