Precepts vs. Pride

O. T. #1604  "Precepts vs. Pride"
Jan. 10, 2020
Isaiah 28
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.  (verse 13)

LET IT GLOW

When God repeats something in His Word, it is time to sit up and take notice. How blessed we are to have God's Word preserved for us. However, many in our society do not want to hear it or read it. They remove the Ten Commandments from our courts and schools. Israel was in the same condition.

Isn't our key verse familiar? I didn't know where it was located, I had heard it before, verse 10 is similar to verses 13. It was to be taken negatively, not positively for Israel. The repetition was like a  imitating a young child's babbling, and as a ridicule of Isaiah's prophecy.

The word for  introduces the statement quoted by the prophet from the people who are weary of listening to his prophecies. The are complaining that his repetitious message is petty and annoying.

In Hebrew, a precept is a commandment; a charge; line upon line refers to a plumbline.

The idea is that the people are complaining that all they ever hear from this prophet is one rule and one standard after another, and they are weary of it because they have never learned to obey the One who is the Source of all law. (Falwell)

Here a little, and there a little refers to the fact that the people did not understand the prophet's message in its fullness, but merely regarded it as "incoherent, disparate bits of instruction cast here and there." (Young)

But God is speaking to Israel, Ephraim and Samaria its capital, with stammering lips (unintelligible mutterings) and another tongue (Assyrian language, not Hebrew). Well, since they would not listen to God's message anyway, and considered it a bunch of repeated annoying rules and regulations, He would speak to them through the Assyrian captivity. One way or another, God was going to God.

Were they ever slow to learn, rebellious, and full of sin? Rejecting the Truth does not change it nor does it do away with it. We learned in 14:24 that what God thinks will come to pass. And it did when Shalmaneser conquered in 722 B.C. this area.
Are we learning to apply God's Word in our life? It is written for our good and His glory. Are we only picking up a little here and a little there? Thank you friends for your faithfulness to study this very difficult book with me.


LET IT GROW

We are beginning a section in Isaiah that begins with Woe, written to Ephraim, the land of the northern kingdom of Israel.
How was Ephraim described?

• the crown of pride, for it was situated on a hill resembling a crown;
• a fading flower of beauty;
• drunkards overcome with wine; 
• it sits at the head of a fertile valley, so it is wealthy;
• their priests and prophets stagger with alcohol, too;
• their tables are covered with vomit;
• filth is everywhere;
• they question who the LORD thinks they are;
• they ask why He speaks to them like this.

I say they are a mess. Prideful drunkards. When Israel split into two kingdoms, their kings were evil. They set up idols to keep the people from going to worship at the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12). Isaiah warned them that destruction was coming if they did not repent.

What is our precept for life today? Worship only the One True God, not things, not Allah, not money, not jobs. Spend time in His Word, which is for us to learn what pleases Him.

Isn't God wonderful!

LET IT GO
Little by little, let me learn Your Word and apply it in my life.
Keep me humbling serving You, Jesus.