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Precept Upon Precept,
Line Upon Line
MP3
...a deeper
perspective
We have always perceived this concept from Isaiah 28:10 within the
context of a single spiritual subject. When we immerse ourselves
into a subject, we look at many scriptures, word meanings, contexts and
renderings in a process that gives us deep insight into that subject.
However, if we do this for that single subject, have we done all that we
can? Is there more to the process? What is a "precept"?
What is a "line"?
Biblical subjects and Godly principles do not stand alone. One
cannot attain excellence in one Godly principle, like Faith, without a
simultaneous process toward excellence in other Godly principles, each
immersed into its own set of scriptures, word meanings, contexts and
renderings. It's right there in our key scripture:
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall
he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and
drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a
little. –Isaiah 28:9-10
First element we see here is the fact that this is advanced Bible study.
It is a concept for veteran spiritual meat eaters. Let us do some
immersion into terms here.
Precept: This
is a Godly principle, such as love, joy, peace or faith. A rule or
principle prescribing a particular course or action or conduct.
Interestingly, under this definition, Law is defined as "an authorized
direction or order, a writ. A writ is a written order issued by a
court [God], commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or
cease performing a specified act. As I have always preached, Law
points us to Godly principle and directs us to invoke it. The
commandments against stealing and lying point us toward and direct us to
invoke the Godly principle of Honesty.
Line: In Adam Clark's commentary
it says that the precept is a brick and that lines are the mortar that
holds them together. Strong's has the word [6957] "qav" as a cord,
connecting one thing [precept] to another. This word is related to
"qav-qav" [6978], as a fastening. The scripture leads us along a
cord from one precept to another. All precepts are tied together
and each gives support, meaning, power and clarity to the others.
Thy word is Spirit and God's Spirit is the line that leads us and
instructs us in each precept. All precepts are also Spirit.
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, forgiveness and faith are Spirit.
The other day I gave a full immersion sermon on having the strongest
kind of faith, actually, the faith of God, the Father [Mark 11:22-26].
In the sermon, I stated that this kind of faith would only come with
much meditation and contemplation, in a process, over a long period of
time. All that, just within the full immersion of those five
verses. Now add to this the fact that we must continue to immerse
ourselves in several related precepts, such as 2 Corinthians 12:7-9:
And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be
exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me. –2 Corinthians 12:7-9
"For my strength is made perfect in [our] weakness." This is just
one truth that must be added to what we learn in Mark 11 about Faith.
To have the faith of God [the same faith He has], we must allow Him to
generate that faith in us by His strength. This means that we will
have to suffer [allow] those thorns in our flesh and in our lives and to
live with the vexing [distress, suffering, affliction] that God allows
in our lives. As Paul says we must glory in these things as God,
through Christ manifests Godly principles in and through us.
So continue to build your house on the foundation of Christ, brick by
brick and line upon line of mortar, precept upon precept, line upon
line.
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