Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Isaiah 28-30
Isaiah 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
For the next eight chapters of Isaiah the prophet speaks of judgment, restoration, and the future glories of Israel. To understand all that is taking place necessitates some basic understanding of that country’s overall past, present (at the time of Isaiah’s ministry), and future which is exactly what the verse for today points out. To grasp Biblical truths, one must learn line upon line, precept upon precept, even doctrine upon doctrine of all that the Bible offers. It is like playing tennis. A beginner may enjoy being outside and the exercise of the body that tennis offers. But a beginner will not enjoy the actual game of tennis. However, through playing the game the beginner will learn how to serve, how to return a serve, how to hit a backhand, and increase speed of the tennis ball off the racket. The most important thing to learn in tennis is how to keep the ball in the court. In tennis increasing the level of ability, or competence for the game increases the enjoyment of the game. The same is true with golf. The same is true with the Bible.
If this is your first time reading through the Bible, there are certain basic things you can glean. However, the more you read it the more you will understand. Then, by studying that which is read even more can be learned. So, do not grow discouraged wondering what is taking place, who is that, why did that happen, what did that mean and all the other questions that arise to complicate things. Just read it. Re-read it. Study it. Above all things, obey the things it teaches. Through these, anyone will grow in the wonder, enjoyment, and faith of all things in the Bible.
For example., today Isaiah has a message for Samaria. This city was the capital of the Northern Kingdom, also called Israel. It was composed of ten tribes of Israel (the man Jacob). The prophecies of Isaiah 28 were given sometime around 727 BC. In 722 BC, five years later, the events of this chapter took place. In that year, Sargon II and Shalmaneser led them into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. This was the primary fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Samaria.
However, the phrase “in that day” found in 28:5 has a twofold meaning. Certainly, it speaks of the events of 722 BC, but it also speaks of another day. A day that has not yet come to pass. In that day, Israel will be fully returned to her land and be blessed unmeasurably by the Lord God of the universe. This is learned over and over again throughout the balance of the Word of God. In the unfolding pageantry of prophecy, the dealings of the Lord with Israel reign supreme. One day they will be regathered and rebuilt all to the glory of God and a blessing to His people.
This is why when Christ was about to leave this earth and ascend up into Heaven, they asked Him: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:6-7).
Evidently there are some things about the times and seasons we are not to know. We would be wise to know that these things will happen, but not when. Therefore, believers in God through Christ live each day as if it were the last day and as if it were the first day. But that is a lesson for another time and day.
Dr. William T. Howe
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