Often, cultic groups (and Christians) claim that Isaiah 28:10 is a hermeneutic or principle of biblical interpretation.
While it is true that one can gain knowledge of the Bible through looking at all of what Scripture has to say on a topic, one must always consider the context. If the contexts of two different passages are similar, then the two sets of Scripture can provide support. However, Isaiah 28:10 does not teach a hermeneutic method and to use it that way is incorrect.
The reason I bring this up is that I was involved in a cultic group which did just that. They treated the Bible like a coded book that needed to be assembled together in a manner that arrived at the peculiar theology of the group, even if different contexts were involved.
Let's look at the verses IN CONTEXT in Isaiah 28, which is how we should be reading them:
3The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
will be trodden underfoot;
4and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of the rich valley,
will be like a first-ripe fig[SUP]a[/SUP] before the summer:
when someone sees it, he swallows it
as soon as it is in his hand.5In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,[SUP]b[/SUP]
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7These also reel with wine
and stagger with strong drink;
the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,
they are swallowed by[SUP]c[/SUP] wine,
they stagger with strong drink,
they reel in vision,
they stumble in giving judgment.
8For all tables are full of filthy vomit,
with no space left.
9“To whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from the milk,
those taken from the breast?
10For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”
11For by people of strange lips
and with a foreign tongue
the Lord will speak to this people,
12to whom he has said,
“This is rest;
give rest to the weary;
and this is repose”;
yet they would not hear.
13And the word of the Lord will be to them
precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little,
that they may go, and fall backward,
and be broken, and snared, and taken
Here is a good explanation on these verses:
28:1-13 The leaders of Ephraim are drunkards (v. 1). Incapable of pointing their people to their true hope in Yahweh (vv. 5-6), they rely on rote commands (v. 10). Consequently, God will have to teach them the truth through people who speak in strange tongues (the Assyrian captivity) (v. 11) and who will also give commands (v. 13).
So, using Isaiah 28:10 for support regarding "proof-texting" is not a proper use of these verses. Whether proof-texting is acceptable or not, these verses don't support it. However, I see them constantly used to support it.
There is an additional view in that v 9-10 are reflecting the mocking of the leaders of Israel concerning Isaiah's message..that he is being mocked by them and are reflecting pride in their own knowledge; that such a man as Isaiah was criticizing THEM for their lack of knowledge but the end result is their own fall (v. 13). At any rate, there's no sound basis for using this as a hermeneutical principle to justify proof-texting.
While it is true that one can gain knowledge of the Bible through looking at all of what Scripture has to say on a topic, one must always consider the context. If the contexts of two different passages are similar, then the two sets of Scripture can provide support. However, Isaiah 28:10 does not teach a hermeneutic method and to use it that way is incorrect.
The reason I bring this up is that I was involved in a cultic group which did just that. They treated the Bible like a coded book that needed to be assembled together in a manner that arrived at the peculiar theology of the group, even if different contexts were involved.
Let's look at the verses IN CONTEXT in Isaiah 28, which is how we should be reading them:
3The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
will be trodden underfoot;
4and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of the rich valley,
will be like a first-ripe fig[SUP]a[/SUP] before the summer:
when someone sees it, he swallows it
as soon as it is in his hand.5In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,[SUP]b[/SUP]
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7These also reel with wine
and stagger with strong drink;
the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,
they are swallowed by[SUP]c[/SUP] wine,
they stagger with strong drink,
they reel in vision,
they stumble in giving judgment.
8For all tables are full of filthy vomit,
with no space left.
9“To whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from the milk,
those taken from the breast?
10For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”
11For by people of strange lips
and with a foreign tongue
the Lord will speak to this people,
12to whom he has said,
“This is rest;
give rest to the weary;
and this is repose”;
yet they would not hear.
13And the word of the Lord will be to them
precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little,
that they may go, and fall backward,
and be broken, and snared, and taken
Here is a good explanation on these verses:
28:1-13 The leaders of Ephraim are drunkards (v. 1). Incapable of pointing their people to their true hope in Yahweh (vv. 5-6), they rely on rote commands (v. 10). Consequently, God will have to teach them the truth through people who speak in strange tongues (the Assyrian captivity) (v. 11) and who will also give commands (v. 13).
So, using Isaiah 28:10 for support regarding "proof-texting" is not a proper use of these verses. Whether proof-texting is acceptable or not, these verses don't support it. However, I see them constantly used to support it.
There is an additional view in that v 9-10 are reflecting the mocking of the leaders of Israel concerning Isaiah's message..that he is being mocked by them and are reflecting pride in their own knowledge; that such a man as Isaiah was criticizing THEM for their lack of knowledge but the end result is their own fall (v. 13). At any rate, there's no sound basis for using this as a hermeneutical principle to justify proof-texting.
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