For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
With unfamiliar and difficult speech that is not readily understood, God speaks to His people by giving His word step by step. He teaches patiently and gradually, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, one step at a time. In that gradual instruction He offers the rest by which the weary may rest and the refreshing. He speaks in this way because the people would not receive plain teaching, and those who refuse to hear the offered rest are left to go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken. Parents must teach their children in this same patient and gradual way from babyhood onward, and ministers and all in office must educate others gradually and repeatedly a little at a time to bring reconversion and correct defects of character.
Words and Historical Setting
With stammering lips and another tongue means God speaks to this people through speech that is unfamiliar, difficult, and not readily understood. That speech comes as part of the word given to them step by step, precept by precept and line by line, here a little and there a little. The verse stands between the repeated, step-by-step instruction of verses 9-10 and the people's rejection of the offered rest and refreshing. The surrounding lines likewise describe proclaiming Bible truth repeatedly, line upon line and here a little and there a little.
This instruction offers the rest wherewith the weary may rest and the refreshing, but those who refuse to hear may fall into ruin, stumbling, ensnarement and judgment. The verse belongs to a warning to the churches that there is no safety in placing confidence in human wisdom or strength. God speaks in this way because the people would not receive plain teaching.
Knowledge and doctrine are for those weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts, taught by precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little. To them He said, This is the rest and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. Therefore the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept and line upon line, that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken. The word is addressed to scornful men that rule Jerusalem, who have made lies their refuge and said they have made a covenant with death. At the same time God lays in Zion a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation, and lays judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet, until hail sweeps away the refuge of lies.
God's Gradual Teaching
God speaks to His people patiently and gradually, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, one step and one precept at a time. This step-by-step word comes as instruction given little by little, even through speech that is unfamiliar, difficult, and not readily understood, standing between the repeated teaching of verses 9-10 and the people's response to the offered rest. Knowledge and doctrine in this manner are for those weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts, who will not receive plain teaching and therefore must be taught by precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little. That gradual instruction offers the rest wherewith the weary may rest and the refreshing, the rest wherewith to cause the weary to rest.
The repeated line upon line and precept upon precept presents truths already revealed in Scripture to awaken obedience to neglected light, and adds no new truth. Truth is spread in this way in small portions, here a little and there a little, in jots and tittles diffused everywhere in contrast with error. So diffused, it rends away the dense darkness upon human minds and lets the true Light shine forth.
For a demoralized people long continued in a wrong course, this teaching means steady, repeated, long-continued labor, line upon line and precept upon precept, by pen, by voice, and by influence. It is work upon work and effort upon effort until the whole body is remolded, reconstructed, and reformed. Such work cannot be rushed or done in a short visit, but requires staying long enough to grasp the inward working of things, taking up dropped stitches, and bringing up the degraded moral tone. It is accomplished only through thorough conversion by the Spirit, until the leaven of reform pervades all.
Refusal Brings Judgment
God speaks with stammering lips and another tongue because the people would not receive plain teaching. Knowledge and doctrine are for those weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts, taught by precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, and to them He said this is the rest by which the weary may rest and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. The word is addressed to scornful rulers of Jerusalem who made lies their refuge and claimed a covenant with death, while God lays in Zion a tried stone, a precious cornerstone and sure foundation, and lays judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet until hail sweeps away the refuge of lies.
That unfamiliar and difficult speech stands between repeated step-by-step instruction and the people's rejection of the offered rest and refreshing. Those who refuse to hear that word are left to go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken, stumbling into ensnarement and ruin. The same patient, repeated teaching, begun even with the child in its mother's arms and kept before children through babyhood, childhood, youth and manhood, thus becomes to the unwilling the cause of falling.
The same word becomes a test of whether to take a stand to follow His counsel or to refuse and act according to their own ideas. Those who have not received instruction but have cherished their own wisdom and chosen to work by their own ideas will not hear. If they refuse to give Him the heart with a submissive, teachable, loving and obedient spirit and say they will not give up the heart to do what He requires, He leaves them to go on in their own supposed wise judgment without heavenly wisdom until the word is fulfilled upon them.
Refusing this light makes them guilty of rejecting His instruction. Those who reject His repeated warnings risk losing light and being led into false paths. They are called to humble their hearts, confess their sins and be converted, and to fear and tremble lest His Spirit be withdrawn and they be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind, keeping from being educated by physicians or teachers who reject His warnings and honoring His Sabbath which has been transgressed so that its light has been quenched. Those who reject repeated instruction and correction and sow doubts about its source resist warnings sent to save them from their own wrong course.
Training Children at Home
God speaks to His people little by little, and parents are to teach their children in that same gradual way, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, beginning with the child in its mother's arms and continuing patiently from babyhood through childhood, youth and manhood. This instruction is to be kept continually before children because children often go contrary to what they are told. Adults themselves also often disobey what God commands for their own preparation and for knowing His will as revealed in His word, yet by following on to know the Lord parents can make a splendid representation of Christ before the world. In the same pattern the family learns truth progressively as the Holy Spirit impresses it upon their hearts.
This patient, repeated teaching in small lessons is the work of truly converted parents in the home. Such parents bring their own lives under the discipline of the Word and act intelligently as home educators, training their children for the service of God and fitting them for the future immortal life as work done for eternity. They bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, give them a correct understanding of the character of the Redeemer, form in them correct habits of speech and conduct, and allow nothing, including visitors or any other interest, to lead them to neglect their children. They do not correct in passion, anger, impatience, or with harsh blows, and the mother never shows a hasty spirit but forms the habit of speaking in gentle tones, which works great changes in families and aims to bring children into right relation to God so they may enter through the gates into the city.
The Word is to be taught to children gradually from childhood in the family circle with morning and evening prayer, with Christ lifted up before them so they give their hearts to God at an early age and have His peace. In that setting even the young are fitted to teach others in Sabbath school, learn attention to little things, learn that faithfulness in what is least ensures faithfulness in greater things, and learn to ask as new paths open whether it is the way of the Lord and whether Christ is their leader. Children who go astray because they were left to their own will through neglect in childhood can still be brought to their senses by patient, repeated inculcation of practical lessons, but careful, painstaking effort is required to place them in a right position. Sound doctrines and preaching are not enough, for truth must shape home life and character, and teaching without matching personal practice confuses others and becomes a stumbling block to those weak in faith.
Ministry to Others
Ministers, physicians, and all in office are to educate people by giving truth gradually and repeatedly, a little at a time, precept by precept until it is understood, with patience and tenderness under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. This patient labor is to bring reconversion, to correct fixed defects of character, to rescue those being drawn into commercialism and temptation, and to prepare those not yet ready for the kingdom of heaven to become overcomers, in opposition to fallen angels appearing as teachers to mislead souls separating from brethren striving for heaven. To do this they must never stop studying the Bible themselves so they can present intelligently to the understanding of the people what is to be known, bringing both old and new truth from the Word, lifting up Jesus, and leading in the way prepared for the ransomed to walk in.
Those who have received such line upon line and precept upon precept instruction have a responsibility to share the gospel urgently under the influence of the Holy Spirit with people who have not heard it. The entrusted message of warning is to be given line upon line so people are given a clear opportunity to understand the truth and make an informed choice and decision while probation remains and lingers. New believers themselves are to learn God's Word line upon line and precept upon precept, taught step by step with each part of the message building on what came before.
Teaching of the Scriptures, especially to youth, must be very simple and gradual, giving small portions at a time with repeated instruction in plain, clear terms suited to present understanding rather than confusing learners with ideas too far beyond them. Teachers are to keep minds in pursuit of tangible truth from the Word that can be taken into the higher school and the future eternal life, rather than spending precious probationary time on forms and ceremonies or cheap, superficial education, thinking deeply before speaking and avoiding any impression of unnecessary restriction and restraint. Soul-winning for those kept from obeying by confusion of ideas and by not knowing how to surrender will and mind to Jesus comes not by great deeds and wonderful achievements but by keeping self out of sight, coming close in sympathy with human hearts, and giving special instruction how to become Christians. That service done in small faithful acts without self-prominence or self-credit will be recognized at the last day, for little fillings in, help given, and timely words count with God as precious, are gathered and cherished by angels, and are rewarded according to heaven's valuation and not the worker's estimate.
The same gradual speaking covers God's repeated instruction on health reform given line upon line and precept upon precept for about forty years. These principles come from God and not from man, not from Dr. Kellogg, so that rejecting them is rejecting the One who gave them, and they are to be accepted rather than resisted, with conscientious practice leading to restoration of physical and spiritual health. The line upon line message calls hearers to humble their hearts, confess their sins and be converted, to fear and tremble lest His Spirit be withdrawn and they be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind for rejecting His word, to keep from being educated by physicians or teachers who reject His warnings, and to honor His Sabbath which has been transgressed so that its light has been quenched. The voice of warning is therefore to be given plainly and decisively, yet a little at a time, patiently planting the seeds of truth to be studied and followed and passing on the truth received from God. Work such as that in Tasmania can live and bring results only as laborers teach and keep the people in that steady, patient, here-a-little-and-there-a-little way, since refusing such light makes men guilty of rejecting His instruction.
With unfamiliar and difficult speech that is not readily understood, God speaks to His people by giving His word step by step. He teaches patiently and gradually, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, one step at a time. In that gradual instruction He offers the rest by which the weary may rest and the refreshing. He speaks in this way because the people would not receive plain teaching, and those who refuse to hear the offered rest are left to go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken. Parents must teach their children in this same patient and gradual way from babyhood onward, and ministers and all in office must educate others gradually and repeatedly a little at a time to bring reconversion and correct defects of character.
Words and Historical Setting
With stammering lips and another tongue means God speaks to this people through speech that is unfamiliar, difficult, and not readily understood. That speech comes as part of the word given to them step by step, precept by precept and line by line, here a little and there a little. The verse stands between the repeated, step-by-step instruction of verses 9-10 and the people's rejection of the offered rest and refreshing. The surrounding lines likewise describe proclaiming Bible truth repeatedly, line upon line and here a little and there a little.
This instruction offers the rest wherewith the weary may rest and the refreshing, but those who refuse to hear may fall into ruin, stumbling, ensnarement and judgment. The verse belongs to a warning to the churches that there is no safety in placing confidence in human wisdom or strength. God speaks in this way because the people would not receive plain teaching.
Knowledge and doctrine are for those weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts, taught by precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little. To them He said, This is the rest and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. Therefore the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept and line upon line, that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken. The word is addressed to scornful men that rule Jerusalem, who have made lies their refuge and said they have made a covenant with death. At the same time God lays in Zion a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation, and lays judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet, until hail sweeps away the refuge of lies.
God's Gradual Teaching
God speaks to His people patiently and gradually, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, one step and one precept at a time. This step-by-step word comes as instruction given little by little, even through speech that is unfamiliar, difficult, and not readily understood, standing between the repeated teaching of verses 9-10 and the people's response to the offered rest. Knowledge and doctrine in this manner are for those weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts, who will not receive plain teaching and therefore must be taught by precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little. That gradual instruction offers the rest wherewith the weary may rest and the refreshing, the rest wherewith to cause the weary to rest.
The repeated line upon line and precept upon precept presents truths already revealed in Scripture to awaken obedience to neglected light, and adds no new truth. Truth is spread in this way in small portions, here a little and there a little, in jots and tittles diffused everywhere in contrast with error. So diffused, it rends away the dense darkness upon human minds and lets the true Light shine forth.
For a demoralized people long continued in a wrong course, this teaching means steady, repeated, long-continued labor, line upon line and precept upon precept, by pen, by voice, and by influence. It is work upon work and effort upon effort until the whole body is remolded, reconstructed, and reformed. Such work cannot be rushed or done in a short visit, but requires staying long enough to grasp the inward working of things, taking up dropped stitches, and bringing up the degraded moral tone. It is accomplished only through thorough conversion by the Spirit, until the leaven of reform pervades all.
Refusal Brings Judgment
God speaks with stammering lips and another tongue because the people would not receive plain teaching. Knowledge and doctrine are for those weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts, taught by precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, and to them He said this is the rest by which the weary may rest and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. The word is addressed to scornful rulers of Jerusalem who made lies their refuge and claimed a covenant with death, while God lays in Zion a tried stone, a precious cornerstone and sure foundation, and lays judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet until hail sweeps away the refuge of lies.
That unfamiliar and difficult speech stands between repeated step-by-step instruction and the people's rejection of the offered rest and refreshing. Those who refuse to hear that word are left to go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken, stumbling into ensnarement and ruin. The same patient, repeated teaching, begun even with the child in its mother's arms and kept before children through babyhood, childhood, youth and manhood, thus becomes to the unwilling the cause of falling.
The same word becomes a test of whether to take a stand to follow His counsel or to refuse and act according to their own ideas. Those who have not received instruction but have cherished their own wisdom and chosen to work by their own ideas will not hear. If they refuse to give Him the heart with a submissive, teachable, loving and obedient spirit and say they will not give up the heart to do what He requires, He leaves them to go on in their own supposed wise judgment without heavenly wisdom until the word is fulfilled upon them.
Refusing this light makes them guilty of rejecting His instruction. Those who reject His repeated warnings risk losing light and being led into false paths. They are called to humble their hearts, confess their sins and be converted, and to fear and tremble lest His Spirit be withdrawn and they be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind, keeping from being educated by physicians or teachers who reject His warnings and honoring His Sabbath which has been transgressed so that its light has been quenched. Those who reject repeated instruction and correction and sow doubts about its source resist warnings sent to save them from their own wrong course.
Training Children at Home
God speaks to His people little by little, and parents are to teach their children in that same gradual way, precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little, beginning with the child in its mother's arms and continuing patiently from babyhood through childhood, youth and manhood. This instruction is to be kept continually before children because children often go contrary to what they are told. Adults themselves also often disobey what God commands for their own preparation and for knowing His will as revealed in His word, yet by following on to know the Lord parents can make a splendid representation of Christ before the world. In the same pattern the family learns truth progressively as the Holy Spirit impresses it upon their hearts.
This patient, repeated teaching in small lessons is the work of truly converted parents in the home. Such parents bring their own lives under the discipline of the Word and act intelligently as home educators, training their children for the service of God and fitting them for the future immortal life as work done for eternity. They bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, give them a correct understanding of the character of the Redeemer, form in them correct habits of speech and conduct, and allow nothing, including visitors or any other interest, to lead them to neglect their children. They do not correct in passion, anger, impatience, or with harsh blows, and the mother never shows a hasty spirit but forms the habit of speaking in gentle tones, which works great changes in families and aims to bring children into right relation to God so they may enter through the gates into the city.
The Word is to be taught to children gradually from childhood in the family circle with morning and evening prayer, with Christ lifted up before them so they give their hearts to God at an early age and have His peace. In that setting even the young are fitted to teach others in Sabbath school, learn attention to little things, learn that faithfulness in what is least ensures faithfulness in greater things, and learn to ask as new paths open whether it is the way of the Lord and whether Christ is their leader. Children who go astray because they were left to their own will through neglect in childhood can still be brought to their senses by patient, repeated inculcation of practical lessons, but careful, painstaking effort is required to place them in a right position. Sound doctrines and preaching are not enough, for truth must shape home life and character, and teaching without matching personal practice confuses others and becomes a stumbling block to those weak in faith.
Ministry to Others
Ministers, physicians, and all in office are to educate people by giving truth gradually and repeatedly, a little at a time, precept by precept until it is understood, with patience and tenderness under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. This patient labor is to bring reconversion, to correct fixed defects of character, to rescue those being drawn into commercialism and temptation, and to prepare those not yet ready for the kingdom of heaven to become overcomers, in opposition to fallen angels appearing as teachers to mislead souls separating from brethren striving for heaven. To do this they must never stop studying the Bible themselves so they can present intelligently to the understanding of the people what is to be known, bringing both old and new truth from the Word, lifting up Jesus, and leading in the way prepared for the ransomed to walk in.
Those who have received such line upon line and precept upon precept instruction have a responsibility to share the gospel urgently under the influence of the Holy Spirit with people who have not heard it. The entrusted message of warning is to be given line upon line so people are given a clear opportunity to understand the truth and make an informed choice and decision while probation remains and lingers. New believers themselves are to learn God's Word line upon line and precept upon precept, taught step by step with each part of the message building on what came before.
Teaching of the Scriptures, especially to youth, must be very simple and gradual, giving small portions at a time with repeated instruction in plain, clear terms suited to present understanding rather than confusing learners with ideas too far beyond them. Teachers are to keep minds in pursuit of tangible truth from the Word that can be taken into the higher school and the future eternal life, rather than spending precious probationary time on forms and ceremonies or cheap, superficial education, thinking deeply before speaking and avoiding any impression of unnecessary restriction and restraint. Soul-winning for those kept from obeying by confusion of ideas and by not knowing how to surrender will and mind to Jesus comes not by great deeds and wonderful achievements but by keeping self out of sight, coming close in sympathy with human hearts, and giving special instruction how to become Christians. That service done in small faithful acts without self-prominence or self-credit will be recognized at the last day, for little fillings in, help given, and timely words count with God as precious, are gathered and cherished by angels, and are rewarded according to heaven's valuation and not the worker's estimate.
The same gradual speaking covers God's repeated instruction on health reform given line upon line and precept upon precept for about forty years. These principles come from God and not from man, not from Dr. Kellogg, so that rejecting them is rejecting the One who gave them, and they are to be accepted rather than resisted, with conscientious practice leading to restoration of physical and spiritual health. The line upon line message calls hearers to humble their hearts, confess their sins and be converted, to fear and tremble lest His Spirit be withdrawn and they be left to hardness of heart and blindness of mind for rejecting His word, to keep from being educated by physicians or teachers who reject His warnings, and to honor His Sabbath which has been transgressed so that its light has been quenched. The voice of warning is therefore to be given plainly and decisively, yet a little at a time, patiently planting the seeds of truth to be studied and followed and passing on the truth received from God. Work such as that in Tasmania can live and bring results only as laborers teach and keep the people in that steady, patient, here-a-little-and-there-a-little way, since refusing such light makes men guilty of rejecting His instruction.