WHO WILL THE LORD BE ABLE TO TEACH DOCTRINE?

Isa. 28:9

Morning Meditation 4/30/17

Verse 9 says, “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.”

We have both the question and the answer in our text. Isaiah asks, “Whom shall he teach knowledge?” The words “Whom shall he teach” translates one word in Hebrew. It is “yarah” and means, “to throw, to shoot, to cast, to pour.” It is in the hiphil stem in the Hebrew and means in that stem, “to direct, to teach, to instruct.” The way this is used here is similar to the way I have heard it used in our day, i.e., “the pastor is pouring his life into the young preachers in his church.” Isaiah is asking “Who can God pour His knowledge into?”

Then he asks, “and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?” This question is the translation of “biyn” and means, “to have discernment, insight, understanding.” Daniel was a man God found that He could pour His knowledge into and could make to understand. The word “doctrine” translates “sh@muw`ah” and means, “to give a report, to announce the news.” God always calls and uses men through whom to report on coming judgment or to announce the latest news concerning upcoming events.

What kind of men will He choose to do this? He answers, “them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” Bro. Roloff used to say milk is for babies not grown men. When God gives you teeth, you’re supposed to start eating carrots!” Isaiah is saying that those who continue to breast feed will not be the ones who will learn doctrine. God is looking for those who will be positive toward His doctrine and will receive meat instead of milk.

Sometimes those whom God teaches doctrine are objects of ridicule by those who major on one particular point in the Christian faith. When I was a young preacher, it was the fervency of soul winning on which we majored. I have learned that zeal without doctrinal guidelines in Christian service is like a wild blind runaway horse running without a bridle and someone to guide through the woods at breakneck speed. It is just a matter of time until he will run into a tree and break his neck.

I, along with some other young preachers, used to laugh at the preachers who were strong in doctrine and a little weak in evangelism (I didn’t say dead), and say they needed to get right with God. But years have allowed me to observe that many of the zealots who were burning with the fires of evangelism have burned out and their lights no longer shine. The preachers they made fun of are still preaching the gospel and discipling their people in sound doctrine. The truth of the matter is that it is not right to emphasize either to the neglect of the other. Let’s notice some of the references to Bible doctrine.

1.Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. The contrast in this verse is between being servants of sin and obeying from the heart “that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Note that we have the DELIVERY of the “form of doctrine.” The word “form” translates “tupos” and means, “the mark of a stroke or blow, a print, a figure formed by a blow or impression.” We get our word type from this Greek word. The word “doctrine” means, “teaching or instruction.” This teaching had a way of making a MARK on those who heard so that they were branded with this truth. Next we have another essential element necessary in the doctrine that makes a mark. They OBEYED FROM THE HEART. The doctrine taught must have a positive response on the part of a hearer or a doctrinal mark will not be left.

2.Romans 16:17 says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” In this verse SOUND DOCTRINE becomes the standard of fellowship between obedient believers and those who CLAIM to be believers and walk contrary to the “doctrine which ye have learned.” These are to be avoided. Some mark them, withdraw from them, and then spend the rest of their lives NOT AVOIDING THEM by using all their time criticizing them. If you go fishing and spend all your time looking for and killing snakes, I doubt if you catch many fish..

3.1 Timothy 1:10 says, “For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” This verse is teaching that a positive response to “sound doctrine” will result in a godly life. The ungodly described here are those who live contrary to “sound doctrine.” I am ashamed to have to admit it but there are those who are described in this verse who are in fellowship with their local churches while they live such lives. I wonder what is being taught from the pulpits where these people go? I believe I could manage (with the help of God) to discomfort the pleasure loving hypocrites so that they would go church hunting!

4.1 Timothy 4:6 says, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” Paul is encouraging Timothy to “put the brethren in remembrance of these things” and tells him if he does, “thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ.” Are their good ministers and bad ones? That question needs no answer. Jesus wants no one representing Him that compromises His Word. If a compromiser happens to read these lines, the thing to do is to stop right now, confess it as a sin (1 John 1:9), and take the forgiveness that Jesus gives and the next time you get before your congregation, or wherever you communicate God’s Word, say, “Thus saith the Lord.” Then tell them what He says in a loving but uncompromising way.

5.1 Timothy 4:13 says, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine..” Some of the brethren believe that to obey this exhortation is wrong in our day. Paul is saying “take the sign off the door that says ‘Pastor’s Office,’ and put one up in its place that says, ‘Pastor’s Study.” Then do what it says. The problem in our day is not just in the pews. It is also in the pulpit. I’ll never forget hearing Dr. Criswell tell of a young lady who came to a revival service in the First Baptist Church in Dallas. She had been invited by another young lady in Dr. Criswell’s Church. He said she came from the “silk-stocking district” of Dallas. She said to Dr. Crisswell, “Dr. Criswell, I am amazed at all the services that you have in this church. You are having a revival now. And when this revival is over you will have something going on every night in the week in this church. We only have one service per week at the church where I am a member and that is on Sunday morning.” Dr. Criswell took her hand and said, “Young lady, if I went to the church where you go, and had to listen to what you have to listen to, ONE SERVICE A WEEK WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR ME TOO! You say, “that’s too hard.” Oh, no. It is exactly how I feel about it.

6.1 Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” This means that the preacher who stays in the Word and feeds the people who come to church is worthy of “double honor.” This means twice the support.

7.2 Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Paul said the time would come “when they will not endure sound doctrine” and it has arrived.. The word “endure” translates “anechomai” and means, “to hold one's self erect and firm, to sustain, to bear, to endure..” This means that the time will come when people will not stand with the preacher who preaches sound doctrine. They will not stand erect under this preaching. Rather, they will be heavy laden and burdened down with the “sound doctrine” being taught. Someone said to the great Methodist evangelist Sam Jones, “Sam, you are rubbing the cat the wrong way.” Sam said, “then turn the cat around!”

Who will the Lord be able to teach knowledge and make understand doctrine? It will be those who have graduated from breast feeding to using their teeth to eat solid food. A baby cries when the mother begins to take him off the breast. So will baby Christians. But the only way to get some on the meat of God’s Word is to let them cry and get hungry enough to eat. There were two farmers talking back during depression days. One said to the other, “I can hardly find anything to feed my mule.” The other said, “I feed mine turnip greens.” The first farmer answered, “mine wouldn’t eat turnip greens.” To which the other replied, “Mine wouldn’t for a month!”

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White