The Scorning Student

The Scorning Student resists the good teacher...

Isaiah 28:9-10 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.

The prophets and teachers attempted to teach Israel the the knowledge of God and the doctrine of God. The method of teaching described here is one that is commonly used to teach a young child... "precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little". In other words, the method employed should have been well-suited to the spiritual immaturity and ignorance of the student, Israel. The knowledge of God was faithfully laid out before Israel as building blocks, one precept building upon another, laying a fundamental foundation of simple knowledge on which to build the more complex. The student Israel was given variety (here a little, there a little) to satiate her desire for learning. Through the prophets and teachers, God implemented a well-designed educational pedagogy that gave His student Israel the optimum opportunity to learn and grasp the knowledge of God. How did Israel respond to God's instruction? "...yet they would not hear".

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:11-13

The Scorning Student rejects the good knowledge...

Israel would not hear the knowledge of God, even when the prophets assured them that the knowledge of God was good for them (rest and refreshment). They regarded the knowledge of God as nothing more than tiresome, tedious, ritual rote repetitions.

It should seem, they ridiculed the prophet’s preaching, and bantered it. The word of the Lord was unto them Tsau latsau, kau lakau; in the original it is in rhyme; they made a song of the prophet’s words, and sang it when they were merry over their wine. David was the song of the drunkards. It is great impiety, and a high affront to God, thus to make a jest of sacred things, to speak of that vainly which should make us serious. Matthew Henry Commentary

The Scorning Student seeks after corrupt counsel...

They rejected the knowledge of the Lord, but they sought after the corrupt counsel from the world.

Isaiah 30:1-2 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!