Isaiah 28:9a Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?

I will answer these question at the end of this devotional.

The third gift of service is identified as teachers according to 1 Corinthians 12:28. The issue of teaching within the church is so important that leadership has the responsibility to examine a teacher’s doctrine before they are allowed to teach. The last thing that any church needs is the spreading of false doctrine. It is so important that certain administrations of church doctrines finance their own divinity schools. Each of these administrations are protective of their doctrinal heritage. Not all administrations hold the same doctrinal values. Arguably there are contentions about what is true doctrine and false within divergent administrations.

All of that is irrelevant to this devotional. The answers to the questions in my opening are not dependent upon administrations or their doctrinal heritage. The he in Isaiah 27:9a is God. Whom shall He teach, whom shall He make to understand? The duty of the teacher with that gift of service is to serve the Lord and the body of Christ. That service is to assist in opening the lines of communication between those he serves, us and God.

Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

This is the heart of every good and righteous teacher. We have no desire to be THE source of understanding. We have no desire to be THE source of doctrine. The Word itself is your testimony and that should be the basis of your meditations.

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

And now the answer to the questions.

Isaiah 28:9b them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Proverbs 7:19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

I got excited at church yesterday. Talking to a couple of the members I found myself in a familiar place of excitement. I was not sure exactly why I was so excited until this morning as I pondered this blog. The year was 1967 and I had spent the last 11 months in Vietnam. I got caught up in the every day. I wasn’t aware of the day or the month. Suddenly my Sargent came up to me and said, “You are going home.”

I took my weapon and jumped on the jeep. The driver looked at me and asked, “What about your stuff?” My answer was simple direct and now so meaningful. “Where I am going I won’t need any of those things.” I was going home and the only thing that held any meaning for me awaited me there.

Yesterday I got a glimpse at the promise of God to bring us back at the end of this journey to a place He had prepared for us in the beginning. It was so obvious, so clear, so desirable, I forgot all about the cares of this world. In my heart there was nothing keeping me here, nothing I would need or could take home with me. The sound of my Master’s voice held new meaning. “Come enter into my joy.”

I woke up this morning, still on that long journey. I have not reached the end yet, but I know what awaits me at the end. I am going home.

Revelation 22:1-5 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.