“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 28:13)
This familiar passage (repeated mostly from Isaiah 28:10 just before it) is often cited in support of a detailed, verse-by-verse method of Bible study and exposition. However, the context is one of rebuke to the people of Ephraim (that is, the Northern Kingdom of Israel) in the days of the divided kingdom. Isaiah especially castigates the priests and prophets who should have been teaching God’s Word to the people, but who had instead become proud and then drunkards, leaving the people in great ignorance and spiritual confusion....
This is exactly right and have said myself, simply because the context tells us what the passage means. It's ironic considering "Precepts Ministry" by Kay Arthur,which is supposed to be about observation and context, violates their own rules for interpretation by ripping it out of context and making the verses supposed to mean we're to learn line by line. It's similar to what people do with the letter of 1 Corinithians, by using it to "teach" speaking in tongues, when the context of the whole letter is a stern rebuke to the wayward Corinthian church. That's also ironic, when you think about it.
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