WHO’S YOUR TEACHER   by   Larry W Peebles   March 9, 2018   18.08

I got in big trouble that day.  My elementary school teacher was checking each student’s in-class work.  The day was hot and the classroom was getting warm.  There was no air conditioning.  She was releasing the students one-by-one to go outside to play for the afternoon recess with the instruction to gather outside, and to remain quiet until the teacher came out.  She would then lead everyone away from the building toward the playground.  My friend and I were the last two students to have our work checked, and the teacher walked out with us.  On the way out, we reasoned that since the teacher said we were to remain quiet until she came out, there was no longer any need to remain quiet.  She was coming out with us.  We ran out screaming and yelling at the top of our lungs, ready to escape the heat and release all that pent-up energy, fully confident we had followed her instructions to the letter.

She was not amused by our behavior. She was irritated that we had either disturbed the other classes who had not released for recess, or we had deliberately disobeyed her instructions.  She may have thought it was both.  I remember getting a strong scolding and having to sit quietly on the concrete steps of the building while the others enjoyed the playground during recess that afternoon.  I was a good student, and really liked that teacher.  I remember her name today, over 60 years later.  We just had a misunderstanding that day.

Who your teacher is makes a big difference.  I remember other teachers from elementary, middle school and high school.  Mostly I remember them from the caring and careful way they taught.  They built-up my identity, helped establish my character, and ensured I was prepared for adulthood after completing my education.  They provided a role-model, and guidance along the way.  It was not until college that I encountered professors that I could not agree with.  My college zoology professor tried to teach me that man evolved from monkeys, and that somehow (not sure exactly how) the first life came out of a swamp.  It did not make sense then, and does not today.  I memorized enough material to get a “C” in the class, then promptly forgot it.  It was at that point I realized I needed discernment on what I was being taught, as I could no longer just blindly believe what was presented.  This was a valuable lesson to learn as an older student.  I needed to know not only who was teaching, but also what was being taught.

The same principle applies in our spiritual life.  The Bible contains many passages warning against false teachers and false teachings (see 2 Peter 2: 1-2 for one example).  It points to only One—Jesus, who is truly qualified to teach.  If we are to mature in our faith, we must grow closer to our Teacher.  The prophet Isaiah in Chapter 11 lays out the qualifications of Jesus to teach.  Isaiah 11: 1-2 says- “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The spirit of wisdom, and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”  We know this prophesy is about Jesus, who came from the linage of Jesse and his son, David (see Luke 3: 23-38 for the linage of Jesus).  Isaiah then gives seven Spirits which qualify Jesus as Teacher.

1. Spirit of the Lord- this is also the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity (the Triune God- one God with three persons, aspects or functions). In John 3:16-17 we are told at Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus descending from above “like a dove, and alighted upon Him.”  The audible voice of the Father came from Heaven and said “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  According to Luke 4:1, Jesus then left His baptism filled with the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 23:8 says Jesus told His disciples to not call themselves ‘Rabbi’, or teacher, “for One is your teacher, the Christ.”  Late in His ministry, he told His disciples He would have to (die and) go away, but that the Holy Spirit would come and be in them.  In John 14:26, Jesus said- “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”  When Christ, the only spiritual teacher, left the earth, He gave us the Holy Spirit to teach in His place.
2. The Spirit of wisdom- Isaiah uses the Hebrew word hokma, from a wise person (hakam) who can interpret prophecy with the fear of the Lord, and who has understanding that leads to effective (moral) action. This suggests one who has a supernatural knowing of the right thing to do in the circumstances.  A friend of mine says he “knows a thing or two about a thing or two.”  He does, and I consider him wise.  But Isaiah is talking about wisdom that comes from God.  Wisdom from above qualifies one to be a teacher.
3. Spirit of understanding-Isaiah uses the Hebrew word bina, which means insight, discernment, good sense that responds to the Lord and His instruction. This is more than attentive listening with compassion.  It is more than empathy intended to process and retain information.  This is Godly insight and discernment, the source of which is supernatural.  It is not possible without knowing Jesus, the true Teacher.
4. Spirit of counsel-Hebrew esa, which means advice, plan or purpose. Who better to give counsel than the One who knows the plan, and knows the beginning and the end? Jeremiah 29:11 says- “For I know the plans (design) I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jesus knows we did not crawl out of a swamp.  He designed each of us intentionally, with a purpose in mind.  Romans 11:36- “For by Him [Jesus] and through Him and for Him were all things created.”  He created Adam, the first man, who is also identified as the (first) son of God in Luke 3:38 because Jesus created him.  Jesus is also a descendant of Adam, and therefore truly is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega (Revelations 22:13).
5. Spirit of might- Hebrew ge bura, which means strength, force, power, mastery. Again, this suggests a supernatural force or power so strong it ultimately prevails and is completely victorious.  Paul quotes Isaiah 45:23 on this matter in Philippians 2:10- “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Every knee (meaning every knee) will be weak and surrender when His majesty and power is revealed to all creation, past and present.  Mere mortals simply cannot stand in His presence, and the enormity of His grandeur and might exceeds the capacity of the human mind to grasp it.  Fortunately, this strength or might is good in nature.  We love and are loved by this God.  If that were not so, we are doomed.  We are compelled to draw near to this force, to understand and to learn from it.
6. Spirit of knowledge- Hebrew da at, means understanding or learning. The prophet Balaam recorded that he “heard the words of the Lord… had the knowledge (da at) of the Most High… and saw the vision of the Almighty with eyes wide open” when he prophesied the coming of Jesus.  He said “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob [Jesus], a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.  (Numbers 24: 16-17).  When Hanna prayed for a child (Samuel), she said “For the Lord is the God of knowledge (da at).”  When Solomon was made King, he prayed to God for wisdom and knowledge (da at) so that he “may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”  (2 Chronicles: 1:10).  God was so impressed that Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule that He granted the request, and gave him riches and wealth and honor as well.  We speak today of the wisdom of Solomon, and the Bible says he was the wealthiest man to ever live.  God is the keeper of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and all knowledge comes from Him.  We want The Teacher who has that knowledge.
7. Spirit of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord does not cause trembling with terror, unless perhaps we are among those who hate and oppose God.  Rather, it is an honor and respect so deep that we would never want to knowingly and intentionally disappoint or disregard God.  We hold Him in such high reverence that we would just never do that to Him.  We would be more careful with our words and actions so that we never even come close to slighting Him in any way.  Psalm 25: 12-15 says of the person that fears the Lord- “Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.  He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth.  The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.  My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.”  This in itself is an amazing promise or covenant: that he will teach us the way He has chosen for us, we will dwell in prosperity,  our descendants will inherit the earth, He will share His secrets with us, He will share (all) His promises with us, and He will keep us out of the trap.  Such is the importance of the fear of the Lord, and so this is a quality required of a Teacher.

Some Biblical scholars believe these seven Spirits are the same ones referred to in Revelation 3:1, where John records these words of Jesus- “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things say He [Jesus] who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:  I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”  We might call it supernatural wisdom, knowledge, or understanding, but Jesus is saying to the church in Sardis—your reputation is such that people say you are alive, but I know you are dead.  What a powerful insight.  We want to be taught by a Teacher with that kind of insight, not one teaching the current popular thought.  We need a Teacher who knows the truth of the matter.

Certainly these seven Spirits are not all the characteristics and attributes of Jesus, but they are a clear proof that He alone is qualified to teach.  God gives us teachers and preachers of His word, but when we rely solely on the teaching of man, we get off the mark in our theology.  The result is a fractured Christian religion, with one group following one doctrine, and another group following a different doctrine.  We know that a teacher or preacher of God’s word is held to a higher standard (James 3:1).  Paul says a teacher of the word must be “sincere…as from God, because we speak in the sight of God in Christ”.  (2 Corinthians 2:17).

The plumb line is Jesus, and we must stay close to Him and ask Him to be our Teacher through His Holy Spirit.  That will avoid misunderstanding in doctrine and personal beliefs, and keep us out of trouble.