The Recurrence In the Law of Repetition Principle
That principle by which God repeats some truth or subject already given, generally with the addition of details not before given, is known as the Recurrence Principle, or the Law of Repetition.
We might say that there is a alliance between this principle and the Progressive Principle. We have a clear example of this in Genesis 1 and 2. This is in the creation of man. In Genesis 1 we have the fact of creation mentioned, and in Genesis 2 it is mentioned again, and the details are added. There is a moral aspect added in chapter 2 that is not given in chapter 1. In the first chapter we have the name "Elohim", and in the second we have the name "Jehovah".
"Elohim" is God as man's Creator, but "Jehovah" is a covenant-keeping God.
There is in the Word of God a simple repetition. Sometimes it is merely a word or phrase, but whenever we have that repetition we have it for the purpose of emphasis. When we find this, God is saying to us, "Take notice". Or, as Dr. Clifton Fowler said, "If you went into a home and picked up a book and found words and sentences underscored, you would think that these words were all of particular importance or interest." The word "verily": "Verily, verily, I say unto you"-This is for emphasis. Look at John 5:24, 6:26, 32, 47, 53; 8:34. The mind of the natural man has always rebelled against hell. The natural man hates the idea of hell, and he tried to abolish it. This rebellion is met by simple repetition and is striking and important. He doesn't let it go with a single statement, but He mentions it thrice in the same identical words, and most men had better face it.
In Mark 9:44-48-"Worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Repetition is for emphasis. These words repeated by the Lord need to be faced by lost men. They had better take heed!
The passage of Isaiah 6:9, 10 is that which describes the rejection of God's Son. Repetition of this Scripture can be found in Mark 4:12; Matthew 13:14; John 12:40; Romans 11:8; Luke 8:10; Acts 28: 25-27.
There are times when you have repetition for the purpose of explanation. Here, for example, is Psalm 16:7-11. This is a Psalm of David, and there is no indication that he is not writing concerning himself. Turn to Acts 2:31 and you will find the explanation. That is the Bible explaining itself. We need to learn that the Bible is self-explanatory. Repetition is for the purpose of emphasis or explanation.
There is the account of the Apostle Paul's ministry found in the Book of Acts, and from it we learn of the Jewish emphasis it gives. Yet, from the Epistles of Paul written during this same period, we learn by these added facts that Paul's ministry was not wholly Jewish. Yes, added light is thrown upon the Church, showing that it was neither Jewish nor Gentile, but one body consisting of both.
Here are some longer examples of repetition. Let us deal with First and Second Chronicles. You have no doubt noticed that the Chronicles are a repetition of Samuel and Kings, if you have ever read these books. There is a difference. In Samuel and Kings we have a record of the Kingdom of Israel, and there is a split in the kingdom. Then the books carry on the history of the Northern and Southern kingdoms. We find that God deals with the kings in the Judean kingdom; then, he deals with kings in the Israelitish kingdom. He goes back and deals with them again until Israel is carried away. Then He carries Judah on to the end.
In Chronicles we find that God does not deal with the Northern kingdom, except as they come in contact with the Southern kingdom. Some people think that all you have here is repetition and that God put in Chronicles to fill up space and to make a good-sized Bible. That is not true. They say this book is unnecessary because the history of Samuel and Kings is repeated, but we cannot believe that God ever does anything unnecessary; and I believe there is a reason for repetition.
| SAMUEL AND KINGS | CHRONICLES |
| History is written from man's standpoint. | History is written from God’s standpoint. |
| The facts of history. | It is God’s thought and words. |
| Course of events. | The reason for and the meaning of those events given. |
| We see how man rules. | We see how God overrules. |
| Chronological and governmental. History from the natural aspects. | Ecclesiastical and moral. History from the Divine aspects. |
| Three chapters are given to Hezekiah's wars and secular events, and three verses are given to the great revival that took place under him/ | Three chapters are given to the revival; one chapter is given to all the wars and secular events of Hezekiah's reign. |
| Kingly aspect. | Priestly aspect. |
| In II Samuel 6 we have this one chapter devoted to the removal of the ark to Jerusalem. | In II Chronicles three chapters (13, 15, 16) are given over to this event. |
| (Missing) | Emphasis to the Levites, the temple, and the religious life in the Kingdom. |
| Record of Solomon’s apostasy is recorded. He had a thousand wives and he was wooed away from his God, Jehovah, by these pagan women. | Not recorded here. |
| We have two chapters in II Samuel which tell of David’s great sin. | There is not a breath of it in Chronicles. |
| In I Samuel we have twenty chapters given to the reign of Saul. | In Chronicles there is only one chapter given to Saul’s reign. |
| Chronicles I & II give the reasons for certain things that are mentioned in Samuel and Kings: | |
| I Samuel 31:6 | I Chronicles 10:13, 14 reason why |
| II Samuel - Two chapters are given to record David’s sin. | Not mentioned here. |
| Sin of numbering the people found here. | The reason why (Satanic) is given here: II Chronicles 13: 18—Because |
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