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I. GOD AS A REDEEMER. The redemption spoken of by Isaiah was temporal in the first place. But he ascends a much higher sphere than that circumscribed by any earthly demand. 1. The captivity of evil; the Babylon of sin. The whole human race is involved in misery as in guilt. The bondage of iniquity is the worst sort of captivity that beings capable of a better life can possibly suffer. 2. The mercy of the Redeemer at work in the city of bondage. (1) The greater because of our helplessness and need. (2) The greater because of our sinfulness and unbelief. (3) Crowned by the maintenance of God's righteousness with the recovery and perfection of our own. The Gospel is not simply a principle of forgiveness, it is that and something more: it is the power to become holy — the happiness and endlessness of a righteous and godly life. II. GOD AS A TEACHER. The Gospel is too generally only regarded and valued as a something which adds to our enjoyment. Few Christians even understand the beneficence of discipline. 1. Look at the Gospel as a teacher. The new birth opens the eyes to a new world; it is followed by a new language. Here is the high school of heaven in which the Spirit of God is the principal Teacher. 2. Learning is never easy. There is no royal road to this learning, any more than to mere secular knowledge. (1) The lessons are harder because we have to unlearn. Satan has had us in his school, where we were as apt to learn as he to teach. (2) The lessons are harder because we are not diligent. The elements always seem most difficult, because they are so near. If a man always sticks at the elements he is ever in difficulties, yet never makes progress. (3) The learning is harder because as yet we are not much better than invalids. 3. Yet all the teaching is profitable. (1) As a correction. Our weakness makes us more humble, and less prone to self-reliance. (2) As a spiritual development. All these things are made to work together for our highest good. III. GOD AS A LEADER. 1. The way God would have us go is not always according to our inclination. (1) The pleasantest way is not necessarily the best. (2) The fact that we are called to walk in an unpleasant path, so far from proving God s desertion may indicate just the reverse. He may be nearer to us in the cloud than in the sunshine. The wilderness with Him in it is the way to Canaan: no other way, however pleasant, can be safe. 2. The knowledge that it is His way should be enough. (1) As a reason. For there can be nothing irrational in following Him who is the source and crown of wisdom. (2) As an incentive. For the voice of His approval should sound both distinctly and pleasantly to our ears.

(J. Parrish, B.A.)

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KJV: Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

WEB: Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.