Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.
Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

The LORD speaks as Israel’s covenant God, the One who redeemed the nation from Egyptian bondage and remained committed to His promises despite her unfaithfulness. As the Holy One of Israel, He is utterly righteous and distinct from all false gods, yet He has bound Himself to His people in covenant love. His redemption of Israel anticipates the greater redemption accomplished by the Messiah, who delivers His people from sin and judgment.

Isa 43:14 For your sake, I will send to Babylon…
Isa 54:5 For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts…
Isa 41:14 Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel…

“I am the LORD your God,

God identifies Himself personally with Israel, recalling the covenant declaration given at Sinai: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 20:2). The God who commands obedience is not distant or unknown; He is the eternal Lord who has revealed Himself, acted in history, and claimed Israel as His own.

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out…
Deu 5:6 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out…
Lev 18:2 Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD…

who teaches you for your benefit,

God’s commands and instruction arise from His perfect wisdom and goodness. Israel’s welfare depended not on adopting the practices of surrounding nations, but on receiving and obeying the word of the Lord. His teaching gives life, exposes sin, guards against destruction, and directs His people toward the blessing found in faithful fellowship with Him.

Isa 30:20 The Lord will give you the bread of adversity…
Deu 10:13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD…
Deu 8:16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna,…

who directs you in the way you should go.

The Lord does not merely warn His people against evil; He leads them in the path of righteousness and obedience. Israel’s coming exile would result from rejecting His direction, but His promise also points beyond discipline to restoration. Those who trust the Lord are called to follow His revealed way, confident that His guidance leads ultimately to life and peace.

Psa 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;…
Isa 30:21 And whether you turn to the right or to the left,…
Psa 25:8-9 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is both Redeemer and Teacher.

2. Redeemer
A title for God, emphasizing His role in delivering and saving His people.

3. The Holy One of Israel
A title that underscores God's holiness and His special relationship with Israel.

4. Israel
The nation chosen by God, often representing God's people as a whole.

5. Prophet Isaiah
The author of the book, who conveyed God's messages to Israel during a time of rebellion and impending judgment.
Teaching Points
God as Teacher and Guide
God’s role as a teacher is central to His relationship with His people. He instructs us for our benefit, ensuring that His guidance leads to our ultimate good.

The Importance of Obedience
Following God's direction is crucial. His ways are designed to lead us to life and blessing, and obedience is a response to His love and wisdom.

Trust in Divine Wisdom
Trusting in God's wisdom over our own understanding is essential. His perspective is eternal and perfect, unlike our limited human insight.

God’s Redemptive Purpose
As our Redeemer, God’s instructions are not just rules but part of His redemptive plan to restore and bless His people.

Holiness and Relationship
God’s holiness is a reminder of His purity and perfection. Our relationship with Him calls us to pursue holiness and align our lives with His will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as both Redeemer and Teacher influence your daily walk with Him?

2. In what ways can you actively seek God's guidance in your life, and how can you ensure you are following His direction?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's teaching or guidance. How did it benefit you, and what did you learn from that experience?

4. How can the concept of God as the "Holy One of Israel" inspire you to pursue holiness in your own life?

5. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit as a teacher in your life. How can you be more receptive to His guidance and instruction?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 8:5
This verse highlights God's role as a teacher, similar to a father disciplining his child, which aligns with God's teaching for Israel's benefit.

Psalm 32:8
This verse echoes the promise of God to instruct and teach His people in the way they should go, reinforcing the guidance aspect of Isaiah 48:17.

Proverbs 3:5-6
These verses emphasize trusting in the Lord for direction, paralleling the guidance God promises in Isaiah 48:17.

John 14:26
The Holy Spirit is described as a teacher, continuing the theme of divine instruction and guidance for believers.

James 1:5
This verse encourages believers to seek wisdom from God, who gives generously, reflecting the teaching aspect of Isaiah 48:17.
The New RevelationE. Johnson Isaiah 48:12-22
God is What He is for His PeopleW. J. Mayers.Isaiah 48:17-18
God, Our Teacher and LeaderW. J. Mayers.Isaiah 48:17-18
It Might have BeenW. Forsyth, M.A.Isaiah 48:17-18
Life an EducationR. H. Story, D.D.Isaiah 48:17-18
Profitable Teaching and Right LeadingJ. Parrish, B.A.Isaiah 48:17-18
The Benefit of AfflictionsN. Emmons, D.D.Isaiah 48:17-18
The I Am's of God and of ManW. J. Mayers.Isaiah 48:17-18
The Soul's GuideIsaiah 48:17-18
True ProfitJ. Vaughan, M.A.Isaiah 48:17-18
Human Freedom and Divine RegretW. Clarkson Isaiah 48:17-19
People
Babylonians, Isaiah, Jacob
Places
Babylon, Chaldea
Topics
Best, Cause, Causing, Directs, Goest, Guiding, Holy, Leadeth, Leads, Profit, Redeemer, Says, Shouldest, Shouldst, Takes, Teaches, Teacheth, Teaching, Thus, Tread
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 48:17

     1315   God, as redeemer
     4020   life, of faith
     6722   redemption, OT
     8231   discipline, divine
     8412   decisions

Isaiah 48:16-17

     3140   Holy Spirit, teacher

Isaiah 48:17-18

     8128   guidance, receiving
     8351   teachableness

Isaiah 48:17-19

     4360   sand

Library
A River of Peace and Waves of Righteousness
'Oh that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.'-- ISAIAH xlviii. 18. I. The Wonderful Thought of God here. This is an exclamation of disappointment; of thwarted love. The good which He purposed has been missed by man's fault, and He regards the faulty Israel with sorrow and pity as a would-be benefactor balked of a kind intention might do. O Jerusalem! 'how often would I have gathered thee.' 'If thou hadst known
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's People in the Furnace
And the first observation I shall make will be this: all persons in the furnace of affliction are not chosen. The text says, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction," and it implies that there may be, and there doubtless are, some in the furnace who are not chosen. How many persons there are who suppose that because they are tried, afflicted, and tempted, therefore they are the children of God, whereas they are no such thing. It is a great truth that every child of God is afflicted; but
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Mercy's Master Motive
We shall now use the text as an illustration of divine love in other cases, for from one deed of grace we may learn all. As God dealt with his people Israel after the flesh, in the same manner he dealeth with his people Israel after the spirit; and his mercies towards his saints are to be seen as in a mirror in his wondrous lovingkindness towards the seed of Abraham. I shall take the text to illustrate--first, the conversion of the sinner; and secondly, the reclaiming of the backslider; and I pray,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Christ hath left us his peace, as the great and comprehensive legacy, "My peace I leave you," John xiv. 27. And this was not peace in the world that he enjoyed; you know what his life was, a continual warfare; but a peace above the world, that passeth understanding. "In the world you shall have trouble, but in me you shall have peace," saith Christ,--a peace that shall make trouble
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Peace in the Soul
Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you.--ST. JOHN 14:27. Peace is one of the great words of the Holy Scriptures. It is woven through the Old Testament and the New like a golden thread. It inheres and abides in the character of God,-- "The central peace subsisting at the heart Of endless agitation." It is the deepest and most universal desire of man, whose prayer in all ages has been, "Grant us Thy Peace, O Lord." It is the reward of the righteous, the blessing of the good, the crown
Henry Van Dyke—What Peace Means

After the Scripture.
"In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God created He him."--Gen. v. 1. In the preceding pages we have shown that the translation, "in Our image," actually means, "after Our image." To make anything in an image is no language; it is unthinkable, logically untrue. We now proceed to show how it should be translated, and give our reason for it. We begin with citing some passages from the Old Testament in which occurs the preposition "B" which, in Gen. i. 27, stands before image, where
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Gifts Received for the Rebellious
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. W hen Joseph exchanged a prison for the chief honour and government of Egypt, the advantage of his exaltation was felt by those who little deserved it (Genesis 45:4, 5) . His brethren hated him, and had conspired to kill him. And though he was preserved from death, they were permitted to sell him for a bond-servant. He owed his servitude,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." All men love to have privileges above others. Every one is upon the design and search after some well-being, since Adam lost that which was true happiness. We all agree upon the general notion of it, but presently men divide in the following of particulars. Here all men are united in seeking after some good; something to satisfy their souls, and satiate their desires. Nay, but they
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Extent of Atonement.
VI. For whose benefit the atonement was intended. 1. God does all things for himself; that is, he consults his own glory and happiness, as the supreme and most influential reason for all his conduct. This is wise and right in him, because his own glory and happiness are infinitely the greatest good in and to the universe. He made the atonement to satisfy himself. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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