Bible League: Living His Word (9/09/21)

“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.”
— Isaiah 48:17 ESV

Our verse for today identifies two important things that the LORD our God does for us. If we grasp hold of them, we will learn something important about the LORD. If we grasp hold of them, our lives will go better. The LORD is the God who teaches us things that are important to know and the LORD is the God who leads us in the way that is important to follow.

First, the LORD our God teaches us things that are important to know. He teaches us to profit. The word “profit” in this context refers to that which is profitable to us; it refers to that which is a good investment for us. When we need to know what will work to our benefit and what will improve our lives for the better, it is the LORD God of heaven and earth that we should learn from.

Although it certainly includes it, that which is profitable to us is much more than mere material gain. That which is profitable to us is anything that will improve our lives for the better and lift us up from the consequences of our past failures in life. The LORD our God cares about the everyday circumstances of our lives and He teaches us how to achieve good results in these areas. He is supremely qualified to do this, of course, since He is the one who designed us in the first place and knows exactly what will benefit us.

Second, the LORD our God leads us in the way that is important to follow. He leads us in the way we should go. The “way we should go” in this context refers to the direction we should take in life; it refers to the moral standards that define how we should live our lives. When we need to find the proper pathway through life and the right thing to do, it is the LORD God of heaven and earth that we should follow.

The LORD our God knows what will be profitable for you and He knows the way you should go. If you are not too proud to listen to His teaching, and if you are not too stubborn to follow His lead, then your life will be better for it.