The Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies
The moral regeneration of the world
I. The state of mankind requires it. “Is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished?” It was more serious for the Jewish people to be deprived of a king than for any other people, for their king was theocratic, he was supposed to be the Voice and vicegerent of God. The prophet means to say, that when the Chaldeans would come and carry them away, they would have no king and no counsellors. Now, men in an unregenerate state--
1. Have no king. A political ruler is to man, as a spiritual existent, only a king in name. He does not command the moral affections, rule the conscience, or legislate for the inner and primal springs of all activity. Such a king is the deep want of man, he wants some one to be enthroned on his heart, to whom his conscience can render homage. No man in an unregenerate state has such a king; he has gods many and lords many, of a sort, but none to rule him, and to bring all the powers of his soul into one harmonious channel of obedience.
2. Have no counsellor. Society abounds with counsellors who proffer their advice; but some of them are wicked, most of them worthless, few, if any, satisfactory, that is, to conscience. What the soul wants, is not the mere book counsellor,--though it be the Bible itself,--but the spirit of that book, the spirit of reverence, love, Christlike trust.
3. Have no ease. “Pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.” The unregenerate soul is always liable to consternation, remorse, it often writhes in agony. “There is no peace, saith my God, for the wicked.” Now, moral regeneration brings the man a true King, a true Counsellor, a true Peace--a peace “that passeth all understanding.”
II. It is opposed by formidable antagonists. The nations referred to are those that composed the army of Nebuchadnezzar. What formidable opponents there are to the conversion of man!
1. The depraved elements of the soul. Unbelief, selfishness, carnality, etc.
2. The corrupt influence of society. Custom, fashion, amusements, pleasures!
III. It is guaranteed by the Word of Almighty God. The enemies of the Jews were utterly ignorant of God’s purpose to deliver His people from Babylonish Captivity.
1. Man in ignorance fights against God’s purpose.
2. Man, in fighting against God’s purpose, brings ruin on himself.
The nations thought to ruin Christianity in its infancy, but it was victorious over them! (Homilist.).