Isaiah 43:18

18 "¹Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.

Isaiah 43:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:18

Remember ye not the former things
Just now referred to, the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, and through the Red sea, and the drowning of Pharaoh and his army in it; for though these things were worthy to be remembered with thankfulness and praise, and to the glory of God, and for the encouragement of faith, yet not in comparison of what was hereafter to be done; meaning, not the redemption from Babylon, unless as a type of spiritual and eternal redemption by Christ; for otherwise there were greater and more wonderful things done, when Israel were brought out of Egypt, than when they were brought out of Babylon; but the great salvation by the Messiah, which exceeds both the deliverances out of Egypt and Babylon, is meant: neither consider the things of old;
unless as figures of the new, but not to be put upon a foot with them, much less to the undervaluing of them, and indeed to be forgotten in comparison of them; see ( Jeremiah 23:7 Jeremiah 23:8 ) . The Talmudists ^F17, by the "former" things, understand subjection to kingdoms; and, by the "things of old", the going out of Egypt; as they do by the "new thing", in the following verse, the war of Gog and Magog.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 13. 1. T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 4. 1.

Isaiah 43:18 In-Context

16 Thus says the LORD , Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

17 Who brings forth the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty man (They will lie down together and not rise again; They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick ):

18 "Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.

19 "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

20 "The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 65:17; Jeremiah 23:7