Isaiah 43:18

18 "You must not remember [the] former things, and you not must consider [the] former things.

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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Isaiah 43:18 In-Context

16 Thus says Yahweh, who {makes} a way in the sea and a path in [the] mighty waters,

17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and mighty one. Together they lie down; they cannot rise. They are extinguished, quenched like [a] wick.

18 "You must not remember [the] former things, and you not must consider [the] former things.

19 Look! I [am] about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts! Do you not perceive it? Indeed, I will {make} a way in the wilderness, rivers in [the] desert.

20 The animals of the field will honor me, jackals and daughters of [the] ostrich, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in [the] desert, to give a drink [to] my chosen people,