What does Isaiah 43:18 mean?

"¶ Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old." - Isaiah 43:18

Isaiah 43:18-19

Isaiah 43:18 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible states, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."

This verse is part of a larger passage in which God is speaking to the nation of Israel, offering them comfort and reassurance in the midst of their trials and tribulations. In the verses leading up to this one, God reminds the Israelites of the ways in which He has delivered them in the past, promising to do so once again. In Isaiah 43:18, the focus shifts to the future, as God instructs His people to look forward and not dwell on the past.

The theme of this verse is centered on the idea of letting go of the past and embracing the future with faith and trust in God. The Israelites had experienced great victories and also profound defeats in their history, and this verse serves as a reminder to them that God is always doing a new thing, and they should not be held back by their past experiences.

Contextually, this verse comes at a critical point in the book of Isaiah, where the prophet is speaking words of comfort and hope to the Israelites who are in exile in Babylon. The people are feeling abandoned, hopeless, and are longing for the life they once knew in their homeland. In the midst of their despair, God is reminding them not to dwell on the past, but to look forward to the new things He is doing in their midst.

Symbolically, this verse can be interpreted as an invitation to embrace the new beginnings that God has in store for His people. It can serve as a powerful reminder that God's plans for the future are not hindered by the mistakes and failures of the past. This verse also speaks to the human tendency to hold on to past hurts, mistakes, and missed opportunities, and encourages us to release those burdens and move forward in faith.

The broader theological significance of this verse lies in its connection to the redemptive work of God. Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as a God of second chances and new beginnings. This verse in Isaiah is a testament to God's promise to continually renew and restore His people, even when they have been faithless or disobedient. It is a call to embrace the grace and mercy of God, and to trust in His ability to bring about transformation and renewal in our lives.

In summary, Isaiah 43:18 is a powerful reminder that God is constantly at work, bringing about new things and new beginnings in the lives of His people. It encourages us to release ourselves from the shackles of past mistakes and to have faith in the redemptive power of God. This verse offers hope and comfort to all who are struggling to move forward from their past, and serves as a reminder that God's plans for the future are always filled with promise and new opportunities.

Isaiah 43:18 Artwork

Isaiah 43:18-19

Isaiah 43:18 - "¶ Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."

Isaiah 43:18-19 - ""Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.""

Isaiah 43:19

Isaiah 43:11 - "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

Isaiah 43:8 - "¶ Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears."

Isaiah 43:15 - "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King."

Isaiah 43:16 - "Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;"

Isaiah 43:21 - "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise."

Isaiah 43:27 - "Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me."

Isaiah 43:26 - "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified."

Isaiah 43:28 - "Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches."

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine'". Isaiah 43:1

Isaiah 43:4 - "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."

Isaiah 43:5 - "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;"

Isaiah 43:22 - "¶ But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."

Isaiah (43:1) Now, this is what the LORD says,the one who created you, O Jacob,and formed you, O Israel:“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.I call you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:25 - "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

Isaiah 43:17 - "Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow."

Isaiah 43:13 - "Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?"

Isaiah 43:6 - "I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;"

Isaiah 43:3 - "For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."

Isaiah 2:18 - "And the idols he shall utterly abolish."

Luke 18:43 - "And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God."

Isaiah 43:19 - "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."