A New Thing
KJV Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
NIV Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
KJV 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.
NIV Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
KJV Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
NIV Isaiah 43:20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
Behold:
mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based; a. behold! b. as a hypoth. part., propounding a possibility, i
d. Israel’s deliverance to be by God’s grace (43:22-28)
43:22-25. The future ”Exodus“ from Babylon would not come as the result of Israel’s religious acts, including prayers, offerings . . . sacrifices . . . incense, or calamus (possibly sweet cane; cf. Song 4:14; Jer. 6:20; Ezek. 27:19). They had not bothered (wearied, Isa. 43:22) themselves in the sacrificial system, but their sins had wearied God! (cf. Mal. 2:17) Without the Jerusalem temple the exiles were obviously unable to take sacrifices to the altar. So with no offerings their unforgiven sins piled up! However, God would forgive them because of His grace, for His own sake.[1]
way in … wilderness—just as Israel in the wilderness, between the Red Sea and Canaan, was guided, and supplied with water by Jehovah; but the “new” deliverance shall be attended with manifestations of God’s power and love, eclipsing the old (compare Is 41:17–19). “I will open a way, not merely in the Red Sea, but in the wilderness of the whole world; and not merely one river shall gush out of the rock, but many, which shall refresh, not the bodies as formerly, but the souls of the thirsty, so that the prophecy shall be fulfilled: ‘With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation’ ” [Jerome]. “A way” often stands for the true religion (Ac 9:2; 18:26). “Rivers” express the influences of the Holy Spirit (Jn 7:37–39). Israel’s literal restoration hereafter is included, as appears by comparing Is 11:15, 16.[2]
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cf. confer, compare
[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Is 43:19). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.