Epiphany Season · Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year B
Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
February 21, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Behold, I am doing a new thing... I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)
After the parallel sequences of prophecies in 41:1–20 and 41:21–42:17 have come to their natural end in praise, a new pair of sequences begins. First Yahweh directly confronts Jacob-Israel about its capacity to fulfill the servant role (42:18–25). Then Jacob-Israel is reassured that nevertheless Yahweh, the one who brought the community into being, is still committed to it (43:1–7). Further, its calling to be Yahweh’s servant still stands, and beyond that, Yahweh intends that it shall also function as witnesses for Yahweh in the legal battle over who is really God (43:8–13). Fourth, Yahweh explicitly declares the intention to defeat Babylon for Jacob-Israel’s sake (43:14–21). After this fourth unit Yahweh returns to confronting Jacob-Israel. At this point a sequence parallel to 42:18–43:21 begins and develops these points further.
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Commentary
Isaiah 43 - Israel's Savior and Redeemer Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's commentary on God doing a new thing and blotting out transgressions.
Isaiah 43:18 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated commentary notes on 'do not remember the former things' and the promised new thing.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 43 StudyLight
Albert Barnes' detailed verse-by-verse exposition of this deliverance oracle.
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Dr. Brant Pitre links Isaiah's promise to blot out sins with the Gospel's forgiveness of the paralytic.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah 43 (Sefaria) Sefaria
The Hebrew text of the chapter with English and linked classical Jewish commentary.
Isaiah 43:18 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Hebrew with parsing for 'new thing' and the language of remembrance.
Isaiah (Enter the Bible) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's overview of Isaiah, including the exilic message of comfort and new exodus.
Exile BibleProject
An animated theme study on the exile, the backdrop for Isaiah's promise of a new deliverance.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the new thing in Isaiah 43?
God calls his people to stop dwelling on former things, for he is making a new way through the wilderness, blotting out their sins for his own sake.
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