A time is coming when evil will be removed from the world, ushering in a reality of universal peace and absolute faith in God. The abundance of good will be so great that every memory of past suffering will be completely wiped from human consciousness and from divine sight.
In that future era, false idols and the legacies of wicked people will vanish entirely. Humanity will no longer swear by them or seek blessings in their names [מלבי״ם, שד״ל]. Instead, a shared awe of God will unite all people under a single faith [רש״י, רד״ק]. When individuals ask for a blessing, they will seek it from the God of truth, knowing how He blessed the righteous [רד״ק]. Furthermore, people will not just ask for blessings; they will take immense pride in their relationship with Him [מצודת ציון]. The greatest honor a person will claim is simply being a devoted servant to the true God [רש״י, מצודת דוד].
God is recognized in this time as the God of truth and faithfulness [רש״י, אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. This reflects His absolute reliability: He kept His covenant, fulfilled His promises of redemption, and administered reward and punishment with perfect justice [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Once the entire world recognizes this truth, everyone will swear only by His name [אבן עזרא].
The new reality will bring a promise that past troubles will be forgotten. The goodness flowing into the world will be so overwhelming, and the peace so absolute and free of war, that the pains of exile will simply fade from memory [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Commentators offer different perspectives on whose troubles are being forgotten. Some explain that these are the hardships endured by the righteous, which once caused the wicked to mock them [אבן עזרא]. Others view these forgotten troubles as the punishments and disasters that previously befell the sinners [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
These past sorrows will not only be forgotten by humanity but will also be hidden from God's eyes. On a basic level, since the troubles will pass from the world, they will naturally no longer be seen [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. From the perspective of reward and punishment, God previously kept these hardships in His sight as a reminder to justly reward the innocent who suffered. Once they receive their full reward, the memory of the bad is no longer necessary and is hidden away [מלבי״ם]. Another approach views this as a testament to divine providence. The historical struggles were never random; they were carefully planned and guided by God, exactly as the prophets foretold. With the ultimate plan realized, the troubles are removed from sight [רד״ק]. Finally, the concealment of these hardships also represents the hiding of the very sins that caused them, serving as a profound expression of absolute forgiveness and atonement [שד״ל].