Isaiah 48:16

Come ye near unto me, that you may the better hear me, as it follows. A speech of God after the manner of men. I have not spoken in secret; I have not smothered the counsel and word of God, but have plainly and publicly declared it. unto you; or, I have openly revealed my mind to you. See Poole on "Isaiah 45:19", where these very words are spoken by God in his own name, as here by the prophet in God's name; and so all comes to one. From the beginning; either,

1. From the first time that I began to prophesy until this time. Or,

2. From the beginning of my taking you to be my people, and of revealing my mind to you. See Poole on "Isaiah 41:26". From the time that it was these words also, as well as the former, are the words, either,

1. Of the prophet; and so the sense seems to be this, From the time that I was first called to be a prophet, I have been there, i.e. I have diligently pursued my prophetical function; I have hearkened from time to time, to hear what God would speak to me, that I might impart it to you. Or,

2. Of God; and then the sense may be this, From the time that I first spoke of it, or foretold it, I am or was there, to take care to effect what I had foretold; I minded it carefully from that time, as being then more especially obliged to do it, lest my truth or power should be questioned. Or the words may be thus rendered and explained, from the time that this shall be, when the time appointed for the doing of this work shall come, there I will be, to encourage and assist Cyrus in the work. There am I: this is opposed to those foregoing words, from the beginning. God and his Spirit; God by his Spirit; or, God, even the Spirit or the Holy Ghost, to whom the sending and inspiring of God's prophets is ascribed, 2 Peter 1:21. Hath sent me, to wit, the prophet Isaiah; who yet was a type of Christ, and so this may have a respect to him also.