Isaiah 48:16

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN SECRET - (.) Yahweh foretold Cyrus' advent not with the studied ambiguity of pagan oracles, but plainly. FROM THE TIME THAT IT WAS, THERE (AM) I - from the moment that the purpose began to be accomplished in the raising up of Cyrus, I was present. AND NOW THE LORD GOD, AND HIS SPIRIT, HATH SENT ME. The prophet here speaks, claiming attention to his announcement as to Cyrus, on the ground of his mission from God and His Spirit. But he speaks not in his own person so much as in that of Messiah, to whom alone, in the fullest sense, the words apply ...

16._Draw near to me, hear this. _He again addresses the Jews, and, by bidding them draw near, goes out, as it were, to meet them, and to receive them kindly. Yet at the same time he indirectly glances at their revolt, shewing that they would not be capable of receiving sound doctrine, if they did not withdraw from error. It was no small crime that they were so far removed from God, to whom they ought to have been united in a friendly manner. They were at a great distance from him, not as to space, but as to the agreement of the heart. The “drawing near,” therefore, means that we should lay aside our natural dispositions and be ready to hear him. And this must proceed from his grace; for we can never be prepared to do this, if he do not lead us to himself. _Not from the beginning have I spoken in secret. _Commentators explain this passage in various ways. Many apply it to Christ, though t...

16-22 The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those may speak boldly, whom God and his Spirit send. This is to be applied to Christ. He was sent, and he had the Spirit without measure. Whom God redeems, he teaches; he teaches to profit by affliction, and then makes them partakers of his holiness. Also, by his grace he leads them in the way of duty; and by his providence he leads in the way of deliverance. God did not afflict them willingly. If their sins had not turned them away, their peace should have been always flowing and abundant. Spiritual enjoyments are ever joined with holiness of life and regard to God's will. It will make the misery of the disobedient the more painful, to think how happy they might have been. And here is assurance given of salvation out of captivity. Those whom God designs to bring home to himself, he will take care of, that they want not for their journey...

Verse Isaiah 48:16. _COME YE NEAR UNTO ME_] After the word קרבו _kirbu_, "draw near," a MS. adds גוים _goyim_, "O ye nations;" which, as this and the two preceding verses are plainly addressed to the idolatrous nations, reproaching their gods as unable to predict future events, is probably genuine. _HEAR YE THIS_ - "And hear ye this"] A MS. adds the conjunction, ושמעו _vashimu_; and so the _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Vulgate_. _I HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN SECRET_] The Alexandrine copy of the _Septuagint_ adds here, ουδε εν τοπῳ γης σκοτεινω, "nor in a dark place of the earth," as in Isaiah 45:19. That it stands rightly, or at least stood very early, in this place of the Version of the _Septuagint_, is highly probabl

COME YE NEAR UNTO ME - (see Isaiah 48:14). I HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN SECRET - (See the notes at Isaiah 45:19). The idea here is, that he had foretold the raising up of Cyrus, and his agency in delivering his people, in terms so plain that it could not be pretended that it was conjectured, and so clear that there was no ambiguity. FROM THE TIME THAT IT WAS, THERE AM I - From the moment when the purpose was formed, and when it began to be accomplished, I was present. The meaning is, that everything in regard to raising up Cyrus, and to the delivery of his people from Babylon, had been entirely under his direction. And now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent

EXPOSITION The present chapter, which terminates the second section of Isaiah's later prophecies, consists of a long address by God to his people, partly in the way of complaint, partly of combined premise and exhortation. The address is divided into three portions, each commencing with a call on Israel to pay attention: ISAIAH 48:1, "Hear ye this," etc.; Isaiah 48:12, "Hearken unto me," etc.; Isaiah 48:16, "Come_ _ye near unto me, hear ye this," etc. ISAIAH 48:1 THE FIRST ADDR

COME YE NEAR UNTO ME, HEAR YE THIS,.... An address to the Jews, to attend the ministry of Christ, and hear the doctrine he had delivered to them: I HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN SECRET FROM THE BEGINNING; from the beginning of his ministry; which be exercised not in private houses, but in the synagogues of the Jews, and in the temple, whither a large concourse of people resorted, John 18:20: FROM THE TIME THAT IT WAS, THERE AM I; from the time that his ministry began there, he was in the same places, in Judea and Galilee, always publicly preaching the Gospel, and doing good: or rather, "before the time that it was, there was I" n; Christ existed before his incarnation, before he appeared as the great Prophet in Israel; he existed as the Word and Son of God from all eternity, and was with God his Father from everlasting; he was by him, and brought up with him, and lay

Isaiah 48:1. _Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness._ There always were false professors, and I suppose there always will be till Christ comes. A Judas was among the twelve apostles, and we cannot wonder that we find such in every church, but what a dreadful thing it is to wear the name of God, and yet not really to serve him, to be called Christians, and yet not to be like Christ! It must be a very God-provoking thing to be called by his name, and then insult it by not being true to it. Isaiah 48:2. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD

CHAPTER 48 The Divine Restatement Concerning His People, Their Condition and Future 1. _Their condition and Jehovah's predictions (Isaiah 48:1)_ 2. _Jehovah acts for His Name's sake (Isaiah 48:9)_ 3. _I am He” (Isaiah 48:12)_ 4. _Israel's future blessing (Isaiah 48:17)_ 5. _No peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22) _ This chapter touches once more upon the different phases of Jehovah's messages from Chapter s 40-47. Israel's apostate condition, Jehovah's sovereign grace and mercy towards them, Cyrus ...

THE NEW THINGS WHICH YAHWEH SHOWS. Yahweh emphasizes His incomparable and eternal majesty as Creator. When He had fashioned the earth and the heavens at His word they took their places. Let Israel assemble and answer His question, What heathen god has foretold that which is now taking place? Who has brought Cyrus forth to do His will on Babylon? It is He who has called him and prospered his way. He is not speaking in secret but from the time when the event comes into being He announces (its end?). ISAIAH 48:15. HE SHALL MAKE: read, I have made (LXX). Isaiah 48:16. The last clause, suddenly introducing the speaker, as Isaiah 48:2 Is. never does, is a gloss. SPIRIT: prophetic spirit; object to