Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 48:16

16. Come ye near unto me ; hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the begining : from the time that it was▪ , there am I : and now the Lord GOD and his spirit hath sent me .

That you may the better hear me, as it follows. A Speech of God after the manner of Men.

I have not smothered the Counsel and Word of God, but have plainly and publickly declared it unto you: Or, I have openly Revealed my mind to you. See the Note on Isa. 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.

Either 1. from the first time that I began to Prophecy until this time. Or 2. from the beginning of my taking you to be my People, and of revealing my Mind to you. See on Isa. 41. 26.

These Words also, as well as the former, are the Words, Either 1. of the Prophet; and so the Sence 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 hearkned 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 Sence 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 thu[illegible: 1+ letters] rendred 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 [illegible: 1 word] Cyrus in the Work.

This is opposed to those foregoing Words, from the beginning.

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 Pet. 1. 21.

To wit, the Prophet Isaiah; who yet was a Type of Christ, and so this may have a Respect unto him also.