Isaiah 48:16
Come ye neere vnto me; heare ye this; I haue 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. Isaiah 48:16 (KJV)
Isaiah 48:16 belongs to the Book of Isaiah, one of the major prophetic books of the Old Testament, and forms part of a larger section in which God addresses a rebellious and disobedient Israel. In this passage the Lord GOD calls the people to draw near and listen to His words, stressing that He has not spoken in secret but has revealed Himself openly throughout history. The verse declares that God has been present “from the beginning” and remains present now, sending a messenger to the people.
The wording of the KJV text mentions both the Lord GOD and His Spirit as the ones who have sent the speaker. This dual reference has led scholars to discuss the identity of the messenger. Some understand the messenger to be the prophet Isaiah herself, chosen by God to deliver His messages to Israel. Others view the verse as a foreshadowing of the Messiah, seeing the speaker as a type of Jesus Christ who would later be sent by the Father and the Holy Spirit to bring salvation.
While the passage does not explicitly articulate the doctrine of the Trinity, the mention of the Lord GOD and His Spirit together has prompted some readers to perceive a Trinitarian echo, suggesting a relationship among the Father, the Spirit, and the one who is sent. Nevertheless, the primary emphasis of the verse is the call to attentiveness: God urges His people to come near, hear, and obey the divine instruction that has been openly proclaimed.
Overall, Isaiah 48:16 underscores the importance of listening to God’s teachings, recognizing His continual presence from the beginning of time, and contemplating the role of the messenger within the broader biblical narrative. It serves as a reminder that God’s communication is not hidden but is meant to be received with obedience and reverence, inviting believers to draw near to the divine voice and respond faithfully.
