Question:

Good morning Michael,

I was reading this morning in Isaiah and have a question. Chapter 48:16 reads: "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."

Is Jesus speaking? I had always thought it was God the Father speaking, but this clearly states that "I" is speaking and the Lord God and his Spirit have sent Him. I'm sure I am a long way from understanding the nature of God and the Triune, but this verse got me to want to better understand what is being said and by whom.

Answer:

            You have done some excellent reading with understanding of the passage. This chapter is the conclusion of the theme of Jehovah’s controversy with Israel concerning their idolatry. In the conclusion of the chapter it is recorded “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” (Isaiah 48: 22) The word Lord is Jehovah, and often the word refers to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is of particular importance in the reading because chapters forty-nine through fifty-seven deal with Jehovah’s controversy with Israel concerning their treatment of Messiah. Notice the ending of that division which says “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:21)

            In chapter forty-eight we see confirmation of that in the use of two things as God makes His point concerning His controversy with Israel concerning their conduct, both past and future. The first of these is the mighty acts of God in Creation:

“Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” (Isaiah 48:13) Scripture identifies The Word as the Person of the godhead who is active in Creation. Proof He is the speaker in this passage. The second is the appeal to prophecy of which the Lord Jesus stands at the pinnacle of all prophetic utterance.

            A final point in the identification of the Person of the godhead is in the use of Names to identify Himself. He says in particular that He is “thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 48:17) The speaker also points to His teaching function which is handed from Messiah to the Holy Spirit after the ascension of the Risen Lord. All of this serves to identify the Person of the Triune God speaking as the Master.