One of the difficulties for modern readers of Isaiah is the change of narrators. The chapter began with Yahweh speaking; now Yahweh’s servant is speaking. (See commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 20–21 for Nephi’s quotation from this servant.) Given the Messianic foreshadowing in verse 6, the speaker is Jesus in his role of mediator. The servant affirms that God has instructed him in speaking to Israel. Although Israel is distant from Yahweh (“when ye are weary”), Yahweh nevertheless watches over Israel (“he waketh morning by morning”) and has sent the servant to tell them what they need (“he waketh mine ear to hear as the learned”).