Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
The call to listen is directed to isles and to peoples from far, showing that the message is meant to reach beyond Israel to the world. The Lord called the servant from the womb and made mention of his name from his mother's bowels before birth. In connection with Jesus this identifies him as God's appointed servant whose mission was known and ordained from the beginning. In its wider chapter setting the servant is Israel, called to glorify God. The verses that follow present the servant as protected by God and appointed to bring Israel back to God and to restore Israel, and to be a light to the Gentiles carrying God's message to the world.
The chapter also speaks of labor that may seem fruitless, yet leaves its judgment and reward with God. It opens the description in Isaiah 49 of the way by which Christlike attributes of character may be obtained. It shows the work to be done, directing God's people to proclaim the message throughout the world and to carry out their appointed work without delay. It foretells the great and solemn work of presenting the warning message to the world and making known why believers believe as they do, especially through camp meetings that give people the information they desire. It calls all to diligent repentance and to carry out the Lord's work with pure principles free from selfishness.