4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned. [2 Nephi 7:4]4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that isweary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. [Isaiah 50:4]
The Book of Mormon reading clearly shows that the servant is addressing the house of Israel. This verse has been interpreted as a reference to the twelve-year-old Christ as he sat in the temple in the midst of the doctors, who were “astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46–47). Others, citing 2 Chronicles 36:15–16, have said that the verse refers to prophets’ being called to preach to Jerusalem. However, this passage of Chronicles does not refer to the time of Christ’s ministry or the restoration in the latter days which D&C 133 sets as the time periods of Isaiah’s dual prophecy. The verse does fit the calling and mission of Joseph Smith and the elders of restored Israel who were to speak to the house of Israel in the latter days to gather them. It would be consistent with chapter 49 to identify the servant “me” as Joseph Smith and the elders of restored Israel, since the context is the continuation of that message.