ישעיהו, פרק מ״ד, פסוק כ״ו

God's promises often defy natural expectations and the calculations of stargazers. When the laws of nature point to the downfall and lowliness of Jerusalem, God actively overturns this reality. Instead, He chooses to validate and bring to life the words of His loyal representatives [מלבי״ם]. He grants existence to these prophecies of comfort and ensures they are carried out to completion.

God works through His chosen servants and messengers to deliver these messages of hope, though their exact identities are understood in various ways. The primary approach among commentators is that the servant refers to the prophet Isaiah himself, while the messengers are the other prophets who foretold the building of the Second Temple after the fall of Babylon. Alternatively, the servant might refer to Moses, with the messengers being literal angels, similar to the angel who assured Jacob that his name would become Israel. According to this view, just as God fulfilled the promise made by that angel, He will faithfully fulfill the words of His prophets [רש״י]. Another perspective draws a distinction between the two roles based on their function. The servant is seen as a righteous individual who serves God and makes absolute decrees that God then fulfills, much like the prophet Elijah. The messengers, on the other hand, are the prophets who deliver divine counsel designed to guide the people toward faith [מלבי״ם].

The core of their message centers on the restoration of the land. When delivering this promise, the prophets are not speaking directly to Jerusalem, but rather sharing a prophecy about its future. They announce that Jerusalem will be resettled with its returning inhabitants, and the surrounding cities of Judah will be rebuilt.

God concludes this promise with a personal declaration that He will raise up the ruins. Most commentators agree that this refers specifically to the ruins of Jerusalem. Expanding on this, God Himself will personally rebuild the ruins of the Temple and its courtyards [מלבי״ם]. However, another view suggests that this promise of restoration extends beyond the capital, referring to the ruins of each and every individual city throughout Judah [אבן עזרא].