可能，先知這番話是在巴比倫之囚時期而講的。

先知宣告了主給他所告訴的，他自己的呼召和使命：上主將藉著先知彰顯祂的榮耀；他將成為萬國之光，將上主的救恩帶到地極。

這的確是一項偉大的使命；然而，先知內心卻感受到失敗的痛苦。

即便在看似失敗的境地，先知仍然告訴我們，他繼續信靠主，主必會賞賜他。

他與主之間有著無比親密的關係：主認識他，並在他母腹中就揀選了他。

洗者約聖若翰翰完全能感受到這些話語如同是對自己說的，因為他在出生前就因耶穌的臨在而收到聖化。

我們也能感受到這些話語是對我們說的，賜給我們力量，使我們成為耶穌在眾人中間的活生生的臨在。

The probable historical context of the words of the prophet is the exile in Babylon.

The prophet announces what the Lord told him, his own vocation and mission: through him God will manifest his glory; he will become light for all the nations, to bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.

A splendid mission indeed; however, the prophet feels in himself the suffering of being unsuccessful. In the midst of such apparent failure, he still tells us that he continues trusting in the Lord, who will reward him.

Between him and the Lord there is the most intimate relation possible: the Lord knows him and has chosen him from the mother’s womb.

St. John the Baptist could well feel these words as his own, since he was sanctified by Jesus’ presence even before his own birth.

Se too can feel these words as said to us, to give us strength in being the living presence of Jesus among many.