2010 Year Of Cyrus Anointing
Cyrus, the Lord's Anointed
2010 Cyrus Anointing
The Rebuilder Of The Ruines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijtlHJcvh8o&NR=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nke88eiiGfk&feature=related
Part 1
Here we are describing the exceptional life of Cyrus, a pagan king who was worthy to be called “the Lord’s anointed,” appeared in the May-June 2003 issue of The Herald.
This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor.—Isaiah 45:1, NIV
Régis Liberda
In a study of Cyrus, his Achemeneed dynasty and the Medo-Persian empire in history, it is useful to consider the four empires described in Daniel: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
Cyrus and the Medo-Persian empire was the second in this series of universal empires. The Medo-Persian empire reigned from 539 to 331 B.C., a little more than two centuries before it was vanquished under the assault of Alexander the Great.
The Medo-Persian empire is described in several visions of Daniel:
In Daniel 2:32 it is the chest and arms of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar.
In Daniel 7:5 among the four beasts representing these empires, it is the bear holding in its mouth three ribs which represent the kingdoms it conquered.
In Daniel 8:3 it is the terrifying ram with the two unequal horns: Media, the inferior, and Persia, the triumphant state.
Because God gave such information, we know that Medo-Persia, starting with Cyrus, plays an important part in the Plan of God. It is only from the time of Cyrus that we have historical dates in which we may have confidence.
The Goodness of the Almighty
Although Cyrus fascinates us by his life, he becomes even more interesting when we see how God regards him. Obviously he was a king who wanted those he ruled to be happy. Although a pagan, he had a profound sense of justice that few Israelite kings possessed. His willingness to forgive his enemies did not go unnoticed by his contemporaries. In many ways he was a good man. He was also an instrument God used to achieve an important part of his plan to end the captivity of his people and to rebuild the temple.
Did Cyrus recognize the God of Israel as the only true God, instead of the one he had worshipped since his childhood, the Persian god Ahura-Mazda? We do not know for sure, although we do have his words: “God hath charged me to build him a house.”
Cyrus’ noble character is a type of someone much higher. That Cyrus is a type of Christ has not escaped many of the biblical commentators. So let us look at the different prophecies relating to Cyrus, his character, and his work, to see the interesting parallels which exist between Cyrus and Christ.
1. The Anointing
“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus” (Isaiah 45:1). We saw the exceptional character of Cyrus and the unique title that the Lord bestowed upon this pagan king. Was Christ an anointed? Definitely yes. The Greek word Kristos means “Anointed.” The apostle in Acts 4:27 tells us the supreme anointed is Christ. The apostle Peter speaks to Cornelius and says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy spirit and power” (Acts 10:38, NIV).
Christ was indeed anointed at his baptism and received the holy spirit, not literal oil. A study of Israel’s Tabernacle arrangement shows us the fundamental character of the anointing of Christ. Anointing was the first step required to confirm the high priest who is, in antitype, our Lord. As the Anointed, God chooses him. Jesus Christ is given a very specific and glorious mission, as was Cyrus.
2. A Glorious Title
“I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me” (Isaiah 45:4). God guided Cyrus a long time before Cyrus came to know him. These words can also be applied to Christ.
Christ was the first creation of God as Logos [Word]. All things were made by him. What is the glory of this title “Logos”? “All things were made by him [the Word]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” (John 1:3,14).
God, in his prescience, had foreseen the foundation of the universe and the very special mission of our Lord Jesus long before he came to earth. The glorious title of Logos is one of many other titles, such as Wonderful and Prince of Peace which all have their importance (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6). The name of Christ is glorious.
3. The Shepherd
“[I] saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure” (Isaiah 44:28). In addition to the glorious title of Anointed, God calls Cyrus his shepherd. Cyrus, as we saw, was indeed the shepherd of a great number of people which he pacified, and whose lives he improved in his immense empire.
Christ is also called the good Shepherd (John 10:11). As a shepherd, he will do two slightly contradictory things. First, he will rule the nations with a rod of iron at the time of the restitution of all things (Revelation 2:27). This shows us that his authority must be accepted by all. Those who will not obey will not receive everlasting life. Second, Christ, as a good shepherd, will lead mankind to the sources of life (Revelation 22:17). He will feed the nations so they might receive life. What a splendid prospect this is!
4. Forgiveness
Let us notice the exceptional lesson found in the behavior of Cyrus who showed forgiveness toward his defeated enemies, something not generally done at the time. He knew one exercised better control over a vanquished country by making it an ally rather than a slave.
In the same way Christ will forgive mankind’s sins and iniquities, for all power to forgive was given to him (Matthew 9:6). The best illustration of the forgiveness exercised by Christ is found on the cross, where in great suffering he had the courage to say: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
5. Riches
“I will give you … riches stored in secret places” (Isaiah 45:3, NIV). Cyrus literally seized hidden riches in Sardis which helped make his empire extraordinarily powerful.
Will Christ receive hidden riches? Yes. We read, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
What are riches for a spiritual being like Christ? First there is the richness for which Christ gave his life: the dominion of mankind and earth during his glorious reign of 1,000 years. But there is another richness, hidden until the due time for the mystery to be revealed, a richness that Christ obtained from his Father. It is the church, his bride, with whom he shares his glorious divine mission.
May we be sufficiently aware of this promise that we aspire to be a part of this “richness.”
6. The submission of people to him:
The conquered Egyptians and all people prostrated and subjected themselves to Cyrus and they did it willingly; they were relieved by the new and generous administration that Cyrus granted to them. In the same way the nations will subject themselves willingly to Christ, according to the word of Isaiah: “all flesh shall come to worship before me” (Isaiah 66:23) These are God’s words but they concern his son Christ to whom all authority will be given in the thousand-year kingdom.
7. The One from the East
Cyrus was called a “man come from the East” who invaded Babylon using the bed of the dried up Euphrates because he had diverted its course. In fact we find these words a second time in Revelation and there it concerns Christ: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared” (Revelation 16:12).
It is Christ, the chief of the kings of the east, who will drain the Euphrates. He will drain the richness of “Babylon” at the end of this age to prepare his kingdom of justice.
8. Release of the prisoners
“He shall let go my captives … saith the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 45:13).
According to the Plan of God, Cyrus released the Israelites after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Christ will release humanity from the slavery of more than 6,000 years of sin and death. The Babylonians released by Cyrus welcomed him with palms. All the released prisoners in Christ’s greater release in the kingdom will welcome Christ as well.
This release reminds us of another one, the one we recall once each year at the time of Passover. It is the exodus from Egypt. Both the exodus and the defeat of Babylon picture the great release which will occur under Christ in the age to come.
9. The Benefits Will Not Cost Anything
“Not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 45:13).
Just as Cyrus gave freedom to the people of Israel without requiring a payment, Christ, who paid the ransom once and for all when he died on the cross, will liberally give life to those who seek him: “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6).
10. The Rebuilding
“Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel” (Ezra 1:3).
Cyrus allowed the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and especially its temple. In the same way, mankind under the reign of Christ, will have the chance to rebuild a new world where there will be neither tears, crying, nor pain, for these former things will have disappeared.
This hope is described by the words of the prophet Isaiah who speaks of those who will come to Christ to receive life. He says that they “come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads” (Isaiah 35:10). What a wonderful hope these words contain.
This hope, in which the historical king Cyrus has played a part, is sublime for it is mankind’s only hope for life. But we also know that Christ will not act alone. His Church, the body of Christ, will be associated with this wonderful and glorious work. If we want to have a part in this work, let us also have the noble-heartedness displayed by this “pagan” king Cyrus, so that one day we will, with Christ, be able to bring freedom to all.
Isaiah 45:1-13
"This says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom I have seized by the right, to subdue nations before him. Yes, I will open the loins of kings, to open the two-leaved doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before you and make hills level; I will tear apart the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. And I will give you the treasures of darkness, even treasures in secret places, that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by your name, I the God of Israel" (vs.1-3 Para.).
In verses 1-3, we see that Cyrus is called the Lord's anointed (Heb. mashiyach [maw-shee'-akh]). which denotes a person specifically chosen and set apart for a specific task. Notice also that God promised to intervene and help Cyrus conquer many nations (i.e., make hills level).
The opening of the two-leaved doors, the tearing apart of the bronze doors, and the cutting of the iron bars seem to picture God's intervention to open the hundred copper-alloy gates of Babylon to King Cyrus and his army.
Imagine Cyrus' amazement and sober contemplation as he became aware of Isaiah's prophecy and realized that almost 150 years before his birth he had been named and ordained by the God of the Israelites to become a mighty conquering king and perform a task for this God whom he neither knew nor worshiped.
Today, we view Isaiah's prophecy in the dim light of ancient history, which makes it difficult to fully comprehend Cyrus' perspective on the prophecy. Cyrus viewed the prophecy from the perspective of his many victorious battles and how easily he had conquered many nations, including the mighty Babylonian empire and its capital city.
"For Jacob my servant's sake, and for Israel my elect, I have called you by your name. I named you but you do not know me. I am God, and there is no other, there is no God except me, I will clothe you, even though you do not know me, that they may know from sunrise to sunset that there is none except me; I am God and there is no other who creates light and forms darkness; makes peace and creates evil. I God do all these things" (vs.4-7 Para.).
The Creator God states in verse 6 that one of the reasons for this prophecy is so that people will have a continual witness the he is God. The prophecy concerning Cyrus and its fulfillment is a continual witness of the Creator God's power and authority over his creation. See Jn.1:1-3; Eph.3:8-9; Heb.2:10.
"Woe to him that fights with his Maker! A potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are you making? Or does the work say, He has no hands? Woe to him that says to his father, What are you fathering? Or to the woman, What are you laboring over? This says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker. Do you ask me the things to come? Do you give me commands to me about my sons, and about the works of my hands? I have made the earth, and created man on it. I stretched out the heavens with my hands; and I have set all of them in order" (vs.9-12 Para.).
Verses 9-12 seems to be a warning to King Cyrus to carefully consider and respect the awesome power of the God who claims to have the ultimate power to create and destroy and recorded the words concerning him and what he was to accomplish almost 150 years before his birth.
"I have raised him [Cyrus] up to be ethical and have made all his ways direct. He shall build my city [Jerusalem], and he will release my captives; not for price, nor reward, says the Lord of hosts" (v.13 Para.).
Here, we see the task that Cyrus was brought into existence to accomplish for the Creator God of Israel. History records that Cyrus did accomplish the task for which he was foreordained.
Cyrus' Proclamation
In 2.Chronicles chapter 36 and in Ezra chapter 1, we are told that King Cyrus was motivated by God to write a decree to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple:
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of the Lord spoken through the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king the of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, This says Cyrus king of Persia, The God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up" (2.Chron.36:22-23 Para.).
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, This says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:1-3 KJV).
We are not told how King Cyrus became aware of Isaiah's prophecy concerning his life; however, it is entirely possible that Cyrus was told about the prophecy by Daniel who eventually held one of the Persian Empires' highest offices as chief of the three presidents over Persia (Dan.6:1-3). He may have been told by Ezra the priest or by Nehemiah who was another high ranking Jew in the Persian government (Neh.2:2; 8:9; 10:1). Another possibility is that Cyrus could have discovered the prophecy himself as he studied the religions of his captives. However he came to understand Isaiah's prophecy, he understood that he was the one named in it and that he had been chosen before his birth to perform a service to the God of the Jews who claimed to be the Sovereign God and Creator of all things.
2010 Cyrus Anointing
The Rebuilder Of The Ruines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijtlHJcvh8o&NR=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nke88eiiGfk&feature=related
Part 1
Here we are describing the exceptional life of Cyrus, a pagan king who was worthy to be called “the Lord’s anointed,” appeared in the May-June 2003 issue of The Herald.
This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor.—Isaiah 45:1, NIV
Régis Liberda
In a study of Cyrus, his Achemeneed dynasty and the Medo-Persian empire in history, it is useful to consider the four empires described in Daniel: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
Cyrus and the Medo-Persian empire was the second in this series of universal empires. The Medo-Persian empire reigned from 539 to 331 B.C., a little more than two centuries before it was vanquished under the assault of Alexander the Great.
The Medo-Persian empire is described in several visions of Daniel:
In Daniel 2:32 it is the chest and arms of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar.
In Daniel 7:5 among the four beasts representing these empires, it is the bear holding in its mouth three ribs which represent the kingdoms it conquered.
In Daniel 8:3 it is the terrifying ram with the two unequal horns: Media, the inferior, and Persia, the triumphant state.
Because God gave such information, we know that Medo-Persia, starting with Cyrus, plays an important part in the Plan of God. It is only from the time of Cyrus that we have historical dates in which we may have confidence.
The Goodness of the Almighty
Although Cyrus fascinates us by his life, he becomes even more interesting when we see how God regards him. Obviously he was a king who wanted those he ruled to be happy. Although a pagan, he had a profound sense of justice that few Israelite kings possessed. His willingness to forgive his enemies did not go unnoticed by his contemporaries. In many ways he was a good man. He was also an instrument God used to achieve an important part of his plan to end the captivity of his people and to rebuild the temple.
Did Cyrus recognize the God of Israel as the only true God, instead of the one he had worshipped since his childhood, the Persian god Ahura-Mazda? We do not know for sure, although we do have his words: “God hath charged me to build him a house.”
Cyrus’ noble character is a type of someone much higher. That Cyrus is a type of Christ has not escaped many of the biblical commentators. So let us look at the different prophecies relating to Cyrus, his character, and his work, to see the interesting parallels which exist between Cyrus and Christ.
1. The Anointing
“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus” (Isaiah 45:1). We saw the exceptional character of Cyrus and the unique title that the Lord bestowed upon this pagan king. Was Christ an anointed? Definitely yes. The Greek word Kristos means “Anointed.” The apostle in Acts 4:27 tells us the supreme anointed is Christ. The apostle Peter speaks to Cornelius and says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy spirit and power” (Acts 10:38, NIV).
Christ was indeed anointed at his baptism and received the holy spirit, not literal oil. A study of Israel’s Tabernacle arrangement shows us the fundamental character of the anointing of Christ. Anointing was the first step required to confirm the high priest who is, in antitype, our Lord. As the Anointed, God chooses him. Jesus Christ is given a very specific and glorious mission, as was Cyrus.
2. A Glorious Title
“I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me” (Isaiah 45:4). God guided Cyrus a long time before Cyrus came to know him. These words can also be applied to Christ.
Christ was the first creation of God as Logos [Word]. All things were made by him. What is the glory of this title “Logos”? “All things were made by him [the Word]; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” (John 1:3,14).
God, in his prescience, had foreseen the foundation of the universe and the very special mission of our Lord Jesus long before he came to earth. The glorious title of Logos is one of many other titles, such as Wonderful and Prince of Peace which all have their importance (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6). The name of Christ is glorious.
3. The Shepherd
“[I] saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure” (Isaiah 44:28). In addition to the glorious title of Anointed, God calls Cyrus his shepherd. Cyrus, as we saw, was indeed the shepherd of a great number of people which he pacified, and whose lives he improved in his immense empire.
Christ is also called the good Shepherd (John 10:11). As a shepherd, he will do two slightly contradictory things. First, he will rule the nations with a rod of iron at the time of the restitution of all things (Revelation 2:27). This shows us that his authority must be accepted by all. Those who will not obey will not receive everlasting life. Second, Christ, as a good shepherd, will lead mankind to the sources of life (Revelation 22:17). He will feed the nations so they might receive life. What a splendid prospect this is!
4. Forgiveness
Let us notice the exceptional lesson found in the behavior of Cyrus who showed forgiveness toward his defeated enemies, something not generally done at the time. He knew one exercised better control over a vanquished country by making it an ally rather than a slave.
In the same way Christ will forgive mankind’s sins and iniquities, for all power to forgive was given to him (Matthew 9:6). The best illustration of the forgiveness exercised by Christ is found on the cross, where in great suffering he had the courage to say: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
5. Riches
“I will give you … riches stored in secret places” (Isaiah 45:3, NIV). Cyrus literally seized hidden riches in Sardis which helped make his empire extraordinarily powerful.
Will Christ receive hidden riches? Yes. We read, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
What are riches for a spiritual being like Christ? First there is the richness for which Christ gave his life: the dominion of mankind and earth during his glorious reign of 1,000 years. But there is another richness, hidden until the due time for the mystery to be revealed, a richness that Christ obtained from his Father. It is the church, his bride, with whom he shares his glorious divine mission.
May we be sufficiently aware of this promise that we aspire to be a part of this “richness.”
6. The submission of people to him:
The conquered Egyptians and all people prostrated and subjected themselves to Cyrus and they did it willingly; they were relieved by the new and generous administration that Cyrus granted to them. In the same way the nations will subject themselves willingly to Christ, according to the word of Isaiah: “all flesh shall come to worship before me” (Isaiah 66:23) These are God’s words but they concern his son Christ to whom all authority will be given in the thousand-year kingdom.
7. The One from the East
Cyrus was called a “man come from the East” who invaded Babylon using the bed of the dried up Euphrates because he had diverted its course. In fact we find these words a second time in Revelation and there it concerns Christ: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared” (Revelation 16:12).
It is Christ, the chief of the kings of the east, who will drain the Euphrates. He will drain the richness of “Babylon” at the end of this age to prepare his kingdom of justice.
8. Release of the prisoners
“He shall let go my captives … saith the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 45:13).
According to the Plan of God, Cyrus released the Israelites after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Christ will release humanity from the slavery of more than 6,000 years of sin and death. The Babylonians released by Cyrus welcomed him with palms. All the released prisoners in Christ’s greater release in the kingdom will welcome Christ as well.
This release reminds us of another one, the one we recall once each year at the time of Passover. It is the exodus from Egypt. Both the exodus and the defeat of Babylon picture the great release which will occur under Christ in the age to come.
9. The Benefits Will Not Cost Anything
“Not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 45:13).
Just as Cyrus gave freedom to the people of Israel without requiring a payment, Christ, who paid the ransom once and for all when he died on the cross, will liberally give life to those who seek him: “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6).
10. The Rebuilding
“Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel” (Ezra 1:3).
Cyrus allowed the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and especially its temple. In the same way, mankind under the reign of Christ, will have the chance to rebuild a new world where there will be neither tears, crying, nor pain, for these former things will have disappeared.
This hope is described by the words of the prophet Isaiah who speaks of those who will come to Christ to receive life. He says that they “come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads” (Isaiah 35:10). What a wonderful hope these words contain.
This hope, in which the historical king Cyrus has played a part, is sublime for it is mankind’s only hope for life. But we also know that Christ will not act alone. His Church, the body of Christ, will be associated with this wonderful and glorious work. If we want to have a part in this work, let us also have the noble-heartedness displayed by this “pagan” king Cyrus, so that one day we will, with Christ, be able to bring freedom to all.
Isaiah 45:1-13
"This says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom I have seized by the right, to subdue nations before him. Yes, I will open the loins of kings, to open the two-leaved doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before you and make hills level; I will tear apart the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. And I will give you the treasures of darkness, even treasures in secret places, that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by your name, I the God of Israel" (vs.1-3 Para.).
In verses 1-3, we see that Cyrus is called the Lord's anointed (Heb. mashiyach [maw-shee'-akh]). which denotes a person specifically chosen and set apart for a specific task. Notice also that God promised to intervene and help Cyrus conquer many nations (i.e., make hills level).
The opening of the two-leaved doors, the tearing apart of the bronze doors, and the cutting of the iron bars seem to picture God's intervention to open the hundred copper-alloy gates of Babylon to King Cyrus and his army.
Imagine Cyrus' amazement and sober contemplation as he became aware of Isaiah's prophecy and realized that almost 150 years before his birth he had been named and ordained by the God of the Israelites to become a mighty conquering king and perform a task for this God whom he neither knew nor worshiped.
Today, we view Isaiah's prophecy in the dim light of ancient history, which makes it difficult to fully comprehend Cyrus' perspective on the prophecy. Cyrus viewed the prophecy from the perspective of his many victorious battles and how easily he had conquered many nations, including the mighty Babylonian empire and its capital city.
"For Jacob my servant's sake, and for Israel my elect, I have called you by your name. I named you but you do not know me. I am God, and there is no other, there is no God except me, I will clothe you, even though you do not know me, that they may know from sunrise to sunset that there is none except me; I am God and there is no other who creates light and forms darkness; makes peace and creates evil. I God do all these things" (vs.4-7 Para.).
The Creator God states in verse 6 that one of the reasons for this prophecy is so that people will have a continual witness the he is God. The prophecy concerning Cyrus and its fulfillment is a continual witness of the Creator God's power and authority over his creation. See Jn.1:1-3; Eph.3:8-9; Heb.2:10.
"Woe to him that fights with his Maker! A potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are you making? Or does the work say, He has no hands? Woe to him that says to his father, What are you fathering? Or to the woman, What are you laboring over? This says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker. Do you ask me the things to come? Do you give me commands to me about my sons, and about the works of my hands? I have made the earth, and created man on it. I stretched out the heavens with my hands; and I have set all of them in order" (vs.9-12 Para.).
Verses 9-12 seems to be a warning to King Cyrus to carefully consider and respect the awesome power of the God who claims to have the ultimate power to create and destroy and recorded the words concerning him and what he was to accomplish almost 150 years before his birth.
"I have raised him [Cyrus] up to be ethical and have made all his ways direct. He shall build my city [Jerusalem], and he will release my captives; not for price, nor reward, says the Lord of hosts" (v.13 Para.).
Here, we see the task that Cyrus was brought into existence to accomplish for the Creator God of Israel. History records that Cyrus did accomplish the task for which he was foreordained.
Cyrus' Proclamation
In 2.Chronicles chapter 36 and in Ezra chapter 1, we are told that King Cyrus was motivated by God to write a decree to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple:
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of the Lord spoken through the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king the of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, This says Cyrus king of Persia, The God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up" (2.Chron.36:22-23 Para.).
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, This says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:1-3 KJV).
We are not told how King Cyrus became aware of Isaiah's prophecy concerning his life; however, it is entirely possible that Cyrus was told about the prophecy by Daniel who eventually held one of the Persian Empires' highest offices as chief of the three presidents over Persia (Dan.6:1-3). He may have been told by Ezra the priest or by Nehemiah who was another high ranking Jew in the Persian government (Neh.2:2; 8:9; 10:1). Another possibility is that Cyrus could have discovered the prophecy himself as he studied the religions of his captives. However he came to understand Isaiah's prophecy, he understood that he was the one named in it and that he had been chosen before his birth to perform a service to the God of the Jews who claimed to be the Sovereign God and Creator of all things.
Comment
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
Powered by
You need to be a member of Black Preaching Network to add comments!
Join Black Preaching Network