Isaiah 45-47
There was a great king over Persia and other lands long ago who was told of in the Bible many years before he was born. This king’s name was Cyrus; he lived more than a hundred years after Isaiah, yet God showed Isaiah just what this king would do, and he wrote:
“Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ... ” Is. 45:1.
A man, “anointed.”, was one chosen for a special purpose; this man Cyrus was chosen by God to be a great ruler, to conquer nations by God’s help. God knew His people, Israel, would be captives in a far land, in much sorrow, and He told Isaiah to tell them that this great king would free them. He told of him so plaiy as though he were then alive:
“He (Cyrus) is My shepherd (one to care for the people), and shall perform all My pleasure; even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the Temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” Isaiah 44:28.
“He shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives.” Isaiah 45:13.
Some of the words are even more direct as though to Cyrus himself:
“I will go before thee ... . I will give thee ... ..the treasures ... .. and hidden riches ... .that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by name, am the God of Israel...
“I have even called thee by thy name.. though thou has not known Me... I girded (strengthened) thee. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me.” Isaiah 45:3-6.
It was about a hundred years after Isaiah that the people of Israel were carried captives to Babylon and were in sorrow there for seventy years. Then the army of Cyrus got through the strong gates of Babylon and conquered it. You may have read of this in school, as there are old accounts which tell that the king and watchman thought the great walls and gates so strong they did not guard or lock them. It was taken easily, as God told Isaiah, “I will “loose” the lions (the strength) of kings, to open before him the leaved (hinged) gates; and the gates shall not be shut.” Isaiah 45:1.
God told Isaiah, Babylon should be deated because its people “showed no mey” to Israel, and trusted in their many idols, enchanters, fortune tellers, who only deceive; they were “given to pleasures”, not believing God’s warnings (by his prophets), but said they would “nor he left in sorrow (Isa. 47:6-13).
After Cyrus began his rule in Babylon, he said all the captives of Israel who wanted to, could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and temple of God; he gave them the costly gold and silver dishes, which had been taken from the temple years before; so the words about “the hidden riches” came true, as did all the words of God about Cyrus, told to Isaiah, so long before. The captives who had read the writing of Isaiah would be helped to trust the words of the One to come, who would be far greater than Cyrus.
God knows each of us, as he knew Cyrus, and still says to all,
“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 45:22.
ML 01/11/1942