Cyrus the Lord's Chosen One

Cyrus Restoring the Vessels of the Temple Gustave Doré

If you ever doubt that the bible is completely true then let this week's post be the one to convince you of our mighty God.

King Cyrus, as we saw last week, was instrumental in assisting the Jews to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.

This role he played in the rebuilding of the Temple was prophesied by Isaiah 150 years before Cyrus lived. The prophet called him by name and gave details to Cyrus's benevolence to the Jews.

So this week we read Isaiah 45, one of the most amazing pieces of evidence of God's sovereign reign and his grand design.

Reading this, remember, when it was written Cyrus was still 150 years away from being born.

Cyrus, the Lord’s Chosen One

This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one,
    whose right hand he will empower.
Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear.
    Their fortress gates will be opened,
    never to shut again.
2 This is what the Lord says:

“I will go before you, Cyrus,
    and level the mountains.
I will smash down gates of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.
3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
    secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

4 “And why have I called you for this work?
    Why did I call you by name when you did not know me?
It is for the sake of Jacob my servant,
    Israel my chosen one.
5 I am the Lord;
    there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
    though you don’t even know me,
6 so all the world from east to west
    will know there is no other God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7     I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.

8 “Open up, O heavens,
    and pour out your righteousness.
Let the earth open wide
    so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.
    I, the Lord, created them.

9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
    Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
    ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
    ‘How clumsy can you be?’
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
    ‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
    ‘Why did you make me this way?’”

11 This is what the Lord says—

    the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:

“Do you question what I do for my children?

    Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

12 I am the one who made the earth

    and created people to live on it.

With my hands I stretched out the heavens.

    All the stars are at my command.

13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,

    and I will guide his actions.

He will restore my city and free my captive people—

    without seeking a reward!

    I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

The Lord God did raise Cyrus up and he fulfilled every single word in this chapter.

The rest of this chapter is a prophecy of the conversion of Gentiles over to form the church. 

Future Conversion of Gentiles

14 This is what the Lord says:

“You will rule the Egyptians,

    the Ethiopians, and the Sabeans.

They will come to you with all their merchandise,

    and it will all be yours.

They will follow you as prisoners in chains.

    They will fall to their knees in front of you and say,

‘God is with you, and he is the only God.

    There is no other.’”

I love this part.  In KJV it says, "in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee."
No truer prophecy ever right!

15 Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
    you work in mysterious ways.
16 All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated.
    They will all be disgraced together.
17 But the Lord will save the people of Israel
    with eternal salvation.
Throughout everlasting ages,
    they will never again be humiliated and disgraced.

18 For the Lord is God,

    and he created the heavens and earth

    and put everything in place.

He made the world to be lived in,

    not to be a place of empty chaos.

Satan = Chaos, the spirit of Satan is chaos.  He is out to kill, steal, and destroy everyone. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

 Just look at the headlines, think about all the chaos you are witnessing in the news.  This is driven by the spirit of Satan.

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

1 Corinthians 14:33

“I am the Lord,” he says,

    “and there is no other.

19 I publicly proclaim bold promises.

    I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.

I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me

    if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true
    and declare only what is right.

20 “Gather together and come,

    you fugitives from surrounding nations.

What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols

    and pray to gods that cannot save!

21 Consult together, argue your case.

    Get together and decide what to say.

Who made these things known so long ago?

    What idol ever told you they would happen?

Was it not I, the Lord?

    For there is no other God but me,

a righteous God and Savior.

    There is none but me.

22 Let all the world look to me for salvation!

    For I am God; there is no other.

23 I have sworn by my own name;

    I have spoken the truth,

    and I will never go back on my word:

Every knee will bend to me,

    and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

24 The people will declare,

    “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”

And all who were angry with him

    will come to him and be ashamed.

25 In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified,

    and in him they will boast.

Isaiah:45

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
    and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”

Romans 14:11

Some info on prophecy:
First:

20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21

Second: God Pulls the Strings! 

9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
    For I alone am God!
    I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
    before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
    for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
    a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
    and I will do it.

Isaiah 46:9-11

The Bible is a true book.  It is filled with prophecy.  About approximately 2/3 of the  prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled. The rest of it is being played out in the times we are living in right now and the near future. These documentaries are really good about the Bible.  If you still aren't convinced try watching these.

Resource: Cyrus

All glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ,

Sherry

I will be linking up with these parties:
Mommy Moments at Life of Faith- Sun evening
The Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims
Moments of Hope at Lori Schumaker
Monday's Musings at What Joy is Mine
Tuesday Talk with Sarah E. Frazer
Coffee and Conversation at Pat and Candy.com- Tues eve
Tell Us His Story at Jennifer Dukes Lee- Tues eve
Grace Moments at Journeys in Grace
Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3-D Lessons for Life
Grace and Truth at Above the Waves
Fresh Market Friday Crystal Twaddell
Faith and Friends at Counting My Blessings