“Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him…” Isaiah 45:1
There are many parallels in the Scriptures, especially as they apply to the manifest working of God, the demonstration of His power and knowledge, and finally, in Christ the greatest revelation of His love. One of these parallels of power is found in the historical figure, Cyrus, King of Persia, who came on the scene of history about 538 B.C. The significance of this person is not so much as what he accomplished, though it was monumental, but the way in which God announced his coming around one hundred and fifty years before he was born. It was the prophet Isaiah who is his book, in chapters forty-four and forty-five, give us an account of Cyrus’ coming, and the specific calling that he had from God, the God of the Hebrews. God would not only call this man but give him promises which were of such a nature and magnitude, that they must not be neglected. God’s parallels of dealing with Cyrus, were to reveal to all the then known world, and to ours today, that He is God, the only true and living God, knowing the ending form the beginning, sovereignly bringing about His will on this earth. A careful glimpse of how God dealt with this man, and specifically what He told Cyrus, would be the basis many years later for the man himself to believe God, conquer his enemies, and order the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the city itself, thus fulfilling the prophecy in Jeremiah many years before which spoke of Israel’s return to the land after her exile to Babylon. God sovereignly would work over the course of centuries to clearly reveal to the world that He alone is the God of history, who declares what He will do and then accomplishes it in a manner that reveals His uniqueness, wisdom, and power. Nebuchadnezzar, in his confession before God and men, declared: “He (God) doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” (Dan. 4:35) God used Cyrus to change the world in his day by the declaration of His will, His way, by His resources. What then must we learn today of God’s dealings with Cyrus?
In the book of Isaiah, God speaks OF Cyrus first, declaring that he is “My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, ‘Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” (Is. 44:28) The main point here is that Cyrus, like Jeremiah of old, and all believers today, are called of God, they being in His mind and heart before the foundation of the world. The calling of God to every man, specifically to the individual who will receive Him, is an eternal one, given for an eternal purpose.
After speaking OF Cyrus, God speaks through His servant Isaiah, TO Cyrus who is to come about a hundred and fifty years later. There God tells Cyrus exactly what he needs to know to proceed in victory over nations and fulfill the will of God with regard to the temple and Jerusalem. To this “anointed” one, God declares first of all that He has taken him by his right hand. God’s authority will then work actively and effectively to “subdue nations,” “loose the loins of kings,” (depriving them of their strength), “to open before him (Cyrus) the two-leaved gates,” with the promise that they will not be shut.
God continues by saying, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron.” (45:2) By these promises, God provides Cyrus the clear and precise means by which he will conquer and prevail.
The God who called Cyrus, calls His servants today in like manner. His commands are His enablements; His promises means to provide.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to conquer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.