Isaiah 44:28-45:6
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,bible, isaiah

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

## Cyrus

Isaiah 44:28-45:6
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid." ‘
"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, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

## Comment

This prophecy written about 700 bc was fulfilled in Cyrus who became king of Persia in 559 bc. In Isaiah's time the Solomon's temple with standing. It had yet to be destroyed by the Babylonians which wouldn't occur for over 100 years and yet he prophecies of the rebuilding of the temple yet to be destroyed. Cyrus' decree to rebuild the temple is recorded in Ezra.

> Ezra 1:1-4 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you— may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’"

("first year" refers to his kingship over Babylon, not the year of becoming king of Persia - 536 bc)

By fulfillment of such prophecies God shows his sovereignty over the nations. Polytheism was predominant in the cultures of the day. As such God wanted to show that he was not simply a god limited to the nation of Israel, but rather that He was the one and only God over the whole world. And thus appointed this man - this Gentile as His chosen vessel.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources