“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed” (Isaiah 45:1 ESV).
Nearly 200 years before his birth, Isaiah prophesied the coming of one named “Cyrus” whom God would call his “shepherd” (Isa. 44:28) and his anointed. This prophecy is amazing not only for the details of the future event, but for the specificity of his name as well as the fact that God would anoint a non-Jew to shepherd his people.
This prophecy was fulfilled when the Persian King, Cyrus the Great, conquered the many kingdoms of the Middle East and beyond, including Babylon. The Babylonians had previously defeated Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, and taken its people captive. These Judean exiles had lived in Babylon for 70 years, when Cyrus not only overthrew Babylon, but also decreed that its exiles could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Isaiah’s prophecy even foretold that Cyrus would be involved in the rebuilding of the Temple (Isa. 44:28) and the book of Ezra recorded its fulfillment (Ezra 1:1-4).
The Cyrus prophecy in Isaiah is amazing. God revealed both the fall of Jerusalem and its future restoration to Isaiah. This prophecy not only encouraged the prophet Daniel and the Jews who were exiled in Babylon, it continues to encourage believers today. For we understand that the fulfilled prophecies in God’s Word show that the unfulfilled ones will also be fulfilled, perhaps in our lifetime.
That God would anoint a Persian king to rescue Israel seems unbelievable in this day of animosity between Persia (modern day Iran) and Israel. Yet God is not done with Israel nor Persia. For one of the fastest growing Christian movements in the world is happening among Iranians. Great numbers of them are coming to faith in God’s true Anointed One, the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we see and hear the news of our day describing wars and rumors of wars. Yet we are not anxious. For we know that You have a plan and a purpose for us. Help us to focus on You and on fulfilling Your Son’s great commission to make disciples of all nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.