Yes, this morning we go back to Ezra’s first verse, but with an entirely different emphasis than yesterday. “Now in the first year of CYRUS king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of CYRUS king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying ….”
I am now specifically interested in this man, this King, named Cyrus. His name, its etymology, includes the word “furnace.” My laptop software says “possess thou the furnace.” This usually (in the ancient Mid-east) would have implications of “wrath, punishment, revenge, terror!” The “furnace” of affliction! (For such a use of “furnace,” see Deuteronomy 4:20 here. “But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the IRON FURNACE, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.” Clear proof of a disciplinary, harsh use of “furnace!”)
This Cyrus reigned over Persia from 539 BC to 530 BC. Yet … according to Ezra (and the history books, too) he was NOT an “iron furnace” to Israel! He was “kind” to God’s people! The edict described in Ezra 1:1 was a “release” for any Jews who so desired to go back home, from captivity to freedom!
Wow!
The old “hatred” of Nebuchadnezzar for the Israelites … has now been subsumed into “graciousness” to the Jews on Cyrus’ part! (Cyrus is also the King who was able to join the Medes with the Persians into one unified nation! He must have been a capable administrator, conciliator!)
But none of the foregoing is the “point” in today’s Lesson, I guess.
For that I need to show you another Bible verse about Cyrus.
Isaiah mentions this King Cyrus BEFORE THE MAN WAS EVEN BORN! Mentions him by name, folks! Read with me Isaiah 45:1 … “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to CYRUS, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ….” God even calls this Cyrus “anointed!” Though the man is a heathen King!
How do we know Cyrus was not a convert? Still God prophetically speaking to Cyrus, Isaiah 45:5 now … “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, THOUGH THOU HAST NOT KNOWN ME.”
Wow!
Here is today’s point … finally.
God (through his Omniscience) spoke (by name) of Cyrus around 200 years before the man entered the scene of world politics! Yes, date Isaiah around 700 BC, and Cyrus (you know this already) around 500 BC!
This is miraculous!
This is Bible Prophecy … nearly at its best.
(God knows indeed His Plan for His children, doesn’t He? “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11)
I am wondering if this is one of the reasons liberal “scholars” try to post-date part of the book of Isaiah? So Isaiah 45 would be history rather than prophecy? I’ll have none of it! I believe only one man named Isaiah wrote the Book bearing his name. And he wrote it when he purports to have, around 700 BC. Have you ever heard of the erroneous “deutero-Isaiah” theory? That two (or now some say even three) different Isaiahs wrote that classic Bible Prophecy?)
No sir!
Isaiah (via the Holy Ghost) named and described Cyrus long before the Persian Empire ever materialized!
Hallelujah, what a Bible!
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell