Daily Devotions
A Surprising Messiah
Reading for July 27th: Isaiah 44-46
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
Cyrus the Great reigned over Persia from 539-530 BC. Isaiah prophesied about 150 years before Cyrus lived, and yet he not only called him by name but he explains how he would bring the Jews back to their land to rebuild the temple (44:28).
Cyrus was used even though he did not know God (45:4), and he would do this without payment or reward (45:13). God calls him a shepherd (44:28), and, shockingly, a "Messiah" (the meaning of "anointed," 45:1).
What Cyrus illustrates is that God can do whatever he wants to do with whomever he wants to do it. God is not limited. He is the ruler of nations. He raises up kings and others in authority to use to accomplish his purposes.
"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
Prov 21:1.
Father, you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. We trust in your power. We rest in your promises. Thank you for being our God and our salvation.
