"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 14 May 2012"
Today's Blog Title: "Cyrus, God's Instrument"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Isaiah 45:1-25
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Isaiah 45:18: "For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create in in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isaiah in this chapter, continues to emphasize the origin of his message, stating, "Thus saith the Lord." Yahweh Himself has set an open door of conquest before Cyrus. The Persian king is called by the designation "anointed" (messiah). This is the only place in Scripture where a Gentile is so designated. The term originated with the Israelite custom of anointing kings and leaders. Cyrus is given this title only in the sense that he will deliver the Jews from Babylonian bondage. "I have called thee by name" indicates that Cyrus has been deliberately named in advance to reassure the Jews that the "God of Israel" indeed is still in control of human events.
The phrase "I...created evil" refers to physical evil or calamity rather than moral evil. God is no way pictured in Scripture as the author of sin. "Drop down, ye heavens...pour down righteousness" is a prayer for God to intervene in human history. Thus righteousness is pictured as coming down from above and springing up from beneath simultaneously.
Cyrus, in verses 13-19, is again addressed as the one who has "raised...up in righteousness, and who shall build my city," and shall "let go my captives." This does imply that Cyrus himself was a true believer but rather that God providentially raised him up as an act of His righteousness to Israel. History in fact records that Cyrus did fulfill this prophecy by subsidizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
God calls His people to "assemble" themselves from among the "nations" (Gentiles) and return to Him because He is both "a just God" and a "Savior" to those who will come to Him. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth" is a glorious invitation to all to come to the Lord. This invitation is similar to the one given by Jesus when he said, "Come unto me all ye that labor...and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This invitation is followed by the absolute statement that "unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess" ( Philippians 2:10). This chapter ends with the sweeping affirmation, "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified," which is quoted by Paul in Romans 11:26.
May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "Cyrus, God's Instrument"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Isaiah 45:1-25
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Isaiah 45:18: "For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create in in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isaiah in this chapter, continues to emphasize the origin of his message, stating, "Thus saith the Lord." Yahweh Himself has set an open door of conquest before Cyrus. The Persian king is called by the designation "anointed" (messiah). This is the only place in Scripture where a Gentile is so designated. The term originated with the Israelite custom of anointing kings and leaders. Cyrus is given this title only in the sense that he will deliver the Jews from Babylonian bondage. "I have called thee by name" indicates that Cyrus has been deliberately named in advance to reassure the Jews that the "God of Israel" indeed is still in control of human events.
The phrase "I...created evil" refers to physical evil or calamity rather than moral evil. God is no way pictured in Scripture as the author of sin. "Drop down, ye heavens...pour down righteousness" is a prayer for God to intervene in human history. Thus righteousness is pictured as coming down from above and springing up from beneath simultaneously.
Cyrus, in verses 13-19, is again addressed as the one who has "raised...up in righteousness, and who shall build my city," and shall "let go my captives." This does imply that Cyrus himself was a true believer but rather that God providentially raised him up as an act of His righteousness to Israel. History in fact records that Cyrus did fulfill this prophecy by subsidizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
God calls His people to "assemble" themselves from among the "nations" (Gentiles) and return to Him because He is both "a just God" and a "Savior" to those who will come to Him. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth" is a glorious invitation to all to come to the Lord. This invitation is similar to the one given by Jesus when he said, "Come unto me all ye that labor...and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This invitation is followed by the absolute statement that "unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess" ( Philippians 2:10). This chapter ends with the sweeping affirmation, "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified," which is quoted by Paul in Romans 11:26.
May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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