Cyrus is selected for the execution of this important and dangerous enterprise. God says that the gates of the city will be standing open for him. His invading army consisted of one hundred and twenty thousand horse, six thousand chariots of war, and six hundred thousand infantry. God claims that he would punish Bel and bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up. God claims that he is taking judgment on the idols of Babylon. So well was the wall and ditch destroyed that those who have made search for it have not found it.
Two travelers, Buckingham and Fredrick says: “neither the wall or the ditch has been seen the least vestige by any modern traveler. Within twenty-one miles distance along the Euphrates, and twelve miles across it in breadth, I was unable to perceive anything that could admit of any imagining, that either a wall or ditch had existed within this extensive area. The astonishment that God predicts has been completely fulfilled.”
Unveiling the Anointed Conqueror and God's Absolute Sovereignty
Isaiah 45:1
Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
God anointed Cyrus and took a firm grip on his hand and commissioned him to take the gird from, and loose the loins of kings. When Cyrus arrived the gates were opened for him and his army.
Cross References
- Isaiah 44:28: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
- Isaiah 41:13: For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23: The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia...
Isaiah 45:2
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
God promises to straighten out the rough and rugged ways before him. He further promises to smash and shatter the gates that would prevent him from entering the city.
Cross References
- Isaiah 42:16: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not...
- Psalm 107:16: For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Isaiah 45:3
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
The hoarded treasures that were garnered from the nation that she had defeated were hidden in dark vaults in secret places. God led Cyrus straight to the treasures and Cyrus knew that it was of God.
Cross References
- Jeremiah 27:5-7: I have made the earth... And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar...
- See also: Jeremiah 50:37; Ezra 1:2
Isaiah 45:4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
God says he is doing this for the sake of his elect. God called Cyrus and surnamed him 150 years before he was born. The religion of Cyrus was monotheism (belief in one God).
Cross References
- Job 12:18: He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
- See also: Exodus 19:5; Jeremiah 50:17-20
Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
He wants Cyrus to know that there is no God other than him and that he was going to arm him and make him ready for war.
Cross References
- Isaiah 46:9: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else...
- Deuteronomy 4:35: Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Isaiah 45:6
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
From the rising to the setting of the sun all over the world there is no God like the God of Abraham.
Cross References
- Malachi 1:11: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles...
Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
God creates light and darkness—prosperity and misfortune—calamity and well-being—good times and bad times.
Cross References
- Jeremiah 31:35: Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day...
- Exodus 10:21: And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt...
- See also: Isaiah 10:5-9
Isaiah 45:8
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
This is a picture of God pouring down his spirit and blessing on our offspring—sending us garments of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness (depression).
Cross References
- Isaiah 44:3: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring...
- Isaiah 61:3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion... the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...
Isaiah 45:9
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
Woe to you who fight against God. Why be a pot that is at odds with the potter—have you ever seen clay talk back to the potter?
Cross References
- Isaiah 10:15: Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?
Isaiah 45:10
Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
Picture the sperm saying to the father, “I never gave you permission to impregnate your wife,” or the fetus saying to the mother, “why am I cooped up like this?”
Cross References
- Deuteronomy 27:16: Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother...
- Malachi 1:6: A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour?
Isaiah 45:11
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
No one tells God what he can or cannot do.
Cross References
- Jeremiah 33:3: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things...
- Daniel 9:2-3: I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications...
- Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship...
Isaiah 45:12
I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
God has not only made man but he has handcrafted the heavens. That’s why he is the only one qualified to carry out this mission against Babylon and return the exiles to their homeland.
Cross References
- Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens...
- Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand...
- Genesis 2:1: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished...
Isaiah 45:13
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
God raised Cyrus up—God is in charge of the operation Cyrus has God holding his hand and has no choice but to let the exiles go. God didn’t hire him—he told him.
Cross References
- Isaiah 48:14-15: I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him...
- Isaiah 44:28: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd...
- Isaiah 52:2-3: For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
Isaiah 45:14
Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
They came over and volunteered their service—they believed that God was in Israel and that his God was the one and only God.
Cross References
- Isaiah 61:5-6: And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks...
- See also: Isaiah 19:24-25
Isaiah 45:15
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
God is a God that works behind the scenes—the entire book of Esther shows the providence of God at work in his people.
Cross References
- Isaiah 8:17: And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isaiah 45:16
They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
The idol makers are ashamed, confounded, humiliated, and are now out of work and unemployed.
Cross References
- Isaiah 42:17: They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images...
- Jeremiah 10:14-15: Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image...
Isaiah 45:17
But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
Israel was promised to be saved from their captivity and they were not ashamed or disappointed in their deliverance.
Cross References
- Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer...
- Joel 2:26-27: And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied... and my people shall never be ashamed.
Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
The constant theme is a reminder of the fact that God is the source of their deliverance. He is the one who built the earth from scratch and didn’t plan on it being empty—(the Holy land was at this time empty).
Cross References
- Jeremiah 10:12: He hath made the earth by his power...
- Psalm 115:16: The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
God does not speak in a secret or dark place like the mediums or spiritualist do.
Cross References
- Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God...
- Isaiah 55:6-7: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found...
Isaiah 45:20
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
These fools walked around carrying an idol and praying to a make-believe god. The pope carries an idol (crucifix) with him when he visits America. Under Pope Stephen III (752 AD) worship of images was forbidden, however in (787 AD) under Pope Stefano III worship of images was restored.
Cross References
- Jeremiah 2:27-28: Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth...
- See also: Exodus 20:4
Isaiah 45:21
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
If idol gods know anything about the future they needed to put their heads together and present the evidence.
Cross References
- Isaiah 41:22-23: Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen...
Isaiah 45:22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Jehovah is the only God there is and the only one who saves.
Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
God does not go back on his word. His word is backed up with absolute fulfillment and will not be revoked.
Cross References
- Romans 14:10-11: For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Isaiah 45:24
Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Surely those who are God haters and Christ deniers will be disgraced by their unbelief.
Cross References
- Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...
- Zechariah 10:12: And I will strengthen them in the LORD...
- Isaiah 60:9: Surely the isles shall wait for me...
Isaiah 45:25
In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Everyone connected with the LORD should be living a robust disciplined spirituous life.
Cross References
- Isaiah 45:17: But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation...
- Jeremiah 9:23-24: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom...