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Week 37, Day 4 — Isaiah 44-45

Jeremy Paschall
09/08/24 - Podcast

And now, a minute with the Word…

Cyrus is identified as the Lord’s “shepherd” (Isaiah 44.28) and “anointed” (45.1), through whom Judah would be released from her captivity, and by whose word Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt. At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy (ca. 700 BC), Assyria was still the dominate empire, and Babylon had yet to rival its power. The Persians (over whom Cyrus would reign, 550-530 BC) would not subsequently conquer Babylon until 539 BC, and Judah’s return from captivity would not begin until 536 BC. In other words, the Lord called Cyrus by name more than 150 years before he (or even his nation) were in a position to free the Jews! “Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any” (Isaiah 44.8).