Topical Encyclopedia IntroductionThe calling of Cyrus, the Persian king, is a significant event in biblical history, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to use even foreign rulers to accomplish His divine purposes. This event is primarily documented in the books of Isaiah, Ezra, and 2 Chronicles, where Cyrus is depicted as an instrument of God's will, chosen to facilitate the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple. Biblical Context The historical backdrop of Cyrus's calling is the Babylonian exile, a period of profound distress for the Israelites. Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar, the Jewish people were taken captive to Babylon. This exile was a fulfillment of prophetic warnings due to Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. Prophetic Declaration The prophet Isaiah, writing over a century before Cyrus's rise to power, explicitly names him as the deliverer of God's people. Isaiah 44:28 states, "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will accomplish all that I please’; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’” This prophecy underscores God's foreknowledge and His control over historical events, using Cyrus as a "shepherd" to guide His people back to their homeland. Isaiah 45:1-4 further elaborates on Cyrus's role: "This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him so that the gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. For the sake of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one, I call you by name; I have given you a title of honor, though you have not known Me.'" Historical Fulfillment The historical fulfillment of these prophecies is recorded in the book of Ezra. In Ezra 1:1-2, it is written, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.'" Cyrus's decree not only allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem but also provided the resources necessary for the reconstruction of the Temple. This act of liberation and support for the Jewish people was unprecedented, highlighting the divine orchestration behind Cyrus's actions. Theological Significance The calling of Cyrus serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to use any individual, regardless of their knowledge of Him, to fulfill His purposes. It illustrates the theme of divine providence, where God orchestrates the affairs of nations and leaders to bring about His redemptive plan for His people. Furthermore, Cyrus's role as a "messiah" or "anointed one" in Isaiah 45:1, though not in the ultimate sense of the term as applied to Jesus Christ, prefigures the deliverance and restoration that God would ultimately accomplish through His Son. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. Conclusion The account of God calling Cyrus is a profound example of how God can use unexpected means and individuals to achieve His divine purposes. It reassures believers of God's control over history and His ability to bring about His will, even through those who do not know Him. Subtopics God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures: Saul God in the Banishment of John to Patmos God in Turning the Heart of the King of Assyria to Favor the Jews God is Declared to Be: A Consuming Fire God is Declared to Be: Compassionate God is Declared to Be: Eternal God is Declared to Be: Faithful God is Declared to Be: Glorious God is Declared to Be: Gracious God is Declared to Be: Immortal God is Declared to Be: Immutable God is Declared to Be: Incorruptible God is Declared to Be: Invisible God is Declared to Be: Jealous God is Declared to Be: Long-Suffering God is Declared to Be: Merciful God is Declared to Be: Most High God is Declared to Be: Omnipotent God is Declared to Be: Omnipresent God is Declared to Be: Omniscient God is Declared to Be: Only-Wise God is Declared to Be: Perfect God is Declared to Be: Righteous God is Declared to Be: Unsearchable God is Declared to Be: Upright God Loving all of his Children God: Appearances of To Abraham God: Appearances of To Ezekiel God: Appearances of To Jacob, at Beth-El God: Appearances of To Moses and Joshua God: Appearances of To Moses, at Sinai God: Appearances of To Moses, in the Flaming Bush God: Appearances of To Solomon God: Delaying and Destroying Pharaoh God: Delivering the Israelites God: Feeding Elijah and the Widow God: Fighting the Battles of Israel God: Preserver in Delivering from the Oppressions of the King of Syria God: Preserver in Exempting the Land of Goshen from the Plague of Darkness God: Preserver in Exempting the Land of Goshen from the Plague of Flies God: Preserver in Giving Peace With Other Nations God: Preserver in Preserving Their Cattle from the Plague of Murrain, God: Preserver in Saving the Firstborn, when the Plague of Death Destroyed the Firstborn of Egypt, God: Preserver in the Wilderness God: Preserver: As he Journeyed in the Land of Canaan God: Preserver: Daniel and the Three Hebrew Captives God: Preserver: Deliverance from Egypt, God: Preserver: Delivering Israel by Jeroboam Ii God: Preserver: Delivering the Kingdom of Israel from Syria God: Preserver: Delivering Them from the Army of the Assyrians God: Preserver: Jeremah and Baruch God: Preserver: Jesus and his Parents God: Preserver: On Account of Samuel's Intercession God: Preserver: Paul and Silas God: Preserver: The Ethiopian Host God: Preserver: The Wise Men of the East God: Preserver: To Abraham and Sarah, in Egypt God: Preserver: To Hagar, when Abraham Cast Her Out God: Preserver: To Jacob, when he Fled from Laban, his Father-In-Law God: Preserver: To Joseph, in Egypt God: Preserver: To Lot, when Sodom Was Destroyed God: Preserver: To Moses, in his Infancy God: Preserver: To Noah and his Family, at the Time of the Flood God: Preserver: To the Israelites, in Bringing About Their Deliverance from Bondage God: Preserver: To the Kingdom of Judah: in Delivering from Egypt God: Preserver: Under Jephthah God: Preserver: Victories Over the Canaanites Under Joshua God: Preserver: when he Met Esau God: Protecting Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech God: Protection of Homes While at Feasts God: Providence of, Mysterious and Misinterpreted God: Providence of, Overruling Interpositions of The God: Purifying the Waters of Marah God: Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem God: Restoring Manasseh After his Conversion God: should be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth God: Special Grace: To Abraham God: Special Grace: To Solomon God: Supplying Manna and Quail God: Supplying Water at Meribah God: Symbolized by the Darkness of the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle God: Symbolized by the General Structure of the Most Holy Place, See God: Symbolized by the Pillar of Fire God: The Revolt of the Ten Tribes God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To God: Warning Pharaoh About the Famine God: Warning the Wise Men from the East Sarcasm: God Reproaching Israel Related Terms |