Daily Devotional For Saturday, July 27, 2024

Well, it’s Saturday, maybe in the park, if it isn't raining . . . Get it? Hopefully you can rest and relax. It doesn’t seem like any of us will get any yard work done due to all the rain we are getting. Time to build an ark I think. So, I thought for today Isaiah 45:8 is appropriate for us to use for reflection. It says, “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it” (NIV). 

The context of this verse starts in verse 1 with God addressing a man named Cyrus, who God calls “His anointed one.” Who is this Cyrus? Cyrus is a king mentioned more than 30 times in the Bible and is identified as Cyrus the Great (also Cyrus II or Cyrus the Elder) who reigned over Persia between 539—530 BC. This pagan king is important in Jewish history because it was under his rule that Jews were first allowed to return to Israel after 70 years of captivity starting in 537 BC. 

Now why is this important and amazing? Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. In one of the most amazing prophecies of the Bible, the Lord revealed Cyrus’s decree to free the Jews to Isaiah. One hundred fifty (150) years before Cyrus lived, the prophet calls him by name and gives details of Cyrus’ benevolence to the Jews: “This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him . . . ‘I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me’” (Isaiah 45:1, 4; see also 41:2-25; 42:6 below). Evincing His sovereignty over all nations, God says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please” (Isaiah 44:28). 

Cyrus’s decree releasing the Jewish people, in fulfillment of prophecy, is recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22–23: 

“In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy He had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: (23) “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build Him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are His people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”” (NLT).

Other Old Testament books that mention Cyrus include Ezra and Daniel. King Cyrus actively assisted the Jews in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. Cyrus restored the temple treasures to Jerusalem and allowed building expenses to be paid from the royal treasury (see Ezra 1:4–11; Ezra 6:4–5). Cyrus’s beneficence helped to restart the temple worship practices that had languished during the 70 years of the Jews’ captivity. Some commentators point to Cyrus’s decree to rebuild Jerusalem as the official beginning of Judaism.

Among the Jews deported from Judah and later placed under the rule of Cyrus include the prophet Daniel. In fact, we are told Daniel served until at least the third year of King Cyrus, approximately 536 BC . We know this from Daniel 10:1, “In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship” (NLT). That being the case, Daniel likely had some personal involvement in the decree that was made in support of the Jews. 

The historian Josephus (lived between 37-100 AD)  says that Cyrus was informed of the biblical prophecies written about him (Source: Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, XI.1.2). The natural person to have shown Cyrus the scrolls was Daniel, a high-ranking official in Persia (Daniel 6:28).  

Besides his dealings with the Jews, Cyrus is known for his advancement of human rights, his brilliant military strategy, and his bridging of Eastern and Western cultures. He was a king of tremendous influence and a person God used to help fulfill an important Old Testament prophecy. God’s use of Cyrus as a “shepherd” for His people illustrates the truth of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever He pleases” (NLT).

It is amazing that in Isaiah 45:8, there is a final call for there to be a response to this news of God using Cyrus so that God will bring his salvation to all the earth. God is going to shower down righteousness on the earth and specifically to His people. This is more than God’s people being protected from their enemies. Notice God wants the heavens to shower down righteousness like rain. The intent is for God’s people to encourage them and get them to trust Him. 

Israel and Judah both have been in spiritual darkness since 722 BC. They have been conquered by Assyria, then Babylon and then Persia. They have seen thousands forced into slavery in Babylon, many of them dying on the way. Their temple was destroyed and all worship and acts of worship ceased. Psalm 137 portrays their sorrow over their destruction to their own sin and rebellion. Look at verses 1-4:

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. (2) There on the poplars we hung our harps, (3) for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” (4) How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (NLT).

Do you see it? Can you hear it? Do you feel it? While the destroyed nation scattered like seeds over 1,000 miles of desert in exile, their captors teased and tormented them to play those joyful Jewish songs. They preferred to hang their harps on trees instead. So, 150 years before God freed them, He gave a prophecy and even gave the name of their deliverer — Cyrus. Only God could do this. Yes, God caused their defeat BUT only because they rebelled and refused to heed God’s warning through His prophets over hundreds of years. Once broken, like the Prodigal Son, they came to their senses (Luke 15:17).

Questions To Consider

1. 150 years before God freed His people, He named who He would send as their deliverer — Cyrus. What does this tell you about prophecy, and all of God’s truth to you?
2. Cyrus was Persian. He is a pagan, but having been told by the prophet Daniel of what God had said 150 years prior, He fulfilled the prophecy. He didn’t have to do this. So, why do you think he did and what does this tell you about God using the most unlikely person to help, assist and lighten your own load?
3. Cyrus even used royal treasury money to rebuild the Temple and replace its equipment, instruments and valuables. What does this tell you?
4. God called Cyrus “the anointed one,” and “My shepherd.” We typically do not think of pagans in that light. We tend to see them as pagans, sinners, wretched and on the way to hell. Do not misunderstand, this did not mean Cyrus converted, but only coalesced to God’s will, purpose and prophecy. Think of someone you know who is a “pagan.” What do you think God could do through them for you and why?
5. God rained down righteousness and salvation to His people under Cyrus. Take some time to thank God for all the blessings He has “rained down” on you.

Scripture To Meditate On: Titus 3:3-7, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (4) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, (5) He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (NLT). 

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, thank You for caring and loving Your people, especially when we sin, rebel against You. Thank You that You do not give us what we deserve; instead, You give us what we need — salvation. Thank You how Your word given in Isaiah with Cyrus’ name came to pass 150 years later. Thank You for keeping Your word then and Your word now–thousands of years later. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly