I wonder if there is more to this section than meets the eye or if it is just saying, "Part of my proof to you Cyrus that I am the God of all the gods is that I will give you secret and hidden treasures." Just a very practical, down-to-earth acknowledgment that as part of his plunder when he conquers other lands, God will reveal to him where the people tried to hide their treasures and his kingdom will be richer and stronger because of it. It is such a powerful section of scripture, given to the prophet Isaiah before Cyrus was even born. Cyrus a foreign king, given the designation "anointed" Messiah! Wow.
Isaiah 45 Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed,
Whom I have taken by the right hand,To subdue nations before him
And [a]to loose the loins of kings;
To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 “I will go before you and make the [b]rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
3 “I will give you the [c]treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places,
So that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
4 “For the sake of Jacob My servant,
And Israel My chosen one,
I have also called you by your name;
I have given you a title of honor
Though you have not known Me.
5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God.
I will [d]gird you, though you have not known Me;
6 That [e]men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
7 The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing [f]well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 45:1 Lit I will loose
- Isaiah 45:2 Another reading is mountains
- Isaiah 45:3 Or hoarded treasures
- Isaiah 45:5 Or arm
- Isaiah 45:6 Lit they
- Isaiah 45:7 Or peace
Let's talk about it, this is a conversation starter!
No comments:
Post a Comment