The Lord Assisted Cyrus In His Conquests, Before He Had Even Heard Of The Lord

[Mr. M]

Isaiah 45:

Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.

How much more will the Lord do for His servants who put on the full armor of God and engage.

How much preparation is required? How much faith?

Luke 17:

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree,

Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by,

when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me,

till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,

We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Mr. M

[Michael37]

2 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.

For Edifying Discussion:

Isaiah 45:3 is a fascinating verse that speaks of God’s promise to reveal hidden treasures and riches. The verse states:

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.”

This verse is part of a prophecy directed at Cyrus, the Persian king, who was chosen by God to fulfill His divine purpose. Here are some key points to consider when preaching about this verse:

1. Divine Selection: Cyrus, though not a follower of the God of Israel, was chosen by God to carry out His plans. This highlights God’s sovereignty and His ability to use anyone, regardless of their background, to achieve His purposes¹.

2. Hidden Treasures: The “treasures of darkness” and “hidden riches” symbolize the wealth and resources that were concealed and would be revealed to Cyrus. This can be interpreted as God’s provision and blessings that are often hidden from plain sight but are revealed in His perfect timing².

3. God’s Revelation: The purpose of revealing these treasures is to demonstrate that it is the LORD who calls Cyrus by name. This emphasizes the personal relationship God has with His chosen ones and His desire to make Himself known to them³.

4. Application for Believers: For modern readers, this verse can be a reminder that God has hidden blessings and opportunities waiting to be discovered. It encourages believers to seek God diligently, trusting that He has great things in store for them, even if they are not immediately visible².

5. Faith and Trust: This verse challenges believers to have faith in God’s plan and timing. It reassures them that God is in control and that He will provide for their needs in ways they may not expect².

In summary, Isaiah 45:3 is a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty, provision, and the personal relationship He desires with His people. It encourages believers to trust in God’s timing and to seek Him diligently, knowing that He has hidden treasures and blessings waiting to be revealed.

¹: Bible Hub Commentary ²: God’s Blessing Commentary ³: Bible.org

What are your thoughts on this interpretation?

 

 

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, Michael37 said:

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.”

This verse is part of a prophecy directed at Cyrus, the Persian king, who was chosen by God to fulfill His divine purpose. Here are some key points to consider when preaching about this verse:

And what was that purpose?

1 hour ago, Mr. M said:

That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;

And for the sake of Jerusalem, the land of Judah and

the building of a new Temple for His Name!

Isaiah 44:

26 Who confirms the word of His servant,
And performs the counsel of His messengers;
Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’
To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’
And I will raise up her waste places;
27 Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry!
And I will dry up your rivers’;
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”

Remember, the people of Israel spoiled Egypt the night

of the Exodus. They then handed over to Moses everything

He needed to build the Tabernacle of Witness. He even had 

to ask them to stop giving!

The purpose for the Gentile elect is not that different:

Romans 11:

30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now

obtained mercy through their disobedience, 

31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that

through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 

32 For God has committed them all to disobedience,

that He might have mercy on all.

Far too many Christians do not understand their mandate

to be instruments of mercy to Jews, not ostracize and condemn

them for "killing Jesus".

Alas, they do not even know their own disobedience!