Of Pawns and Kings

“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:28)

The writing was on the wall. And Belshazzar saw it. His knees buckled. His heart waxed. He called for an interpretation. Daniel gave it. "You've been weighed in the scales, O king, and found wanting. You are being removed." (Daniel 5:25-28) Belshazzar would appoint Daniel to a position of rulership after it. (Did he think he would be spared by doing so?) That very night the king was assassinated as Cyrus the Persian and his forces were arriving and conquering the Babylonians with hardly a fight. (Daniel 5:30)

And it isn't recorded in the Bible, but it was at this point in the story (it's believed) that Cyrus entered and approached Daniel (in his new leadership position). And Daniel would hand Cyrus a scroll opened to the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah prophesied at least a century prior to this time.)

And Cyrus would read the scroll.

And Cyrus would find his own name written in it?!

And the verses surrounding Isaiah 44:28 are all about Cyrus and his taking of Babylon including even down to the specific detail of how the moat would be drained to allow for his armies to enter the city. (Isaiah 44:27)

And Cyrus must have stood there in disbelief reading this! (Wow.)

And as Isaiah chapter 45 continues on to tell how Cyrus was chosen by God to do this good work and to allow the Jews to be freed and to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

And Cyrus would go on to do just that as was prophesied of him! (Wow again.)

If God can cause things to work out in the putting down and raising up of nations and in the release to return to their homeland of the Jews when it seemed impossible for it to happen, then He is quite capable of accomplishing that which concerns you and me as well. (Philippians 1:6)

Who needed to hear it?

“And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:16bcd)

You might also be interested in:

• Great is Thy Faithfulness
• Has God Forgotten Us (Me)?