The Lord Alone Rules History

45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed: 45:2 “I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through. 45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me. 45:5 I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me. 45:6 I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer. 45:7 I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things. 45:8 O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow, and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it. The Lord Gives a Warning 45:9 One who argues with his creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the potter, “What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!” 45:10 Danger awaits one who says to his father, “What in the world are you fathering?” and to his mother, “What in the world are you bringing forth?” 45:11 This is what the Lord says, the Holy One of Israel, the one who formed him, concerning things to come: “How dare you question me about my children! How dare you tell me what to do with the work of my own hands! 45:12 I made the earth, I created the people who live on it. It was me – my hands stretched out the sky, I give orders to all the heavenly lights. 45:13 It is me – I stir him up and commission him; I will make all his ways level. He will rebuild my city; he will send my exiled people home, but not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord who commands armies. The Lord is the Nations’ Only Hope 45:14 This is what the Lord says: “The profit of Egypt and the revenue of Ethiopia, along with the Sabeans, those tall men, will be brought to you and become yours. They will walk behind you, coming along in chains. They will bow down to you and pray to you: ‘Truly God is with you; he has no peer; there is no other God!’” 45:15 Yes, you are a God who keeps hidden, O God of Israel, deliverer! 45:16 They will all be ashamed and embarrassed; those who fashion idols will all be humiliated. 45:17 Israel will be delivered once and for all by the Lord; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated. 45:18 For this is what the Lord says, the one who created the sky – he is the true God, the one who formed the earth and made it; he established it, he did not create it without order, he formed it to be inhabited – “I am the Lord, I have no peer. 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements. 45:20 Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver. 45:21 Tell me! Present the evidence! Let them consult with one another! Who predicted this in the past? Who announced it beforehand? Was it not I, the Lord? I have no peer, there is no God but me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but me. 45:22 Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer. 45:23 I solemnly make this oath – what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; 45:24 they will say about me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer.”’” All who are angry at him will cower before him. 45:25 All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the Lord and will boast in him.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

God chose Cyrus to free his people and to show that he alone is God. He warns against questioning him, rejects idols, and calls all people to turn to him for salvation.

The Lord speaks to Cyrus as the ruler he has chosen for a special task. God will go before him, remove obstacles, and give him victory. Cyrus does not know the Lord, but the Lord still uses him for the sake of Israel. This shows that God rules over kings and nations.

The passage also teaches that the Lord alone is God. He made the world, controls history, and does not share his glory with idols. He is not guessing or speaking in secret. What he says is true, and what he promises will happen.

The warning in the middle is serious. It is dangerous for a person to quarrel with the Creator, as if clay could argue with the potter. Humans do not have the right to put God on trial. He is the one who made all things and has the right to direct them.

The Lord says he will send his people home and rebuild his city. He did this not because he was forced or bribed, but because he is faithful to his own purpose. He also says the nations will one day see that there is no other God. Idols will bring shame, but those who trust the Lord will be vindicated.

The passage ends with a wide invitation. All people are called to turn to the Lord and be saved. In the end, every knee will bow to him. Israel will be shown right, and they will boast in the Lord alone.

• God rules over kings, nations, and history.
• The Lord used Cyrus without Cyrus knowing him.
• The Lord alone is God; idols cannot save.
• It is dangerous to question the Creator.
• God speaks openly and truthfully, and his word will stand.
• The Lord will save and vindicate his people.
• All people are called to turn to the Lord for salvation.

• Warning: Do not quarrel with the Creator.
• Warning: Idols will bring shame and cannot deliver.
• Promise: God will send his people home and rebuild his city.
• Promise: Israel will be vindicated by the Lord.
• Command: Turn to the Lord so you can be saved.
• Command: Bow before the Lord, because he alone is God.

In exile, God was still faithful to his covenant people. He used Cyrus to open the way for Israel’s return, showing that his promises had not failed. His plan also pointed beyond Israel, because he calls the nations to recognize his rule and come to him for salvation.

Do not judge God by what you can see in the moment. Trust that he is at work even through rulers and events you do not understand. Turn away from idols and from any false hope. Submit to the Lord, believe his word, and rest in his promise to save.

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