Isaiah 45

Isaiah does not say that only Cyrus is the Anointed of chapter 45. The chosen one is the remnant (v. 4b) “[spiritual] Israel My chosen”. Despite the remarkable detail with which Cyrus is predicted here 142 or more years before the event, the chapter is about the remnant of God and God. Cyrus is only the shepherd and anointed (v. 1a), taken by the right hand (v. 1b), called by his name (v. 3d), aroused (v. 13a), his ways made smooth (v. 13b), “for the sake of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen” (v. 4a-b). The purpose of Cyrus calling is threefold: that everyone knows God calls (v. 3c); that the care of the remnant is the main focus (v. 4a-b) and thirdly that God is incomparable (v. 6). The image of God is most important in this chapter and ten times is repeated the phrase: I am the Lord or elaborated I am the Lord and there is no other (vv. 3c; 5a; 6c; 7c; 8e; 12a; 14h-i; 18e; 21e-f; 22b). It is the hangers of the structure of the chapter. Not only is Isaiah description of God’s future prediction remarkable that he named the right Persian king in future but the events surrounded that king is described in detail supported by cuneiform evidence. Cyrus was “taken by the right hand” (v. 1b) and the Cyrus Cylinder “whom he [the god] took by his hand”; again Isaiah “to subdue nations before him” (v. 1c) and the Cyrus Cylinder “he delivered into his hand in a calamity princes and governors”; again Isaiah “to loose the loins of kings” and the Nabonidus Chronicle BM 38299 tells how Nabonidus became devil possessed and set up an abomination by building “the work of a no-sanctuary” and other impious deeds against consensus religion in Babylon of his day. This led to his estrangement from the priesthood of Babylon and they left the gates open for Cyrus and his troops to enter, says Isaiah “to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut” (v. 1e). In fact, Isaiah is clear that God predicted that He will do this to Cyrus and that God will “make the rough places smooth” for him and the Cyrus Cylinder says that he made a “peaceful entrance” in Babylon. How is it possible that 142 years before Cyrus this could be predicted by the God of Isaiah? The reason is that God wanted to reveal Himself as One that cannot be compared. Then Isaiah revealed that all this is for the sake of the remnant of God (v. 4) because they were also “called by their name” (v. 4c) and given a title of honor (v. 4d) before they have known God (v. 4e). Here we have the gospel of Paul that God saved us while we were still sinners. This awesomeness means that God cannot be compared. The remnant will be girded (v. 5c) even though they did not know God so that people may know God cannot be compared (v. 6c). God forms light and darkness, well-being and calamities so that people cannot compare Him (v. 7). The Latter Rain will drip down from heaven righteousness and the earth will open up and “salvation bear fruit” as people stream to accept the Lord (v. 8). It is not human instrumentality but God’s action of salvation. The weeds in the remnant that quarrels with God will have a problem “woe to who quarrels with his Maker” (v. 9a). It is also a problem for a child to curse his/her birth to his/her parent (v. 10). The Lord wants us to ask him about the eschaton and future events (v. 11b) and concerning the remnant “My sons”. Creation was God’s work and the stars His ordination. Cyrus was aroused by God “in righteousness” (v. 13a) compared to the Cyrus Cylinder saying about Cyrus “he [the god] sought a righteous kind after his own heart”. It is at this point that we need to stop the bus for a second and remind ourselves that when Persian scribes composed the Nabonidus Chronicle about his madness and deviations and the Cyrus Cylinder about his excellent smooth entry in the takeover of Babylon, that Hebrews were in exile already longer than 185 years. Niniveh was the New York of Babylon at that time. The printing presses were run by Nabu-Levi and Nabu-Cohen, if we may be trivial. Point is, Isaiah’s books were known by the copy scribes who phrased their praises of Cyrus realistically in alignment with Isaianic sayings, maybe? Cyrus would let the remnant go free, says Isaiah (v. 13c). He did as Ezra 6:3 indicated. The “Lord of Hosts” spoke these words to Isaiah and 142 years later we find the expression “Lord of Lords” in the Nabonidus Chronicle which was composed in Cyrus’ time. We marvel at our God’s ability to predict future in such accuracy. He promised to Cyrus that Egyptian and other nations like Cush and Sabeans will “come over to you and will be yours” (v. 14d) and the Persepolis Treasury Texts and Persepolis Fortification Texts revealed that the following languages can be seen on these texts: Old Persian, Babylonian, Akkadian, Elamite, Egyptian (Demotic); Lydian, Lycian, Phrygian, Phoenician, Greek, Hebrew and Eastern Iranian languages, according to a specialist. These are nations that interacted with them as God predicted through Isaiah. No-one is like God (v. 14h). Idolatry is not accepted by God and those who do will be in shame in the eschaton (vv. 15-16) but the remnant or [spiritual] Israel will be saved with an “everlasting salvation” (v. 17b) “to eternity” (v. 17d). This salvation is a post-Hell event since that is when Eternity starts and History is shaken off. Isaiah says that God created this earth to be inhabited and not to lay waste [like Mars and the Moon was also created but to lay waste] (v. 18). God does not speak in secret (v. 19) but asks His remnant to come to a courtcase (v. 20) since the weed in the remnant runs after idols. God wishes them to convert (v. 22) “turn to Me”. It is a global salvation offered not just ethnic Israel “be saved all the ends of the earth” (v. 22a). The Trinity has sworn unto themselves “In Me I have sworn” (v. 23a) that “every knee will bow and every tongue will swear” that only in the Lord is righteousness and strength (v. 23d-24a). The evil will however be “put to shame” at the Second Coming and later at the Hell event with total extermination (v. 24c). In the Lord all of the remnant of [spiritual] Israel will be justified and will glory (v. 25a-b). They will receive glorious bodies at resurrection.

Dear God

Grant that we will marvel at our Great God that cannot be compared. That we will not be put to shame but enjoy the glory and protection of God promised in this chapter knowing that He guides and plan political history regardless of man’s endeavors. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia