Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 45

Verses 1-8

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 45

GOD’S PURPOSE FULFILLED THROUGH CYRUS, HIS ANOINTED SERVANT

As already introduced, in chapter 44, Isaiah stresses the divine choice of Cyrus as an instrument, in the hands of Jehovah, whereby He governs the universe so as to fulfill His own sovereign will. And there is no reason to doubt that Isaiah recorded this prophecy approximately 150 years before the event.

Cyrus was one of the really great men of ancient times. With unimaginable swiftness he defeated the Medes and, by a series of brilliant campaigns, enlarged his empire to colossal size. In defeating Croesus (546 BC) he extended his kingdom to the Aegean Sea. Then, with one rapid blow, he so decimated the Babylonian army that (in 539 BC) his general was able to take Babylon by surprise, and without a fight. Cyrus ruled the world!

Vs. 1-8: HIS SUCCESS DIVINELY ASSURED

1. Cyrus is the Lord’s anointed one - exalted as king over his people to fulfill the Lord’s own purpose; In his work he is a type, or shadow, of the coming Messiah.

2. The Lord is pictured here as holding his hand - evidently to guide him into prepared paths, (comp. Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 42:6; Psalms 73:23).

a. Subduing nations before him, (Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 41:25; Jeremiah 50:3; Jeremiah 50:35; Jeremiah 51:11; Jeremiah 51:20; Jeremiah 51:24).

b. Weakening the kings, against whom Cyrus will march, (comp. Job 12:21).

c. Opening doors before him, and providentially arranging that "the gates shall not be shut."

3. Jehovah Himself will go before Cyrus, (vs. 2).

a. Smoothing rough places, (comp. 40:4).

b. Breaking in pieces doors of brass,,(Psalms 107:15-16).

c. And cutting their bars of iron in sunder, (Jeremiah 51:30).

4. The Persian king is promised the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, (vs. 3; Jeremiah 50; Jeremiah 37); by the fulfillment of this promise Cyrus will know that the God of Israel is real - the true and living God.

5. For Israel’s sake, Jehovah has named Cyrus long before his birth - even surnaming him, (vs. 4).

a. Designating him as a shepherd to His people, (Isaiah 44:28).

b. Anointing him with kingly authority for the deliverance of Jacob, (vs. 1).

c. And He accomplishes this even though Cyrus has not known Him, (comp. Acts 17:23).

6. To Cyrus the Lord reveals Himself as Jehovah (the covenant God of Israel, vs. 5a), and declares that beside Him there is no other God! Furthermore, He will strengthen Cyrus for the task to which He has called him, (vs. 5b; comp. Psalms 18:39).

7. By what Jehovah accomplishes through this anointed one, ALL MEN (from east to west) will know that Jehovah alone is God! (vs. 6; Psalms 102:15; Malachi 1:11).

a. He forms the light (Isaiah 42:16) and creates darkness, (Psalms 104:20; Psalms 105:20).

b. He makes peace (which Cyrus will bring to Judah), and creates evil - in the sense of making sorrow, wretchedness, calamity, adversity and affliction the inescapable fruits of rebellion, (vs. 7b; Isaiah 31:2; Isaiah 47:11; Amos 3:6-7).

8. When the Prince of Peace reigns, the skies will "pour down righteousness" so that salvation and righteousness will spring up together, (vs. 8; Isaiah 8:6).

Verses 9-13

Vs. 9-13: CYRUS COMMISSIONED TO SET THE EXILES FREE

1. In verse 9 a woe is pronounced upon those who have foolishly criticized the ways of Jehovah in His dealings with Cyrus, (comp. Psalms 2:1-3; Proverbs 21:30; Jeremiah 50:24).

a. "A potsherd, among the potsherds of earth" is certainly in no position to advise its Creator! (comp. Psalms 139:13-16).

b. A potter’s clay might as well attempt to advise the artisan as to his design! (Jeremiah 18:2-6; Romans 9:20-24).

c. Or, a human fetus could as justifiably criticize the wisdom, or painful struggle, of those who gave it being!

2. If one wants to know the future of Israel, let him ask his Maker! He knows their past, present and future!

3. Jehovah is the creator of the heavens, the earth, and of man upon it; what He creates He also rules.

4. In like manner, He has raised up Cyrus, in righteousness, to fulfill His will - and will sustain him all the way! (vs. 13a; Isaiah 41:2).

5. In turn, Cyrus will rebuild Jerusalem and freely set the exiles of Judah at liberty - that they may return to the land of their fathers, (vs. 13b; Isaiah 44:28; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 52:3); the Spirit of the Lord deals mightily with the Persian king.

Verses 14-25

Vs. 14-25: THE NATIONS TO BE SUBDUED THAT THEY MAY BE BLESSED

1. Verse 14 looks forward to the day of Israel’s ultimate restoration - not under Cyrus, but under Messiah, the Servant of Jehovah.

2. Gentile nations will abandon their idolatry - submitting themselves to Israel - and the covenant-nation will be saved, (vs. 14-17).

a. Egypt, Ethiopia and the Sabeans will, voluntarily, surrender themselves and their assets to Israel, (Isaiah 19:21; Psalms 68:31; comp. Isaiah 43:3).

b. They will do this because they recognize that GOD IS IN HER - the only true God!

c. The ways of Jehovah are superior to the natural expectations of the human intellect - marvelous and incomprehensible! (vs. 15).

d. The makers of idols will be shamed and humiliated (Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 44:9; Isaiah 44:11), but Israel will have no cause for shame (Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 54:4) - being blessed with an everlasting salvation, (vs. 16-17; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 51:6; Romans 11:25-27).

3. Both God’s creation and promise are demonstrably good: (vs. 18-19).

a. He fashioned and finished what He undertook in the material creation.

b. So also, His promise to His earthly people is faithful, righteous, and true; it will be fulfilled; (2 Corinthians 1:20; Psalms 19:8; Isaiah 43:12; Joshua 21:45; Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:26)-.

4. Again, great stress is laid on the folly of trusting in idols that have no life, no knowledge and no saving strength, (vs. 20-21) Psalms 115:4-8.

a. No idol can behold, declare, and direct the future of its devotees!

b. But Jehovah has done this, in behalf of Israel, from ancient times! (Isaiah 44:7).

c. Therefore, He alone is GOD! a just God and a Saviour, (Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 43:11; comp. Acts 4:12).

6. But, He is not the Saviour of Israel only; here is a universal invitation for ALL MEN to "Look unto me, and be ye saved!" (vs. 22).

a. The Gentile world is not shut up to perdition after all!

b. They may choose between life and death; submission and destruction. But, the choice is theirs; each one is personally responsible!

d. Thus, they must forever forsake their idols and turn to the Lord with their whole hearts!