CYRUS, king of Persia A Servant of God

Daniel chapters 2 & 7 give us a glimpse of the four world kingdoms, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome. in chapter two the kingdoms were shown as part of a human statue and in chapter seven animals which were symbolic of the character of the kingdom were used.

Babylon (606B.C) was depicted as the head of gold and also as a lion with eagle's wings. Media Persia (538B.C) was depicted as breast and arms of silver and as a bear raised on its side with three ribs in its mouth. The three ribs were said to represent three major conquests namely:Lydia, Babylonia and Egypt. Greece (331B.C) was depicted as belly and thigh of brass and as a leopard with four heads and four wings like that of a fowl. Rome (168B.C) was depicted as leg of iron and feet which were part iron and part clay and as an an animal which was so destructive and terrible it could not be described or named.

Under Nebuchadnezzar the second rulership, Babylon began subjugating Judah in 606B.C. and afterward became the world ruler. Years later the Medes and Persians united under Cyrus the Great defeated Babylon during the reign of Belshazzar in the year 538B.C. After this victory the Persians became great and mightier than the Medes and Cyrus the Great got absolute control and was king in the new Persian kingdom. He was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.

God made profound statements about the selection of Cyrus as His servant.

Isaiah 44 verse 28- That saith of Cyrus, he is my shepherd and shall perform all My pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built and to the Temple, thy foundation shall be laid.

Isaiah 45 verse 4 - For Jacob’s My servant’s sake and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.

Throughout earth’s history, God has prophets who do His will although not all prophets are recorded in the Scriptures. There is a test for every prophet which is the fulfilment of predictions. Apart from God’s messengers there has not been one individual who had made clear and concise predictions years in advance and such have been fulfilled precisely.

This prediction about Cyrus was made exceeding one hundred and fifty years before its fulfilment. Only God could do this because only He knows our heart and and our future choices.

 What promise was made to Cyrus before his birth? Isaiah 45:1- Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will lose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.

Daniel 7:5 tells us that the Media-Persia Empire was likened to a bear which was raised on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. This animal was told to arise and devour much flesh. Flesh in this context is referring to the places which it will subdue for example Lydia, Babylonia and Egypt. The three ribs are symbolic of the three-fold state of the kingdom. The dominions were Babylonia, Media and Persia. At the conquest of Babylonia the Medes were the dominant force. The Persians were second to them, however years later God allowed the Persians to supersede the Medes.

 What would God do to ensure that the Babylonian kingdom would topple? Isaiah 45:2-3 - I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

³ And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

The gate was known as the Ishtar Gate; because it was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Ishtar was a goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. The gate was constructed by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar the second. (There was a king named Nebuchadnezzar 1who had reigned centuries before Nebuchadnezzar 11) the gate of Ishtar was the main entrance into the city. The magnificence of the Ishtar Gate was so well known that it made the initial list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The gate was originally a double gate, had a door and roof made of cedar and bronze.

Why was Cyrus specially selected by God? Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Apart from them knowing that He was God, why would God emphasise to Cyrus, Israel and others that He alone is God?

Isaiah 45:5-6- I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:

⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

There are two components ruling this world – evil and good. In Isaiah 45 verse 7 God made an astounding statement - I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

What is evil in this context? Is God saying that He created  murder, rape, incest, lying, sexual immoralities, stealing, ungratefulness, wrath, strife and all other atrocities and chaos happening globally? No!!!!

 The word evil as used in this verse is a translation of the Hebrew word ra which means calamity, adversity, displeasure, distress, hurt, harm, sorrow, trouble, grief, sad, wrong, wretchedness, affliction and bad. (The Strong Concordance) God did not make sin but He gave us the choice to do right or wrong. When we do wrong, we have committed sin. The consequences of our sin are afflictions, adversity, distress and all other emotional turmoil which are just recompenses for our sins.

What else did God create? Isaiah 45:8 -8 -Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.

Yes, God has made salvation available to us. It is the opportunity to obtained justification and redemption from our sins and the consequences.

During Cyrus’ reign he allowed the Jews to maintain their customs and religion. He also permitted them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.

Ezra 1:1-4- Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

² Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

³ Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

⁴ And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

Cyrus the Great not only made a decree for the restoration of the Temple; he gave what was needed for the restoration. Ezra 1:7-11- Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem and had put them in the house of his gods.

Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 

Cyrus the Great was a Gentile but he was a faithful servant of God, through him God’s plans for His people were fulfilled.

Writer - A. E. Fisher

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