What does "anointed" signify about Cyrus's role in God's plan? Isaiah 45:1—The Key Verse “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and disarm kings, to open doors before him so gates will not be shut.” “Anointed”: A Loaded Hebrew Word • Hebrew mashiach—literally “one smeared with oil,” marking divine commissioning • Used elsewhere for priests (Exodus 29:7), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Samuel 16:13) • Declares that God Himself sets apart, empowers, and authorizes the individual for a specific mission Cyrus’s God-Given Mandate • Political victory: “subdue nations” and “disarm kings” (Isaiah 45:1-2) • Opening doors: God removes obstacles so Cyrus can act swiftly • Liberation of Israel: Jeremiah 29:10; fulfilled in Cyrus’s decree (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4) • Funding temple reconstruction: Isaiah 44:28 foretold, Ezra 6:3-5 records fulfillment Divine Sovereignty on Display • A pagan monarch becomes God’s instrument—proof that the LORD “calls from the east” whomever He wills (Isaiah 41:2-4) • Prophecy written more than a century before Cyrus’s birth underscores Scripture’s accuracy and God’s foreknowledge Foreshadowing the Ultimate Anointed One • Cyrus prefigures Jesus, the true Messiah (Luke 4:18), who brings a greater liberation—from sin and death • Both are called, equipped, and sent by God to open doors no one can shut (Revelation 3:7) Key Takeaways • “Anointed” signals that Cyrus serves under divine authority, not mere political ambition • His success validates God’s promises to preserve and restore His people • The title reinforces confidence that every promise regarding the final Anointed One, Christ, will likewise come to pass |
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