Connect Isaiah 44:28 with other scriptures showing God's control over rulers and nations. The Lord Calls Cyrus by Name “who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd, he will fulfill all My purpose’; and say of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’ ” (Isaiah 44:28) God names a Persian king about 150 years before his birth and assigns him specific tasks—proof that the Lord writes history in advance. Scriptures That Highlight the Same Sovereign Hand “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” “He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them.” “…so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whom He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.” “He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations and disperses them.” “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.” “Now I have placed all these lands into the hand of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” “From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.” “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God.” Cyrus: Prophecy Meets History - Isaiah 45:1, 13 echoes 44:28, calling Cyrus “His anointed” and declaring, “I will raise him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight; he will rebuild My city and set My exiles free.” - Ezra 1:1-3 records the literal fulfillment: “The LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation,” authorizing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple exactly as foretold. Takeaways for Today - Scripture is precise; even pagan rulers serve God’s purposes, whether they recognize Him or not. - National events—elections, wars, policy shifts—unfold under the same sovereign hand that steered Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, and every other leader. - Because the Lord directs kings, believers can rest, pray, and engage their world with confidence rather than fear. |
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