Topical Bible: Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Cyrus

◄ Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Cyrus ►

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The term "heathen" in biblical context often refers to nations or individuals outside the covenant community of Israel, typically those who worship false gods or idols. However, the Bible presents instances where God, in His sovereignty, chooses to reveal Himself to heathen rulers for the fulfillment of His divine purposes. One notable example is Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, who is uniquely recognized in Scripture as an instrument of God's will.

Cyrus in Biblical Prophecy

Cyrus is mentioned explicitly in the Book of Isaiah, where God, through the prophet, foretells his rise and the role he would play in the deliverance of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity. Isaiah 45:1 states, "This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut." Here, Cyrus is referred to as God's "anointed," a term typically reserved for Israelite kings and priests, indicating a special divine appointment despite his heathen status.

Divine Commission and Favor

The divine revelations given to Cyrus are further elaborated in Isaiah 44:28 , where God declares, "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will fulfill all My pleasure,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’" This passage highlights God's sovereign choice to use Cyrus as a shepherd for His people, tasked with the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Such a commission underscores the biblical theme that God can use anyone, even those outside the covenant community, to accomplish His divine plans.

Cyrus's Decree and the Return of the Exiles

The fulfillment of these prophecies is recorded in the Book of Ezra. Ezra 1:1-2 recounts, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.'" This decree not only facilitated the return of the Jewish exiles but also demonstrated Cyrus's acknowledgment of the God of Israel, whom he recognized as the source of his authority and success.

Theological Implications

The account of Cyrus serves as a profound example of God's providence and the mysterious ways in which He orchestrates history. It challenges the notion that divine revelation and favor are limited to the covenant people alone. Instead, it illustrates that God's purposes transcend human boundaries and that He can reveal Himself to and through anyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. This narrative also emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy, showcasing the reliability of God's word and His faithfulness to His promises.

Cyrus's Legacy

Cyrus's legacy, as depicted in the Bible, is one of a heathen king who, through divine revelation, became a pivotal figure in the history of Israel. His actions not only fulfilled specific prophecies but also set a precedent for the interaction between God and the nations. The biblical portrayal of Cyrus invites reflection on the broader scope of God's redemptive plan, which ultimately includes all nations and peoples.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 36:23
Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has the LORD God of heaven given me; and he has charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
Nave's Topical Index

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,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

In the Lions' Den
... the "favor and tender love" of the heathen officer in ... as His ambassador, and was
given many revelations of the ... all that God had revealed of the divine purpose. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 44 in the lions.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... of what will come to pass, as they are revelations to us ... read in 2 Peter 1:3, "According
as His Divine power hath ... of this is seen in Cyrus, the heathen king of ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... In the divine reckoning, "one day is with the Lord as ... over the gods and powers of
the heathen world ... preparation had been made for the revelations vouchsafed to ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.
... from them even under the name of "divine scripture." But ... the Jews as a pattern for
the heathen rulers of ... Many of these revelations are made through the medium ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/appendix the apocryphal books of.htm

The Book of Enoch
... to be the mouthpiece of revelations designed for ... High was peculiarly fitted to reveal
Divine mysteries ... interpreters, are foreign and heathen rulers, represented ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

General Principles of Interpretation. 1 Since the Bible Addresses ...
... employed by the Holy Spirit in his revelations to men ... with the general history of
the ancient heathen world ... of paying tribute to Caesar, and the divine wisdom of ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxiv general principles of.htm

Index of Subjects.
... riotous, [55]217; profane, [56]248; given to theatricals ... and trials of, [97]221;
above heathen heroes, [98 ... of, described, [678]6; speaks in divine service, [679]7 ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/index of subjects.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... reasoning forbid us to confine revelations like those ... 8] Gott in der Geschichte
(ie the Divine Government in ... doctrine, as opposed to the heathen immortality of ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... and convert such misguided men, before the divine wrath shall ... of the letter is this:
A grant given by the ... of nature: no more did the kindness of Cyrus or Darius ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... When the leaven of Divine truth shall have spread over ... to expound the mysteries of
the Revelations-forgetting that ... ye were a curse among the heathen, O house ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm