“This is what Yahweh says to his anointed one, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped as my servant to conquer nations and dethrone their kings. For I will open doors before him and no fortified gate will remain closed.

2 ‘I will march out in front of you and level every obstacle. I will shatter to pieces bronze doors and slice through iron bars. 3 I will give you hidden treasures from dark, concealed places and wealth waiting in secret sites so that you recognize me, for it is I, Yahweh, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name!  Isaiah 45:1-3

Cyrus is a pagan king who is mentioned twenty-two times in the Bible. He is the king who we saw yesterday overthrew Babylon and released the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem. 

Imagine you’re Cyrus and you’ve conquered this great city-state and you’re riding triumphantly into the city.  Suddenly an older Jewish man comes up to you and says, oh, you’re Cyrus, we’ve been waiting 70 years for you. We actually knew you were coming 150 years ago. Look right here in our ancient prophetic scroll of Isaiah.

If you are Cyrus you might also be interested in the rest of this story and be humble enough to realize there is a sovereign God and you are part of providence.

This passage has beautiful connections to a later king who would also be called Christ or “anointed one” as Cyrus is described in the first verse.

The Passion Translation footnote of verse 1 says, “Both Cyrus (44:28) and Jesus (Heb. 13:20) are called shepherds who will perform all God’s pleasure (John 8:29). God takes the right hand of both Cyrus and Christ (Heb. 10:12–13) and subdues nations before them (Ps. 2; Phil. 3:21). Both Cyrus and Christ have open doors before them (Rev. 3:7–8) and are given the treasures of darkness (Matt. 27:45), the hidden riches of secret places (Mark 1:35; Col. 2:3; Rev. 2:17)”.

Take time to read and study this living Word of God and let its truth shape your life.  If God has a destiny marked out for a pagan king you can be assured He has one for you as well.