Isaiah 45
45
God’s Shepherd, Cyrus
1“This is what Yahweh says to his anointed one, # 45:1 Or “Messiah [Anointed One].” The Septuagint reads “To Cyrus, my Christ.” Cyrus became an amazing picture of Jesus, the Anointed One (see Acts 10:38). Both Cyrus and Jesus are called shepherds (see Isa. 44:28; Heb. 13:20) who will perform all God’s pleasure (see John 8:29). God took the right hands of both Cyrus and Christ (see Heb. 10:12–13) and subdued nations before them (see Ps. 2; Phil. 3:21). Both Cyrus and Christ had open doors before them (see Rev. 3:7–8) and were given the treasures of darkness (see Matt. 27:45) and the hidden riches of secret places (see Mark 1:35; Col. 2:3; Rev. 2:17).
Cyrus, # 45:1 Cyrus, the Persian king, is mentioned twenty-two times in the Bible. His name means “the rays of the sun.” God calls him his “shepherd” (Isa. 44:28) and his “anointed one” (Isa. 45:1). On October 12, 539 BC, he conquered Babylon and its king, Nabonidus, and his son Belshazzar (see Dan. 5:25–31). It is possible that Daniel, after the fall of Babylon, showed Cyrus the prophecies of Jer. 25:11–12 and 29:10. whose right hand I have grasped as my servant # 45:1 That is, God is about to take Cyrus as a partner to accomplish heaven’s purpose.
to conquer nations and dethrone their kings. # 45:1 Or “The belts of their kings I will loosen,” a Hebrew idiom for disarming or dethroning. Babylon was taken in one night by Cyrus. Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. See Dan. 5:1–31.
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. # 45:2 Or “every swelling,” a possible metaphor for what looms up in front of you.
I will shatter to pieces bronze doors
and slice through iron bars.
3I will give you hidden treasures of darkness # 45:3 God is light, so what could be these treasures of darkness? They are the things/truths/revelations that dark powers have stolen from us, God’s people. We will reclaim what was originally part of our inheritance but was stolen and perverted. Revelation that was once hidden will now be brought into the light.
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! # 45:3 The Hebrew wording allows for this possible translation: “I, Yahweh, who calls you by your name, the gods [judges or mighty ones] of Israel.” The word for “gods” is elohim (plural) and is translated in some verses as “judges.” See Ps. 82:1, 6.
4For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name and give you a title of honor.
But you don’t even know me.
5I am Yahweh, the only God there is,
and you’ll never find another.
I will strengthen you for victory,
even though you do not intimately know who I am.
6Yet through you everyone will know who I really am.
Those from the rising sun in the east to the west,
everyone everywhere will know
that I am Yahweh, the one and only God,
and there is no other. # 45:6 There are four reasons God chose and favored Cyrus, the heathen king: (1) so that Cyrus would acknowledge the greatness of God; (2) to accomplish God’s purpose with Judah (see Ps. 78:68–72); (3) so the nations would see that Yahweh is the only true God; and (4) so Jerusalem would be rebuilt.
7I create light, and I make it dark.
I make bliss, # 45:7 This is the Hebrew word shalom and can be translated “prosperity,” “bliss,” “wholeness,” “completeness,” “health,” “peace,” “welfare,” “safety,” “soundness,” “tranquility,” “perfectness,” “fullness,” “rest,” “harmony,” or “the absence of agitation or discord.” Shalom comes from a root verb meaning “to be complete, perfect, and [paid in] full.” and I create adversity. # 45:7 Or “woe,” “disaster,” “calamity [judgment],” “affliction,” “disturbance,” “distress,” “misery,” or “trouble.”
I am Yahweh who does all these things.’
8“Shower down righteousness, O heavens above.
Let the clouds drip with deliverance!
Let earth’s womb open and bear salvation’s # 45:8 The Hebrew word for “salvation,” yĕshuw’ah, is nearly identical to the Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus). fruit,
with righteousness rising up beside it! # 45:8 Or “and blossom with mercy” (LXX).
I, Yahweh, have created all of them!
9Shame on the one who argues with his Creator,
like one clay pot among other pots arguing with the potter.
Should the clay say to the potter,
‘What in the world are you doing with me?
Your hands are clumsy’? # 45:9 Or “Your work has no hands [or handles].” This is a way of saying, “What you’re doing with me shows that you have no skill, like someone who has no hands trying to form me!”
10Shame on the one who complains to a father,
‘Why in the world did you conceive me?’
Or to a mother, ‘Why in the world did you bring me to birth?’ ”
11Listen to what Yahweh,
the Holy One of Israel, the One who shaped him, has to say:
“Why do you question me about the destiny of my children # 45:11 Or “ask me about things to come concerning my children.” If “ask” should be taken in the imperative mood, then the sense would probably be ironic: “Go ahead and question me concerning the things to come; command me concerning my children and the works of my hands.”
or tell me what to do with my children and what I have made?
12I created the earth and populated it with people.
With my own hands, I spread out the cosmos
and then commanded the starry host to shine!
13I am the one who raised him # 45:13 Although God has raised up Christ and us in righteousness, the context here points to Cyrus. up in righteousness!
I will make all his paths straight and level.
He will build my city and release my exiled people,
not because he was bribed or hired to do it,
declares the Almighty Yahweh!”
Yahweh, the Hope of the Nations
14This is what Yahweh says to Cyrus:
“Egypt’s wealth, Cush’s # 45:14 Or “Ethiopia’s.” treasures, and the tall Sabeans # 45:14 A people group that once lived in the southern parts of Arabia (modern-day Yemen).
will all be handed over to you.
In chains they will walk behind you.
They will be brought before you and they will bow down
and address you reverently, saying,
‘Truly God is with you. He alone is God, and there is no other.’ ”
15Truly, O God of Israel, the Savior,
you are a God who hides himself. # 45:15 Or “a God who keeps himself hidden.” These words of Isaiah show us that God must be revealed by his Spirit to each heart.
16All the idol-makers will be ashamed and disgraced,
and each one will walk away in confusion.
17But Yahweh saves Israel with everlasting salvation!
You will not be put to shame nor disgraced for all eternity!
18This is what Yahweh says, heaven’s Creator, who alone is God.
He created the earth, shaped it, and established it all by himself.
He made it fit and orderly and beautiful # 45:18 Or “He did not create it a chaos.” for its inhabitants.
He says:
“I am Yahweh, and there is no other god.
19I didn’t whisper in secret, in a realm of darkness.
I didn’t say to Jacob’s tribes,
‘Seek me in vain.’
I am Yahweh!
I speak the truth and declare to you what is right!
20“Come together! Assemble yourselves!
Draw near, you refugees from among the nations.
Those who parade their powerless wooden idols
have no revelation-knowledge.
They keep on praying to gods who cannot save them.
21Declare what is to be and state your case.
Go ahead and take counsel together.
Who knew all about this and declared it long ago?
Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no god apart from me.
I am a righteous God and a Savior.
There is no one you can compare to me.
22So turn your heart to me, face me now,
and be saved wherever you are,
even from the ends of the earth,
for I alone am God, and there is no other.
23I make this solemn oath to you in my own name;
this word sent from my mouth in righteousness
will not return unfulfilled:
‘Truly every knee will bow before me
and every tongue will solemnly swear allegiance to me!’
24All will say of me,
‘Yes! Only in Yahweh do I find righteousness and strength!’
And all who were angry with me
will come before me and regret it!
25In Yahweh, all of Israel’s offspring will triumph # 45:25 Or “will be made right again.” See Rom. 11:26–27. and shine!”
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Isaiah 45: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 45
45
God Calls Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4)
1This is what the Lord says to Cyrus His anointed,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him,
to disarm kings,
to open the doors before him,
so that the gates will not be shut:
2“I will go before you
and level the mountains;#45:2 DSS and LXX; MT level the terrain
I will break down the gates of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron.
3I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
4For the sake of Jacob My servant
and Israel My chosen one,
I call you by name;
I have given you a title of honor,
though you have not known Me.
5I am the Lord, and there is no other;
there is no God but Me.
I will equip you for battle,
though you have not known Me,
6so that all may know,
from where the sun rises to where it sets,
that there is none but Me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7I form the light and create the darkness;
I bring prosperity and create calamity.
I, the Lord, do all these things.
8Drip down, O heavens, from above,
and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout
and righteousness spring up with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.
9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—
one clay pot among many.
Does the clay ask the potter,
‘What are you making?’#45:9 Cited in Romans 9:20
Does your work say,
‘He has no hands’?
10Woe to him who says to his father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to his mother,
‘What have you brought forth?’”
11Thus says the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
“How dare you question Me about My sons,
or instruct Me in the work of My hands?
12It is I who made the earth
and created man upon it.
It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I ordained all their host.
13I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness,
and I will make all his ways straight.
He will rebuild My city
and set My exiles free,
but not for payment or reward,
says the Lord of Hosts.”
14This is what the Lord says:
“The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,#45:14 That is, the upper Nile region
along with the Sabeans, men of stature,
will come over to you
and will be yours;
they will trudge behind you;
they will come over in chains and bow down to you.
They will confess to you:
‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other;
there is no other God.’”
15Truly You are a God who hides Himself,
O God of Israel, the Savior.
16They will all be put to shame and humiliated;
the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
17But Israel will be saved by the Lord
with an everlasting salvation;
you will not be put to shame or humiliated,
to ages everlasting.
18For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens—He is God;
He formed the earth and fashioned it;
He established it;
He did not create it to be empty,
but formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord,
and there is no other.
19I have not spoken in secret,
from a place in a land of darkness.
I did not say to the descendants of Jacob,
‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’
I, the Lord, speak the truth;
I say what is right.
20Come, gather together, and draw near,
you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood
and pray to a god that cannot save.
21Speak up and present your case—
yes, let them take counsel together.
Who foretold this long ago?
Who announced it from ancient times?
Was it not I, the Lord?
There is no other God but Me,
a righteous God and Savior;
there is none but Me.
22Turn to Me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth;
for I am God,
and there is no other.
23By Myself I have sworn;
truth has gone out from My mouth,
a word that will not be revoked:
Every knee will bow before Me,
every tongue will swear allegiance.#45:23 Literally every tongue will swear; LXX every tongue will swear by God; cited in Romans 14:11
24Surely they will say of Me,
‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.’”
All who rage against Him
will come to Him and be put to shame.
25In the Lord all descendants of Israel
will be justified and will exult.
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