Read
The Lord Created Everything
24Israel, I am your Lord,
the source of your life,
and I have rescued you.
I created everything
from the sky above
to the earth below.
25 I make liars of false prophets
and fools of fortunetellers.
I take human wisdom
and turn it into nonsense.
26I will make the message
of my prophets come true.
They are saying, “Jerusalem
will be filled with people,
and the Lord will rebuild
the towns of Judah.”
27I am the one who commands
the sea and its streams
to run dry.
28 I am also the one who says,
“Cyrus will lead my people
and obey my orders.
Jerusalem and the temple
will be rebuilt.”
Cyrus Obeys
1The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one:
I have taken hold
of your right hand
to help you capture nations
and remove kings from power.
City gates will open for you;
not one will stay closed.
2As I lead you,
I will level mountains
and break the iron bars
on bronze gates of cities.
3I will give you treasures
hidden in dark
and secret places.
Then you will know that I,
the Lord God of Israel,
have called you by name.
4Cyrus, you don't even know me!
But I have called you by name
and highly honored you
because of Israel,
my chosen servant.
5Only I am the Lord!
There are no other gods.
I have made you strong,
though you don't know me.
6Now everyone from east to west
will learn that I am the Lord.
No other gods are real.
7I create light and darkness,
happiness and sorrow.
I, the Lord, do all this.
8Tell the heavens
to send down justice
like showers of rain.
Prepare the earth
for my saving power
to sprout and produce justice
that I, the Lord, create.
Reflect
Knowing someone’s name in the Bible is not just a matter of gathering a piece of data. It implies an intimacy and even a mastery over the person. Jews to this day do not pronounce the name of God, but instead refer indirectly to “The Name.” It is significant that God says to Cyrus, a pagan ruler whom he is using to judge the nations, that “I called you by name, though you do not know me.” Rulers who don’t know God can nevertheless be called by God and used by God – even if they are unaware of it.
In this case, Cyrus was used to “loose the belts of Kings” (an embarrassing circumstance for a monarch) and to “open doors” or “close doors” against these kings, taking away the prerogative of kings. Cyrus was being used to upend the evil order of kings set against God. Israel should have been God’s servant, not Cyrus, but Israel had also turned its back on God. So God used a pagan King.
It should not surprise us that he who is LORD of all is also LORD of those who do not know him. There are times when God uses even authorities that don’t acknowledge him to discipline and chasten his people.
From time to time God’s people will come into conflict with governments. Not every act of a government is directed and ordained by God, but it is also possible that there are times when God is using the government to discipline his church.
Respond
Heavenly Father, You know the name of every ruler, and can call them to do your bidding. We acknowledge that in the past you used Cyrus to judge the nations and that your people were judged as well. We ask for good government, and we acknowledge that there may be times when our conflicts with the government are your way of chastening and refining us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rick Hiemstra
Rick Hiemstra is Director of Research and Media Relations at the EFC. Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the new Renegotiating Faith research about emerging adulthood and faith formation. He has recently contributed to Canadian studies on Bible Engagement, local church missions engagement and emerging adulthood and faith formation. Currently he is leading a study on small evangelical churches and another on parental discipleship of children in the home. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary.