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NOTES for Isa 45:4

Printable version
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
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These words are addressed to the Persian king Cyrus, who, after conquering Babylon, released the captive Jews to their homeland; thus the Babylonian captivity ended. The only pagan in the Bible called "anointed," Cyrus fulfilled the will of God, although he did not know God. But God knew him, and knew him "by name," that is, all his hidden essence. For the pagan Cyrus is a beloved creation of God, like every human being. And here is God's attitude toward the person who does not know Him: "I have honored you."

God knows us... His power extends over our life, not violating our freedom, but also not letting anyone slip from His saving right hand. This is astonishing mercy, of which only the Father is capable.

God honors us... Not only believers who know Him, but also unbelievers.

Other notes

 
For Isa 45:4
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Hide
These words are addressed to the Persian king Cyrus, who, having conquered Babylon, released the Jewish captives to...  Read more

These words are addressed to the Persian king Cyrus, who, having conquered Babylon, released the Jewish captives to their native country; that’s how the Babylonian captivity ended. The only heathen in the Bible called "the anointed", Cyrus fulfilled God's will, without knowing God. But God knew him, and knew "by name", that is all his secret essence. Because the heathen Cyrus is a beloved creature of God, quite as every person is. And here is God's relation towards man who does not know Him: " I have surnamed thee".

God knows us... His Power spreads in our life, without violating our freedom, but also letting nobody out of His salvific right hand. Amazing mercy, of which only the Father is capable.

God respects us... Not only the believers knowing Him, but also the unbelievers.

Hide
 
For Isa 45:4
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Hide
These words are addressed to the Persian king Cyrus, who, having conquered Babylon, released the Jewish captives to...  Read more

These words are addressed to the Persian king Cyrus, who, having conquered Babylon, released the Jewish captives to their native country; that’s how the Babylonian captivity ended. The only heathen in the Bible called "the anointed", Cyrus fulfilled God's will, without knowing God. But God knew him, and knew "by name", that is all his secret essence. Because the heathen Cyrus is a beloved creature of God, quite as every person is. And here is God's relation towards man who does not know Him: " I have surnamed thee".

God knows us... His Power spreads in our life, without violating our freedom, but also letting nobody out of His salvific right hand. Amazing mercy, of which only the Father is capable.

God respects us... Not only the believers knowing Him, but also the unbelievers.

Hide
 
For Isa 45:1-25
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Hide
The king has reached the height of greatness and power; the army of his empire conquers one state after another. He imagines himself...  Read more

The king has reached the height of greatness and power; the army of his empire conquers one state after another. He imagines himself the center of the universe and the maker of his own victories. Yet prophetic words have already been spoken: everything Cyrus received, the Lord permitted him to take only so that he might play a role in the historical destiny of a people he scarcely knew. Cyrus does not realize that by freeing captives from slavery he gives both his own country and the countries he seeks to conquer an opportunity to hear about God, who speaks of him through a prophet unknown to him. Centuries will pass; the empire Cyrus is creating will suffer more than one defeat; and of the many deeds of the Persian rulers, the most enduring will be those done for a weak group of people who follow the Lord.

The true meaning of history often escapes the attention of contemporaries and is accomplished unnoticed. But what went unnoticed often proves more genuine and lasting than what was visible to everyone and on everyone's lips.

Hide
 
For Isa 45:1-25
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Hide
The Persian king Cyrus, having conquered Babylon, soon allows the captive Jews to return to their homeland, to Palestine. Thus...  Read more

The Persian king Cyrus, having conquered Babylon, soon allows the captive Jews to return to their homeland, to Palestine. Thus ends one of the most important periods of sacred history, the Babylonian captivity. But behind historical upheavals the prophet sees the power at work in history of the true King of the universe, the Lord, the God of Israel. He Himself leads His people toward salvation, toward divine life. To achieve this final goal, He permits catastrophes and calamities, and for the same purpose He later heals, forgives, and returns the people from captivity.

Seeing the presence and action of evil forces in our world and in our history, we, following the prophet's example, must realize that the Master of history is God, that authority over time and the world belongs to Him, and that, as we pass through every trial, we are moving toward the goal He has appointed, a goal that both the prophet and we ourselves can hardly imagine or describe.

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