“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.
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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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:” ( Isaiah 45: 4-5)
LORD, and there
is none else, there
is no God beside me: I girded
thee, though thou hast not known me:” ( Isaiah 45: 4-5)
The passage above refers to a king who
had not yet been born, but whom God would use to bless His people: Cyrus, the
King of Persia.
had not yet been born, but whom God would use to bless His people: Cyrus, the
King of Persia.
This prophecy went forth, even though
the Israelites had rejected His promises and repudiated his covenant.
the Israelites had rejected His promises and repudiated his covenant.
The heathen king of Babylon, permitted
by the LORD, took the Israelites captive and destroyed the temple.
by the LORD, took the Israelites captive and destroyed the temple.
The judgment would last seventy years,
in order to restore the Sabbath rest to the land.
in order to restore the Sabbath rest to the land.
Yet as foretold among the prophets,
God had mercy, and restored His people back to the Promised Land.
God had mercy, and restored His people back to the Promised Land.
How would he do it? Through another
heathen ruler: Cyrus of Persia.
heathen ruler: Cyrus of Persia.
Isaiah’s prophecy includes the
following, right before the above passage cited:
following, right before the above passage cited:
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and
he that formed thee from the womb, I am the
LORD that maketh all things
he that formed thee from the womb, I am the
LORD that maketh all things
…
28 That saith of Cyrus, He
is my shepherd, and shall
perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to
the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” (Isaiah 44: 27-28)
is my shepherd, and shall
perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to
the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” (Isaiah 44: 27-28)
God seeks to
bless us, even in our worst situations, even when our troubles are our own
doing.
bless us, even in our worst situations, even when our troubles are our own
doing.
Today, Americ
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ans feel a sense of
exile, of loss, of alienation and disillusionment. For the last eight years, a
secular tyrant has imposed a destructive vision of his ideal society onto
us. Standards mean noting. Equality of outcome is the only goal. President
Obama’s chief religion is not Christianity. He has rooted out and removed all
references to Jesus Christ and His Finished Work. Military personnel who pray
or even say the name of God receive censure or court-martial.
Thankfully, this heathen is about to
go. Sadly, many of the voting public feel that another heathen is about to take
over: Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump.
go. Sadly, many of the voting public feel that another heathen is about to take
over: Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump.
And yet, Donald Trump, one of the
choices deemed uncharitably as “the lesser of two evils”, may be our modern day
Cyrus.
choices deemed uncharitably as “the lesser of two evils”, may be our modern day
Cyrus.
He may not know the portentousness of
his role, but as a Presidential candidate who wants to protect Americans, who
wants to destroy the political correctness devouring our society, he is a
sharp, welcoming contrast to Heathen Hillary. He wants to restore law and
order, and make it safe to say “Merry Christmas”. He wants to repeal that
anti-liberty Johnson Amendment which has silenced our churches.
his role, but as a Presidential candidate who wants to protect Americans, who
wants to destroy the political correctness devouring our society, he is a
sharp, welcoming contrast to Heathen Hillary. He wants to restore law and
order, and make it safe to say “Merry Christmas”. He wants to repeal that
anti-liberty Johnson Amendment which has silenced our churches.
He acknowledges that Christians are
getting poor treatment, where tolerance has turned into acquiescence to the
destructive secular agendas removing God from of our culture.
getting poor treatment, where tolerance has turned into acquiescence to the
destructive secular agendas removing God from of our culture.
“But Donald Trump is an arrogant
jerk!”
jerk!”
“He’s a rodeo clown! He’s an elitist
rogue!”
rogue!”
He has also sacrificed lucrative
contracts and taken heavy hits to his public image. He is the only candidate
who has contacted and supported the families of victims murdered by illegal
aliens.
contracts and taken heavy hits to his public image. He is the only candidate
who has contacted and supported the families of victims murdered by illegal
aliens.
“But he’s been married three times!”
I am pretty sure the Israelites did
not care about King Cyrus’ private life, when he decreed that the Jewish people
could return to their homeland and rebuild the temple.
not care about King Cyrus’ private life, when he decreed that the Jewish people
could return to their homeland and rebuild the temple.
Historians have recorded him as “Cyrus
the Great.” Make Persia Great Again, anyone?
the Great.” Make Persia Great Again, anyone?
He respected different religious
beliefs.
beliefs.
He probably had many wives and
concubines.
concubines.
He treated his subjects with dignity
and respect, just like his own children.
and respect, just like his own children.
What else do we know about
Cyrus’ decision to restore Israel?
Cyrus’ decision to restore Israel?
Ezra the Scribe records:
1 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,
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,
2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The
LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath
charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is
there among you of all his
people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the
LORD God of Israel, (he is the
God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And
whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place
help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside
the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1: 1-4)
LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath
charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is
there among you of all his
people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the
LORD God of Israel, (he is the
God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And
whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place
help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside
the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1: 1-4)
Let’s remember that all power comes
from God:
from God:
“Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God.” (Romans 13: 1)
higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God.” (Romans 13: 1)
God does not always bless us through
people whom we would expect:
people whom we would expect:
“But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1: 27)
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1: 27)
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We should rejoice to live in a country
such as our own. Men and women can elect their leaders. The residents of
ancient times had no such luxury. They had to depend on the chance that the
next born successor for their nation would demonstrate any kind of benevolence.
such as our own. Men and women can elect their leaders. The residents of
ancient times had no such luxury. They had to depend on the chance that the
next born successor for their nation would demonstrate any kind of benevolence.
Many people think that someone as
fleshly and extravagant as Donald Trump is unfit for any office. But Cyrus
was most likely the last person anyone would have guessed to restore
the glory and prominence of the Israelites back to the Promised Land.
fleshly and extravagant as Donald Trump is unfit for any office. But Cyrus
was most likely the last person anyone would have guessed to restore
the glory and prominence of the Israelites back to the Promised Land.
But Cyrus helped make Israel great
again, under God’s loving direction.
again, under God’s loving direction.
Perhaps God our Loving Father can
do the same for America through Donald Trump.
do the same for America through Donald Trump.