The Creator Names Cyrus to Restore Jerusalem
The Creator sovereignly appoints deliverers.
Isaiah 44:24-28 (BSB)
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’
27 who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
What is the big idea of Isaiah 44:24-28?
The Creator sovereignly appoints deliverers.
How does Isaiah 44:24-28 point to Christ?
Isaiah 44:24-28 reveals that the Creator directs history and appoints rulers to accomplish redemption. The gospel proclaims that God sovereignly orchestrates salvation in Christ according to his eternal purpose.
Authorial Intent
To affirm the LORD’s sole creative sovereignty and announce his sovereign use of Cyrus to accomplish restoration.
Historical Context
The prophecy anticipates the rise of Cyrus of Persia, who would later enable the return of exiled Israelites and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Chapter: Isaiah 44
The LORD Who Chose Jacob, Pours Out His Spirit, Blots Out Sin, and Names Cyrus
The LORD comforts Jacob His chosen servant by promising Spirit-wrought renewal, exposing idols as blind delusion, assuring Israel that He has blotted out sin and redeemed them, and declaring that even Cyrus will serve His purpose to restore Jerusalem and the temple.