Isaiah 44:24-28
The Creator sovereignly appoints deliverers.
24 Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
25 who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26 who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’ ”
The Creator sovereignly appoints deliverers.
To affirm the LORD’s sole creative sovereignty and announce his sovereign use of Cyrus to accomplish restoration.
The prophecy anticipates the rise of Cyrus of Persia, who would later enable the return of exiled Israelites and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
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.