I’m presenting this actual historical account to show that God will use whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses them, to do whatever please Him because, “I AM the LORD, the God of all flesh. IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR ME?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, when the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah (Ezra 1:1-3) was fulfilled, God STIRRED THE SPIRIT OF KING CYRUS to issue a proclamation throughout his realm by word of mouth and in writing as follows: “Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me with BUILDING HIM A HOUSE in Jerusalem, which is in Israel. Anyone of you of all His people—may his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Israel and BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD of Israel.” (Ezra 1:1-3) The first glorious Temple was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Why was Cyrus eager to listen to the Lord? The grandfather of Cyrus, King Astyages of Persia, had a dream that the baby would grow up to overthrow him, and ordered Cyrus slain. His chief adviser, however, instead gave the baby to an ISRAELITE SHEPHERD, whose baby had just died, to raise as a shepherd. When he was 10 years old, Cyrus was raised by Jews and loved them, and because of his outstanding qualities, was discovered by Astyages, who, in spite of the dream, was persuaded TO ALLOW THE BOY TO LIVE.
Cyrus, when he reached manhood, revolted against his grandfather, and became King. And because of his relationship with Israel, he had a TENDER HEART TOWARD THEM. And SOMEONE READ (Isaiah 44:24-28) to Cyrus written 150 years before he became king, CALLING HIM BY NAME. “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; WHO SAYS OF CYRUS, ‘He is my SHEPHERD, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:24-28)
Cyrus is famous for freeing the Jewish captives in Babylonia and allowing them to return to their homeland, with all their Temple building needs met by Cyrus.
AS WE WILL SEE THIS SPIRIT OF “CYRUS” WAS PROCLAIMED TO BE ON SOME OF OUR MODERN DAY PERSONS.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham