“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed” (Isaiah 45:1 ESV). Nearly 200 years before his birth, Isaiah prophesied the coming of one named “Cyrus”
Chapter: 45
“The prophet Jeremiah gave a message to Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, after Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah had dictated to him” (Jeremiah 45:1 NLT).
DOES GOD HAVE A WORD FOR YOU? After giving prophecies for the Jewish remnant and the nations surrounding Israel, God gave Jeremiah a specific message for his assistant, Baruch. Jeremiah may have been God’s mouthpiece, but Baruch was his pen. For he had written down every word that Jeremiah dictated to him from the Lord.
“But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.” (Genesis 45:5 NLT).
JOSEPH, A FORESHADOWING OF CHRIST Joseph sees God’s purpose in being sold into slavery in Egypt. He forgives his brothers and welcomes them to live under his care. There is a foreshadowing of Christ in Joseph– the way he suffers betrayal and injustice before rising to become their savior and lord. The dreams he had
“Baruch, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ (Jeremiah 45:4-5 NLT).
A CHAPTER FOR BARUCH
Amidst prophecies to the Jewish remnant and the nations surrounding Israel, God gave Jeremiah a message for Baruch, Jeremiah’s assistant and scribe. Jeremiah may have been God’s mouthpiece, but Baruch was his pen, and it had left him saying, “Woe is me” (Jer. 45:3). So, God gave a specific word to Jeremiah for Baruch: “Don’t seek great things for yourself. Be satisfied that you have been given your life.” You see, God doesn’t just address kings and nations, he also speaks to individuals. Baruch, who had written down chapter after chapter of Jeremiah’s prophecies, received one little chapter (Jer. 45) all to himself.
As you read God’s Word, do you ever feel that a certain passage was written just for you?
“This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again.” (Isaiah 45:1 NLT).
THE PERSIAN KING WHOM GOD ANOINTED
Nearly 200 years before he was even born, Isaiah prophesied the coming of an anointed king named Cyrus who would overthrow and rule the kingdoms of the land. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Persian King, Cyrus the Great, conquered the many kingdoms of the Middle East and beyond, including the Babylonians, who had defeated Judah and taken its people captive. These Judean exiles had lived in Babylon for 70 years, when Cyrus not only overthrew Babylon, but also later decreed that the exiles could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple (Ezra 1:1-4).
The details of the Cyrus prophecy in Isaiah are amazing. God revealed both the fall of Jerusalem and its future restoration to Isaiah. This prophecy not only encouraged the prophet Daniel and the Jews who were exiled in Babylon, it continues to encourage believers today. For we understand that the fulfilled prophecies in God’s Word show that the unfulfilled ones will also be fulfilled, perhaps in our lifetime.
One other note, don’t you find it interesting that God would anoint a Persian king to rescue Israel? I wonder what God has in store for the modern peoples of Persia now dwelling in the country called, Iran?
‘Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”‘ (Genesis 45:28 NLT).
JACOB LEARNS HIS SON IS ALIVE!
Old Jacob had lived with the knowledge that his son, Joseph, was dead. He had grieved for him for years. But then, his sons gave him the good news that Joseph was not only alive, but was a powerful ruler in Egypt. He finally believed their good news and was determined to travel to Egypt to see him before he died.
This story reminds me of old Simeon, whom the Spirit had promised he wouldn’t die until he saw the Christ (Luke 2:25-35). It reminds me of the disciples response when the women who had visited the tomb, told them they had seen the risen Lord. Jacob’s son, who was dead, is alive!
‘For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”‘ (Isaiah 45:18 NKJV)
The Lord speaks. He has revealed Himself to us, not only through the evidence of creation, but also through communication through His prophets, like Isaiah. He declares His works, His plans and His character to us.
What can we learn from God’s revelation?
– The LORD (“Yahweh”) is the only God.
– The LORD created the heavens and the earth.
– The LORD established perfect conditions for life on earth.
– The LORD did not create in vain. His purposes will be
fulfilled.
– The LORD formed the earth as humanity’s home.
– The LORD desires recognition from His creatures that He
is the only true God and Creator.
Let us worship the LORD today! Let us shout, “LORD, You are God and there is no other!”
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You” (Psalm 45:6-7 NKJV).
This passage is considered a prophetic description of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. As the author of Hebrews wrote when quoting this psalm, “But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever… Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You” (Heb. 1:8-9). Understanding it as a Messianic writing helps to explain the confusing pronoun use referring to both God and the King with divine attributes. This passage hints at the Father/Son relationship between Jesus as the Son of God, and God the Father, which the book of Hebrews confirms. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy and every Old Testament prophecy. He is the “anointed” One that came and is coming again.
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Psalm 45:7 NKJV).
Denoted a “maskil” by the Psalmist, this psalm sought to instruct concerning the future glory of the Messiah and His bride. Verse seven is especially instructive of the identity of the Messiah:
1) He will love righteousness
2) He will hate wickedness
3) He is God (See Psa. 45:6 “Your throne, O God”). The Hebrew translated “Therefore God, Your God” might also be translated, “O God, Your God.” This would make it a direct address to the Anointed One as God, yet also reveal that the Lord is His God (See Hebrews 1:8-9).
4) He is the “Messiah” (Literally, “anointed one.” ). In the New Testament, “anointed one” is rendered “Christ.”
5) He is the Groom. The “oil of gladness” points to the joy of the wedding supper celebrating the union of Christ and His Bride, the Church. It was for this “joy” (Heb.12:2) that Christ endured the cross.
6) He is the superior Mediator (See 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 9:15). His anointing is “more than” His companions. The high priests that offered mediating sacrifices before His coming were anointed, but their anointing was inferior to His and only a type pointing to fulfillment in Him.
7) He is human. That the former anointed ones were human and considered His “companions,” points to the His humanity.
This psalm was set to the tune of “The Lillies,” according to the Psalmist’s inscription, and sung in Temple worship. Yet, when the Messiah came, they did not recognize Him. But those who have recognized Him, sing of Him still, and will continue to sing of and to Him for ages to come.
“On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering.” (Ezekiel 45:22 ESV)
Who is this “prince?” And where is this temple wherein such offerings are to be made? Ezekiel’s prophecy of a temple, and a “prince” that brings offerings while standing at the eastern gate, has yet to be fulfilled. The temple that was rebuilt by Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile, and later enlarged by King Herod, did not approach the immensity and grandeur described by Ezekiel. There has been no temple worship since 70 AD when the Romans destroyed it. If Ezekiel’s prophecy is to be taken literally, then it must be considered yet unfulfilled. It appears to point to the time of the Millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth, when Ezekiel’s temple, a Millennial Temple, will stand again in a new Jerusalem. However, the identity of the “prince” remains elusive. Many see him as the Messiah, the Christ, because of his special mediatorial role, however, there is a major difficulty with this–– Christ has no need to “provide for himself” a sin offering (see Heb. 7:27). So, the identity of the “prince” remains a mystery to those of us who seek to understand such things with a high view of Scripture. Who is this “prince?” Only God knows.