45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose
right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip
kings of their robes, to open doors before him-- and the gates shall
not be closed:
45:2 I will go before you and level the mountains, I will
break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of
iron,
45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches
hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the
LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.
45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there
is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me,
45:6 so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and
from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and
there is no other.
45:7 I form light and create darkness, I make weal and
create woe; I the LORD do all these things.
45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in
secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God
of Israel, who call you by your name.
What are these gifts. Several commentators suggest temporal riches,
but it seems to me that Cyrus is working with a "hidden God" in the
Cloud of unknowing. It is here were he will discover God's will. It
is the richness of a spiritual life.
tom in ga
The only secular king called annointed? I find this passage
fascinating but hard to understand! Pam in Tpa
I am interested in the fact that Cyrus does NOT know YHWH; he seems
to be unaware that his actions are being used for the sake of the
Chosen People - God not only chooses the "unworthy" ( Paul ?), but
also chooses those who are ignorant of him; it is not only his
covenanted people who serve his purpose.
DGK in Melbourne, Aus.
It seems to me that the first verses lay the foundation for the
whole section. Perhaps the point being made is that God goes before
God's people and makes a path for them, even before we (they) ask or
even "know" God. Interesting text...
Kelly in Ky.
No-one preaching on this passage? I'm planning to draw it into a
sermon on the gospel, looking at how God sees things on a wider
canvas than we do - hence using a pagan king, and hence the 'caesar/God'
destinction and relationship.
NickW, Derby UK
