Due to limited space, we will take a few “snapshots” of this wonderful chapter. The real “key” to the chapter is found in verses 1-4:

“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me” (NKJV).

These verses bring out God’s absolute SOVEREIGNTY, for He chose a Persian King named Cyrus (almost 200 years before Cyrus was born!) to deliver His people Israel and allow them to return from exile to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. This was spoken of in 44:28, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.’” He even referred to Cyrus as “His anointed” because he foreshadowed the coming “Messiah” (which means “anointed”) who will ultimately bring the final deliverance to the nation of Israel as we see in Romans 11:26, “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” How comforting to know that God is in complete control of all things; He has the authority and power to control all men, even heathen kings! Proverbs 21:1 declares, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes.” Eventually Cyrus was born; he did indeed “subdue nations” (45:1) and he became a world ruler who was so impressed with this prophecy concerning himself that he gladly did God’s bidding. God had said, “he shall perform all My pleasure” and that’s exactly what he did! Before we go on, it is precious to see WHY God had him to this, it was “For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect.” God’s purposes were bound up in His earthly people whom He had chosen. “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away” (Isaiah 41:8-9).

In verses 5-13 we see God’s POWER in creation and in raising up Cyrus. “I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me…I form the light and create darkness…I have made the earth, and created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded. I have raised him (Cyrus) up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; he shall build My city and let My exiles go free, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts.”

Finally, in verses 15-25, we see God as the SAVIOR of mankind. He is the Savior of:

1) ISRAEL: “Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior…Israel shall be saved by the         LORD with an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever…And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior…In the LORD all the descendants of Israel shall be justified” (verses 15, 17, 21). See Romans 11:26-31 and Jeremiah 31:31-34.  

2) GENTILES: “Looks to Me, and be saved, ALL YOU ENDS OF THE EARTH! For I am God, and there is no other…to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath…to Him men shall come” (verses 22-24). See Hebrews 12:2; John 3:14-16; 10:9 along with Philippians 2:5-11.  (401.5)  (DO)