To Be Like Cyrus (Isaiah 45)
"Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand ..."
We have learned from Isaiah’s message of hope and comfort, his assurance that God draws near to those in the dry places and rough terrain, and that God is ever creating, doing new things in our lives. The story of Cyrus reminds us that God often uses human leaders to accomplish his purposes, to be that source of help.
The historical context is one of exile for the people. They had been conquered and driven from their homes, communities, and place of worship. They were exiles in a foreign land, oppressed and powerless. To the specific context of these terrible circumstances, the prophet Jeremiah expressed one of the most well known words of encouragement in the Bible .. “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
The specific plans that God had for the people at that time were to bring them back to their home. Cyrus, a human leader with vast political power, was the human instrument that God used to make this happen. Cyrus was not a Hebrew / Israelite worshipper of Yahweh, as far as we know, but God appointed him to have mercy on these people and make it possible for them to return to their homes. (Ref: Ezra 1:1-4, Jeremiah 29:10-14)
Isaiah 45 points out specific qualities that Cyrus had or attributes that God endowed him with in order to bring this about. He was anointed by God, and God “took him by the hand.” He was appointed to shatter doors and cut through iron bars, and make rough places smooth, to gain freedom for the exiles and build God’s city. He was called by God, given a title of honor, aroused in righteousness, and given strength. God promised to make his way smooth, yet Cyrus was not motivated by payment or reward, but by a righteous concern.
Whether we are in need of help, or in a position to help others, God wants to be involved in the process. Take note of the progression of this theme. The prophet states .. “let the rough ground become a plain, the rugged terrain a broad valley.” (40:4) Then God promises that he himself will be the source of help .. “I will make darkness into light .. rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, I will not leave them undone.” (42:16) Then the role of the leader used by God .. “I will go before you (Cyrus) and make the rough places smooth.” (45:2)
For these people, it was a path to return home. For us, the needs may be different, but within the purposes of God, we also can have hope.
Background & Scripture
Cyrus, a Persian King who ruled over most of the Middle East at that time – Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Palestine, and later his son also ruled Egypt.
Jeremiah 29:10-14 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”
Ezra 1:1-4 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He hs appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’”
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Breakfast Club Devotion #15 - Purpose
Purposes of the Breakfast Club
(This is not a formal mission statement, but an informal reflection on some of our purposes and goals.)
1. To share the love of God through Christ, by walking in the helping ministry of Christ.
• The one who says he abides in Christ ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
• When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on His glorious throne.. He will say to those on His right, “Come you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in…” Matthew 25:31-35
• When it was evening, the disciples came to Jesus saying, “The place is desolate, and the time is already past; so send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”And he said, “Bring them here to me.”..And looking up to heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate and were satisfied. Matthew 14:14-20
2. To teach and demonstrate the character and the ways of Christ.
• Blessed are the gentle; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful; blessed are the pure in heart; blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:5-9
• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
• The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
3. To foster and cultivate a fellowship of believers and a community of concern for the homeless.
• And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33
• For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly; if prophecy.. if service, in teaching, exhortation (encouraging), giving, leading, showing mercy. .. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence .. serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality .. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another, do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly .. Be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink. .. Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:3-21
4. To help and encourage people to overcome homelessness and other life controlling circumstances and behaviors.
• For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
• If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones. And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:10-12
(This is not a formal mission statement, but an informal reflection on some of our purposes and goals.)
1. To share the love of God through Christ, by walking in the helping ministry of Christ.
• The one who says he abides in Christ ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
• When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on His glorious throne.. He will say to those on His right, “Come you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in…” Matthew 25:31-35
• When it was evening, the disciples came to Jesus saying, “The place is desolate, and the time is already past; so send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”And he said, “Bring them here to me.”..And looking up to heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate and were satisfied. Matthew 14:14-20
2. To teach and demonstrate the character and the ways of Christ.
• Blessed are the gentle; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful; blessed are the pure in heart; blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:5-9
• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
• The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
3. To foster and cultivate a fellowship of believers and a community of concern for the homeless.
• And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33
• For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly; if prophecy.. if service, in teaching, exhortation (encouraging), giving, leading, showing mercy. .. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence .. serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality .. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another, do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly .. Be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink. .. Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:3-21
4. To help and encourage people to overcome homelessness and other life controlling circumstances and behaviors.
• For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
• If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones. And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:10-12
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