Ruler of Men and Nations

MEMORY VERSE: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” —Isaiah 45:22

ISAIAH 45

THE release of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity was brought about by a decree issued by King Cyrus of the Medo-Persian Empire. He is referred to in the first verse of our lesson as the Lord’s “anointed.” This simply means that he was commissioned, or authorized, by God to make possible the release of his people from captivity, their return to their homeland, and the rebuilding of their temple in Jerusalem.

Cyrus could be thought of in a limited way as being a type of Christ, who is the Lord’s “Anointed” to accomplish a greater deliverance—even the deliverance of all mankind from captivity to sin and death. This is the great work to be accomplished during his thousand-year kingdom in which his faithful followers, raised from the dead in the first resurrection, will live and reign with him.

The deliverance of the Israelites from captivity in Babylon was an important development in the outworking of God’s plan, and divine providence overruled in the experiences of Cyrus to prepare him for the role which God had designed for him to accomplish. While Satan has been the prince of “this present evil world,” the Creator has always directed in whatever way was necessary in the lives of rulers and the affairs of government to assure the accomplishment of his plans and purposes. Satan has never been able to interfere with God’s designs.

Ezra 1:2,3 tells of the decree of Cyrus liberating the captive people of Israel. We quote: “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven bath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.” This marked the end of the seventy-year captivity.

ISAIAH 45:18, 22, 23

Isaiah 45:18 destroys one of the creedal traditions which came down to us from the Dark Ages; namely, that God’s plan was to destroy the earth by fire. This text assures us, to the contrary, that God created the earth not in vain, but “formed it to be inhabited.” This is in keeping with the record given us in Genesis 1:27,28 concerning the creation of man in God’s image, and of the divine commission given to him to multiply and fill the earth, and to subdue it.

Adam failed to obey God’s laws and was sentenced to death. This could have meant that ultimately the human race would become extinct, and therefore that God’s intention concerning the earth being inhabited would not be realized. But the Creator, who knew the end from the beginning, provided redemption for his erring creatures. He sent Jesus into the world, who gave his life for Adam and his children that they might live. Paul wrote, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—I Cor. 15:22

Because of this loving provision of redemption through Christ, the Lord says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” (memory verse) A small minority have this opportunity during the present life, and receive the heavenly salvation. (Heb. 3:1) But the vast majority will be given an opportunity to look unto the Lord during the kingdom age, and these will be restored to human perfection and will inhabit the earth according to God’s original design.

The expression in Isaiah 45:23, “Unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear,” is quoted by Paul and applied to Jesus following his resurrection. (Phil. 2:10,11) Thus we know that God’s design concerning his earthly creatures is carried out through his beloved Son whom he sent to be the Savior of the world.

QUESTIONS

Who was Cyrus, and why is he called the Lord’s anointed?

How do we know that the earth will not be burned up?

When do people have an opportunity to look unto the Lord and be saved?

How do we know that Isaiah 45:23 is a prophecy of Jesus’ position in the divine plan of salvation?

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