Isaiah 44:24-45:25
Dear RTB’ers,
Cyrus. Isaiah mentions him by name, some two centuries before he frees the Jews from exile in Babylon: He is My shepherd, and he shall fulfill all My purpose; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus … “I will go before you… For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.” (vv. 44:28-45:2, 4) Cyrus, chosen and named by God centuries in advance, but it is God who makes all the events unfold. So interesting…!
By Myself I have sworn; … a word that shall not return:‘ To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ (v. 45:23) Words that we have seen before…?? Yes, Paul quotes this verse in Philippians 2:9-11, Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Easily lost in that Isaiah quote is another phrase, a word that shall not return. We often speak these words in referring (in particular to a sharing session where we trust that the Holy Spirit will use those words that we have spoken. Most of us know these words from a verse that we will read later in Isaiah: … so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (v. 55:11) Glory!
Blessings!
See also: August 20 (2023) / Isaiah 44-45 (the latter parts).