45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed:
In Isaiah 44:24-28, Jehovah spoke about Cyrus the Great. In verses 1-7, Jehovah spoke directly to Cyrus. This conversation from God to Cyrus occurred 150 years before Cyrus was even born.
The Hebrew word for “chosen one” is מָשִׁ֫יחַ (maschiah), meaning messiah or anointed one. Jehovah has chosen Cyrus the Great 150 years in advance to become the Gentile anointed king who would subdue other Gentile nations. This Persian king would easily defeat many Gentile nations who had never been beaten in military conflict (such as Sardis).
45:2 “I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through.
According to the Greek historians of the fourth century B.C., Babylon contained 100 city gates made of brass. Jehovah would tear down the double iron gates of Babylon so that Cyrus could enter the city. Herodotus, the Greek historian, reported that the openness of the city was so great that the Persians were taking prisoners as they moved to the palace in the center.
45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.
Not only would Cyrus conguer Babylon, but he would also conquer Lydia. Babylon and Lydia were the two most powerful nations during the days of King Nebuchadnezzar. King Creosus of Lydia possessed hidden treasures of gold in subterranean chambers. He was so rich, that the legends of King Midas surrounded him. One example was that everything that he touched turned to gold. Jehovah would allow Cyrus to defeat Babylon and Lydia and take the riches for himself.
45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me.
Jehovah called Cyrus by name 150 years in advance to protect Israel. Cyrus recognized Jehovah as one of many gods who helped him to success. However, he did not recognize Jehovah as the One true God. Cyrus also gave Marduk (the false god of Babylon) credit for his victories. Therefore, Cyrus was given the opportunity to know the One True God, but he did not take it.
45:5 I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.
Jehovah would arm Cyrus for battle, even though Cyrus would not recognize his divine source of victory.
45:6 I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.
Jehovah had Isaiah record this prophecy in writing so that the Gentiles would known that Jehovah was the one true God. Isaiah predicted that Cyrus would defeat Babylon. Cyrus allowed Israel to return to her land so that the Messiah could be born in Bethlehem. The Messiah would die for the sins of the world. This divine atonement provide by the Lord Jesus Christ would provide salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. The Messiah will return at His second coming and establish His Millennial Kingdom for both the Jews and the Gentiles. During the Millennial Kingdom, all nations will recognize the Messiah.
45:7 I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.
The major religion of Persia was Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism was the Persian religion of dualism, which taught that there were two individual gods of good and evil. One was the god of light who brought peace. The other was the god of darkness who brought calamity. Jehovah informed Cyrus 150 years before he was born that he was worshiping in a false religion. It is Jehovah, not the dual gods of Zoroastrianism, who brings light, darkness, peace, and calamity. The Muslims would later destroy the Persian religion and replace it with Islam.
45:8 O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow, and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Jehovah will rain down showers of salvation upon the Jewish people.
45:9 One who argues with his creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the potter, “What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!”
Many of the fundamentals in Isaiah's day were criticizing God for using a Gentile ruler to discipline Judah. In verses 9-12, Jehovah gave His answer to these fundamental critics. It is ridiculous and impossible for the pot to tell the potter that his work lacks skill.
45:10 Danger awaits one who says to his father, “What in the world are you fathering?” and to his mother, “What in the world are you bringing forth?”
It is ridiculous and impossible for a newborn to criticize the father and mother during his own birth process.
45:11 This is what the Lord says, the Holy One of Israel, the one who formed him, concerning things to come: “How dare you question me about my children! How dare you tell me what to do with the work of my own hands!
Jehovah rebuked these fundamental critics for daring to question Him on how He runs His universe. God was the Creator of the universe. Jehovah infinitely knows more about how to run a universe than His critics. Jehovah does not need advice from his critics or his creation. He does not run the universe by committee.
45:12 I made the earth, I created the people who live on it. It was me—my hands stretched out the sky, I give orders to all the heavenly lights.
Jehovah created the heavens and the earth, so He does not need advice from humans. God can do with His creation what He chooses.
45:13 It is me—I stir him up and commission him; I will make all his ways level. He will rebuild my city; he will send my exiled people home, but not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord who commands armies.
God will raise up Cyrus the Great to save Israel, return her to the land, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
45:14 This is what the Lord says: “The profit of Egypt and the revenue of Ethiopia, along with the Sabeans, those tall men, will be brought to you and become yours. They will walk behind you, coming along in chains. They will bow down to you and pray to you: Truly God is with you; he has no peer; there is no other God!’ ”
In verses 14-17, God predicted the submission of the Gentiles to Israel. During the Millennial Kingdom, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Sabeans will all submit, honor, and serve Israel.
45:15 Yes, you are a God who keeps hidden, O God of Israel, deliverer!
The program of God is so infinitely magnificent, that man cannot find it out on his own. This is why God's plan is "hidden" from men.
45:16 They will all be ashamed and embarrassed; those who fashion idols will all be humiliated.
When the Gentiles submit to Israel during the Millennial Kingdom, then the Gentiles will be ashamed and embarrassed for following idols that cannot speak, move, or save them.
45:17 Israel will be delivered once and for all by the Lord; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated.
During the Millennial Kingdom, all of Israel will be saved.
45:18 For this is what the Lord says, the one who created the sky— he is the true God, the one who formed the earth and made it; he established it, he did not create it without order, he formed it to be inhabited— “I am the Lord, I have no peer. (כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָֽמַר־יְ֠הוָה בֹּורֵ֨א הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים יֹצֵ֨ר הָאָ֤רֶץ וְעֹשָׂהּ֙ ה֣וּא כֹֽונְנָ֔הּ לֹא־תֹ֥הוּ בְרָאָ֖הּ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יְצָרָ֑הּ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין עֹֽוד׃)
In verses 18-21, Jehovah offered a message of salvation to the Jews. The Hebrew word for "without order" לֹא־תֹ֥הוּ (lo-tohu), meaning "not waste." This is the same Hebrew word which is used in Genesis 1:2. This means that the earth was not created in waste. It became waste between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.
Unlike the occultic utterances of the mystery religions of the Gentile nations (all coming from Babylon), Jehovah predicted the future openly. These prophecies were written down with exact precision so that all could read and understand them. Therefore, man has no excuse. Beware of Masons, Catholics, charismatics, and other cult and isms who claim that they possess extra-biblical secret teachings.
45:20 Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver.
Jehovah invited all of the Gentiles who worship idols of nothingness to come to Him instead. The Gentiles were praying to wooden and metal gods of nothingness.
45:21 Tell me! Present the evidence! Let them consult with one another! Who predicted this in the past? Who announced it beforehand? Was it not I, the Lord? I have no peer, there is no God but me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but me.
Jehovah invited the pagan gods of the Gentiles to present their evidence as gods. He asked them to predict the future in advance.
45:22 Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer.
In verses 22-26, Jehovah offered a message of salvation to the Gentiles. Jehovah invited the pagan nations to come to Him as God, because there was no other god.
45:23 I solemnly make this oath— what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; 45:24 they will say about me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer.” ’ ” All who are angry at him will cower before him.
If the Gentile do not voluntarily come to Jehovah, then they will be forced to bow their knee to Him and confess His name. This submission will take place in the future of the Great White Throne Judgement. The Lord Jesus Christ will receive this same recognition, because He is Jehovah in the flesh.
45:25 All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the Lord and will boast in him.
All of Israel who survive the Great Tribulation will receive national salvation. They will one day boast in the Lord Jesus Christ.