Isaiah

Chapter 45

God Calls Cyrus

Isaiah 45 centers on the LORD's astonishing use of Cyrus as His anointed instrument and expands from that claim into a grand declaration of divine sovereignty. The chapter moves from God's commissioning of Cyrus, through rebuke of those who quarrel with their Maker, into promises that the nations will acknowledge Israel's God, and finally into a universal summons to salvation before the only righteous God and Savior.

This chapter matters because it makes explicit that history, empire, creation, judgment, and salvation are all under the rule of the LORD alone. Cyrus does not rise by his own brilliance, nor is Israel restored by chance; instead, the chapter insists that the God who forms light and darkness, names rulers in advance, and refuses every rival is the same God before whom every knee will bow, making Isaiah 45 a central text for biblical monotheism and worldwide salvation.

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Isaiah 45

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vv. 1-25

God Calls Cyrus

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T¹his is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, ²“I will go before you ³I will give you the treasures of darkness ⁴For the sake of Jacob My servant ⁵I am the LORD, and there is no other; ⁶so that all may know, ⁷I form the light and create the darkness; ⁸Drip down, O heavens, from above,

⁹Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— ¹⁰Woe to him who says to his father, ¹¹Thus says the LORD, ¹²It is I who made the earth ¹³I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness,

¹⁴This is what the LORD says: ¹⁵Truly You are a God who hides Himself, ¹⁶They will all be put to shame and humiliated; ¹⁷But Israel will be saved by the LORD

¹⁸For thus says the LORD, ¹⁹I have not spoken in secret, ²⁰Come, gather together, and draw near, ²¹Speak up and present your case—

²²Turn to Me and be saved, ²³By Myself I have sworn; ²⁴Surely they will say of Me, ²⁵In the LORD all descendants of Israel

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01vv. 1-25God Calls CyrusThe chapter's only section presents Cyrus as the LORD's anointed, raised up to subdue nations, open gates, and accomplish God's purpose for Jacob and Israel, even though Cyrus does not truly know Him. From there the argument widens: no one may contend with the Creator over His methods, Egypt and Cush will one day acknowledge God in Israel, idols will be ashamed, and the ends of the earth are invited to turn and be saved because the LORD alone is God.