Coney Hill Baptist Church

Demonstrating God’s Love Together

Cyrus - Unexpected Saviour

2 Chronicles 36:15-23

¹⁵ The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. ¹⁷ He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁸ He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. ¹⁹ They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.

²⁰ He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. ²¹ The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.

²² In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:

²³ "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
" 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.' "

Isaiah 45:1-7

¹ "This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
       to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
       to subdue nations before him
       and to strip kings of their armour,
       to open doors before him
       so that gates will not be shut:

² I will go before you
       and will level the mountains ;
       I will break down gates of bronze
       and cut through bars of iron.

³ I will give you the treasures of darkness,
       riches stored in secret places,
       so that you may know that I am the LORD,
       the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant,
       of Israel my chosen,
       I summon you by name
       and bestow on you a title of honour,
       though you do not acknowledge me.

⁵ I am the LORD, and there is no other;
       apart from me there is no God.
       I will strengthen you,
       though you have not acknowledged me,

⁶ so that from the rising of the sun
       to the place of its setting
       men may know there is none besides me.
       I am the LORD, and there is no other.

⁷ I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.

Intro:

Although a relatively minor biblical character, Cyrus is one of the most famous, and significant, historical figures to appear in scripture. He was the most powerful man on earth, leading the Persian empire in its expansion across vast swathes of the eastern world, sweeping away many of previously dominant civilisations, including, crucially, the Babylonians.

He was not a member of God’s people, as the Old Testament understood it. He had probably never heard of the God of Abraham. In fact, one of the reasons he is so well known is because he conquered not through military might alone but through more subtle politics and diplomacy. In particular, he allowed freedom of religion – the famous cylinder, held in the British Museum, contains an edict of his at the time of the taking over of Babylon, just the time that the passages that we read refer to (539 BC), ascribing his victory to Marduk, the god of the Babylonians. The last verse of 2 Chronicles records something similar, where Cyrus appears to acknowledge Israel’s God, and certainly allows his people to go home. Enlightened leadership? Maybe, but whether he knew it or not, there was one even greater than he, who was truly in charge here. There are few cases in all history which better demonstrate how even when it appears otherwise, and when God’s people are few and far between, the Lord reigns.

Exile… A Time of Despair …

‘…no remedy’ (v.16)

The Chronicles have taken us from David’s rise to the throne to this final chapter, seemingly the very end of the road.

Yet God never absent …

‘all the time of its desolation, it rested… in fulfilment of the word of the Lord’ (v.21)

That final verse, a strange proclamation from a foreign, pagan king, is presented as a fulfilment of prophecy, a real future hope…

Salvation… A Time of God’s Action … (v’s. 1-4)

It marks a time of God’s decisive activity, that’s what salvation is, a rescuing act of God. But Cyrus – the Lord’s anointed, a saviour? It seems extraordinary, there must be better qualified people around, the faithful few in Judah, the key leaders in Babylon, but no, this world leader is chosen … no-one, nor anything in the whole of the world, is beyond God’s jurisdiction.

This, most powerful of people, is pictured as having his hand held, of there being one who goes before him, having scripted events in advance, opening the doors along the way.

It is He, rather than King Cyrus, whose real power is demonstrated and whose rewards are granted. It is His plan and purpose that is being revealed.

Salvation… A Time To Acknowledge God’s Lordship (v’s 5-7)

The coming of a Saviour though is also a time for those looking on to act decisively. Who or what are they going to believe in, in whom will they place their trust. The prophet is writing though not just for history’s sake. That might have been the intent of the Chronicler, it certainly was for the curator of the British Museum. But Isaiah’s painting a bigger picture, one more important for me and you. He’s saying to anyone who will listen, even when there is no hope, seemingly no way forward, no remedy, there is God. When there is no-one around to help, all the heroes have gone and you all alone, there is God. Wherever you are, despite appearances, in every place at every time, through all circumstances, there is God.

Conc.

In the OT, a small select band of individuals are ascribed the title ‘saviour’, ‘anointed one’. Cyrus is perhaps the most unexpected and extraordinary. But they all look towards another, someone who Isaiah also writes about, an ultimate saviour, not a messiah, but The Messiah … whose rescue will dwarf even the exploits of the Persian Empire. This is His story, this is His table. (Isaiah 53)

Office Address:

Coney Hill Road

West Wickham

Kent

BR4 9BU