1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah (Ezra 1:1-2).
God in His sovereignty accomplishes His purposes through people. In this case, He uses a pagan king to authorize and support the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus was generally a generous king, often being gracious to those he had conquered. This was so because God worked through Cyrus. Cyrus did not really appear to know God, but God knew Cyrus and God created Cyrus for a specific purpose. That purpose was to allow God’s people to rebuild Jerusalem. Ultimately, people cannot not thwart God’s will and purposes for their lives. God often raises people up for very specific purposes, sometimes even without them being fully aware of those purposes. God is sovereign.
God in His sovereignty accomplishes His purposes through people. In this case, He uses a pagan king to authorize and support the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus was generally a generous king, often being gracious to those he had conquered. This was so because God worked through Cyrus. Cyrus did not really appear to know God, but God knew Cyrus and God created Cyrus for a specific purpose. That purpose was to allow God’s people to rebuild Jerusalem. Ultimately, people cannot not thwart God’s will and purposes for their lives. God often raises people up for very specific purposes, sometimes even without them being fully aware of those purposes. God is sovereign.
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