Ezr 1:1, 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…
Josephus and others believe that the prophet Daniel showed the book of Jeremiah to Cyrus!
Dan 1:21, 9:2, Thus Daniel continued until the FIRST YEAR OF KING CYRUS…. I, Daniel, UNDERSTOOD BY THE BOOKS the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD THROUGH JEREMIAH THE PROPHET…
Ezr 1:2-3, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HAS GIVEN ME. AND HE HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE AT JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH…. LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
In the prophecy of Jeremiah, written about 150 years before the birth of Cyrus, GOD CALLED CYRUS BY NAME!
Isa 45:1, 4-5, “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, … I HAVE EVEN CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; I HAVE NAMED YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME. I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; THERE IS NO GOD BESIDES ME. I WILL GIRD YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME.
Cyrus didn’t know the LORD, yet GOD anointed him, guided him, blessed him and used him for HIS work! HOW MUCH MORE US WHO SAY WE KNOW HIM! HAS HE STIRRED YOUR HEART FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY?
Pro 21:1, THE KING’S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, LIKE THE RIVERS OF WATER; HE TURNS IT WHEREVER HE WISHES.
Remember in the eyes of the LORD, though we don’t at all deserve it, we are kings and priest!
Rev 1:6, AND HAS MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO HIS GOD AND FATHER, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Cyrus was indeed honored by GOD as HE called him by name! YET, TRUE HONOR AND GLORY WILL BE FOR THOSE WHOS NAME ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE!