Hard Measures for Hard Times

O. T. #1654  "Hard Measures for Hard Times"
March 24, 2020
Isaiah 45-Part 2
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. (verse 3)

LET IT GLOW

Are you in need today, dear friend? God can supply it. Now I am not a prosperity teacher, but nothing is too difficult for God (Luke 1:37). During this time of isolation and sickness, God has supplied my needs, as always. And I thank Him. I have a fungi in my throat and esophagus, so I require a special diet of no sugar, no milk products, and no carbs. I have things that I can eat while I wait for healing. (Probably the fungi is from my inhaler for asthma.) Although it is definitely an adjustment for this special diet, it is doable. Hopefully, this week is the last of it. so God is my Provider and has been my Sustainer for the past three weeks. (It took that long to diagnosis me.)

Hard measures for hard times. Are you going through hard times now?

Do we stop and think about the greatness of our God (NLT)?

• He choses who is king, ruler. (verse 1)
• He empowers kings and paralyzes kings with fear. (verse 1)
• He makes the crooked places straight. (verse 2)
• He goes before the kings (and us) to level the mountains, smash down gates of bronze, and cuts through bars of iron. (verse 2)
• He gives treasures hidden in the darkness and secret riches. (verse 3)
• He does this so we know that He is the LORD. (verse 3)
• He calls us by name. (verse 3)
• God is the LORD and there is no other God. (verse 5)
• He equips us for battle, so all the world will know there is no other God. (verse 5)
• He sends the good times and bad times; light and darkness. (verse 7)
• He makes peace and evil. (verse 7)
• He does all these things. (verse 7)

God blessed Cyrus with treasures of gold and silver and riches of Babylon, which either belonged to the Babylonian king, the rich leaders, or perhaps it was from the Jewish Temple. He can bless you, dear one, with spiritual and monetary blessings as well as family and friends and neighbors.

Those will find a ready road that have God going before them. (Matthew Henry)

Do you need God to equip us for a spiritual battle that you are going through?
Do you need Him to make the crooked places straight so you get on the readied road God has for you?
Are you in need of peace, friend?
Are you praying for people to be turning to God during this stressful time of the spread of the coronavirus? He can be what you need, for God is the Great I AM!

LET IT GROW

As a reminder, we know that Prophet Isaiah wrote this divine message from God, some 150 years before Cyrus was born.

I found some interesting historical background information on Cyrus, the Great (559-530 BC). His father was the Persian King Cambyses (580-559 BC); his mother was a Median princess, daughter of Median King Astyages (585-550 BC). The Persian Empire ruled the eastern area for some 223 years.

The Euphrates River was dried up (by God) so Cyrus' army could enter Babylon via the dry riverbed and opened the gates of the city were open by Him. Some 17 days later, Cyrus himself entered the city in peace as a victorious conqueror, thus ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. (Falwell)

You might recognize some names of Cyrus's descendants: Cambyses (must have been named for his grandfather),  Darius (a Median), Pericles, Xerxes I (Ahasuerus), Artaxerxes I, Darius II, Artaxerxes II and the III, ruled in sequence.  ((Rose Book of Bible & Christian History Time Lines)

Cyrus' empire spread across 2,000 miles, including the territories of both the Assyrian and the Babylonian empires.(Life Application Study Bible)

It is an interesting note that during the Babylonian and Persian Empires, the false religions of Buddhism and Confucius were founded in those regions. Persia is the current Iran and Babylon is the current Iraq.

Another view of Cyrus, the Great, we find in this chapter, how God used him for His purpose:

• A Gentile ruler, was God's anointed and a type of Christ the Messiah and Redeemer for Israel.
• He had a special task-rebuild Jerusalem, set free the Jewish exiles, and the Temple rebuilt.
• God used an idol-worshiping king to do His work by His power.

How much more can God use His child to accomplish His will?
Are we praying for a special task during this time of confinement?

LET IT GO
How great You are, glorious King Jesus!
Revive Your churches, save the lost, provide for Your children, bless those who read this blog.
Use me for Your purpose.