The Sovereign
5/15/26 Bible Thought (Isaiah 45-46)
Main Idea: The living God is the Sovereign of sovereigns.
A Look at the Text:
Early in Isaiah 41, we heard of a coming ruler from the east. In chapter 44, he was introduced by name. Now in chapter 45, this reality is unpacked further. Cyrus, King of Persia, would be raised up by Yahweh as His chosen instrument for the destruction of Babylon.
This is made so clear as Cyrus is referred to as both God’s shepherd (Isa. 44:28) and His anointed (Isa. 45:1).
Though a pagan who didn’t know God, He was nonetheless used by God. Though a king, he was actually a subject of another Sovereign.
Cyrus would build God’s city, setting His exiles free (Isa. 45:13). Before Jerusalem was even destroyed, it was foretold that both it and its temple would be rebuilt (Isa. 44:28). This would be fulfilled centuries later in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Just as God could bring about Babylonian captivity, He could bring about Persian deliverance. Contrasting dead idols, His counsel and purpose would stand (Isa. 46:10).
Bringing it Home:
While the modern era isn’t filled with quite as much national turmoil as the days in which Isaiah prophesied, we can still be troubled when we see rulers rise and fall. It can concern us when we hear of wars around the globe. It can be scary when security seems so fleeting, especially in a day and age of nuclear warfare.
Let us rest assured, though, that just as God was sovereign then, He is sovereign now. King Solomon once reflected:
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will (Prov. 21:1).
Just as a farmer can exert power over a stream by using it to irrigate his crops,[1] so God can shift the hearts of the world’s greatest leaders at His will.
Though nations rise and fall, we can rest assured today that God is still ruling and reigning from His throne on high.
One day, every knee will bow, and tongue will confess to Him (Isa. 34:23; see also Phil. 2:9-11). If this be true, and if we have bowed our knee to Him already, we can take heart no matter what the future holds. His will will be done, and in that we can hope.
Challenge:
Do national calamities try my faith?
[1] John H Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009), 491.
Thankful for His sovereignty!