Isaiah 45:1-7

Cyrus, God's Instrument

¹ Thus says the Lord to _p his anointed, to Cyrus,
_q whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and _r to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
² "I will go before you
and _s level the exalted places, _1
t I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
³ _u I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, _v who call you by your name.
⁴ For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
_v I call you by your name,
_w I name you, though you do not know me.
⁵ _x I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
_y I equip you, though you do not know me,
⁶ _z that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
⁷ I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and _a create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things.

1. Cross References
   Isaiah 44:28
   Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'
   
2. Cross References
   Isaiah 41:13
   For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you.
   
3. Cross References
   Job 12:21
   He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.
   Isaiah 45:5
   I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me.
   Isaiah 22:21
   And I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
   
4. Cross References
   Isaiah 40:4
   Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
   
5. Cross References
   Psalms 107:16
   For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
   
6. Cross References
   Jeremiah 50:37
   A sword against her horses and against her chariots, and against all the foreign troops in her midst, that they may become women! A sword against all her treasures, that they may be plundered!
   Jeremiah 51:13
   O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
   
7. Cross References
   Isaiah 43:1
   But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
   
8. Cross References
   Isaiah 45:3
   I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
   
9. Cross References
   Isaiah 62:2
   The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.
   
10. Cross References
    Isaiah 44:8
    Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.
    
11. Cross References
    Job 12:21
    He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.
    Isaiah 22:21
    And I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
    
12. Cross References
    Isaiah 37:20
    So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.
    Malachi 1:11
    For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.
    
13. Cross References
    Isaiah 41:23
    Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.
    Amos 3:6
    Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?