Isaiah 45

45:1 anointed one: This designation, commonly reserved for David or the Messiah, is here applied to Cyrus. Cyrus was anointed in the sense that he was selected to fulfill a special mission. This title was never used of any other foreign ruler (cp. 1 Sam 10:1; Rom 13:1). • whose right hand he will empower: The Lord would give Cyrus victory over Babylon (see Isa 43:14).

45:3 so you may know: Cyrus’s victories provided factual proof that the Lord has the power to fulfill his plans, whereas idols and false gods do not (see 41:21-29).

45:4-5 I call you by name: Cyrus did not know the Lord, but the Lord knew him. Isaiah predicted the rescuer Cyrus by name 150 years in advance. This prophecy would prove to the exiles that the Lord is indeed God and that he knows the future.

45:7 light . . . darkness . . . good times and bad times: Everything is under God’s control.

45:9-13 The Lord confronts those who question his right to use a pagan king to achieve his purposes. He, the Creator, is free and sovereign in his activities. He promised to bring his people back to their land, and he would use anyone he chose to accomplish that purpose.45:9-11 pot . . . its maker . . . baby . . . its father: It is ridiculous for a creature to question the wisdom of its creator.

45:14 Egyptians . . . Ethiopians . . . Sabeans: Israel’s restoration would bring them a new sovereignty. Foreign nations would honor God, and because they recognized God’s special blessing on his people, they would also want to honor his people.

45:17 Israel would never again be humiliated and disgraced, oppressed, harassed, or abused. The finality of these declarations suggests that this promise will be fulfilled at the end of time.

45:18-25 Salvation is from the Lord alone. He is the creator, the revealer, and the executor of his will in human history. He promised to establish a new era of salvation and righteousness (see 45:8). Every human being will submit to God, either willingly or unwillingly (45:23-24).45:18 Ancient pagan people viewed the world as a place of empty chaos. However, God’s purposes are good, and he made the world from the beginning as a place to be lived in with him in harmony.

45:22 Let all the world look to me: All humanity needs to seek the Lord, the true God who created all things, while he may be found (55:6). • In God there is salvation, the only hope for all of humanity (45:8).

45:23 God’s words are always true. God’s swearing by his own name reinforces the certainty that he will never go back on his word (see also 14:24; 54:9; 62:8; Heb 6:13). • Every knee . . . every tongue: At the end of time all nations will submit to his authority, whether willingly or unwillingly (see Rom 14:11; 1 Cor 15:25-27; Phil 2:10-11).

45:24 In this context, the people are all who turn to the Lord for salvation, even those from foreign nations (45:22).

45:25 justified: Literally righteous (see also 45:8, 24).