Fulfilled Prophecy - Ezra 1:1-4

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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 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.  Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.  And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.--Ezra 1:1-4

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

The Book of Ezra begins with fulfillment of prophecy.  The above verses are the proclamation by Cyrus to release the people of Israel from captivity. It gave the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city walls. Jeremiah said that the Jews would be in captivity for 70 years. (See Jeremiah 25:12-14,  Jeremiah 29:10, Jeremiah 33:7-13)  This prophecy was fulfilled when the decree from Cyrus went out and ended seventy years of captivity for the Jews.

"The seventy-year period can be calculated in two ways: from 605 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and led off the first deportation, to 535 B.C., when the foundation of the temple was laid; or from the fall of Jerusalem, in 586 B.C., to the completion of the temple, in 516 B.C."--Believer's Bible Commentary


Now maybe that is not enough for you...wait there's more.  Isaiah 44:24 begins:

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “ I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;  Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant,  And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places;  Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’--Isaiah 44:24-28 (Emphasis mine)

The above was written 180 years before Cyrus' decree went forth...150 years before Cyrus was even born. And yet....and yet the prophet Isaiah by the word of the Lord calls this guy by name. He would not be born until 150 years in the future and yet the Lord named him. Isaiah 45 continues and it is so worth reading.

“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him  And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors,  So that the gates will not be shut:    I will break in pieces the gates of bronze  And cut the bars of iron.  I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.  For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect,  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, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;"

Amazing...supernatural.  Evidence of the inspiration of God!  Here the Lord, speaking through the prophet, spoke of future events with supernatural detail.  He names Cyrus and then in chapter 45 says "I have named you, though you have not known Me." The Lord knows each of us like that. Psalm 139 says this in verse 16:  "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me,  When as yet there were none of them"  Fulfilled prophecy is not the reason I came to Christ but it is one of the very telling reasons I believe that the Bible is indeed the word of God.  Reading them are always an encouragement to my faith. And yes there is more in regard to this decree...next Daniel's seventy week prophecy that begins with Cyrus' decree and ends with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.


Love
Mom