2 Chronicles 36:22-23

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah—the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up [to Jerusalem]!'"—2 Chronicles 36:22-23

My heart trembled and my spirit was encouraged as I read these words from 2 Chronicles this morning. God had promised the restoring of the captives and the rebuilding of Jerusalem at the end of 70 years...God’s word is here fulfilled by the mouth of Cyrus. God keeps His promises!  God has a plan!  

“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd (ruler),

And he will carry out all that I desire—'

Saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be built,'

And of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall [again] be laid.'"—Isaiah 44:28

Here in this verse from Isaiah 44 and contiguous verses from chapter 45, God shows His people that He knows the end from the beginning. He announces by name who will deliver his people from the Babylonian exile 200 years before the deliverer, Cyrus spoken of in 2 Chronicles was born!  

For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls [which] I have made.—Isaiah 57:16

For the Lord will not cast off forever.

Though He causes grief,

Yet He will show compassion

According to the multitude of His mercies.—Lamentations 3:31-32

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.—Matthew 5:18