Isaiah 44:28

That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. THAT SAITH OF CYRUS, (HE IS) MY SHEPHERD - type of Messiah (; ; ; ). AND SHALL PERFORM ALL MY PLEASURE - so Messiah (; ). This is the first time Cyrus is named expressly; and that 150 years before the time when, in 550 BC, he began his reign. The name comes from the Persian Khorschid, Kohr: Sanskrit, sura, 't...

28._Saying to Cyrus. _This is a remarkable passage, in which we not only may see the wonderful providence of God, but which likewise contains a striking proof of the truth and certainty of the prophecies. Here “Cyrus” was named long before he was born; for between the death of Manasseh, by whom Isaiah was slain, and the birth of “Cyrus,” more than a century intervened. Besides, even though he had been born, who would have conjectured that he should come from the most distant mountains of Persia to Babylon? These things ought therefore to be carefully observed, for they shew clearly that it was not by a human spirit that Isaiah spoke. No one would ever have thought that there would be a person named “Cyrus,” who should fly from the most distant and barbarous countries to deliver the people of God. (190) As to the objection made by infidels, that those things might have been forged by the...

21-28 Return unto me. It is the great concern of those who have backslidden from God, like the Jews of old, to hasten their return to him. The work of redemption wrought for us by Christ, encourages to hope for all blessings from him. Our transgressions and our sins are as a thick cloud between heaven and earth: sins separate between us and God; they threaten a storm of wrath. When God pardons sin, he blots out, he dispels this cloud, this thick cloud, so that the way to heaven is open again. The cloud is scattered by the Sun of righteousness; it is quite gone. The comforts that flow into the soul when sin is pardoned, are like clear shining after clouds and rain. Let not Israel be discouraged; nothing is too hard for God: having made all, he can make what use he pleases of any. Those that learn to know Christ, see all knowledge to be foolishness, in comparison with the knowledge of him...

Verse Isaiah 44:28. _THAT SAITH OF CYRUS, HE_ IS _MY SHEPHERD_ - "Who saith to Cyrus, Thou art my shepherd"] _Pastor meus_ es; _Vulg_. The true reading seems to be רעי אתה _roi attah_; the word אתה _attah_, has probably been dropped out of the text. The same word is lost out of the text, Psalms 119:57. It is supplied in the _Septuagint_ by the word ει, _thou art_. _SAYING TO JERUSALEM_] For ולאמר _velemor_, the _Septuagint_ and _Vulgate_ read האומר _haomer_. _AND TO THE TEMPLE_] ולהיכל _uleheychal_, as לירושלם _lirushalayim_, before; the preposition is necessary, and the _Vulgate_ seems to read so. - _Houbigant_. That saith of CYRUS,

THAT SAITH OF CYRUS - This is the first time in which Cyrus is expressly named by Isaiah, though he is often referred to. He is mentioned by him only in one other place expressly by name Isaiah 45:1. He is several times mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament 2 Chronicles 26:22; Ezra 1:1, Ezra 1:7; Ezra 3:7; Ezra 4:3; Ezra 5:13,...

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 44:1 A PROPHECY OF ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL RECOVERY AND REGENERATION. This section is closely connected with Isaiah 43:1; of which it ought to form the conclusion. The prophet cannot bear to leave Israel under a ban—its spiritual guides "profaned," and itself given over to "reproaches." He must end with a brighter prospect. Accordingly, he holds out, in the present passage, the double hope (1) of the blessing of an abundant outpouring of the Spirit, to take the place of the preceding "curse" (Isaiah 43:28); and (2)

THAT SAITH OF CYRUS, HE IS MY SHEPHERD,.... Or Coresh, as his name in the Hebrew language is; and in the Persian tongue signifies the "sun"; from whence he had his name, as Ctesias q and Plutarch r say; to which the Hebrew word "cheres", which signifies the "sun", has some affinity; though Joseph Scaliger s would have the name of Cyrus to signify "food" in the Persian language, and which answers to his character as a shepherd. The father of this illustrious person was Cambyses, king of Persia; his mother's name was Mandane, daughter of Astyages, king of Media t. This prophecy, concerning him, was nearly two hundred years before he was born. Josephus says u, that Cyrus read this prophecy himself, which Isaiah had delivered out two hundred and ten years before; and which is a proof both of God's prescience of future contingencies, and of the truth of divine revelation. The Lord honours him...

In this chapter, God encourages his Church by a promise of the visitation of his Spirit. Oh, that it may be fulfilled to us also! Isaiah 44:1. _Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:_ That is exactly what we need. Oh, that God would thus revive his Church! A little while ago, you saw the earth become dry and brown and bare, the very pastures were chapped and parched, and opened their mouths to cry for rain. What could we have done if the clouds had still withheld their nourishment? But at last down came the refreshing showers, and all

CYRUS Compare (1 Kings 13:2) where Josiah was mentioned by name three hundred years before his birth....

CHAPTER 44 Jehovah Continues to Speak 1. _Spiritual blessings promised by the gift of the Spirit (Isaiah 44:1)_ 2. _Jehovah the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6)_ 3. _Idolatry rebuked (Isaiah 44:9)_ 4. _Remember! Return! Sing! (Isaiah 44:21)_ 5. _The faithful Jehovah, the Redeemer (Isaiah 44:24)_ 6. _Cyrus named (Isaiah 44:28)_ The outpouring of the Spirit upon Israel's seed promised in the beginning of the chapter has not ye