GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

One century before Cyrus was born, God had already prophesied his birth and anointed him for the task of returning the exiled Jews to Jerusalem. In that sense, Cyrus is a messiah (lower case messiah, which means anointed/appointed one for an office or task) to deliver the Jews from exile. Cyprus returned the Jews to Jerusalem without receiving any monetary compensation (v. 13). In fact, he even gave money to the Jews to build Jerusalem and the temple. It is incredible that God can even use earthly pagan rulers to fulfill His promises. God again used earthly rulers to restore the Jews to Israel in 1948.

If Israel can be restored through a pagan, earthly ruler, how much greater is the restoration of Israel through the promised Messiah? When Jesus returns, nations that have mistreated the Jews will bow down to the Jews and worship the Holy One of Israel. Every tongue shall swear allegiance to God (see Rom. 14:11). When this happens, the Jews should not be surprised by this because God had already prophesied it. God hides Himself from idol worshippers, but He will Himself to the whole idolatrous world in the end times. Even now, God calls all Christians to reveal Him to the whole world through the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20).

God often times fulfill His promises or answer our prayers through providence, not through miracles. He providentially returned the Jews through Cyrus. He did not zap the Jews and miraculously teleported them to Jerusalem. Such providence is miraculous in a different way. Be sure to know that God’s miraculous providence is working for your character building every day so that you will be more and more like Jesus, conformed to the image of God. All things work for the good of those who love God (Rom. 8:28).

居鲁士诞生的前一个世纪，神已经预言了这件事，并膏他完成使命，叫犹太人能归耶路撒冷。这里，居鲁士犹如弥赛亚似的，因为他要救犹太人脱离流亡的日子。居鲁士在不受任何工价或赏赐的情况下让犹太人归回耶路撒冷（13节）。实际上，他还出钱让犹太人重建耶路撒冷和圣殿。神非常奇妙，甚至能用世俗的外邦领导成就祂的应许。在1948年，神再次用了地上的君王使犹太人归以色列。

倘若以色列能借着一个世俗的外邦领导使之复兴，借着应许的弥赛亚之复兴的以色列将如此之大？耶稣再来时，虐待犹太人的列国将在他们面前屈膝，且要向以色列的圣者跪拜。万口必向神誓言要效忠祂（见罗14:11）。当这一切发生的时候，犹太人不当感到惊讶，因为神已经预言此事。神向拜偶像的自隐，但要在末日时向这个崇拜偶像的世界显示自己。即便今日，神召所有基督徒要借着福音向全世界显示祂是谁（太28:18-20）。