April 28, 2024: Isaiah 46:11 - God's Counsel Shall Stand

“Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” - Isaiah 46:11

In this Scripture verse, God reiterates that it is He Himself who will bring the man whom He has chosen, Cyrus, to free the captives of Judah from the grip of the Babylonian empire. King Cyrus will come like a bird stalking its prey, swooping down upon Babylon, leaving it helpless in the bird’s claws. Let us read the other Scriptures that include these prophecies that foretell of a man not even yet born who would receive power from God Himself to accomplish the work of God:

“Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins [armour] of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass [bronze], and cut in sunder the bars of iron: and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:1-5)

God gave to Isaiah the prophecy of this man who would be born, would be named Cyrus, would become king of Persia, and would attack and overthrow Babylon, the ruling empire at that time. God tells us His reasons for doing this: that Cyrus and everyone alive would know that He is God and there is no God beside Him and for the sake of His people Israel and Jacob.

Let us read what Wikipedia writes of King Cyrus and the fall of Babylon (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Babylon):

The fall of Babylon was the decisive event that marked the total defeat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire to the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 539 BCE. Nabonidus, the final Babylonian king and son of the Assyrian priestess Adad-guppi,[4] ascended to the throne in 556 BCE, after overthrowing his predecessor Labashi-Marduk. For long periods, he would entrust rule to his son Belshazzar, who was a capable soldier but a poor politician. As a result, he was somewhat unpopular with many of his subjects, particularly the priesthood and the military class.[5] To the east, the Persians had been growing in strength under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, who would soon lead a military expedition into Babylonian territory. In October 539 BCE, after the Battle of Opis, the Persian army made entry into the capital city of Babylon. With the success of Cyrus' campaign, Babylonia was incorporated into the Persian realm as a satrapy. As recorded in the Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus vowed to respect the Babylonian people and also allowed incarcerated peoples to return to their homelands, most notably including the Babylonians' captives from Judah.

God prophecies He gave through His prophet Isaiah foretold that not only would King Cyrus free the captives of Judah, but he would also make the way for them to rebuild their destroyed city of Jerusalem and rebuild their temple, as the first one had been destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon:

“I have raised him [Cyrus] up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 45:13)

“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up the rivers: 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.” (Isaiah 44:28)

“For thus saith the LORD, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:10)

2 Chronicles records the proclamation made by King Cyrus regarding him allowing the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple:

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that the made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house [temple] in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.” (2 Chronicles 36:23)

The Jews did exactly that and were in the process of building the temple when their enemies came and said to them:

“Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house [temple] unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of [tried to discourage] the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:2-5)

The non-Jewish people in the surrounding lands of Jerusalem were against the Jews and opposed to their rebuilding of the temple. Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of them even went so far as to write “a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort.” (Ezra 4:8):

“Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have [receive] maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet [proper] for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified [informed] the king; that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion [dominion] on this side the river.” (Ezra 4:12-16)

Artaxerxes, the king of Persia at that time, then wrote them back:

“Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them cease by force and power [of arms]. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:17-24)

The nations against Israel had a temporary victory against the Jews and caused the rebuilding of the temple that had begun to stop. However, that was not the end and the rebuilding of the temple began in the second year of king Darius. Once again, people came against the Jews because of their rebuilding of the temple and the wall around Jerusalem:

“Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river [the Euphrates River], and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house [temple], and to make up [finish] this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make [were constructing] this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.” (Ezra 5:1-5)

The men that confronted the Jews who were rebuilding the temple wrote a letter to king Darius. This is what they wrote in the letter:

“The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: they sent a letter to him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house [temple] of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? We asked their names also, to certify [inform] thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.” (Ezra 5:6-10)

They documented in their letter the response of the elders of the Jews to their line of questioning:

“And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house [temple] that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.” (Ezra 5:11-12)

The Jewish elders correctly acknowledged that it was God Himself who had allowed the people of Judah to be taken captive by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar because of their sins against God, and it was He who allowed the king to destroy their temple. The Jews continued:

“But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; and said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even unto now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.” (Ezra 5:13-16)

The elders of the Jews explained to them that not only did Cyrus, who had conquered Babylon, make a decree to build the temple, but he had also ordered that the vessels of the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple to Babylon be returned to the temple in Jerusalem. It was also stated that a Babylonian Jewish governor had laid the foundation of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

Tatnai and all who opposed the Jews continued in their letter to the king:

“Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.” (Ezra 5:17)

Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and their companions appealed to king Darius in their letter, asking for proof from the Babylonian archives that king Cyrus had in fact decreed that the Jews, whom he had allowed to return to their homeland in Jerusalem, were allowed to rebuild their temple. Ezra 6 documents what happened next:

“Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls [archives], where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house [Temple} be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house [treasury]: and also let the golden and silver vessels out of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.” (Ezra 6:1-5)

What an astounding decree that had been made by king Cyrus! Not only had he decreed that the Jewish temple in Jerusalem would be built, but it would be strongly constructed and the funding for its construction would be paid for out of king Cyrus’ treasury! He also ordered that the vessels that had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar from the first Jewish temple and sent to Babylon be returned to the rebuilt temple. That is quite astonishing that king Cyrus would make such a decree and that it had been preserved in writing.

Let us read what king Darius then wrote to the men who had opposed the Jewish elders who had begun rebuilding the temple:

“Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.” (Ezra 6:6-8)

I can only imagine that these words Darius wrote to Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and their companions certainly were not what they expected! They had written to him with the goal of stopping the rebuilding of the temple and must certainly not have expected to hear that not only would he allow the rebuilding to continue but that it would be funded by the king’s treasury, as was originally decreed by king Cyrus! Let us read what else king Darius wrote to them:

“And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and destroy this house [temple] of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.” (Ezra 6:9-12)

King Darius’ words to them are simply amazing to me! Not only was he fully supporting and enforcing the decree his predecessor, King Cyrus, had made regarding the Jews rebuilding their temple, but he also supported and funded the temple sacrifices. Further, Darius said that anyone who would alter his decree would be put to death. In his last stunning statement, he said that God who dwells there in the temple would “destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem.”

Let us read what the response was of Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and those with them when they finished reading Darius’ words to them and what happened afterwards:

“Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.” (Ezra 6:13-15)

The book of Ezra is an astounding testimony to the power of God, the ONLY God, the God of Jacob and Israel. Despite all their attempts in preventing the rebuilding of the second Jewish temple from happening, not only was it rebuilt, but the rebuilding of it was commanded by decree and funded by the kings of the Medo-Persian Empire. God truly had used king Cyrus in an unexpected way to the benefit of the Jews. Long before Cyrus was even born, 150 years before, God had spoken His word about how He would raise up a man named Cyrus whom He would use to free the captives of Judah, allow them to return to their homeland, and provide the means for the temple to be rebuilt. God brought His words to pass through a man from the east who would execute His counsel from a far country. May we know that He is God and there is none else. May we know that there is none like Him. May we remember that whatever He says about Israel will come to pass, and no man nor nation can thwart the plans of God for them. May we remember this as we see in our world today a growing increase in hatred against the Jews, as the Bible foretells would happen in the last days before the return of Christ. May we remember and heed Almighty God’s words to all of us:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burnt the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psalm 46)

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4)

“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and call thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded [disgraced]: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan [winnow] them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:8-16) ✝️