God’s sovereignty directs rulers and nations to accomplish His good purposes and bring hope to those who trust in Him.
"I have aroused him in righteousness and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free, Without any payment or reward,” says the LORD of hosts. (45:13)
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah delivers a remarkable promise from God concerning a future ruler who will execute the LORD’s righteous purposes. Historically, this refers to Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC), the Persian king who conquered Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jewish exiles to return home and rebuild Jerusalem, the “city” mentioned here. Scripture often speaks well of Cyrus, describing him as an instrument in God’s hand to accomplish the restoration of His people, even though Cyrus himself was not part of Israel. Through Isaiah’s prophecy, God makes clear that He is sovereign over all rulers and nations and works mightily through whomever He chooses, including foreign kings, for His redemptive plan.
The phrase “He will build My city and will let My exiles go free” speaks to the literal return of Judean exiles from Babylonian captivity, which Cyrus authorized (Ezra 1:1-4). The prophet Isaiah wrote more than a century in advance of this event, underscoring God’s foreknowledge and His steadfast commitment to redeem and restore those who trust in Him. Although it is a decree involving politics and empire, the verse resounds with spiritual significance: just as God orchestrates the movements of kingdoms, He also orchestrates the deliverance and spiritual rebuilding of His people.
New Testament believers can look back on this prophecy and see a picture of God’s intricate will that extends beyond any one nation. Just as the LORD promised to “arouse” Cyrus to fulfill a specific call, God continued to guide history forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, who ultimately frees the world from the captivity of sin (John 8:36). Isaiah 45:13 points forward to the unshakeable truth that God directs all happenings—both for Israel’s physical return and for humanity’s eternal redemption.
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Isaiah 45:13 meaning
"I have aroused him in righteousness and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free, Without any payment or reward,” says the LORD of hosts. (45:13)
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah delivers a remarkable promise from God concerning a future ruler who will execute the LORD’s righteous purposes. Historically, this refers to Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC), the Persian king who conquered Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jewish exiles to return home and rebuild Jerusalem, the “city” mentioned here. Scripture often speaks well of Cyrus, describing him as an instrument in God’s hand to accomplish the restoration of His people, even though Cyrus himself was not part of Israel. Through Isaiah’s prophecy, God makes clear that He is sovereign over all rulers and nations and works mightily through whomever He chooses, including foreign kings, for His redemptive plan.
The phrase “He will build My city and will let My exiles go free” speaks to the literal return of Judean exiles from Babylonian captivity, which Cyrus authorized (Ezra 1:1-4). The prophet Isaiah wrote more than a century in advance of this event, underscoring God’s foreknowledge and His steadfast commitment to redeem and restore those who trust in Him. Although it is a decree involving politics and empire, the verse resounds with spiritual significance: just as God orchestrates the movements of kingdoms, He also orchestrates the deliverance and spiritual rebuilding of His people.
New Testament believers can look back on this prophecy and see a picture of God’s intricate will that extends beyond any one nation. Just as the LORD promised to “arouse” Cyrus to fulfill a specific call, God continued to guide history forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, who ultimately frees the world from the captivity of sin (John 8:36). Isaiah 45:13 points forward to the unshakeable truth that God directs all happenings—both for Israel’s physical return and for humanity’s eternal redemption.