Isaiah 45:2, commentary and pictures

God promised to go ahead of Cyrus to clear his path, straightening what was crooked and shattering brass gates and iron bars that stood for fortified obstacles. The promise named Cyrus by name as His anointed more than a century before he was born, to subdue nations before him. It was literally fulfilled when the Medes and Persians under Cyrus entered Babylon by the emptied river channel and through inner gates left open in careless security, taking the seemingly impregnable city unawares. That conquest opened the way for Israel's release without price or reward, for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and for the foundation of the temple to be laid. He still goes before His workers to prepare the way, smooth rough places, remove apparent difficulties, bring order out of confusion, and comfort and strengthen faint hearts, so no worker can be a savior but must depend wholly on Christ in prayer.

Cyrus and Babylon's Fall

The promise is that God Himself would go ahead of Cyrus to clear his way, straightening what was crooked and shattering brass gates and iron bars that pictured fortified obstacles to his appointed work of conquest and release. That word was spoken through Isaiah more than a century before Cyrus was born, naming Cyrus the Great by name as God's anointed, whose right hand God holds to subdue nations before him. The gates of brass were Babylon's literal fortress gates set in its massive walls, guarded by the Euphrates River and stocked with abundant provision, and though the fortress seemed impregnable the pleasure-seeking monarch within felt safe and spent his time in mirth and revelry.

The prophecy foretold the very manner of Babylon's capture, describing the taking of the city unawares with its gates opened and not shut. It was literally fulfilled when the combined armies of the Medes and Persians under Cyrus made an unexpected entry into the heart of the city by way of the river channel whose waters had been turned aside and through inner gates left open and unprotected in careless security. The coming of that army before the walls of Babylon was a sign to the Jews that deliverance from captivity was drawing near, giving them abundant evidence that God was shaping the affairs of nations in their behalf.

The promise is inseparably linked with Cyrus performing God's pleasure by conquering, opening the way for Israel's release, letting the captives go not for price nor reward, and preparing for Jerusalem to be built, the city to be rebuilt, the foundation of the temple to be laid, and the return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Daniel knew the prophecies concerning Cyrus, and just at the time God had said the temple at Jerusalem should be rebuilt God moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern them, and when Cyrus saw them before his eyes his heart was profoundly moved and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission to free the Judean captives and help restore the temple of Jehovah. As Cyrus was raised to the throne of the world empire to carry out God's purpose and set free the Lord's captives, so Caesar Augustus was made God's agent to bring the mother of Jesus, who was of David's lineage, to Bethlehem so that the Son of David would be born in David's city.

God's Purpose and Salvation

Isaiah 45:2 stands in Isaiah 41-45, which very fully reveal God's purpose for His people and are to be prayerfully studied. In this setting God instructs His people not to turn away from His wisdom to look to finite man for wisdom, but to rely on His wisdom rather than finite human counsel. The surrounding message is that salvation, righteousness, and strength are found in the Lord alone.

As Jacob and Israel they are His servants who shall not be forgotten, He has blotted out their transgressions and redeemed them, and they are to look unto Him alone as God for salvation. In the Lord is righteousness and strength, and in Him all the seed of Israel shall be justified and shall glory. The passage calls God's people to awaken out of sleep, for the great want most displeasing to God is the want of love, patience, forbearance, and confidence.

Those in Melbourne are called to heed the messages God has given them and to open the door of their hearts to faith that works by love and sanctifies the soul. The chapter reveals the greatness of God's love and compassion in pure, excellent language, holding the loftiest themes of thought with elevating, ennobling principles. It requires stretching the faculties of the mind to comprehend it, and it belongs in schools as a valuable study, better than romance or fables, with the Word of God revealed in living characters.

It tells of the city being sought whose Builder and Maker is God, teaching that heaven is home and citizenship is above. Lives must not be devoted to a world soon to be destroyed.

God Before His Workers

The promise still holds that God goes ahead of His people and clears away what would block their way. It encourages them that He will help them as they follow Him and labor to reach others, and that He can use them in that work for the glory of His name. Only God can make crooked things straight, and no mortal person can be a savior, so workers must depend on the Lord Jesus Christ for strength and take everything to God in prayer.

In great mission work such as Africa, God goes before His workers to prepare the way and make the rough places smooth. When plans are laid with infinite wisdom, talked over together with earnest prayer, and carried out for Christ in perfect unity with unselfish interest and brotherly love, He directs the right way to work. He then removes apparent difficulties that threaten to obstruct the pathway and sends His angels to be present, because it is His work.

His going before His people to straighten what is crooked means bringing comfort and consolation to many hearts. It means strengthening the weak, encouraging the feeble, and raising up the despondent, while bringing order out of confusion and throwing light on what is dark and obscure. Making the crooked places straight is work done in the strength of the Redeemer by revealing the character of Christ in wisdom and power. This happens when self is not woven into the work and the worker strives in spirit to be Christlike, becoming meek and lowly in heart, with angels cooperating in revival efforts.