I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight

Isaiah 45:1-13

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains 

For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground.

Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’

“This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty.”

Why?

Cyrus is God's anointed king, who will rise up in righteousness, rebuild Jacob's city, and set Jacob's exile free. All of these things come true later.

My God is the Lord, and there are no others; apart from me, there is no God.

What are my idols today? All are created by the Lord. My life and my strength are in the hands of the Lord. 

It is the Lord who is in charge of my future and my way.

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古列波斯王，神會使用基督徒，也使用教會以外的人，讓人知道這世界在神的手中。

神興起古列是為了神的國。波斯不僅知道本來在耶和華手中，現在把這些權柄交給古列王，為要讓他使以色列人歸回。

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How?

Humble me and give honor to the Lord. There is no god except the Lord. 

Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, and woe to the one who says to his parent, 'What have you begotten? or What have your brought to birth? All of us are created, how can we quarrel with the maker?