Isa 45:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | 45:1 anointed one: This designation, commonly reserved for David or the Messiah, is here applied to Cyrus. Cyrus was anointed in the sense that he was selected to fulfill a special mission. This title was never used of any other foreign ruler (cp. 1 Sam 10:1 ; Rom 13:1 ). • whose right hand he will empower: The Lord would give Cyrus victory over Babylon (see Isa 43:14 ).

a45:1►

b1 Sam 10:1►

cRom 13:1►

dIsa 43:14►

e45:3►

f41:21-29►

g45:4-5►

h45:7►

‏ Isaiah 45:1-7

45:1 ^a anointed one: This designation, commonly reserved for David or the Messiah, is here applied to Cyrus. Cyrus was anointed in the sense that he was selected to fulfill a special mission. This title was never used of any other foreign ruler (cp. 1 Sam 10:1 ^b; Rom 13:1 ^c).

• whose right hand he will empower: The Lord would give Cyrus victory over Babylon (see Isa 43:14 ^d).
45:3 ^e so you may know: Cyrus’s victories provided factual proof that the Lord has the power to fulfill his plans, whereas idols and false gods do not (see 41:21-29 ^f).
Summary for Isa 45:4-5: 45:4-5 ^g I call you by name: Cyrus did not know the Lord, but the Lord knew him. Isaiah predicted the rescuer Cyrus by name 150 years in advance. This prophecy would prove to the exiles that the Lord is indeed God and that he knows the future.
45:7 ^h light ... darkness ... good times and bad times: Everything is under God’s control.