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In this opening verse of Ezra, we read Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying (v. 1). This sets the stage at a precise historical moment-the first year of Cyrus, who reigned over Persia from 559 to 530 BC. Here, we see a divinely orchestrated move in which the Lord aligns a powerful king’s heart and actions with previously declared prophecy through the prophet Jeremiah. By referencing Jeremiah’s words, the text underscores how God’s sovereign plans come to pass through world events and political powers.
The geographical context is the expansive Persian Empire, which Cyrus ruled, including the territory of former Babylon after he captured it in 539 BC. Persia was centered in the region of modern-day southwestern Iran, and its rule extended across vast lands of the ancient Near East. In this moment, the edict goes out from the core of the empire, demonstrating that the Lord can direct the affairs of any region or ruler to accomplish His covenant purposes.
Because the LORD stirred up King Cyrus, we see that God’s promises and prophecies remain steadfast. The original captivity of the people of Judah in Babylon is now on the brink of reversal. By stirring the king’s spirit, the Lord ensures that the chosen people will be allowed to return to their homeland, fulfilling the promise stated through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:10). Ezra’s account reveals a God who intervenes at exactly the right time, moving even the mightiest of kings to accomplish His redemptive plan.
Used with permission from TheBibleSays.com.
You can access the original article here.
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