Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Cyrus made a decree, and that decree began the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in the promised land. It is as if the nation was reborn, and the hope of the Messiah could be realized again.

Cyrus issued a decree, and as we spoke of earlier, this decree to release the Jews from captivity and provide access to the homeland in order to rebuild the temple was miraculous! What type of king does this type of action for a defeated people?

He issued a decree, but it is very improbable that the decree of Cyrus is related the the word spoken of in Daniel 9:25. You see, all the previous passages we have spoken of in relation to the decrees of Cyrus have had to do with the rebuilding of the temple. Daniel speaks of a decree to rebuild the City. Let us not blur the Word!

Yes, some may consider a verse in Isaiah justify seeing Cyrus as the one providing the decree referred to in Daniel 9:25.

Isaiah 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

But take note that the text speaks of God describing Cyrus as a shepherd, and then of God’s actions of Jerusalem and the temple being rebuilt. It is not specifically stating Cyrus would perform the actions of building Jerusalem or laying the foundation of the temple.

The Word does help define exactly Cyrus place in all of this process of reestablishing the nation of Israel, as Ezra describes the historical proclamation of Cyrus.

Ezra 1:1-2 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

After a careful reading, it should be obvious that Cyrus provided the decree for the temple, and that nothing is spoken by him regarding the rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem.

So Carl, you have just disproven the expected storyline of Cyrus being the one who would be the “Trigger of Prophecy”, that he would set in motion the specific decree that could calculate the coming of the Anointed One, the Prince.

Yes, Cyrus did not provide the decree to build the City, but he set in motion the inevitable process of Israel becoming a nation in the land again. Some other king – we will look at him in the future as a type of the Christ also – had the privilege start the clock for the countdown to our Saviors appearance, His passion and His glory.

For now, we are considering Cyrus, and as a type of the Christ, he has abundantly surprised me in all the ways he pointed us to the who are looking to find the Christ in the Old Testament.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Cyrus, it is well known was a Gentile, a king of Gentiles and one of the most feared and effective kings of the ancient world. He trampled over Babylon without loosing a battle, and dominating the surrounding cities. A key city in the Babylonian kingdom simply surrendered to Cyrus. No fight in them, for they knew who Cyrus was and that he was coming to get them!

How impressive was Cyrus? In order to take Babylon, he diverted a river. A river you may have heard of called the Euphrates! No small river may I say!

He was a king of kings in his day, and in his dominion over the Babylonian kingdom, he inherited a tiny nation that had been in captivity for 70 years. As he became king over Babylon, by default, he became the king over Israel, the Jewish people.

Although Jesus initially offered God’s kingdom to the Jewish people, we all know that the end goal was for all nations to know the true King, the King of Kings over both the Jewish and Gentile people groups, drawing them into the nation of God, the church.

Yes, Cyrus was a type of Christ in that he was sovereign over all nations, including those of Israel. Yet his kingship lasted at most only a few generations, and it was merely a kingdom of this earth, a physical kingdom destined for death.

Jesus kingdom is spiritual, includes all who seek Him and will never succumb to death or destruction. He is the True King of Kings over all.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Back in post 6 of this series, (Jesus in the Old Testament – Cyrus – 06) I suggested that Cyrus was a type of Christ in that he was undefeatable. In our lesson this morning, I would like to suggest that Cyrus is a type of Christ in that he subdued nations.

Some may consider this a duplication of typology, but I beg to differ. To be undefeated speaks of battle, of war, of victory over an enemy.

To subdue nations is much more than simply finding victory on the battlefield. There have been many a war in which the victorious army could not contain or govern the vanquished nation.

In our passage this morning, we find that to subdue may be translated as “conquer,” “defeat,” or “overthrow” The term has the meaning of “to beat down”. Cyrus was given the authority to defeat the nation militarily (to be undefeated) and also to control a population. He was able to subdue the people, even as he won his victories over the armies of the people.

I do not know of how he performed this act of dominance over all the nations he defeated, but with regards to the Jewish people, he subdued the Jewish nation (what was left of it) by acting out the command of God for his people. He freed them, and provided protection, and gave direction to reconstruct the city and the temple.

Cyrus’ method of subduing, or as our verse teaches, of “beating down” a people was certainly not the common method of controlling a defeated population. To beat down a people

Cyrus is known as a progressive leader, providing freedom to people groups that was unheard of prior to his arrival in history. There have been archeological findings that indicate he forwarded the rights of individuals, of providing the first declaration of human rights, giving religious tolerance and humane governance. He truly was one who subdued in a manner unheard of previously.

And yet, Cyrus’ profound and progressive manner in dealing with people groups to establish a kingdom, and to maintain his position of leader over them is only a dim comparison to the Christ.

He is the One who subdues His people by dying to give us life, providing the freedom of choice to be His people. He “beat us down” with a relentless love, a continual beckoning to peace, and the drawing of our mind and heart to the truth.

Cyrus was a man who lived a different style of leadership. His subduing was unlike any before him. Jesus also exhibited a different style of leadership, unlike any religious leader that may appear to be in competition for the attention of lost souls. His leadership has been demonstrated in the resurrection, providing to any who seek the truth ample evidence of His Lordship.

As we follow Him, we find that His leadership over His people is primarily that of grace, of a merciful King who desires the benefit of His subjects, and in doing so, shows His glory and greatness!

He has subdued nations, is subduing nations and will subdue nations! He is the only True King!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

We have seen this verse before, back in our third installment in the Cyrus study, looking at him as a shepherd, Of course his call to shepherd the people of God was a dim reflection of the Great Shepherd we have in Jesus, but he pointed to the Master.

For this post, we shall consider the description of Cyrus as a rebuilder, a servant used by God to build, and in his rebuilding, again pointed to the Master.

Both Jerusalem and the temple were to be rebuilt under the guidance of Cyrus according to our passage this morning. And as we may have mentioned earlier, when Isaiah is prophesying of this man, he lines out Cyrus’ mission quite clearly.

Imagine for a moment that you are Cyrus, that as you are dominating the nations, overpowering whole people groups and conquering vast areas of the world, you become aware of this prophecy of Isaiah. It would be hard to ignore, since Isaiah named you out in this very verse!

And while you are on a rampage of conquering, you find out you are destined to build. And not only to build a small outpost for a historically passive people, but your mission is to free a rebellious people , provide them passage back to their holy ground and then give them the right to rebuild the temple that provided the Babylonians, (a mighty world power at the time), such resistance to conquering over 70 years prior!

No wonder Isaiah clearly identified him. Calling him out by name was so necessary, for any “run of the mill” conquering general could not imagine this to be his purpose in life!

He rebuilt the temple, and the city of Jerusalem. A massive undertaking, and his leadership provided the Jewish people the freedom, resources and conditions in which they could flourish.

He took on a massive project in the rebuilding of the Temple, but in comparison to his anti-type, Jesus the Savior, it is but a dim reflection of the scope of work accomplished. Yes, Cyrus provided the conditions to enable the rebuilding of a physical temple, but how far greater the task to raise a greater Temple in only three days. To raise a Temple that would house all the people of God? To raise a Temple that would become the source of strength for a people to love their enemies, to pray for those who persecute them and to give witness to the God who went through the grace to build the true temple of God, the Body of Christ.

Our Temple is not made with hands. Jesus is the very Temple of God we belong to. May we honor His name by living as He want His people to live.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

When the Babylonians rose to power, the nation of Israel sensed a hopelessness. They knew as a nation that without the hand of God actively taking the enemy out as He had with the 185,000 Assyrians centuries before, it was just a matter of time before they were completely defeated.

That time came, about 600 years before the Lord walked on earth, when the Babylonians entered the city of Jerusalem by force, capturing all the population, ransacking the heart of the city, and pillaging the Temple, gutting the Temple of all the holy instruments. All the holy tools used for the worship of their God was taken, simply for the value of the metal. The significance of the tools, in that they were used in the worship of the Most High God was of no difference to the Babylonians. The holy was treated as the unholy, eventually used in parties or debauchery by the royalty of Babylon. That very act of using holy utensils for a party seems to be the trigger on the very night of Babylon’s fall.

Although the passage we refer to speaks of the restoration of the vessels of the Lord, it is a fitting picture of how the Lord Jesus also restores us.

Now when I first came across this term restore, I imagined it spoke of simply returning something back to usefulness, back to it’s original purpose. And surely that is the core of the meaning. Cyrus took the defiled vessels that had been used for common, ordinary use by a heathen nation, and returned these vessels to the proper custodians, those of the Jewish nation who had some recollection of their use and purpose.

Jesus also took a defiled people, returning to them a purpose and usefulness in glorifying God throughout their lives.

But I would argue that beyond the mere restoration of physical vessels as Cyrus had, Jesus not only restored a people who had a defiant will against His love, He lifted each of us to a restored purpose, a restored usefulness and a higher calling that we had prior to the fall. For prior to the fall, our first parents Adam and Eve were merely innocent before the Lord. After our Lord’s rescue, He has restored us to a higher place, giving us a standing of righteousness far greater than mere innocence.

It is for us to take that standing of righteousness and work it out in our lives to produce a practical righteousness, a righteousness that mimics our Savior’s life.

We are not simply physical vessels of gold and silver. We are a complex, broken people having been restored by the Great Restorer, Jesus Christ.

Everything Jesus does is so much more than those who show us the shadow of His Person.

May His name be praised today.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

How could a relatively unknown character such as Cyrus carry so many similarities to the Lord.

As a brief reminder, Cyrus has been described in the Old Testament in the following ways

• Anointed One
• Chosen
• Shepherd
• Liberator by peace
• Temple Builder
• Undefeatable
• Light for the Nations
• Man of God’s Counsel
• Loved by God
• Free Salvation
• Identified

This post will consider Cyrus as one especially equipped by God.

To be equipped by God is often associated with the weapons of warfare, with the tools to wage battle. This is a common refrain through the Old Testament.

Psalm 18:39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.

Cyrus was a leader of men who needed resources and the resources were supplied by a God he did not know. Victory after victory, Cyrus continued vanquishing the surrounding nations, having strength and might provided by God. His abilities to dominate over the nations were due to provided by the Lord, abilities that far exceeded the material goods that were required, but I imagine included the wisdom of strategy for each battle, the timing and execution of well laid out plans, the coordination of his generals in bringing a united front, and the manner he oversaw those he vanquished.

Few men have performed the accomplishments of Cyrus, and treated the vanquished in the way Cyrus did. He established a kingdom that was a world power. In the campaigns of defeating others and in the subsequent reigning over each people group, God equipped him with the tools, talents and endurance required for such a task.

Cyrus built a world power, equipped by God, only to have the power taken over by others. His was a glorious kingdom, elevating his name above many of his contemporaries, being equipped by the Lord Himself.

Jesus, in like manner was equipped by God to build a kingdom, though His equipping by God was for a battle that was much more demanding, with a much greater reach, and resulting in an eternal kingdom, a kingdom that could not be overtaken.

His equipping was that of the Spirit of God being displayed in mercy, laying His life down for others. This self sacrifice, this self denial and giving up is far beyond the equipping Cyrus received. For Jesus, it was the wisdom, trust and willingness to hear the Father’s voice and to obey to the very end.

He was equipped by God to provide, at the cost of His own life, a salvation that all can enter into.

Granted, it is somewhat difficult to understand the strength required to purposely be weak, to have the power of God, even the ability to call down of legions of angels, and yet have the inner strength of restraint to continue in His mission, even to be nailed to a cross.

Consider this strength!

We also are equipped by God to give, to provide for others at our own cost. The equipping by God is found in His Spirit, even as we walk with God in our daily decisions. This equipping by God will be evident in the fruit we produce through His Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23, 25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

May His name be elevated above all worldly powers.

Jesus is King!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Cyrus is a much fuller topic than I had first imagined in relation to seeing Jesus in the Old Testament. I have mentioned previously that my assumption would be a couple of posts on Cyrus, and then move onto Daniel. Wow – will there be multitudes of images of Jesus in Daniel. Can’t wait!

But this tour through the life of Cyrus has been alarming, for as I entered this topic, I will freely confess I had never considered his life as a reflection of the Master. Yet here we are at another likeness to the Son.

Isaiah speaks of Cyrus’s identification to the people of Israel, even centuries previous to his appearance. He named him, spelling out his name for the people long before his birth, in order to provide guidance to His people, to give them information in order to know He is God, that He is the One who protects, guides and provides to His people in their need.

Cyrus was identified. Clearly marked out by the prophet, described even to his name!

More than Cyrus, Jesus was also clearly marked out by the prophet’s of old. Prophecy after prophecy, type after type, the Master was identified throughout the ages, so that those who saw His life, would know of His Person.

Although this series is on the typologies throughout the Old Testament, pointing those who want to see the Messiah in the history of the Book, multiple prophecies also were provided for the seeking soul. For those curious, I provided a series on this very topic, calling it “Old Testament Messianic Prophecies” and it turned out to be overwhelming. Over 350 prophecies were considered, pointing to the King and Savior, the Great High Priest.

My friend – the evidence is overwhelming. We have been clearly informed of who the Messiah is. He has been identified in multiple ways and through various methods.

The Jews were provided a name. Cyrus.

We have been flooded with ways to recognize the Messiah. Will you confess and agree? Will you follow?

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

We are in Isaiah once again, with the Lord Jesus clearly being seen through the eyes of a redeemed, freely purchased sinner.

Ok – I am getting ahead of myself, but when I see the setting free of exiles, and that freedom from exile is not for price of reward, that simply screams grace grace grace!

Can’t you sense the completely surprising freedom that is spoken of here? Imagine those who had lived under the Babylonian captivity all their lives, for by the time Cyrus came around, the Jews had lived in Babylon near to 70 years. Bondage in a strange land, amongst those of a strange tongue had been their lives, and though there had been prophecies of the captivity only lasting 70 years, the outworking of this freedom may not have been clearly communicated to those under the yoke of their captors.

Yes – the Jews had heard of the prophecies relating to the 70 years of captivity, from Jeremiah, and of that Daniel fellow. Details may have been a bit sketchy, and not much was understood about the one through whom this freedom would come. Maybe a powerful Jewish prophet like Moses would bring the people out of their Egypt. Or better yet, maybe a mighty Jewish king, like David could rally the downtrodden to escape from a world power such as Babylon.

No – not only was the freedom to come completely without cost, but was to be from a completely unexpected instrument in God’s hand.

A heathen king names Cyrus would provide a freedom from exile for the Jewish people, a freedom that would cost them nothing but a willing heart to follow after.

The cost for this freedom was expressed with two words, amplifying the freeness (is that a word?) of the freedom.

מְחִיר mᵉchîyr

This term is commonly referring to as a price or hire. For Cyrus, this was not a consideration in releasing the Jewish community.

As a contrast, when the Word refers to Antiochus Epiphanes, he made rulers, dividing the land for filthy lucre*.

Daniel 11:39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

שַׁחַד shachad

This term may refer to a bribe or a present, even in the bribing of kings

1 Kings 15:19 “Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.”

No bribing, or convincing with filthy lucre* was required for this freedom from exile to occur.

Cyrus was not provided any kickback, leverage, or influence – other than the character appreciation this act added to his stature – in the release of the Jews from his newly acquired kingdom. As a matter of fact, he added his influence to those who remained behind to fund those who ventured out!

Surely, with very little imagination, we can recognize a glimmer of the grace of the Lord Jesus in this heathen king, for Jesus surely rescued us from our captivity, giving us the water of life without price.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

May we remember the costly salvation we have been offered without price, and be a thankful people!

*BTW – for those younger than I – and I suspect most of my readers are, filthy lucre is an old phrase the KJV used for money, and it is just so appropriate at time to use the old term. As a curiosity, how many of my readers connected with the term prior to reading this footnote? Let me know.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

We are in Isaiah again, with a picture of the Messiah coming through loud and clear.

Isaiah is calling the people together for a message that has not been declared. Now a bit of background may be beneficial. Isaiah is decrying the peoples dependance on dumb idols, their idolatry is rampant, and many of the prophecies regarding Cyrus are provided for a generation of God’s nation many years in the future. No idols can do that! When Isaiah speaks of “Who among them”, he is referring to the dumb idols! No idols could predict a future deliverer of Israel centuries ahead of the time.

Not only will the prophecy regarding the release of the Jews from captivity be astounding, but the instrument of release for the Jews will defeat the Chaldeans and perform God’s purpose on the Babylonians.

And the Lord loves him. This instrument of devastation on the Babylonians is loved by the Lord. This instrument of release from the Babylonians, for the people of God is loved by God.

This instrument of devastation and deliverance is a heathen king, a man who God raises up over a century after this prophecy, and we know of this kings name as Cyrus.

In this series on Cyrus we have seen him as the deliverer, the freedom giver, the man who obeys God’s will and much more. But here in Isaiah, we see Isaiah revealing the heart of God towards a heathen king.

Some may think this declaration of love by the Lord is to be reserved only for the anti-type of Cyrus, that is the Lord Jesus, and there may be merit to that, since the Father loves the Son! Yet even if Isaiah provides a sort of limited love of God for Cyrus, it is an amazing declaration for the people of God to hear.

God’s servant, a stranger outside of their camp, outside of their nation is loved by God! Another description of Jesus from the Old Testament, this time describing the relationship of the Son with the Father, through a stranger to the people of God.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Isaiah is in the middle of a passage that is comparing the idols of Babylon with the One True God. He is providing a prophecy of future events, so that when the prophecy is fulfilled in 150 years, the Jewish nation will have another example of the superiority of their God over any and all idols. The people that would see this prophecy come to reality would be the nation in captivity, a people under the thumb of Babylon, seeing the salvation of God coming from a Gentile king.

To understand the verse we are considering this morning, we need to include the previous verse.

Isaiah 46:10-11

declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

God has a purpose for the nation, and His purpose, or counsel, per verse 10 shall be accomplished. God will accomplish His will for the nation, and He becomes very specific in the manner He will do it!

His first declaration is that He will call a bird from the east. Now it is not uncommon throughout the Old Testament for a king to be referred to as a bird of prey, but for Cyrus this picture is very appropriate. Not only was Cyrus and his armies known for their swiftness of attack, the standard presented by the armies of Persia before military campaigns was also the golden eagle with outstretched wings, mounted on a long spear. Cyrus literally was depicted as a bird of fowl.

But for the term we refer to in our topic this morning, Cyrus was a man of God’s Counsel, a man who would execute God’s will.

Let us not think that God was in counsel with Cyrus, debating the will of God, even considering the manner of execution of His will with the king. No – Cyrus was not a man of God’s counsel in that manner.

God is describing a king who would be God’s instrument in executing His will, a man that would deliver a salvation to the people of God in the midst of their captivity under the Babylonians.

This passage is an amazing prophecy describing God’s will to be accomplished by a Gentile king for a captive people 150 years before it was to be realized. Once Cyrus released the Jews, protected and provided for them as some went back to Jerusalem and the Temple, presents a vivid shadow of the greater Cyrus, the Lord Jesus.

Was Jesus not a man of God’s counsel, and so much more? He was intimately involved in the plans and deliberations for the release, not only of the Jewish people, but for all mankind from the bondage and captivity of sin and death. He was also described for centuries before His arrival, with multiple prophecies describing our Savior, giving us a full and complete picture of the Messiah, so we might not only understand, but marvel at the way the prophecies combined into a multi faceted picture of the Suffering Servant / Reigning King.

He perfectly fulfilled the will of God, executing the Word of God even as it was communicated to Him moment by moment in His communion with the Father .

He is God’s Counsel for us, the Man who far exceeds the shadow provided for us in Cyrus!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

I had never considered the subject of this passage prior to considering the Cyrus the King of Media Persia. Who is the Lord referring to when He calls the nation of Israel to assemble and to listen. The context of the following verses speaks of this one as being against the Chaldeans, and that he will do His pleasure on Babylon. Though it is without a doubt God Himself that will bring about the downfall of Babylon, He has an instrument on the earth that will fulfill His will.

In this case, Isaiah speaks of Cyrus, 150 years in the future, who will march on Babylon, conquer Babylon, free the Israelites and provide safety and allowance for provisions to enable the reconstruction of the Temple.

Isaiah could simply describe Cyrus as a tool in the hand of God, a device of destruction on the Chaldeans, an instrument on earth to direct and use! After all is said and done, the Lord is over all, and he controls the heart of the king.

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

Remember that Isaiah is referring to a king, a Gentile king, a king that will conquer nations, consolidating an empire.

But Isaiah speaks of the Lord loving him. Now I am not convinced this love refers to any response of the Lord to the actions of war that Cyrus lead, various idolatries he entered into, or of Cyrus’ moral perfections.

Isaiah simply states “The Lord loves him”.

In my mind, weak as it is, this speaks of the uncaused love of God toward each of us, it is a shadow of the universal love of God for all mankind. It is the love of God described for a man centuries prior to his being on earth.

Of course, it is easy to see this reference to the love of God for Cyrus as a shadow of the love of God for the Greater Cyrus, the Lord Jesus and of His fulfilling the will of God while He was on earth.

Jesus was loved of God, without hesitation and without disturbance, without any break in deep fellowship between the Father and the Son.

Except when the love of God was taken from Jesus in order for the love of God to be opened fully to us mere humans, fallen creatures that had no hope. The love of God has been proven to each of us by the cross and the resurrection. He went without the Father while on the cross so that we need never be without the love of God.

May we rest in that truth, and forever understand the extent of the love of God!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

This passage in Isaiah 42 is generally accepted as referring to Cyrus, though it seems per the verses supplied, there were two subjects “stirred” up. One from the north and one from the east.

Many explanations have been provided, with Cyrus birth being from the east, and his approach toward Israel being from the north. Even within the second verse, his origin speaks of the east, in that he has come from the rising sun.

Besides this minor discussion on the subject of who is being stirred up, it is apparent that once he is stirred up, nothing will stop him. Isaiah belabors the point that this one who is advancing on Babylon has left all other countries conquered. He continues in verse 25, on the topic of this victorious one who shall “shall upon my name”.

Though Cyrus is being referred to here, and though his victories consisted of physical domination, the picture we look back on is of one who is undefeatable, unstoppable, and without equal in his day.

Is this not the same vision of the One who could not be stopped in bringing the kingdom of God to His people? Even to those who had openly rejected His teaching, and His person, He would not retreat from His mission

Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Nothing stood in His way, and having entered the valley of death that day, He continued to His expected end, with dominion over His enemies being completely secured as the stone rolled away.

Cyrus, great warrior and king that he was, was simply a reflection, a faint shadow of the One who was unstoppable in His pursuit to defeat the evil one, the world order and our own stubbornness.

May His name be lifted up!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Unexpected, to say the least, for a Gentile King to be involved in the development and construction of the temple of the God of Israel. Consider the passage provided, for it appears this Gentile foreign king is directing even the dimensions of the temple!

Unexpected to say the least, but note that Cyrus is actually be restricted from access to the temple, even as he is the principle human force directing the Jews back to the land to build the temple.

I am reminded of the injunctions of a prophet giving restrictions for foreigners entering the second temple. Ezekiel, when describing the temple to be built after the captivity, which Cyrus had been called by God to complete, spoke of the exclusion of foreigners from the temple.

Ezekiel 44:9 ESV – “Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary.

But Carl, this restriction is for worship, and we know that Cyrus didn’t even know the Lord, little less seek to enter the temple for worhip

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Cyrus may have been the only human regent in history that conquered a capital city without bloodshed.

Cyrus conquered the city, and consequently the empire of Babylon, by stealth. History has recorded that as he approached the city of Babylon, it became obvious that the walls of the city were indomitable, and that the city was fully ready for a siege if required. Although a conventional siege commenced, it was to Cyrus’ credit that he sought other means of conquering the city.

The strength of the city of Babylon, amongst many of its wonders, was the river Euphrates that flowed under the walls and through the city. This river provided a source of life for the inhabitants, but it also provided an unconventional access point for the enemy.

My understanding is that Cyrus sent his armies to both the entrance and exit of the river from under the city walls. Upstream, Cyrus reduced the flow of the water by blocking and/or diverting the flow from the main channel. At the exit of the river, his armies dug out a marsh and formed a lake area, large enough to accept much of the flow from the reduced river. Upon opening a canal to the man made lake, the lowered river flow was further reduced and allowed for the Persian army to enter the capital city, conquering the nation of Babylon.

In this monumental conquering of a world empire, Cyrus performed a miraculous feat. By shear genius and stealth, Cyrus added to his empire the extent of the Babylonian kingdom. This kingdom just so happened to contain a small people group known as the Jews.

Though it is not known how Cyrus understood his mission from God – was it Daniel that provided the scroll of Isaiah 45 for him as he began his rule – he liberated the Jew in a famous declaration found in Ezra 1.

Ezra 1:2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezra 1:3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel–he is the God who is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Note a few details of this declaration of Cyrus.

Let him go up to Jerusalem

Cyrus provided the Jewish people the freedom to leave or to stay. There was no compulsion on his end towards the Jewish population in returning to Jerusalem. It is so refreshing to see that Cyrus understood the importance of a willing heart in the completion of God’s will.

Do you really want to go back to Jerusalem? If you want to, you have the freedom to. Go ahead….

Is it not also the case in relation to the Messiah.

Mark 4:9 … “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

It is as if the Messiah was offering those who heard His message (the parable of the Sower in this case) the chance to “hear His message”!

Do you really want to hear His message? If you want to, you have the freedom to. Go ahead and let the message pierce that ol’ heart!

May his God be with him

Cyrus pronounced a blessing on the people as they went forward to rebuild the temple. It is interesting that the blessing was conferred on those whose desire matched the mission, but this is always the case when we think of the Lord’s work.

Jesus also provided the blessing of God, but not only as a verbal pronouncement, but by the literal giving of His life to become the One in whom we find all blessings.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Let each survivor .. be assisted

This added effort on the part of Cyrus seems over the top and is further confirmation in my thinking that Cyrus is a clear type of the Messiah. Even as Cyrus provides the opportunity of liberty to those in captivity, and even as he pronounces a blessing on them as they depart, he goes one step further and directs for the nation as a whole to support this monumentous effort of rebuilding the temple.

It is not only those willing to take on the challenge of traversing thousands of miles back to a destroyed land to rebuild the temple to the Living God, but those who stayed behind, for whatever reason, were to support the work of those in Jerusalem.

Does this not speak out the continuing method of accomplishing God’s work, of building God’s kingdom through the varied efforts of those in the kingdom? Who knows the spiritual life condition of those who chose to stay, but they were to be involved in the effort, and Cyrus acknowledges this truth.

It seems obvious that this Gentile king continues to exhibit characteristics (faint though they may be) of the character of the Messiah that we can all admire.

Cyrus may have had alternate motives, or unknown pressures requiring him to provide these advantageous circumstances for the Jewish nation. Not so with the Lord Jesus, for we can confidently say that He had one motive, and was not pressured into any decision other than that which the Father determined for His life.

His mission was simple, direct and massive. His death for our life. Resurrection for our justification. Continual, everlasting life to provide peace for those He conquers, for those whom He liberates to enter a kingdom of peace.

May His name be lifted up!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

As I look into this gentile king, I am surprised in the elevated position God placed this man, that God anointed him, chose him and now is described as a shepherd.

Obviously, God meant this term in a governmental context, but as I look into other passages that refer to one being a shepherd, it primarily describes one who cares for sheep, one who is pastoral.

Yes kings were called out, or as taking on the responsibility as shepherds in various places in the Old Testament, such as  2 Samuel 24:17; 1 Kings 22:17; Jeremiah 2:8.

But the intent of these messages was to remind those in power of the importance of giving up something for their people.

Consider David, willing to take accept the anger of the Lord upon his own house for the sake of others in this passage.

2 Samuel 24:17 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

Or of the prophet Micaiah, as he saw the effect of no shepherd on the nation of Israel. The nation was suffering, and it was due to the lack of a shepherd!

1 Kings 22:17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’”

Or, what may be worse is that those called to be a shepherd may be acting more as overlords, taking from the flock and not caring for the flock.

Jeremiah 2:8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

Each of these three passages speak of a king’s place to be connected with the characteristic of a shepherd. A shepherd that cares for and leads his people.

But in this verse, God is calling a gentile king to care for and protect the nation of Israel. Their own kings brought them to ruin, and now a king that was not of the blood of Abraham is called to care for them, to protect them and to lead them back home.

Although Jesus was physically a Jew, He too was a foreigner in a sense, having come down from above, and was called to lead, protect and care for a people who were in trouble.

Not only did Jesus shepherd the people of Israel, a people who were in a captivity far greater than the captivity Cyrus released them from, Jesus went farther still, and sought those beyond the bloodline of Abraham, determined to shepherd those even outside of the covenant of Sinai.

Cyrus was called to be a shepherd of strangers.

Jesus is the Shepherd of all.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

The very same verse we looked at last week is providing another similarity for us to consider with the shadow King Cyrus when we look to the reality of King Jesus.

Both were chosen.

For the God of heaven to state centuries before the birth of this gentile king that He would grasp this kings hand speaks of His chosing him for the task ahead.

It is good to remember that to be chosen is usually in reference to a particular task or mission. Yes sometimes is may seem to refer to the ultimate destiny of a nation, as it was with Israel, and as some believers may think, it is a designation for some individuals ultimate destiny also.

That is an issue I will not address in this post, as I have discussed it in numerous earlier posts. A short study on the purpose of being chosen.

Chosen To Perform

1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.

Chosen To Become

Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Chosen to Bear Fruit

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Chosen Not Because

For myself, I sometimes confuse the act of being chosen as signifying somehow being worthy of being chosen.

Deuteronomy 7:6 …..The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,

The Israelites were not chosen because they were numerous or great when compared with the neighboring nations. As a matter of fact, the smallness, the insignificance of Israel only brought about the strength of the Lord God to be seen. It is a recurring theme, that those chosen for a task are wholly incapable of performing the task, of becoming the person they are called to be, or of bearing fruit on their own.

My I have somewhat stayed from the original topic this morning, but it all applies to Cyrus, for he was chosen to perform a task, he was chosen to become a king, and he was chosen to bear fruit (build a temple) for God.

In his confession of the God of heaven providing all the kingdoms for his reign, he may have also grasped that this choice was not because he was great, but that God provided.

As for the Son of God, His was the original choice by the Father, the only choice that could perform the gargantuan task of salvation, the only choice of the perfect sinless sacrifice and the only choice to bear the fruit of the church, constantly bearing fruit in new and growing believers.

He is the Chosen One!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

I will admit it, I started looking at Cyrus, thinking that if I found one or two likenesses to the Lord, I will have plunged the depths of the similarities this gentile king had with our Lord. After all, my next subject is Daniel, and I can hardly wait. My attitude, (sad as it was), was to get the gentile king out of the way so I can dig into the life of Daniel and see the Lord in that great saint of old.

Was I wrong! Cyrus is quite surprising as a great Gentile King, but even more so as a typology of Jesus. Although I am reluctant to define the number of similarities I have found so far, suffice to say it is not just one or two. (A hint to my readers – It is less than 100!)

For this post, lets consider the fact that Cyrus was called the anointed of God. Yes, it is true that there were many anointed in the Old Testament, including the kings of Israel and Judah, prophets of Israel, priests of Israel, and many leaders, such as the judges, or different leaders that were within the theocracy of Israel.

But Cyrus stands out amongst these anointed in that he was a dirty Gentile, a foreigner to the covenant and a man that was outside of the regular domain God worked within.

Not only that, but Cyrus was called God’s anointed prior to performing any good deed, or before even sucking breath. Isaiah’s prophecy was given a century prior to the Gentile king arriving on the scene! Not many of the “rank and file” of the anointed in Israel can claim that status.

And yet, even as Cyrus stands out from amongst all those who were of the anointed class in the old theocracy, the True Anointed One is head and shoulders above Cyrus. Though Cyrus was a great and victorious king over all the known world in his day, His anointing may be considered his greatest privilege, a privilege granted by God.

For Jesus, to put it bluntly, to be the Anointed was simply a matter of fact. He is the Anointed, the Only One Who was and is the Anointed One, not due to a privilege granted by God, but because of His Person, of Who He truly is.

There is a difference! He is the Christ, the Anointed One!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Hear what Caleb says in this verse. The Lord has kept him alive. What does this imply?

I think it is difficult to peg the age of an old man in the Old Testament. Looking at the ages given to us from before the flood, we have men lasting almost a millennium. Incredible.

Immediately after the flood, it appears life spans began to decrease, and by the time we get to Moses and Caleb, it appears a 120 year old man, as Moses was, may have been an anomaly.

For Caleb, at the time of this passage, he was 85 years old, an old man in his autumn years, hoping his 401(k) will get him through his remaining years. – Just kidding – I think he was way too savvy of an investor to only depend on the markets. I think he had real estate in mind! And at 85, he was going to claim it.

Now don’t get me wrong in describing Caleb here as one who was focused on monetary security. That is not the image I have of this man. He was a man who had been given a promise decades earlier, and was convinced it was time to chase the promise.

But in between the promise and the potential realization, he lived in obscurity, a “regular” saint, patiently waiting on the Lord as his youthful stamina slowly seeped out of his body. From a stout man, willing to take on the people of the land, he had now become a man of wisdom, realizing his life was in the hand of the Lord, his very existence dependent on the One who promised him a patch of ground.

But let us take a moment to consider forty-five years of waiting. More than half his life, burdened down by the decisions of those he lived with, those who made faithless decisions, impacting a faithful man who was ready decades ago.

And for forty-five years we hear nothing of Caleb. He lived in obscurity, possibly even ostracized by some of his neighbors, for he was that one that was so confident, that made them all look so bad.

Forty-five years of toiling amongst those who dragged him back from victory. Forty-five years of living amongst those who constantly rebelled against his God. Forty-five years of having a nation of negative influence constantly rub up against his spirit.

Jesus also was in obscurity, living amongst a people He had come to serve and to save.

Yes – there were flashes of fame with his birth, but only amongst some shepherds and a few foreigners. Yes, it is true that He shook up the religious leaders when he was 12 years old. But let us remember who we are dealing with. This is God in the flesh, and He is content to live in obscurity, content to be amongst those whose actions and attitudes will drive Him onto the cross.

Obscurity.

It is a way of describing a life of being unknown, a life not recognized for the value found in the man. Caleb lived in obscurity, and his faithfulness to God certainly was honed into focus during that time. God was his focus, for no one else seemed too concerned.

For the Lord, His obscurity must have provided an enormous influence in His later years, as He had much time with His Father, much time contemplating the Word and much time understanding His mission.

His obscurity provided Him opportunity to focus on the Only True God, to know His Father while walking amongst His subjects.

Obscurity, in this world that chases fame and fortune, is a true blessing many consider a curse. If you are in a place where you have faded into relative obscurity, take a page from the life of Caleb, and remember who your God is. Better yet, look to the Messiah, for in His obscurity He deepened His relationship with the Father, and that obscurity, though highly undeserved was of great use to the Son.

In His obscurity, He followed after the True God! He recognized the value of God and honed in on His relationship with His Father during this time. For though many thought nothing of Him, letting Him live in obscurity, He recognized the ultimate value of His God, and truly is the Only One worth knowing!

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Caleb took charge of the situation. Even in the midst of Moses. And remember Joshua was most likely standing beside him!

Quiet

As a leader, he first controlled the situation, quieting the people. He hushed them. Quit running about with your heads falling off, taking in all the fears that have been imagined! Be quiet, and realize the truth of the matter.

He too experienced the fear mongering we are so often the victim of in our modern society, a fear mongering that is easy to fan into flames for those who have little to do with the True God!

Nothing has changed, for one of the enemies greatest weapons against the people of God is to whip us up with rumors of destruction, fear of the future and the dread of death. It is a common tactic, and if we understand the designs of the enemy, we are better positioned to battle our thought lives properly!

2 Corinthians 2:11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Judge

He was a man who could judge a situation quickly and respond naturally for the purpose of directing the people toward God. He didn’t have to get volumes of data and analyze the situation though multiple processes to come to a decision. He knew in his soul of the dangers of this fear mongering report, of the doubt that was raging through the camp.

He surmised the situation, diverted the crowd from their natural, initial reaction to the findings and spoke of their resources, the ability of the tribes of Israel to “overcome it”

Provide a Plan

Although Caleb provided a skeletal plan in this verse, I would like to emphasize the aspect of timing. He was ready to go NOW.

Let us go up at once!

In our analytical world, with studies and reports needed for decision making, it is refreshing to see a man of confidence make a decision, control a situation, and expect the best of the people. Caleb was a leader, in the midst of leaders.

Jesus also was a take charge type of man, a leader who exerted tremendous influence on those who had ears to hear.

When he was dealing with Peter and the catch of fish, He also quieted His subject – Peter fell down at His knees – and provided a plan for Peter. Peter, you are going to catch men! He had a plan for Peter’s life and He provided it to peter without hesitation. Jesus was well prepared to lead His men with decisive decisions as at this calling, and with decisions that turned fatal later in His ministry.

His depth of leadership has no competitor, for He is the only One who is the Ultimate Leader, the Lord.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

In our past post’s on Caleb we have considered him as a man with a different spirit, a devoted man, an overcomer of others doubts, one who depended on God’s promises, a man of conviction, and a man convinced of his purpose for God.

With our passage this morning, let us draw out a truth about Caleb that is not expressly stated, but is evident in his life throughout his journeys and trials.

He was victorious, and though the comparison with the Lord Jesus is accurate, it is accurate in description, but not in extent, for Caleb “simply” won his mountain, but Jesus won the world. His is victorious over the grave, and because of God’s deliverance, has been openly declared to be the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He is simply greater than all the pictures we consider in this series.

Caleb was victorious because he followed the Lord, and the Lord provided the success, the victory. This is the walk of faith, that is not to seek victory based on our desires, our will, our wants, but to put the will of God ahead of ours.

Caleb certainly was tested, tried in the fire of adversity, peer pressure, and mob opinion. Yet his decision to trust God’s will when all seemed to be going the wrong way is a testament to his faithfulness, and the reason God provided him the victory.

Now I wont go so far as to think the Lord ever had it easy as He rubbed shoulders with those who plotted his death. For even from the very beginning, the cross overshadowed Him. He spoke amazing truths, claimed an astonishing relationship with the God of the Jews, challenged the powers that be and spoke of the kingdom of God breaking forth even as He was on earth. He did not come asking permission from those in charge. He simply came to us, declared the time had come, and rebuffed every argument those threatened by his pronouncements brought to Him. If Caleb had challenges, (and he did), Jesus faced many more, deeper and stronger temptations to veer from His appointed path.

But Jesus never veered. He only performed the work assigned by the Father, and did not go beyond the will of God, or fail to complete the will of God.

John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

Jesus never veered from the will of God and His victory was such that His closest friends were astonished. Even to this day, the Messiah’s resurrection is doubted by too many. Admittedly, it is an incredible story, but the Man Jesus was incredible in every way. His works and words have no competition, and His victory is completely without comparison.

And by the sheer grace of His compassion for lost souls, He grants us entry into this very victory. A victory over death and the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Caleb was victorious in his life and God provided this victory due to his continuing faith in the midst of difficult times. His victory became his possession and that of his posterity.

For the Lord Jesus, His victory has also been passed to His posterity, and all who seek to find this victory should look no further than the Son of God.

Titus 3:7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

His victory was due to His faithfulness, but our victory is based on relationship with the One who has overcome all obstacles, even the death of the cross!

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

God had a promise and a purpose for Caleb. His faithful spirit attained to a promise from God, that God would keep him through the times of the rebellion in the wilderness, into the promised land, through the battles to take the land and now, after God’s will has been accomplished, the promise is to be realized for Caleb. Yes he is 85 years old, an aged man no matter how we look at it. But even as his age was creeping up on him, he did not consider the promise of God to be less attainable. It was the promise of God, not some self promise, some vow that depended on his stamina or strength! It was the promise of God! Caleb held the promise and it was his purpose to attain this promise!

Is it not so, but even more so, in relation to the promise and purpose of God in the life of our Savior. As a matter, Paul speaks of Jesus as the One in whom all promise is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

The purpose of the Savior was to be elevated to king, as He spoke to Pilate. He is King having completed His eternal purpose and having sat down on the right hand of God the Father!

Though Caleb provides a likeness of Jesus in his desire to attain the promise and fulfill his purpose, we must admit that there is a substantial difference.

God kept Caleb alive for 85 years to provide him the ability to attain the promise given him. For Jesus, the promise was attained by God crushing Him!

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Caleb provides us a glimmer of the One who is the promise of God, and of His heart to go through trials, temptations and eventually scourging and a horrific death to complete His purpose before God.

Let us not frustrate our King by forgetting the extent of suffering He experienced in order to become the King of all Kings. He is the King who provides a benevolent righteous reign over those who follow after Him.

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Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

We considered this set of verses out of Joshua 1 in our previous post as it related to Caleb in his dependence on God’s promises. As we consider this same passage this morning, I would like my reader to consider the devotion Caleb expressed to God during the 45 years of wandering and suffering due to his neighbors unbelief. We noted that he came out the 45 years of delay, depending on the promises, exhibiting a faithful spirit.

May I suggest, this dependence on the promise of God was possible only because he was devoted to God. He followed the Lord, and the term “followed” found in the Old Testament passages speaking of Caleb speak of being behind, of being in the rear, after the one being followed. Now even as I write that, I can hear some saying – Carl that is so obvious!

Well for myself, it is not that obvious in my own devotion to God, for I often seek to get off the path with distractions, or get ahead of God, being the impatient one that I am. Caleb knew his place, and that was behind God, and was willing to stay behind, following as God led.

Did he argue with God when told they would not be allowed to enter the promised land? Where was Caleb when the nationes leaders decided to go ahead and take the land even though God restricted them?

Amazing that the Israelites thought they could go ahead of God, even in rebellion against his prophets direction.

Numbers 14:39-45

When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly.
40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.”
41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, when that will not succeed?
42 Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies.
43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.”
44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.
45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

I will lay my last dollar down (if I was a betting man!) that Caleb stayed behind, devoted to the will of God. He knew his place of following God, and in knowing that, he was successful!

Jesus also was the servant of the Most High, devoted to God, obeying the will of God, even to the point of death. He did not get ahead of the will of God, nor seek to perform any acts other than directed by the Father.

John 5:19

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

For Caleb, he fought through the doubters, and without a doubt, sought to convince those he travelled with as they carried back such a damming report. Joshua records Caleb’s claim of how his own peers, as they reported on what they had seen in Canaan land, was a message of doubt, a message of defeat and that had caused the melting of the young nations heart.

This passage doesn’t address how Caleb sought to convince those bringing back such a deadly doubt-filled message, but surely a man who was committed to the work of God, he sought to convince them before they delivered the poisonous message. This is my assumption. Joshua simply states the fact that Caleb wholly followed the Lord in the midst of doubters. Now I am not knocking Caleb in this instance. No not at all, for it is no small task to believe the Word of God when the world is yelling that you are wrong, but Caleb held tight. He held tight!

While on earth. the Messiah also had close associates that were infected with the doubt disease, a disease that we all suffer from. Numerous times, He spoke to those of little faith, asking them of their doubt.

Now I used to think this was Jesus way to get a dig in, to mentally slap his apostles around, but as I understand the person of Christ more, I don’t see Him like that anymore. What I was actually doing was mirroring my heart onto the Messiah in these interactions with the apostles, for I tend to cut those who need encouragement. I want to assume failure instead of success. I naturally think the worst rather than the best.

Jesus’ heart is wholly different from my heart, and I safely will assume different from your heart, unless of course you have deceived yourself.

Jesus was (and is) in the midst of doubtful friends, surrounded by saints that struggle with faith, and working on believers who just don’t understand. This is the fact of the church and is in my mind a huge mystery of how He gets anything done working with men and women who sometimes just don’t get it. But then I forget who I am dealing with!

He remains faithful to the will of God, as Caleb did, and yet He also successfully pulls us out of the depths of doubt to prove His care and guidance.

We need to look to Him for our strength, for I doubt we have any!

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

Caleb and Moses each had life changing events in their fortieth year. Both men went through extended times of waiting, of being drawn out and tested, of seemingly not being used by God.

For Moses, it was 40 years before he was in front of the Pharaoh, demanding the release of his people.

For Caleb, it was 45 years before he found the opportunity to realize the promise given him by Moses. He may have been greatly encouraged by the life of Moses, the fact that the man of God was “put aside” for 40 years, but was then used by God like no other!

Caleb was a man of conviction, a man that delivered to Moses the message “as it was in his heart”.

The term referred to here in relation to Caleb’s heart is לֵבָב lêbâb, and speaks of the inner man, the will, his heart. It does not refer to fluffy feelings, nebulous ideas or soft thinking, but represents the conviction he had after considering the land he visited, in light of the command of God to conquer.

He was a man of faith, and was convinced (convicted) of the truth of the promise God had provided, and saw the resistance in Canaan for what it was, and not an insurmountable obstacle that was not to be attempted. He was convinced God was bigger, that the land was obtainable, and that he wanted it.

As a matter of fact, in time it came about that he wanted a specific piece of that land, and was given the opportunity to continue in his convictions in routing those in the land out! It was his land, and he was going to take it!

There was Another Man that was determined to complete the will of God for His life, and as the day came closer, we read that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

To “set” his face is the term στηρίζω stērízō. To set his face was to be confirmed, to strengthen, to render constant (in an effort), to make firm.

May I ask you my friend, How many times have you made a decision to perform a task, only to be distracted, deterred from the goal, and wandered off into some other task? My hand is up, I can tell you! This is to be without conviction in a task!

In the Gospel of Luke, this word speaks of Jesus conviction to get to Jerusalem, to get to the goal of the Passion Week, the pain, the suffering, the crucifixion and finally to His final breath. His conviction took Him to the last day, and distractions were helpless against Him.

Both Caleb and Jesus were men of conviction, but in light of the goals each man sought to reach, we see the conviction of Jesus as so much greater, deeper, stronger and wholly different, for this conviction carried him to His death!

Jesus was a man of conviction! Jesus is Lord.

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