2 Chronicles 36:22–23

After seventy years it would be God's mind that they should return to Jerusalem... It is worth noting that Daniel himself did not return, though his face was always turned towards Jerusalem. God used him in prayer for this, as He used Cyrus in providence and Jeremiah in prophecy, while He Himself stood behind it all, working in purpose and in power... He can raise up servants, kings and prophets as He wills.

This word and its fulfilment are so exact, and so encouraging. They fill the soul that trusts in the blessed God with comfort and cheer. That soul knows that even now He makes all things work together for the good of His own, whom He has called by His grace, according to His purpose.

Let us stop and notice something. Whatever things look like on the outside, the Lord holds the hearts of all men in His hands. He turns them wherever He will. He uses men of every rank as instruments to carry out the counsels of His will.

Here is a remarkable prophecy that came true to the letter within two hundred years of being spoken. God called him by his name, and gave him a title, though Cyrus had not known Him. Yet the words of his decree, recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:23 and again in Ezra 1:2, make it likely that in some way Isaiah's prophecy had reached him.

In Cyrus we do not see the power of faith. Just as Nebuchadnezzar carried out God's work, so Cyrus is the minister of His mercy to bring the Jew back to the land. In himself he goes further than Nebuchadnezzar, for he says that the LORD God had given him the kingdoms of the earth, and a charge to build the house at Jerusalem. Whether this confession of God's sovereignty came from faith that leads to salvation is another matter. God is able to make the world confess His power and authority... The point is not what Cyrus was in himself, but his work.

True, that restoration was only partial. Only a remnant returned, small compared with the whole nation. A full restoration of all Israel, after the judgment is over — from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south — is kept for the great Son of David.

The book of Chronicles does not end in total misery. It shows the pure grace of God, which would not leave Israel in hopeless despair, but would seek their restoration in grace. We might well think about this in the light of the professing church today. Turning away from the pure truth of the New Testament, and rebelling against it, has broken and scattered the people of God. Many are inclined to think the outlook is hopeless. But God still cares for His Church more faithfully than we do. He is willing to give grace to those who cry to Him, so that they can keep up some testimony for Him.

So the book of Chronicles does not end in total misery. It shows the pure grace of God, who would not leave Israel in hopeless despair, but would kindly seek their restoration. We should weigh this against the state of the professing church today. Departure and rebellion against the pure truth of the New Testament has so broken and scattered the people of God that many think the outlook is hopeless. But God still cares for His Church more faithfully than we do. To all who cry to Him He is willing to give grace to keep up some testimony for Him, against all the opposition of Satan and against our own natural pull towards discouragement.

So to fulfil this promise God used Jeremiah in prophecy, Daniel in prayer, and Cyrus, a man who did not know the Lord, in providence. God had said of Cyrus long before, through Isaiah, "I have surnamed you though you have not known Me… I have raised you up in righteousness." … This word and its actual fulfilment are so exact and so encouraging that they are full of comfort and cheer to the soul that trusts in the blessed God.

Here then is a remarkable prophecy, and it came true exactly, within two hundred years of the day it was spoken. God called Cyrus by his name, and gave him a title, though Cyrus had not known Him. Yet the words of his decree here, repeated in Ezra 1:2, make it likely that someone had somehow shown him Isaiah's prophecy.

From the first, one solemn fact is clear. For the present the Jews are Lo-ammi (not My people), and God no longer speaks to them through the prophet. … God is given the distinct title "the God of the heavens" (Daniel 2:18, 37, 44), and the same title is repeated in Ezra, in Nehemiah, and here in 2 Chronicles 36:23. His people had turned away to idols. In that state it did not fit His nature and majesty to act as their head, or to move among them as "the Lord of all the earth" (Joshua 3:11).

The proclamation did not name any person who was to go to Jerusalem and build the house. It threw the door open to any Jew whose heart stirred him up to go, and promised him generous help with the work in front of him. Worded that way, those who responded would in the main be godly men, whose hearts were alive to the glory of God and to the place of His Name. The more worldly-minded and selfish would tend to stay in the comfortable homes they had built during the seventy years of captivity, and leave the task to others who were ready to face the difficulties and hardships.

In a sense, king Cyrus is still alive. The same call still goes out. Who is there among you? Who is there, who is not content with Babylon? Who is there who values Jerusalem? Who is there, who takes an interest in the house of God?

God used one Gentile to carry out His anger on Israel. He used another, Cyrus, as the instrument of His mercy, giving permission and help to all who wished to return. … True, that restoration was partial; for only a remnant returned, a small number compared with the nation. The full restoration of all Israel is reserved for the great Son of David. It comes after the judgment is over, and gathers them from the east and the west, from the north and the south (Psalm 107:3).