1 Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed, to Cyrus whose right hande I haue holden, to subdue nations before him: and I will loose the loines of kings to open before him the two leaued gates, and the gates shall not be shut.
2 I will goe before thee, and make the crooked places straight, I wil break in pieces the gates of brasse, and cut in sunder the barres of yron.
3 And I will giue thee the treasures of darkenesse, & hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know, that I the Lord which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
4 For Iacob my seruants sake, and Israel mine elect, I haue euen called thee by thy name: I haue surnamed thee, though thou hast not knowen me.
5 ¶ I am the Lord, and there is none els, there is no God besides me: I girded thee, though thou hast not knowen me:
6 That they may knowe from the rising of the Sun, and from the West, that there is none besides me, I am the Lord, and there is none else.
7 I forme the light, and create darkenesse: I make peace, and create euill: I the Lord do all these things.
8 Drop downe, ye heauens, from aboue, and let the skies powre downe righteousnesse: let the earth open, and let them bring forth saluation, and let righteousnesse spring vp together: I the Lord haue created it.
9 Woe vnto him that striueth with his maker: Let the potsheard striue with the potsheards of the earth: shal the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy worke, he hath no hands?
10 Woe vnto him that saith vnto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his maker, Aske me of things to come concerning my sonnes, and concerning the worke of my hands command ye me.
12 I haue made the earth, and created man vpon it: I, euen my handes haue stretched out the heauens, and all their hoste haue I commanded.
13 I haue raised him vp in righteousnesse, and I will direct all his wayes: he shall build my citie, and hee shall let goe my captiues, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.
14 Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature shall come ouer vnto thee, and they shall be thine, they shall come after thee, in chaines they shall come ouer: and they shal fall downe vnto thee, they shal make supplication vnto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee, and there is none else, there is no god.
15 Uerely thou art a God that hidest thy selfe, O God of Israel the Sauiour.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded all of them: they shall goe to confusion together that are makers of idoles.
17 But Israel shall bee saued in the Lord with an euerlasting saluation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heauens, God himselfe that formed the earth and made it, hee hath established it, he created it not in vaine, he formed it to be inhabited, I am the Lord, and there is none else.
19 I haue not spoken in secret, in a darke place of the earth: I said not vnto the seed of Iacob, Seeke ye mee in vaine: I the Lord speake righteousnesse, I declare things that are right.
20 ¶ Assemble your selues and come: draw neere together ye that are escaped of the nations: they haue no knowledge that set vp the wood of their grauen image, and pray vnto a god that cannot saue.
21 Tell ye and bring them neere, yea let them take counsell together, who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? Haue not I the Lord ? and there is no God else beside me, a iust God and a Sauiour, there is none beside me.
22 Looke vnto mee, and be ye saued all the endes of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I haue sworne by my selfe: the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnes, and shall not returne, that vnto me euery knee shall bowe, euery tongue shall sweare.
24 Surely, shall one say, In the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength: euen to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him, shalbe ashamed.
25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be iustified, and shall glory.
The deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. (1-4) God calls for obedience to his almighty power. (5-10) The settlement of his people. (11-19) The conversion of the Gentiles. (20-25)1-4 Cyrus is called God's anointed; he was designed and qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel. The Lord went before him, giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He gave him also treasures, which had been hidden in secret places. The true God was to Cyrus an unknown God; yet God foreknew him; he called him by his name. The exact fulfilment of this must have shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only true God, and that it was for the sake of Israel that he was prospered. In all the changes of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of his church.
5-10 There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery, came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God's designs for his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God's promises into prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.
11-19 Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided for. The restoration would convince many, and convert some; and all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom. Though God be his people's God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them under his frowns; but let them wait upon the Lord who hides his face. There is a world without end; and it will be well or ill with us, according as it shall be with us in that world. The Lord we serve and trust, is God alone. All that God has said is plain, satisfactory, and just. As God in his word calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers, nor disappointed believing expectations. He gives grace sufficient, and comfort and satisfaction of soul.
20-25 The nations are exhorted to draw near to Jehovah. None besides is able to help; he is the Saviour, who can save without the assistance of any, but without whom none can save. If the heart is brought into the obedience of Christ, the knee will cheerfully obey his commands. To Christ men shall come from every nation for blessings; all that hate his cause shall be put to shame, and all believers shall rejoice in him as their Friend and Portion. All must come to him: may we now come to him as the Lord our Righteousness, walking according to his commandments.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.