May 21, 2006

Cyrus, The Lord’s Messiah

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Isaiah 45:11-13; 18-19

Nashotah Graduation Service: Long service. God’s odd way of sharpening up my Greek.

Easy to say in peaceful times. Can we look at times of upheaval and conflict in a similar manner? Bedrock belief of Christians and Jews is work of God in history – towards salvation

Example in today’s passage – Second Isaiah – associated with exile.

History of overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus the Persian.

Second Isaiah sees events as God working out salvation.

Cyrus is called Lord’s Messiah – didn’t even know God of Israel.

Second Isaiah expected opposition. Passage from today fends off criticism of Cyrus as Messiah.

Passage talks about pointlessness of questioning method of God’s working out salvation.

God promises Cyrus will rebuild Jerusalem. – Cyrus issues edict in 538 to restore Jews to Jerusalem.

Not saying we shouldn’t question. But in the end, we’re left with choice between seeing history as chaos of humanity and working of God in our lives for salvation.

Struggle to get contemporary service – I wasn’t able to accomplish what I came here for. God’s way of helping me find a better fit and understand what kind of church I can best serve.

Result is learning about ministry and imposing my own vision on congregation. Also was the best way to start successful long-term praise band ministry.

God’s work through Mike Marlow to help us find CKA church.

God’s work through e-bay to help us restore funds lost in rent reduction.

We can never know where God’s salvation will come from. Forces us to take positive view of our own history and our own lives. Who knows which person or which event will be our next Cyrus.