Had Lector practice yesterday for this week's readings and it struck me that Isaiah's prophecy regarding God's use of the Pagan Cyrus to free his people could have parallels with our current President.
While the Jews were exiled in Babylon, the Persian emperor Cyrus defeated kingdoms then let the defeated peoples practice their own religions. Isaiah foresaw Cyrus defeating Babylon and liberating the Jews there who would then be free to return to Jerusalem. In this passage, Isaiah declares that Cyrus, even though a pagan, is God's instrument. Going so far as to use the word "Anointed," that is, "Messiah." Some believe that this resulted in Isaiah's martyrdom.
Trump has not lived his life in the manner that most Christians and Evangelicals would support, but many see him as assisting in the culture war to help move the pendulum back towards a more Christian morality.
God can use anyone to fulfill his tasks -- not just Christians.
Quote:
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
While the Jews were exiled in Babylon, the Persian emperor Cyrus defeated kingdoms then let the defeated peoples practice their own religions. Isaiah foresaw Cyrus defeating Babylon and liberating the Jews there who would then be free to return to Jerusalem. In this passage, Isaiah declares that Cyrus, even though a pagan, is God's instrument. Going so far as to use the word "Anointed," that is, "Messiah." Some believe that this resulted in Isaiah's martyrdom.
Trump has not lived his life in the manner that most Christians and Evangelicals would support, but many see him as assisting in the culture war to help move the pendulum back towards a more Christian morality.
God can use anyone to fulfill his tasks -- not just Christians.
People of integrity expect to be believed, when they're not, they let time prove them right.