Isaiah 45: The LORD’s Anointed Instrument
God names Cyrus as his anointed to free his people, asserts that he alone is God, and calls all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved.
Isaiah 45 (WEB)
1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
2 “I will go before you, and make the rough places smooth. I will break the doors of brass in pieces, and cut apart the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me.
5 I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me;
6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.
8 Distil, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’
10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What have you become the father of?’ or to a mother, ‘To what have you given birth?’”
11 Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!
12 I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says Yahweh of Armies.
14 Thus says Yahweh: “The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. They will go after you. They shall come over in chains; and they will bow down to you. They will make supplication to you: ‘Surely God is in you; and there is no one else. There is no other god.
15 Most certainly you are a God who hidden yourself, God of Israel, the Savior.’”
16 They will be disappointed, yes, confounded, all of them. Those who are makers of idols will go into confusion together.
17 Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.
18 For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am Yahweh; and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
20 “Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can’t save.
21 Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me.
22 “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.
24 They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.’” Even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed.
25 In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah 45 (KJV)
1 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and 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 Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto 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, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, 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 over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah 45 (ASV)
1 Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
2 I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron;
3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me;
6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.
8 Distil, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up together; I, Jehovah, have created it.
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
10 Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With what travailest thou?
11 Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts.
14 Thus saith Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They shall be put to shame, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go into confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be put to shame nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.
23 By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Only in Jehovah, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all they that were incensed against him shall be put to shame.
25 In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Summary
God astonishes his people by naming a pagan king, Cyrus, as his “anointed,” whose right hand he holds to subdue nations and open doors. God will go before him, give him hidden treasures, and use him to free the exiles—all so that Cyrus, and the watching world, may know that the LORD alone is God. Strikingly, God says he calls Cyrus by name for the sake of Jacob his servant, even though Cyrus does not know him. Then the chapter rises to one of Scripture’s clearest declarations of monotheism: “I am Yahweh, and there is no one else.” God forms light and creates darkness, makes peace and creates calamity; he is the potter and we the clay who have no right to argue with our Maker. He rebukes those who would question how he runs his world, then invites the whole earth to salvation: “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth.” Idolaters who carry their wooden gods are put to shame, but Israel will be saved with an everlasting salvation. God swears that to him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess—words Paul applies to Jesus. The God who raises up unlikely instruments and saves the nations points us to the universal reign of Christ, before whom all will one day bow.
Voices
- The LORD (Yahweh) — The only God, Creator of light and darkness, the potter who shapes history and invites the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved.
- Cyrus — The Persian king named as God’s anointed instrument, whose hand God holds to subdue nations and free the exiles, though he does not know the LORD.
- Jacob / Israel — God’s servant and chosen, for whose sake Cyrus is raised up, and who will be saved with an everlasting salvation.
Key Verse
Isaiah 45:22 (WEB)
“Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Lessons Learned
- God can use even those who do not know him to accomplish his saving purposes.
- There is only one God; the LORD shares his throne and his deity with no one.
- We are clay in the Potter’s hands and have no standing to dispute his ways.
- God’s salvation is offered to all the ends of the earth, not Israel alone.
- God commands history’s instruments. He addresses “his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held” (Isaiah 45:1, WEB). Even kings who do not know God serve his purposes.
- There is no God but the LORD. “I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5, WEB). His exclusive deity is the bedrock of true faith.
- The clay does not correct the Potter. “Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth!” (Isaiah 45:9, WEB). Trust, not protest, is the creature’s right response.
- Salvation is offered to all. “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 45:22, WEB). The invitation is as wide as the world.
- What is surprising about God calling the pagan king Cyrus his “anointed” (45:1)?
- How do the repeated statements “I am Yahweh, and there is no one else” shape the chapter’s message?
- What does the image of potter and clay (45:9-11) teach about our posture before God’s decisions?
- How does the call “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth” (45:22) point toward the gospel reaching the nations?
- God says every knee will bow to him (45:23). How does living in light of that future change your priorities today?
- God gives the sacred title “anointed” to a foreign, unbelieving king, and even says he names him though Cyrus does not know him (45:4). It shows God’s freedom to use anyone, and that his purposes are for the sake of his people and his glory.
- The refrain hammers home strict monotheism against the surrounding polytheism (45:5-6, 18, 21-22). If the LORD alone is God, then he alone can be trusted, feared, and worshiped, and salvation is found in no one else.
- The clay has no right to question why the Potter shapes it as he does (45:9). The image humbles our impulse to argue with God’s providence and invites trust in the wisdom of our Maker.
- The invitation explicitly reaches “all the ends of the earth” (45:22), breaking any notion that God saves Israel only. It anticipates the gospel call going out to every nation in Christ.
- This is a personal-application question. Paul applies verse 23 to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11). Invite members to consider how the certainty of bowing before Christ reorders what they pursue, fear, and treasure now.