Stirring up the Spirit of Rulers and People

Stirring up the Spirit of Rulers and People
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying
Ezra 1 v 1

A hundred years before the coming of King Cyrus, it was prophesied by Isaiah that a king by name Cyrus would arise and defeat many nations. Cyrus though the King of Persia sought to honour the God of Israel, hailing Him as the God of heaven. The Lord stirred up his spirit to fulfill the good word that was prophesied about him, that he would subdue kings, to open closed gates, shatter bars of iron, to be given secret treasures of darkness. In the very first year of his reign, he issued an edict to let the captive Jews return to Israel to re-build the temple at Jerusalem.

Even today, the Lord stirs up or inspires rulers and princes of His people to do many exploits for His glory. He gives them victory and subdues the opposition. He gives them the resources required to fulfill His plan. He breaks down barriers and enables them to re-build His temple. Only God knows the future. He reveals His mind through visions, dreams and word of knowledge and wisdom to His chosen vessels. Cyrus was chosen by God to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel that the Babylonian captivity would be ended and the temple at Jerusalem would be re-built. He devoted considerable treasures of his kingdom to beautify the temple and sent it with the Jewish people who were commissioned to re-build the temple.

We too should devote a part of our time, treasure and talent to build the body of Christ, for the edification of believers or the strengthening of the faith of people. The reign of Cyrus was a time of favour for the Jewish people. Similarly, there are testing times and times of favour for each one of us. But we can pray that through thick and thin our faith will be unflagging, that the Lord will stir up the spirit of rulers to be in our favour and be zealous for the work of the Lord. It is amazing that by our prayers and our pronouncements we can even influence people born a hundred years after our time.

Prateep V Philip