August 4, 2026 4:00 am
The Persian emperor Cyrus recognized the God of Israel as the Lord God of heaven, acknowledging him as both creator and redeemer of the world. This acknowledgment is seen in the biblical account of Cyrus' decree to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Other Gentile rulers, such as Nebuchadnezzar and the queen of Sheba, also acknowledged God's sovereignty, demonstrating that God's influence extends beyond Israel.
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Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. The Lord God of heaven. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Ezra one two It is noteworthy that the words of this verse are almost the same as in the last verse of 2 Chronicles. This indicates that Ezra the scribe, who wrote the book of Ezra, was also the compiler and editor of the two books of Chronicles.
Even more noteworthy is the fact that the great emperor Cyrus seemed to acknowledge that the God of Israel was not just a tribal God, as many have claimed, but the Lord God of heaven, that is Jehovah Elohim, recognizing him as both creator and redeemer of the world. The Persians were largely followers of Zoroaster, but his religious system did bear some resemblance to the true monotheism of Israel. Cyrus had been called and even named by God long before he was born. When he conquered Babylon, the prophet Daniel was there. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Daniel even became prime minister under Cyrus and was able to read Isaiah's remarkable prophecy to him, thus influencing him to send the Jews back to Jerusalem.
There have also been other Gentile rulers who acknowledged God even before Christ came. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, once hating God, finally was forced to confess that he was the Most High and King of heaven. Another was the queen of Sheba, who recognized the Lord thy God. Then there was the king of Nineveh and Assyria, who believed in God at the preaching of Jonah. In fact, in the ages to come, the kings of the earth will all bring their glory and honor to the Lord in the holy city.
Revelation 21, 24. Uh If you've enjoyed today's devotional, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And please rate and review so more listeners can find us. To support ICR's ministry, visit icr.org/slash donate. Your gift of any amount.
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