23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it! – The orchestra is made up of planets and stars, mountains and forest trees playing triumphant gloriously uplifting music to accompany the many reasons for which God is to be praised!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb: – This refers to God’s chosen people, Jacob’s descendants!
“I am the LORD, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself, – Repeatedly through the Bible God claims that He, and He alone is the Creator, the One ‘who made all things‘.
25 who frustrates the signs of liars
and makes fools of diviners,
who turns wise men back
and makes their knowledge foolish, – All other religions are basically clever people who think that they worked out THE WAY to satisfy God’s demands. Even misusing the word Christian some think that Christianity is being good enough to meet God’s requirements! Some people would think that God is being tough on these or maybe even rude but God groups them all together and says that He ‘makes their knowledge foolish‘.
26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’; – Why do you think that the word ‘servant’ is in the singular but ‘messengers’ is in the plural? In the short term it seems as if ‘Cyrus’ is the answer (Historically he was) but I fancy that we are meant to see Jesus as the ‘Servant’! But God sends many messengers – prophets, preachers, witnesses!
27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’; – this no doubt causes them to remember the crossing of the Red Sea, and His ability to answer their needs!
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” – Cyrus was the servant who caused the nation to be reformed!
Ezra 1: 1-2 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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Prayer: Thank You God that even though You are greater than my imagining You are who You say that You are – and do all that fulfills our expectations given in Your promises!