Cyrus’ proclamation is based in his confidence that, “The
Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth.” If that is true, he can afford to be
magnanimous can’t he? He can send people
back to their places based in the knowledge that he rules all kingdoms and they
have been given to him not by might but by the Lord, the God of heaven. Even if they return he is still king, it all
belongs to him. This was probably
written with the help of some Jewish advisers who knew the accurate way to
refer to Yahweh. Technically, his words are true, as the Lord is indeed
sovereign over all things, but Cyrus had not received the kingdoms as a
permanent possession. When the exiles
return there is the hint of the first exodus in the people around them giving
them silver and gold to take to Jerusalem as the Egyptians had done in pleading
with the people to leave after the plague of the first-born. Cyrus, however, was not stubborn like
Pharaoh, this going to the land did not require the same acts that the exodus
required.
Matthew sees in Jesus’ reticence to allow the people to make
him known the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah that the Messiah would be
humble, not a warrior who was seeking attention and acclaim. Jesus was, in some respects, the antithesis
of some messianic expectations in this regard.
He failed to do what was expected, to restore Jerusalem to the
pre-eminence and subject the kingdoms of the world to God. Jesus’ death, for those whose expectations
were based in the more militaristic and earthly kingdom idea of Messiah, brought
an end to any claim at all to Him being Messiah. Matthew finds, in the suffering servant of Isaiah,
the messianic role of Jesus. In this he
sees two works of Messiah, separated in time from one another, the first to
bring the nations to knowledge of God and the second work the recapitulation of
the original good creation. Jesus’ work
as the servant of the Lord can be contrasted with our first lesson in that
Jesus knew and submitted Himself as servant of the Father while Cyrus saw
himself in partnership with God as worthy of equal honor.
Paul concludes his letter to the church at Corinth by
reminding them that they need to give to the relief of the saints who are in
need in other places. It was important
that they know and appreciate the connection with brothers and sisters in other
places, that the church understand itself as something larger than just the
local body. Paul’s plans are to come back to Corinth but his plans are not in
his own hands, the Lord controls all things and Paul is clear that all he hopes
to do are contingent on the Lord’s will.
Do we hold our plans as loosely as that?
Understanding and accepting the sovereignty of God in all things should
keep us in a humble posture in this regard, willing to be re-directed if it
suits Him. Our understanding of life is
too imperfect to insist on our own way.
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