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The Decree of Cyrus Made Simple

by Kimani Upshur, M.Ed.

A pagan king's proclamation — and the exile came home. In his first year, the Lord stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to proclaim liberty to the captives and command the rebuilding of the house of God at Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). This Scripture-first, Trinitarian study of God moving kings covers the night Jerusalem burned, the prophecy spoken 150 years before Cyrus was born, the stirring of a pagan king's spirit, the proclamation of liberty, the numbered temple vessels, the census of the returning, the altar built before the temple, the foundation laid with a shout, the opposition of the adversaries, the search in the royal archives, the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah that finished the work, and the dedication and Passover kept with joy. Every chapter ends with a practice for the week and a prayer addressed to the Father through Jesus Christ — Lord and Savior, Son of God and Son of Man — by the Holy Spirit.