Isaiah 45.  The great empire of Babylon — that impenetrable fortress that conquered the earth — was itself to be conquered.  The prophet not only knew that this was going to happen, he knew how it was to happen . He also knew who would be God’s instrument — his anointed — to accomplish his will.  His name would be Cyrus. This is not prophecy after the fact. The whole point Isaiah is making is that God challenges the nations to give up their useless idols and follow him. Why? … because he is God, and he can save his people. He can take a Gentile king, call him by name (3-4), take him by the right hand (1) and cause him to conquer the world.  God will do this in spite of the fact that Cyrus does not know him (4).  He does it “that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other” (6).

LORD, take us by the hand as you did to Cyrus. accomplish your will through us.