That saith of Cyrus, He is my Shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, thy foundation shall be laid.  Isaiah 44:28  

Isaiah historically prophesied between 740 and 681BC.  

Ezra 1-4

Now in the first year of Cyrus King in Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all the kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 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 an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Who is there among you of all his people?  his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.  And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth let the the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.  

* Having been in captivity for 70 years in Babylon and now Persia, beginning in 586BC  the Jews are called by prophesy to rebuild Jerusalem.  If you continue to study in depth through Daniel you will find that this is a key date in Daniel’s prediction of Christ’s triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.  Isn’t it unique of the Holy Spirit to place the rebuilding of Jerusalem physically in the Book of Ezra, before the Isaiah, where he predicts the rebuilding through Cyrus’s commission?

I don’t know God’s ways but I have learned to expect them, look for them and delight in them as His will is played out before my eyes.  I don’t do this service like some member of a cult waiting upon some human reward, having had my thinking compromised by some deceiver, mind-dissembler or some silver-tongued poet.  I am in love with an Almighty God, who is worthy of my praise, my loyalty and the gift of my life through service.  He has told all of us, all humans what is expected of us and that there will be an eventual price associated with our choice.  Yet we still quibble with the idea that He has not exacted that price to date, having fully declared that He alone will determine the date for all judgment.  Yes, there is evil in the world, heck I am proof of that with my wicked thoughts, my feeble heart and my unwillingness to love him through obedient trust.  But none of us can trifle with the fact that He told us He will correct all that has gone awry at some chosen point in our future.

As with the above prophecy it simply should shake us to our roots, leaving us in awe of His authority, majesty and grace that He considers us worthy at all to told in advance that He will save those who will cry out to Him for salvation.  I didn’t write this story, in fact when I attempt to rewrite, add, take away or deflect the script in my own direction, serving my own wicked delights or proclivities, I am instantaneously reacquainted with My Sovereign God and King.  The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob be praised in the Mighty name of Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed King of Everything.