Cyrus and the Suffering Servant
Finally, we now turn to Cyrus who did not know or believe in Yahweh and to the Suffering Servant, both as prophets of Yahweh. Cyrus was the Persian king appointed by Yahweh to free the people from Babylonian exile. The Suffering Servant was the leader of the people of the land called to organize the movement to liberate the people and the land from Babylon. The people of the land organized themselves into a revolutionary force. They sent their leader to Persia, to convince Cyrus to attack Babylon directly.
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.” Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped”.
(Is 44,28-45,1a)
That way Babylon had to face two theaters of war: a revolution in the homeland, and an invasion by Persia. To subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open the the doors before him that gates may not be closed…”
(Is 45,1b, ff)
But the plan had to include the exiled leaders and the Jewish aristocracy enjoying the privileges in Babylon. So the leader surreptitiously entered Babylon and tried to convince the exiled Israelite leaders in Babylon to support the struggle at home and the invasion of Persia by themselves organizing a resistance force within the belly of the beast. This was to constitute the third theater of war.
Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? Surely, thus says the Lord: ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children..
(Is 49,24-25 ff.)
But the exiled Israelite aristocracy, who were enjoying the perks and largesse of Babylon, lost their soul by purchase and suborn. They betrayed the cause of the people of the land. They reported on the revolutionary leader’s presence to Babylonian authorities and had him arrested.
And so the revolutionary leader was held captive, mocked and tortured, and paraded around the city to warn those exiles that they would receive the same fate should they follow this revolutionary leader and the cause of the people and nation. But the revolutionary leader opened not his mouth: he would never give an inch to his captors nor reveal the names and secrets of their revolutionary project (Is 53,4-12).
Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant.. he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him….he was despised and rejected by humanity, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…he was despised, and we esteemed him not…
(Is 53,1-3, ff.)
