Prophecy of Cyrus.—Is. xlv. 4: “For Jacob's sake, mine elect, I have called thee by thy name.”
Is. xlv. 21: “Come and let us reason together. Who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord?”
Is. xlvi.: “Remember the former things of old, and know there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
Is. xlii.: “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
Is. xlviii. 3: “I have declared the former things from the beginning; I did them suddenly; and they came to pass. Because I know that thou art obstinate, that thy spirit is rebellious, and thy brow brass; I have even declared it to thee before it came to pass : lest thou shouldst say that it was the work of thy gods, and the effect of their commands.
“Thou hast seen all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; I have kept them hidden from thee; lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I knew them.
“Yea, thou knewest not; yea, thou heardest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.”
Reprobation of the Jews and conversion of the Gentiles.—Is. lxv.: “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said. Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that did not call upon my name.
“I have spread out my hands all the day unto an unbelieving people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh me to anger continually by the sins they commit in my face; that sacrificeth to idols, &c.
“These shall be scattered like smoke in the day of my wrath, &c.
