Greatness in God: Isaiah 45:1-7 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him-- and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things. Isaiah 45:1-7 NRSV

I began preparing today’s sermon by doing some research into King Cyrus of Persia, who’s named as “God’s anointed” in today’s reading from Isaiah. 

Numerous historians refer to him as Cyrus the Great. He conquered the Babylonian Empire, which the book of Revelation refers to as “Babylon the Great.” Following his death, he was succeeded by Darius the Great, who was succeeded by Xerxes the Great. Later, their Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great. Are you starting to see a pattern here?

History is full of rulers who have “the Great” attached to their name—because they were extremely effective military strategists, savvy politicians, and empire builders. For better or worse, they played a great role in shaping human civilization. 

The Israelites exiled in Babylon had good reason to call Cyrus great—because after he conquered Babylon, he permitted the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city. The prophet Isaiah names him “the Lord’s anointed” for this reason. 

All throughout Scripture, God uses good and evil persons to carry out God’s purposes. It just so happened that Cyrus ruled his empire a bit differently than rulers who preceded him: he didn’t persecute and kill his enemies. Instead, he was more tolerant and accommodating—especially when it came to people’s religions. This helped him maintain order and security within his empire. 

But God one thing clear: Cyrus is not the one to be worshipped. Even though God calls Cyrus “anointed,” this isn’t about him. It isn’t even about Israel, for that matter. This is about God. Four times, God declares that God is using Cyrus—though not to build up the Persian Empire, which Israel will happen to benefit from. God is using Cyrus as part of God’s greater plan to become known in the world and fulfill the promises God made to Israel. And Cyrus doesn’t even know the God who made him so great…

Cyrus, and other “great ones” had massive egos. They fought, they conquered, they enslaved, and they killed—to make their name great in the world and gain the adoration of their people.

Who are the great ones on today’s world? Their names appear in the Forbes Magazine billionaires list. They’re on TV. They have thousands, if not millions of followers on social media. Their names appear on buildings, business empires, and industries. People come from miles around to be in their presence. We bask in their glory by going to their films, buying their products, and wearing their names on our clothing. We worship like messiahs, giving them even more wealth, power, and fame in hopes that their greatness will make us great. 

But here’s something to remember about Cyrus the Great, and all the great ones who followed him: they all died, and their empires fell to even greater rulers and greater empires. Meanwhile, precious human lives were lost, and God’s life-giving gifts were wasted. 

The more you strive to make yourself and your name great, the further you distance yourself from God. The path toward personal greatness runs in the opposite direction of God’s kingdom. Sooner or later, the ivory towers you build to make your name great will fall back to earth.

Greatness, in God’s world, is not about wealth or winning. It certainly isn’t about having “the Great” written beside your name in the history books. Only God is great. 

One of the greatest ways God acts in the world is by anointing ordinary people like you and me to do God’s work in the world. You are raised up by God to show forth God’s greatness in the world by living according to God’s commands and sharing with others the gifts God has lovingly given you. Instead of wasting God’s gifts to make others see how smart, hard-working, and successful you are, you strive to improve people’s lives. You ease burdens. You alleviate suffering. You affirm people’s dignity and worth. You are living proof that God is great—and that God’s greatness means abundant life for all people, particularly those who are counted as the lowest and the least.

Years ago, I attended a funeral for a church member who had an amazing talent for remembering everyone he ever met. But the people he remembered didn’t always remember him. But he would always say, “It’s okay to forget me. Just don’t forget Jesus.” He’s absolutely right—because there is nothing great that can be had in this world that will endure and remain secure amid evil, suffering, and death aside from Jesus Christ. Great things will come and go in life, but to live greatly is for Jesus’s greatness to live through you. For there is only one name under heaven whereby you are claimed, forgiven, redeemed, and saved. That name and that name alone is worthy of greatness. There is only one greatness that is given to you without cost or merit—God’s greatness, given through the cross, for your sake, the neighbor’s sake, and the world’s sake.