The ”Suffering Servant”
Perhaps the
strongest argument against reading Cyrus in Isaiah 45 is the “Suffering
Servant” prophecy of Isaiah 53 that finds its original fulfilment in the life
of Hezekiah. It is the New Testament hymn in Philippians that connects the
motif of the “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53 with the Cyrus prophecy of Isaiah
45, by citing Isaiah 45:23; “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.” (Phillip. 2:10, 11). We might well ask who it was that functioned as a
messianic prototype. Was it Cyrus the pagan king and idols worshipper, or
Hezekiah the faithful descendant of David—the man who embodied the covenant
promises and rose from his sickbed on the third day—the man who carried the burden
of the nation that he attempted to reform—the man who was delivered at Passover
(together with the nation)—the man whose birth was prophesied by Isaiah—the man
whose name was Immanuel? Hezekiah was the mediator; the “Suffering Servant” who
acted on behalf of the faithful remnant (Jacob who was also Yahweh’s servant .
. . Israel whom I have chosen: 44:1) and who also acted as God’s agent
(Immanuel—God with us—named by God 45:4 cf. 7:14) to the faithful remnant. Thus
Hezekiah represented both parties—Yahweh to the people and the people to
Yahweh. Thirtle comments: “The New Testament application of these great words
is by no means called in question by the immediate (or initial) interpretation
Holy Scripture—continually shows its distinctive vitality and inspiration in
the fact that its distinctive vitality and inspiration in the fact that its
statements are capable of application that are far-reaching beyond anything
suggested by their primary purpose. All the same, it is important to observe
the immediate reference, even in forms which are of the deepest significance
when viewed in their relation to the larger unfolding of the Divine plan.”
(Thirtle, OT Problems, 249) Who then functioned in an archetypical
messianic role—Hezekiah or Cyrus? (Paulus Wyns, God is Judge: A Commentary
on the Book of Daniel [Biblaridion Media, 2011], 142-43)
