Turth #61 - God rules and puts rulers in place to rule - Isaiah 45-50

Isaiah 45:1
​Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:

When it comes to doing a study on the sovereign nature of God, there may be, perhaps, not other chapter in God's Word that matches Isaiah 45.   Romans 9-11 may, but very few whole chapters are given over to God's sovereign rule over mankind.  We can help by see it in all of God's Word, if we are looking for it, but this chapter seems to say it so powerfully.   Notice, however, a few verses that might give us a backdrop to this chapter:

Proverbs 21:1
​The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.

Psalms 75:7
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.

Daniel 2:21-22
And he changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:
he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret things:
he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him.

When it comes to God's sovereign rule, we can be assured that NO ruler on this earth is where they are, except by God's design.   The wicked man in North Korea is there to do God's biding.   A wicked leader in Latin countries is there to do what God's wills to accomplish God's purpose.  The wicked men in the Middle East who continue to create havoc across the land, are not the first.  In the above verse King Cyrus, the King of Babylon, was used by God as God directed him by the "right hand" and led him like a child to do what God willed.   God opens the doors for leadership.   The truth is, if  you are in a place of leadership it is by God's sovereign will and desire.   We are to submit to leaders, no matter their political views, because they are there by God's own choosing:

Romans 13:1-2
​ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.