The Great King Remembered, from Logos of St Andrews (2003)by Jerry Ogles

 

   When in the fourth grade, we read in class the story of a great king who was anointed and named by God two hundred years before his birth. (Isaiah 44:28 & 45:1-5). God even told, to the most minute detail, the manner in which Cyrus would conquer Babylon.

    Cyrus the Great was the first benevolent ruler in history, showing great mercy and understanding to those whom he had conquered. He was my hero. Many years later, I stood in the temple of Cyrus where Daniel had stood in Persia. I felt over-awed at the site. A few yards away is the stone built tomb and sarcophagus of Cyrus. It has this poignant message graven above the entryway:

“O man, whomsoever thou art and from wheresoever thou cometh (for I know thou shalt come), behold, I am Cyrus, the Great King, who ruled over Persia and all the lands thine eye can see. Therefore begrudge me not this small dust that covers my bones.”  Cyrus was a benevolent king to those who accepted his rule, but a horror to those who would not. How like God he was in this one respect!