What does Isaiah call Cyrus? Why is that significant?

Question

This is for my World Civilizations class and I am needing help knowing how to answer.

"Read Ezra 1:1-8. Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish captives from the Babylonian captivity to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. Read Isaiah 44:18-45:1. What does Isaiah call Cyrus? Why is that significant?"

Answer 1

In Isaiah 44:28, he says

 

He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please;

 

In Isaiah 45:1, he says

 

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, ..."

 

Note he calls Cyrus both shepherd and anointed.  That tells you he was sovereignly chosen and raised up by God to accomplish a specific deed in accordance with God's plan.  There lies the significance.