As the king saw the words foretelling, more than a hundred years before his birth, the manner in which Babylon should be taken; as he read the message addressed to him by the Ruler of the universe, "I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me;" as he saw before his eyes the declaration of the eternal God, "For Jacob My servant's sake, and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me;" as he traced the inspired record, "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward," his heart was profoundly moved, and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission. Isaiah 45:5, 6, 4, 13. He would let the Judean 558 captives go free; he would help them restore the temple of Jehovah.

Kongen læste de ord, som over hundrede år før hans fødsel havde forudsagt, hvorledes Babylon ville blive indtaget. Han læste det budskab, som universets Konge havde stilet til ham: "Jeg omgjorde dig, endskønt du ej kender mig, så de kender fra solens opgang til dens nedgang: der er ingen uden mig. " Han læste med sine egne øjne den evige Guds udsagn: "For Jakobs, min tjeners, skyld, for min udvalgtes, Israels, skyld, kalder jeg dig ved dit navn, ved et æresnavn, skønt du ej kender mig. " Han læste de inspirerede ord: "Det var mig, som vakte ham i retfærd, jeg jævner alle hans veje; han skal bygge min by og give mine bortførte fri ikke for løn eller gave." Es. 45,5-6. 4. 13. Da han blev bekendt med alt dette, gjorde det et dybt indtryk på hans hjerte, og han besluttede, at han ville opfylde sin guddommeligt tildelte mission. Han ville frigive de judæiske fanger og hjælpe dem at genopbygge Herrens tempel.