"The deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions had been used of God to create a favorable impression upon the mind of Cyrus the Great. The sterling qualities of the man of God as a statesman of farseeing ability led the Persian ruler to show him marked respect and to honor his judgment. And now, just at the time God had said He would cause His temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt, He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself, with which Daniel was so familiar, and to grant the Jewish people their liberty. PK 557.1"
"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
The EGW passage directly illustrates the principle stated in Proverbs 21:1, that God can influence the hearts of rulers to accomplish His purposes. The example of Cyrus is a clear demonstration of this principle.