The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts Will Perform This!

"6 For unto us a Child is born,
      Unto us a Son is given;
      And the government will be upon His shoulder.
      And His name will be called
      Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
      There will be no end,
      Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
      To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
      From that time forward, even forever.
      The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
– Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

Isaiah was a very special prophet.  His career began in the throne room of God’s temple where, in his vision, the Lord of Hosts Himself personally commissioned him.   Perhaps that explains the intensity of divine emotion that Isaiah’s writings convey, such as the opening line of chapter 64: 
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down!”

And surely it’s no coincidence that this same Isaiah brings us more messianic prophecies even than David himself.  Perhaps the most often quoted of these is Isaiah 9:6-7, which begins with: “For unto us a Child is born …”  In two short verses, the majestic reign of Jesus is chronicled from birth, to throne, to eternity. 

But then, the prophecy is sealed with a singular pronouncement:  

“The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this!” Get that—God’s zeal is the force that will usher in the everlasting kingdom of His Christ.

Now, the word translated here as “zeal”—qinah—is used sparingly in the Hebrew Scriptures.  It describes one of the most powerful emotions: gut-curling jealousy, usually in the context of fiercely protective action (“zeal”) on behalf of one who is the object of love.

And it’s Isaiah who introduces this particular phrase about “the zeal of the Lord has done” such-and-such a thing.  He used it two or three times, always in reference to God’s prodigious action in defense of His chosen people.

“Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down!” Think of it—that’s exactly what He did.

Let us pray:

“Thank you, Father, for Your great zeal which, in the fragile shape of a newborn, delivered our conquering King—the One Who would destroy the works of that great usurper, Satan, and redeem to Yourself a bride for eternity!  Hallelujah!!

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Copyright © Brad Fenichel 2011 All Rights Reserved