“…and the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:7
I always admire zeal. I may not always appreciate what someone is zealous about, but I admire zeal - a zealous heart, a zealous mind, zealous passion. Go for it! Put your all into it! Lay it all on the line!
Zeal is a multiplier. Zeal takes knowledge and intention, plans, and even vision and greatly increases the chance of success and fulfillment of that vision.
So when we read that the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish something, it’s a sure thing. Come on! First of all, it’s the Lord Almighty. That should be enough. But it’s multiplied by his zeal. We sure can put our full weight down on that! We can confidently live as if it has already been accomplished!
Where do we find this statement in the Bible anyway? In one of the clearest prophetic declarations of our coming savior, the Messiah Jesus.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
AND . . . the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:2,6,7
Much of this profound prophecy has already come to pass. Jesus, the light of the world, has dawned upon the deep darkness all around. Unto us the Christ child has been born. But it’s the rest of the prophecy that we may question. Even as believers it may be hard to see the evidence of Jesus’ reign and rule.
Yet, verse 7 does not hold back. It begins by declaring that Jesus’ government and peace will only continue to increase without end! His “government” may be better understood as his righteous governance. While his “peace” we know is the much more complete “everything is right in the world” shalom. We can say that this prophecy is declaring the Lord’s righteous reign and rule. It will never end. In fact it will always be increasing.
Do we believe this will actually happen? It may seem that it’s only the world’s ways that are increasing all around us. But the promise of this prophecy is that zeal (the multiplier) will accomplish it - and that’s the Lord Almighty’s zeal!
God’s great redemptive plan was not simply for Jesus to be born and live a sinless life so he could be the perfect sacrifice for us. As central as that is, the promise in this prophecy is that the baby born will be the king ushering in his kingdom. A kingdom of righteousness, justice, mercy, and grace. A kingdom where his governance rules. His justice and his mercy. A kingdom that truly will exist forever in shalom.
This Christmas let’s celebrate not only the birth of a savior, but of a king. And along with him comes his kingdom, full of righteousness and shalom.
Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. And how will this happen? The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish it! That is our unquenchable hope this Christmas.
