The year 2020 is gone and 2021 has arrived. The pestilence named "COVID-19" is still with us. Church attendance is still minimal to prevent the spread of said pestilence. This heart struggles for the good feelings and emotions of days gone by. Days of joy in the Lord and lightness of spirit.
As a believer, it is understood that burdens are always a part of the life of faith. However, because of recent national events it is apparent the Lord's coming is closer than ever. With those thoughts in mind, this heart has been directed to begin reading in the prophetic books, beginning with Isaiah.
To begin this New Year of increasing faith thru the scriptures, the following verse leaps off the page; "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isa 9.6) Perform what?
In the chapters preceding this proclamation, sinful Judah is brought to bear. Chapter one yields a positive note regarding sin, "...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;...IF ye be willing and obedient..." (Isa 1.18.19) Then, there are prophesy's of things to come brought to light. "...neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa 2.5) The day of the Lord is a fierce thing. (Isa 2.19-21). To read from chapter two until the chapter nine, verse six is to note judgement, judgement, judgement. Until the promise given in 9.6.
These thoughts would compare with Lamentations 3.22, 23, " It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." His holiness demands perfection. This is why judgement must prevail. Yet, because of "the son" that is "given," compassion also shows evidence. Thus, yielding to "the zeal of the Lord of hosts..."
To comprehend a bit more of the passage being discussed, one must define "zeal." Zeal in the Hebrew (H7068) is "passion, jealousy to move." Zeal from Webster's 1818 dictionary is described as "passionate ardour in pursuit of a thing. Eagerness of desire to accomplish something. 'The blind conductor of the will. In other words, "The zeal of the Lord..." was the rush to send us "a son...Wonderful, Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Though never at the expense of His Holiness, God Himself in compassion and tender mercy sent a Deliverer for His people. There are no words to express this great love. Just believe.
To make practical application of "zeal," every believer practice the passion to follow hard after His will and His way. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2.14)
God bless you all and Happy New Year! Ps 57.7
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