Day 52: Isaiah 9-The Zeal of the Lord

​But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2  The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
 
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
8 The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; 9 and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: 10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones;
the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

11 But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.
12 The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 13 The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. 14 So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day--
15 the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; 16 for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.

17 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; or everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. 19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another.

20 They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, 21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
 
 
Meditation
Nonbelievers believe personal demonstration of strength, moral performance, wealth, and success contribute to salvation and victory. Christians know salvation and victory are fully accomplished by God who is faithful to the promise of His word.
 
While celebrating God’s salvation we must focus on the all-sufficient nature of God: The zeal of the Lord of Host will accomplish salvation! (7c) God accomplishes every aspect of salvation for those who believe!
 
God’s salvation removes gloom and anguish (1), brings light into darkness (2) and increases joy, harvest, and spoil from the enemy (3). He will break the yoke of oppressing powers (4) by bringing the promised child. (5) Through Him God increases the righteous rule and reign of peace of His eternal kingdom (6). The arrogant of heart will not believe and will not receive these promises (8-21).
 
The zeal of the Lord is God’s passion for His glory. God accomplishes all the work of salvation and therefore receives all glory! Our might, power, desire, or effort is insufficient to bring God’s realities to life in our world (see Zephaniah 4:6; Romans 9:16). The zeal of the Lord is seen in the perfect life of Christ lived on our behalf, His death in our place, and His defeat of death that we might live forever in Him.
 
We are saved completely by God’s work! Salvation is a free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-5).  Resist the trap of focusing on yourself and your own contributions and choose to live abundantly in the realities of God’s salvation!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What are ways you subtly attempt to contribute to your salvation? Do you see tendencies to claim credit for your salvation by your strength, moral performance, generosity, or spiritual success?
 
-How does this practice steal glory from God? Conversely, how does ensuring God gets ALL credit for salvation further His glory?
 
-If you are ONLY a recipient of salvation, acknowledging you are saved by the Lord’s zeal alone, how does this transform your day? This is to ask, how will you live for God’s glory in your work, relationships, school, free time, and with your finances?
 
Key verse
7 …from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.