I love the Bible! I love the fact that after years of reading familiar Scripture, suddenly the Lord will reveal something new and exciting. That happened to me in my quiet time this week. I was reading words that I’ve known since I was a little girl – words that are often read at Christmas time. In fact, I have spoken from these same verses. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” The Scripture goes on to give us the wonderful names by which He’ll be known, and the nature of His eternal reign. And then these words: “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7)

I have read those words many times over the years and have always thought of it in terms of God’s power. God’s power would accomplish all of this: a virgin who would produce a Son who would be our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. Mary’s child would also reign on David’s throne with justice and righteousness for all of eternity. Certainly something that God’s power alone could do.

But it doesn’t say “God’s power.” It says, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” The dictionary defines zeal as: “eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something; fervor.” Let me reverently rephrase those words from Isaiah 9:7: “The eagerness and ardent interest of God will accomplish this with intense feeling.”

His zeal – His enthusiastic anticipation, His passion in purpose brought all of this about. God didn’t just exercise His power; He accomplished all of this with excitement and passion. That adds such a new depth to those verses. It wasn’t an impersonal God exercising His power to do what had to be done, but a loving God who was excited to bring all of this about for us. I’m so glad that He had the power to do all of this for our salvation, but I am also so thankful for the zeal that prompted His heart. “For unto us a child is born…”

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