The Zeal Of The LORD

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 19th December’s service and hymns are below.

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Our verses are:

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 The Zeal Of The LORD

The wonder of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ ought always to thrill us. It will when we get to heaven. The Triune God for love of His people, in mercy and by grace, sent the Son of God to take our human nature into union with His Divine Person and become a man. If this is as far as you read in this article think on that for a while. Christ is God and Christ is man and will be so everlastingly.

A willing Saviour

That the love of God should be so great for fallen sinners as to devise such a plan of salvation speaks both of the height of God’s love and the depth of our need. God in Christ must stoop, humble Himself and become lower than the work of His own hands to restore, recover and redeem His people from their sins. This He did willingly. Our sinful state required no less. Had another means been possible, had another way been conceivable, the incarnation would not have happened and the Lord of Glory need not have come, suffered, bled and died.

A child born and a son given

Let us talk about the Zeal of the LORD. When God the Holy Ghost gave Isaiah the prophecy about the coming of a child and the birth of a son by a virgin He gave to the church in the Old Testament such specific, concrete promises of their soon to come Deliverer as to heighten anticipation of His arrival for the next five hundred years. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem there was already present in Jerusalem a group “waiting for the consolation of Israel”, expecting the One whom Simeon in praise to God called “thy Salvation”.

True governance

These men and women of faith, building upon Isaiah’s prophecy, waited for a child who would be born and a son who would be given. Simeon waited for a baby boy who would be God in flesh and would grow to fulfil all the qualities of Isaiah’s inspired words. This child would be a great light shining upon the people that walked in darkness and dwelt in the land of the shadow of death. He would rule in righteousness and equity, not only in the world but in His church and the government of all things would be upon His shoulder.

Let us not confuse Christ’s government with the often corrupt and largely inept product of human ingenuity we call government today for it is not what is meant here. Here, government means the effective and successful rule and regulation of all things by the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s government is perfect and all control and responsibility and authority for this world rests upon His shoulder.

Wonderful, Counsellor

This child would bear a succession of names describing His character and accomplishments. His name, says Isaiah, “shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. Each lofty title opens to His people’s gaze the excellent and unique attributes of their dear Saviour and His rule and kingdom.

What is more, this child would from small beginnings grow and enlarge His kingdom to the ends of the earth as His gospel was preached and His people gathered from north, south, east and west and from the islands and the ends of the earth. The inhabitants of this kingdom would be perfectly ordered and everlastingly established. Everything required for their salvation would be provided, and everything needful for their eternal good and glory would be supplied by, and according to, the finest example of governance and the greatest of governors.

And should any dare say that these faithful folk in Jerusalem waited in vain for Christ’s coming then Isaiah’s closing words proved the confidence of the elect to be well-founded and their faith well-placed for we are told, “the Zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this”.

The Zeal of the LORD

That zeal of the LORD here spoken of has been called “no other than his fervent flaming love” and reminds us that this zeal, this fervent love, will accomplish every promise for the glory of the Son who was given, and the salvation of the people for whom He was given, and who were in the everlasting councils of peace, given to Him.

Let us stand in awe of the Zeal of the LORD as He performs everything promised in the great cause of salvation for which Christ came and for which He took our human nature and human flesh. Men and women imagine themselves captains of their own destiny and run on in their folly. Be assured, covenant mercy and our Lord’s eternal purpose shall never fail for the Zeal of the LORD will perform it.

Our hymns are below.

Hymn 1

Gadsby selection 38

“Jesus.” Luke 1. 31-33; 2. 10-14

I. Watts                            S.M.

  1

Behold! the grace appears,
The promise is fulfilled!
Mary, the wondrous virgin, bears,
And Jesus is the child.

2
[The Lord, the highest God,
Calls him his only Son;
He bids him rule the lands abroad,
And gives him David’s throne.]

3
[O’er Jacob shall he reign
With a peculiar sway;
The nations shall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne’er decay.]

4
To bring the glorious news
A heavenly form appears;
He tells the shepherds of their joys,
And banishes their fears.

5
“Go, humble swains,” said he,
“To David’s city fly,
The promised Infant born today
Does in a manger lie.

6
“With looks and hearts serene,
Go visit Christ, your King”;
And straight a flaming troop was seen;
The shepherds heard them sing:

7
“Glory to God on high,
And heavenly peace on earth;
Good will to men, to angels joy,
At the Redeemer’s birth!”

8
[In worship so divine
Let saints employ their tongues;
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs:

9
“Glory to God on high,
And heavenly peace on earth;
Good will to men, to angels joy,
At the Redeemer’s birth!”]

Hymn 2

Gadsby selection 557

“In his name shall the Gentiles trust.” Matt. 12. 21

W. Gadsby   8.8.6.

1
How sweet and precious is the name
Of Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Lamb,
To sinners in distress!
A name just suited to their case;
Pregnant with mercy, truth, and grace,
With strength and righteousness.

2
[His name, as Jesus, suits them well;
He saves from sin, wrath, law, and hell,
From guilt and slavish fears.
His name is Wonderful indeed;
An able Counsellor, to plead,
Just suits a case like theirs.]

3
[Immanuel! thrice-blessèd name!
The God we trust is still the same!
An endless Father, He;
A most illustrious Prince of Peace;
A Tower, a precious Hiding-place,
Is Jesus Christ to me.]

4
[Yes, if his name be Lord of Hosts,
Of his almighty power I’ll boast;
He all my foes shall quell;
He’s all the helpless soul can need;
No ointment put on Aaron’s head,
Could give so sweet a smell.]

5
In him the Gentile church shall trust;
Of him shall sing; of him shall boast;
On him cast all their care;
He is their God, and they shall know
What his almighty power can do,
Nor death, nor danger fear.