Believers appreciate Isaiah 9:2–7 because Isaiah prophesies about the child, a son, who will be named “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.” However, we often overlook the final verse: “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (v. 7). Let’s consider what the “zeal of the LORD of hosts” is and why it is important for us today.

Before diving into Isaiah’s understanding of the zeal of the Lord, let’s consider the word “zeal” and where it appears in Scripture. The Hebrew noun behind this translation is qanah. The verbal root (qna) appears 85 times in the Old Testament, and the noun form shows up 43 times. Most of these occurrences mean something along the lines of “jealous” or “jealousy.”

Zeal and the Promise of Abraham

The Lord God describes himself by saying, “I the LORD your God am a jealous God” (Ex. 20:5; emphasis added). God doesn’t take kindly to idolatry. His people do not belong to anyone else.

God doesn’t take kindly to idolatry. His people do not belong to anyone else.

Remember, the Lord had just brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, that house of slavery, with his mighty arm (v. 2). The Lord loves his chosen people, as he made a promise to Abraham, their father, that he’d remember Abraham’s descendants and bring them to the land (Gen. 15:12–16).

Zeal and the Promise of David

As we turn to Isaiah, we see God act similarly. God is keeping his promise to David—he swore in 2 Samuel 7 that his steadfast love wouldn’t depart from David’s house. David would have a son who would sit on the throne forever (vv. 12–16).

Isaiah 9:2–7 reaffirms this promise when it speaks of this son being “given.” According to Isaiah, this son isn’t only going to sit on the throne forever but will be the means through whom the Lord will work salvation for the people in darkness. No one else can take credit for this son coming into the world. This is the Lord’s zeal at work in love for David and all God’s people.

This son isn’t only going to sit on the throne forever but will be the means through whom the Lord will work salvation for the people in darkness.

The zeal of the Lord appears in other places within the book of Isaiah, solidifying that the Lord’s zeal is connected to his compassion. His zeal presses him to save humanity from their sin. God’s people, knowing his steadfast promises, request that the Lord act according to his mighty zeal.

For example, Isaiah 26:11 petitions the Lord, “O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed” (emphasis added).

Several more instances of the Lord’s zeal appear throughout Isaiah (37:31–32; 42:13; 59:17; 63:15). In sum, the Lord continues to keep his promise that he would save his people from their enemies, most notably from death itself. John Oswalt writes, “Were it not for God’s passionate, yet wholly undeserved, attachment to His world, none of this would be possible. He would have long abandoned us to our sins and transgressions.” Out of his great zeal for his beloved people, the Lord does what he promises.

Marvelous Zeal

The Lord’s zeal is his intense and passionate love to save you. The promise of a son isn’t only for Abraham, David, and Israel; it’s a promise also for you. His zeal is what drove the Lord to provide his Son on the mountain called Calvary to those sitting in darkness (Gen. 22:8–18; Matt. 27:33–44; John 3:14–17). The second person of the holy Trinity became man for our redemption. What zeal the Lord has for his creation!

Jesus’s zeal to save is the same zeal of his Father. He gladly suffers the cross to accomplish our salvation. Christ was raised on the third day, ascended, and now sits at the Father’s right hand to reign as the crucified and risen King. The zeal of the Lord has done it, and “it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:23). Let’s give thanks to God for such desire and zeal to save us, so we might live and worship him in righteousness from now and into eternity.