The Zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

"The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

What an exclamation point at the end of these two verses! It lets us know the heart and passion of God the Father, Yahweh, in sending His Son to earth. How amazing it is to know that God Himself found joy and zeal and passion in sending Jesus to atone for our sins! How wonderful and freeing it is to know that the "things of God" are that which involves our freedom, our forgiveness, our joy, and our life! The zeal of the Lord sent this child. The zeal of the Lord of hosts gave us His Son! Merry Christmas!

Sentences like these are found throughout the Bible.

Consider:

Isaiah 53:10 - "Yet it was the will (or, it pleased) of the LORD to crush him; He has put Him to grief."

Speaking of the sufferings of Jesus in Isaiah 53, the Spirit of God inspired Isaiah to say that it pleased God to do it!

Matthew 16:23 - "But (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.'"

Jesus, after Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for talking about going to the cross, told Peter that he did not have in mind the things of God. The things of God involve His perfect Son and a cross and resurrection! The things of God involve our freedom and life and joy and peace!

This Christmas, be reminded that what drove the sending of the Son to earth was the zeal of the LORD of hosts. God was passionate about making it happen. He was passionate about sending us a Savior. He was passionate about bringing us a good news of a great joy!

No wonder the angels in heaven, when they cried out to the shepherds that first Christmas said: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!" (Luke 2:14)

God gets the glory. We get life and joy. Oh how zealous He was about sending His Son and how zealous He is even today that we embrace and trust and find our hope in the Son.

Merry Christmas!