Isaiah 37:32 - Homilies By R. Tuck

The zeal of the Lord.

Cheyne renders, "The jealousy of Jehovah-Sabaoth shall perform this;" and he suggestively says, "'Jealousy,' being the affectional manifestation of the Divine holiness, is a 'two-edged word,' implying the destruction of all that opposes the Divine covenant, and the furtherance of all that promotes it." Zeal also expresses "earnest desire," and that vigorous and persistent activity in which such desire finds expression. In this sense we may treat Jehu's boast of his "zeal for the Lord." This word seems a favorite one with Isaiah, as applied to Jehovah. He employs it in Isaiah 9:7 ; Isaiah 59:17 ; Isaiah 63:15 (see also Ezekiel 5:13 ). The two sides of it may be illustrated from the narrative of the chapter.

I. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD REGARDED AS A SACRED JEALOUSY OF THE DIVINE NAME . AND HONOUR .

II. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD REGARDED AS AN EARNESTNESS OF PURPOSE AND ENDEAVOUR , WHICH ASSURES THE DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMIES OF HIS PEOPLE .

It is an incentive to trust that we are thus assured that our God wants no rousing to action on our behalf, as does the heathen Baal on Mount Carmel This is our confidence—he is jealous for himself and his Word, and therefore is ever working for us.—R.T.