{"id":29765,"date":"2024-01-31T22:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T05:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/zechariah-1_7-21-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-01-23T13:28:43","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T20:28:43","slug":"zechariah-2_1-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/zechariah-2_1-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus is the Wall of Fire Around You and the Glory Within You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zechariah 2:1-13 <\/strong>\u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a02:1-13.\u00a0 There are so many rich and powerful lessons we can learn from this passage.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a02:1-13.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Zechariah 2:1-5 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then I looked up–and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand!
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’<\/em><\/p>\n


\nOn verses\u00a01-5: \u00a0Here\u00a0Zechariah\u00a0sees a third vision.\u00a0 It’s of a man with a measuring line (like a measuring tape) who is trying to measure how wide and long is the city of Jerusalem (v1-2).\u00a0 The angel who was earlier helping Zechariah to interpret the visions (1:19-21) leaves and is met by another angel who tells the interpreter angel a message to give to \u201cthat young man\u201d (v3-4a).\u00a0 \u201cThat young man\u201d is most likely the man with the measuring line, but the message is ultimately one for Zechariah to hear.\u00a0 The message is basically: don\u2019t bother trying to measure the walls of Jerusalem because Jerusalem will be so big it won\u2019t have walls (v4b).\u00a0 In other words, so many people and livestock will fill this new Jerusalem that it\u2019s beyond measure and beyond building physical walls around it.\u00a0 The LORD Himself will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem, protecting the city, as well as the glory within the city (v5).<\/em><\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0 The new Jerusalem is a picture of God\u2019s church, God\u2019s people.\u00a0 While these verses were meant to encourage the Jews living in 6th century BC, these verses are also a great picture of how God sees His church today.\u00a0 In particular, we learn from these verses the following lessons:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong>\u00a0The church is the largest family that has ever existed or ever will exist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The fact that Zechariah sees a new Jerusalem that is so big and expansive that it is impossible to put physical walls around it suggests that God\u2019s church is so big and expansive that you can\u2019t put physical walls around it.\u00a0 As part of God\u2019s church, you are part of the largest family that has ever existed or will exist.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 The church is not only the largest, but also the most blessed family that has ever existed or ever will exist. \u00a0<\/strong>“Livestock” is a symbol for wealth and prosperity.\u00a0 So when verse 4 states that there will be so much livestock that no walls can contain it, the implication is that God’s people are the richest people, so blessed that there are no walls to contain the blessings we receive from God.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 The church is the most protected family that has ever existed or ever will exist.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is the wall of fire who surrounds His church to protect her. \u00a0Because she is protected by the strongest security there is, God’s church will never be destroyed.\u00a0 Though others try to harm her, she will live safe forever, surrounded by God\u2019s presence.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see this idea developed even more in verses 6-9.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 The church is the most glorious family that has ever existed or ever will exist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Jesus is not only the firewall around you; He’s also the glory that lives within you, His church.\u00a0 Just as Paul says in Colossians 1:27, it\u2019s \u201cChrist in you, the hope of glory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zechariah 2:6-9 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!”
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you–for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye–
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 6-9:\u00a0 The \u201cland of the north\u201d (v6) is most likely a reference to Babylon (v7) where scholars say many Jews were still living at the time that this prophecy was written down.\u00a0 If that is the case, then God\u2019s message to the Jews still living in Babylon back then seems to be: don\u2019t be afraid to resettle in Jerusalem, for God is your protector.\u00a0 Then something strange happens in verses 8-9: on one hand it is \u201cthe LORD Almighty\u201d speaking, and yet the LORD Almighty says, \u201cAfter he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you\u2026I will surely raise my hand against them\u2026Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.\u201d (v8-9)\u00a0 How can the LORD Almighty be sent?\u00a0 Isn\u2019t the LORD Almighty the One who does the sending?\u00a0 This is a reference to the Messiah, who on one hand is divine and on the other hand is sent by God to His deliver and vindicate His people.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 Just as the LORD tells His people to flee from Babylon, so we His people are called to flee from a life of sin and live lives that are holy and set apart for God (v6-7).<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 God promised to send a divine Messiah who would honour God and save and defend His people (v8-9).\u00a0 This Messiah will raise His hand against the nations who have hurt God’s people.\u00a0 This will happen when Jesus comes again.\u00a0 At His first coming, Jesus came as a suffering servant who died on a cross for our sins.\u00a0 At His second coming, Jesus will come as a conquering king who will deliver justice to the nations who have hurt God’s people.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 Finally, I like where it says in verse 8, \u201cfor whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye\u201d.\u00a0 In other words, as God\u2019s church, you are the apple of His eye and He is committed to protecting you.<\/p>\n

Zechariah 2:10-13 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 10-13:\u00a0 Here the Messiah again speaks, telling God\u2019s chosen people to shout and be glad (v10), promising that He is coming to live among them (v10), prophesying that people from many different nations will belong to the LORD (v11), confirming once again that He is sent by God (v11), assuring that the LORD will once again choose Jerusalem (v12), and telling all humankind to be still because God is on the move (v13).<\/p>\n

What can we learn from all this?<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 The Messiah is God coming to live among us (v10)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 God\u2019s family consists of people from many different nations.\u00a0 God\u2019s church is the most ethnically and culturally diverse family that has ever existed or will exist (v11)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 Though we sin against God and rejected\u00a0Him, God still finds a way to choose us again.\u00a0 As His church, you are God\u2019s chosen ones. (v12)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 We can worship God in at least two ways: first, by rejoicing and shouting our praise (v10), but second,\u00a0by being still before God, standing in awe of Him and His holiness (v13).\u00a0 Just as people stand in stillness when a king enters the room, so we need to take time to be still before God, knowing that He is on the move (v13)<\/p>\n

Because of all these great truths, we as God’s church can live with great confidence, joy and hope, for we belong to the greatest, most powerful, most blessed family that has ever existed or ever will exist.<\/p>\n

Thank You Lord Jesus for being our firewall.\u00a0 Thank You for being the glory that lives within us. And thank You that through You we get to be part of the greatest, most powerful, most blessed family that has ever existed or ever will exist.\u00a0 As Your people may we live with great confidence, always rejoicing and always hanging on to the hope we have in You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a02:1-13.\u00a0 There are so many rich and powerful lessons we can learn from this passage.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!
\n\u00a0
\nToday’s passage is\u00a0Zechariah\u00a02:1-13.\u00a0 Let’s go!
\n\u00a0
\nZechariah 2:1-5 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0Then I looked up–and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand!
\n2\u00a0\u00a0I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
\n3\u00a0\u00a0Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him
\n4\u00a0\u00a0and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it.
\n5\u00a0\u00a0And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’<\/p>\n

On verses\u00a01-5: \u00a0Here\u00a0Zechariah\u00a0sees a third vision.\u00a0 It’s of a man with a measuring line (like a measuring tape) who is trying to measure how wide and long is the city of Jerusalem (v1-2).\u00a0 The angel who was earlier helping Zechariah to interpret the visions (1:19-21) leaves and is met by another angel who tells the interpreter angel a message to give to \u201cthat young man\u201d (v3-4a).\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29768,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29765"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29769,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29765\/revisions\/29769"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}