Zechariah 2:1-13 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Zechariah 2:1-13. There are so many rich and powerful lessons we can learn from this passage. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Today’s passage is Zechariah 2:1-13. Let’s go!
Zechariah 2:1-5 (NIV)
1 Then I looked up–and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand!
2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him
4 and 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.
5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
On verses 1-5: Here Zechariah sees a third vision. 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). 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 “that young man” (v3-4a). “That young man” is most likely the man with the measuring line, but the message is ultimately one for Zechariah to hear. The message is basically: don’t bother trying to measure the walls of Jerusalem because Jerusalem will be so big it won’t have walls (v4b). In other words, so many people and livestock will fill this new Jerusalem that it’s beyond measure and beyond building physical walls around it. The LORD Himself will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem, protecting the city, as well as the glory within the city (v5).
What can we learn from this? The new Jerusalem is a picture of God’s church, God’s people. 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. In particular, we learn from these verses the following lessons:
1. The church is the largest family that has ever existed or ever will exist. 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’s church is so big and expansive that you can’t put physical walls around it. As part of God’s church, you are part of the largest family that has ever existed or will exist.
2. The church is not only the largest, but also the most blessed family that has ever existed or ever will exist. “Livestock” is a symbol for wealth and prosperity. 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.
3. The church is the most protected family that has ever existed or ever will exist. Jesus is the wall of fire who surrounds His church to protect her. Because she is protected by the strongest security there is, God’s church will never be destroyed. Though others try to harm her, she will live safe forever, surrounded by God’s presence. We’ll see this idea developed even more in verses 6-9.
4. The church is the most glorious family that has ever existed or ever will exist. Jesus is not only the firewall around you; He’s also the glory that lives within you, His church. Just as Paul says in Colossians 1:27, it’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Zechariah 2:6-9 (NIV)
6 “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.
7 “Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!”
8 For 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–
9 I 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.
On verses 6-9: The “land of the north” (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. If that is the case, then God’s message to the Jews still living in Babylon back then seems to be: don’t be afraid to resettle in Jerusalem, for God is your protector. Then something strange happens in verses 8-9: on one hand it is “the LORD Almighty” speaking, and yet the LORD Almighty says, “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you…I will surely raise my hand against them…Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.” (v8-9) How can the LORD Almighty be sent? Isn’t the LORD Almighty the One who does the sending? 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.
What can we learn from this?
– 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).
– God promised to send a divine Messiah who would honour God and save and defend His people (v8-9). This Messiah will raise His hand against the nations who have hurt God’s people. This will happen when Jesus comes again. At His first coming, Jesus came as a suffering servant who died on a cross for our sins. At His second coming, Jesus will come as a conquering king who will deliver justice to the nations who have hurt God’s people.
– Finally, I like where it says in verse 8, “for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye”. In other words, as God’s church, you are the apple of His eye and He is committed to protecting you.
Zechariah 2:10-13 (NIV)
10 “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.
11 “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.
12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.
13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
On verses 10-13: Here the Messiah again speaks, telling God’s 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).
What can we learn from all this?
– The Messiah is God coming to live among us (v10)
– God’s family consists of people from many different nations. God’s church is the most ethnically and culturally diverse family that has ever existed or will exist (v11)
– Though we sin against God and rejected Him, God still finds a way to choose us again. As His church, you are God’s chosen ones. (v12)
– We can worship God in at least two ways: first, by rejoicing and shouting our praise (v10), but second, by being still before God, standing in awe of Him and His holiness (v13). 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)
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.
Thank You Lord Jesus for being our firewall. 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. 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!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
