Zechariah 2:4-5
(4) and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. (5) And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
Zechariah was a prophet to Israelites after the Babylonia exile. Zechariah writes at a time when Israel is resettling back to Jerusalem and the entire Nation. Zechariah speaks to people who are busy restoring their nationhood.
Zechariah in our chapter today sees a vision. In the vision, he sees two angels and a young man with a measuring line. The young man is about to measure the length and width of Jerusalem, Zechariah 2:2. Zechariah sees the first angel emerge and then a second angel. The second angel orders the first angel to go and tell the young man that Jerusalem will be highly populated and it will therefore be a city without walls.
The angel did not say stop the young man from measuring the city. The instructions were that he must be informed that Jerusalem will not have walls. Either the instructions were to stop him or to ask him to adjust the measurements to accommodate the exploded population.
Ezekiel 9:3-6
(3) … Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side (4) and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. ”
(5) As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. (6) Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
In other passages, the measurement of Jerusalem symbolized judgment that would determine who stays in and who is thrown out of this holy city. If we apply that concept to this passage, it would mean that the young man is being informed that after judgment there will be more people in Jerusalem and he must include them. It may also mean that delay the judgment of Jerusalem because we are still waiting for more people to come and then be judged.
What captivated us today actually is God’s promise to us in this text. Jerusalem will not have walls. Jerusalem will not have the physical security of a wall that other nations have. Jerusalem may not have enough resources to build a wall for the multiplying huge population. Jerusalem will not have the prestige of a wall. However, God promises that He Himself will be the wall of fire around Jerusalem!
God promises that I will be a wall that they can’t afford. I will be the prestigious wall they will physically miss. I will be the physical security they are missing by lacking a wall. I will do much more for them than a wall would do. I will be their wall of fire around them!
God promises that He will be the glory in their midst or among them. Human walls can create an environment that is offensive to the things of God. When human walls are band ones, God will dwell among us. There are walls we need to abandon or pull-down so that God may dwell amongst us!
Job 1:9-10
(9) “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. (10) “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
When God is a wall of fire around us, nobody, even satan can’t enter our safe zone. God tells Zechariah that He will be a wall of fire around us. May God be our wall of fire to protect us and save us in Jesus’ name, Amen?
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Amen
Amen!
Amen..
Amen!
Amen.Thanks Doc.
Amen!
Amen.
Thanks a lot Pastor
Blessings on you!
Wonderful
Hallelujah!