Zechariah Chapter 2

[1] I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

·         Now the second part of this prophecy begins where the first left off, the carpenters are replaced by the angel who is acting as a carpenter.

·         This is the same imagery as Ezekiel 40:3

[2] Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
[3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
[4] And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
[5] For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

·         There was a temple, but there were no walls, indeed there would be no walls until Ezra’s day, 80 years later. God was promising to be their shield and strength, just like the armies of the Lord protected Elisha 2 Kings 6:14-17

[6] Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
[7] Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
[8] For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

[9] For, behold, I will shake mine hand against them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

·         They are called to come to Him and seek refuge in Him, because He will not be angry

·         In fact, they are as precious to Him as the apple is to your eye. This is a reference to Deut 32:10

[10] Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

·         Now we see what this vision was about. The man with the measuring rod is speaking about Jesus coming to the city and saving them.

·         I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee is the promise of Christ, God with us

[11] And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

·         Jesus validated this by bringing the Gentiles to Himself, and making for Himself one people, living in their hearts by faith.

[12] And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

[13] Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

·         Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem is not a physical location. God is calling His faithful to trust and obey Him on the grounds that they will experience lasting, eternal comfort.