A WALL OF FIRE ABOUT HER. Zechariah 2:1-13

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1 1 A WALL OF FIRE ABOUT HER Zechariah 2:1-13

2 2 A Wall of Fire About Her Commentary By Charles Box Text: Zechariah 2:1-13, 1. I looked again, and there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2. I asked, Where are you going? He replied, To measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and its length. 3. At this point the angelic messenger who spoke to me went out, and another messenger came to meet him 4. and said to him, Hurry, speak to this young man as follows: Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls because of the multitude of people and animals there. 5. But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst. 6. You there! Flee from the northland! says the Lord, for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you, says the Lord. 7. Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!

3 3 8. For the Lord who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. 9. I am about to punish them in such a way, he says, that they will be looted by their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me. 10. Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst, says the Lord. 11. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. 12. The Lord will take possession of Judah as his portion in the holy land and he will choose Jerusalem once again. 13. Be silent in the Lord s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place. (NET) Introduction: I. The third vision that Zechariah saw was that of someone holding a measuring line. A. He asked where the man was going. 1. He found that the man was going to Jerusalem to find out the width and length of the city. 2. A second angel said, Tell that man with the measuring line that Jerusalem will not have any boundaries. It will be too full of people and animals even to have a wall. B. The message was that God would be a wall of fire around them for their protection.

4 4 1. God would be their shining glory in the heart of the city. II. The children of Israel had been scattered in Babylon and now they were told to hurry back to Zion; that is Jerusalem. A. The LORD of hosts demanded that those that troubled Israel be told that they had touched the apple of God s eye. 1. Whatever they did to Zion, they did to God Himself. B. It was time for Jerusalem to celebrate because God had promised to come and again dwell in their midst. 1. This will cause many nations to turn to God and become His people. 2. Judah will be His holy land, and Jerusalem will again be His chosen city. C. The prophet warned, Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 1. Everyone should be silent and know of the presence of the LORD. Jerusalem is to be Rebuilt Zechariah 2:1-4, I looked again, and there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, Where are you going? He replied, To measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and its length. At this point the angelic messenger who spoke to me went out, and another messenger came to meet him and said to him, Hurry, speak to this young man as

5 5 follows: Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls because of the multitude of people and animals there. (NET) I. In this vision Zechariah saw a young man with a measuring line. A. This was a prediction that there would be a return from captivity. 1. Zechariah inquired and found out that the man was going to measure Jerusalem. 2. This is the same as the message stated in Zechariah 1:16, Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. B. This vision had to do with the return from exile and the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the surrounding vicinity. 1. Multitudes were to come and God wanted the prophet to see this and to help prepare. a. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and they daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (Isaiah 60:4) b. The message was, Run, speak to that young man, saying, Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it.

6 6 2. The cause of this great increase would be a result of the blessings from God. a. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. (Psalms 107:38) Jerusalem Has a Wall of Fire Zechariah 2:5, But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst. (NET) I. The purpose of the wall around a city is to provide for its defense. A. Walls also kept or confined the inhabitants within the boundaries of the city. 1. Jerusalem would have the strongest wall of any city known at that time. a. God said, 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. 2. When Jerusalem had physical walls, her enemies broke over them and broke the walls down. 3. The LORD will now be a wall of fire to the city. a. No one can break through or destroy that barrier of protection.

7 7 b. The LORD will literally be a hedge around the city. 4. Satan knew that God often hedged in His people. a. Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1:10) 5. The LORD himself will be that wall of fire around Jerusalem. a. Those that have God among them are also in the presence of His glory. b. No physical wall is needed for a city that is protected by the presence of the LORD of hosts. The Jews Will Be Delivered From Captivity Zechariah 2:6-9, You there! Flee from the northland! says the Lord, for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you, says the Lord. Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians! For the Lord who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. I am about to punish them in such a way, he says, that they will be looted by their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me. (NET) I. This was a message to flee from Babylon in which the Jews were being held as captives.

8 8 A. These verses provide a prediction of the return from that land. 1. The Jews were to deliver themselves; that is, they were to have the courage to return once the opportunity was presented. 2. The Jews would return because Jerusalem touched the apple of God s eye or the most cherished part of His being. a. God said, He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye. 3. God shook His hand against Babylon by sending the Persians against them to overcome them. 4. Those that have God have His glory, power and blessings among them. a. God s blessings caused Jerusalem to become a flourishing city, far beyond all expectation. 5. When the Jews were given the opportunity to return home, only about 50,000 left Babylon. a. The majority of them stayed in Babylon. b. They had been born there and did not think they could better themselves by going to Jerusalem. c. Their refusal to return proved that they did not have confidence and trust in God.

9 9 6. God had scattered them in His wrath and now He invited them to return home and to be reconciled to Him. a. If the LORD was to bless them in Jerusalem, they must return quickly and rebuild it for His glory. b. God promised to help those that returned. i. The others were on their own. 7. God loves people and wants to deliver them, but they must be willing to be delivered! The Nations Will Come to Jerusalem for Worship Zechariah 2:10-13, Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. The Lord will take possession of Judah as his portion in the holy land and he will choose Jerusalem once again. Be silent in the Lord s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place. (NET) I. God promised, Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. (Zechariah 2:10) A. God promised that if their brethren in Babylon will not come to them, those of other nations would come and honor

10 10 Him and that they would help replenish Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. B. In New Testament times the joining of many nations to the LORD would be an offense to God s Jewish people, even to the apostles. 1. When the nations join themselves to the LORD through loving obedience, they become as dear to the LORD as Israel had ever been. a. These must be people who allow the LORD to rule over their lives. 2. Concerning the faithful, God said, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3) C. The LORD shall inherit Judah, his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Conclusion: 1. He will protect His people and govern them as a man does his inheritance, and will be at home among them. 2. God said, Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. (Zechariah 2:13) I. God expects sincere worship and moral living from people today.

11 11 A. Zechariah told us that the fountain has been opened for the cleansing of our sins. 1. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1) 2. This fountain that is opened to all is filled with the blood of Jesus.

12 12 Questions on Zechariah 2:1-13 by John C. Sewell 1. Of what did Zechariah s third vision consist; that is, what did he see? 2. What did this third vision mean? 3. The of had been in and now they were told to to ; that is,.

13 13 4. What are the purposes of city walls? 5. What wall would Jerusalem have? Explain what this figurative expression means. 6. What good would result from the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple? Include both short term and long term results. 7. God s protection and blessings of his people are figuratively described as a of and a. 8. When Israel had the opportunity to flee from Babylon and return to Jerusalem, why did so many stay in Babylon?

14 14 9. God had his disobedient people in his and now God invites them to and to be to Him. God to those that. Others were on. 10. God loves people and wants to deliver them. What determines who will be delivered and who won t be delivered? 11. Those from every who to the through become as to the as had ever been. These must be who allow the to over their. 12. When was a fountain opened... for sin and uncleanness? What is that fountain?

15 God measures us all. How do you measure up? (See Zechariah 2:1.) 14. In Zechariah 2, what did God say to Israel? Answer on a verse by verse basis. 15. What did God say to captive Israel in Zechariah 2:6? What did Jesus say in Matthew 11:28-30? Why are people still in Babylon?

Are all of Zechariah s prophecies literal?

Are all of Zechariah s prophecies literal? by Douglas E. Cox Some Old Testament prophecies seem to have been fulfilled in a literal manner, but others clearly have to be interpreted. Why are some literal,