FRAMEWORKS:
Zechariah 2: A
man with a measuring line
[Preliminary
Comment: The vision continues with encouragement
for the returned exiles now back in Jerusalem. God's blessing
will be so on the city that it will flourish and so expand that
walls will not be able to contain it [v.4] and God will be its
protection [v.5]. Indeed any exiles still in Babylonia should
leave and return home [v.6,7] before the Lord brings His corrective
judgment on that land [v.8,9]. The chapter concludes with a glorious
word that
•
God will dwell in Jerusalem [v.10]
•
many peoples will come and become His
people [v.11]
•
Jerusalem and the land will again be
seen to be His [v.12]
•
and all the earth will see [v.13]
For
further note on the interpretation, see end of chapter]
v.1,2
The focus is on Jerusalem
v.1
Then
I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line
in his hand.
v.2
I
asked, ‘Where are you going?'
He
answered me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how
long it is.'
v.3-5
Jerusalem will flourish with the Lord's protection around it
v.3
While
the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came
to meet him
v.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.
v.5
And
I myself will be a wall of fire around it,” declares the Lord,
“and I will be its glory within.”
v.6,7
A call to the exiles in Babylon, leave there!
v.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.
v.7
‘Come,
Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!'
v.8,9
Get out because Babylon will be plundered
v.8
For
this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has
sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for
whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye –
v.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.
v.10-13
The Lord is coming to Jerusalem to do a great thing
v.10
‘Shout
and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among
you,' declares the Lord.
v.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.
v.12
The
Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will
again choose Jerusalem.
v.13
Be
still before the Lord , all mankind, because he has roused himself
from his holy dwelling.'
[Notes:
The sense of these last four verses seems to indicate
something more than simply God's blessing on these returned exiles.
Verse 10 could refer to the coming Messiah and verse 11 suggests
Jews AND Gentiles, surely the conclusion of the work of Christ
on the Cross. This land and this city is where all this will be
seen to be happening. The fact that this did not occur for some
four hundred years should not put us off because that four hundred
years was a period of silence from heaven only broken when an
angel comes to the temple – Lk 1:11- and starts the preparations
for the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God from heaven – see
Jn 6:38,51 etc.]
Continue
to Chapter 3