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Expository - Zechariah

Zechariah chapter 2 vv 1-13
by Graham Jones - The Church at Gun Hill

Zechariah - The Third Vision

The Vision

Zechariah's third vision of the man with the measuring line gave an assurance that there would indeed be future prosperity and blessing for the nation of Israel. Jerusalem would be rebuilt but, not, in fact, until after its final destruction as portrayed in Zechariah 14 vv 2ff.

The Measuring Line

In Zechariah 1 v 16, where God gave assurance of His presence in Jerusalem where the temple would be built again, the certainty of the fulfilment of all His purposes toward Jerusalem was guaranteed by the fact that "a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." When God draws up plans, they are followed through to final completion. Here the man with the measuring line determines the length and the breadth - an indication that more specific details are to be supplied. (Ezekiel's vision of the future millennial temple is also accompanied by actual measurements - Ezekiel 40-42).

The future re-building will no longer be dependent upon man's devices, such as strong walls and fortifications, but upon God. Neither will it be possible to contain the abundance of God's blessings within human boundaries. The city's protection will be a wall of fire, the fire of God, about it. Just as in the earlier history of the people of God, against their enemies it will afford protection, but to the Lord's people within it will be the Shekinah Glory of the presence of God. Do you remember how it was when the Israelites reached the Red Sea? Approaching from behind was the whole chariot-equipped might of the Egyptian army. What chance did a bunch of unarmed, escaped slaves have? God was their salvation. The pillar of cloud came between Israel and the Egyptians. To the Egyptians it was darkness; to the Israelites it was light. Later, in the wilderness, the pillar of cloud was the visible evidence of the presence of God in the tabernacle. By night it was seen as a pillar of fire.

God's dwelling will not be in just a temple but in His people, just as He now dwells in His people, the spiritual seed, the Church:

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" I Corinthians 3 v 16

"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2 v 22

Did not John the Baptist rightly declare that the Lord would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire? This is the glory of His abiding and indwelling presence (II Corinthians 4 v 6). And in heaven "the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Revelation 21 v 23). However, to the ungodly, our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12 v 29)

Summons to the People

The Lord knew that, by the time this prophecy would be ripe for fulfilment, the Jews would have been scattered among the Gentile nations That dispersion, of course, began with the Roman defeat of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple in 70 AD. But even at the time of Zechariah, despite a return of the people to the land, many had remained in the place of their captivity, Babylon. They had settled down there. A new generation had also arisen which knew no other life. They were not too bothered about God's promised land, probably even preferring the country of their exile. God, therefore, summoned His people from Babylon, the land of the north (vv 6 & 7). It was a call to separation, first, to enjoy the abundance of God's blessings but, second, to avoid being caught up in the outpouring of judgment on the Gentile powers. (see Jeremiah 50 vv 4,5)

Even in our present dispensation, the same principle is at work. God's call to His people still is that they should separate themselves from the system of their former captivity - the world and the spiritual Babylon of false religion. Paul asked, "What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial?... come out from among them and be ye separate.." (II Corinthians 6 vv 14-18; see also Revelation 18 vv 1-4) What a lot believers miss when they settle in the world! What untold sorrows vex their souls as they dwell in spiritual filth! Remember how righteous Lot vexed his soul every day by continuing to live in an ungodly place of compromise. (II Peter 2 vv 6-8). Isaiah 48 v 20, Jeremiah 50 vv 8-10 and 51 vv 6-10 & 45 all exhort God's people to flee from Babylon and the wrath upon it. As it was for the earthly seed, Israel, so it is also for the spiritual seed, the Church: it is no time to remain in Babylon. Be separate for judgment is coming.

The spirit of all the four Gentile powers is still at work. Babylon, the first of the empires and the place of the original, organised rebellion against God (Genesis 10 vv 8-10; 11 vv 1-9), although crushed by the Persians so long ago, still lives as its spirit, or influence, has permeated all succeeding empires. In the end time, according to Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's vision, all the work and influence of the four empires will be utterly destroyed by the Messiah. In Revelation 13, John saw a vision of the last world empire, the latter day manifestation of the Roman empire, rising up out of the sea, that is, out of the chaos of the disorganised people and nations for those times. It was represented by a beast which had some characteristics of all four beasts of the four empires in Daniel's vision (Daniel 7). There was something of the leopard of Greece, something of the bear of Medo-Persia and something of the lion of Babylon.

God's intention is to pursue His glory (v8) by establishing His purposes concerning His people and against the nations which had spoiled Israel. In spite of Israel's disobedience, God's earthly people are still the apple of His eye (i.e. the pupil, the tender, sensitive, vital part of the eye - see Deuteronomy 32 v 10; Psalm 17 v 8; cf. Isaiah 63 v 9). God will shake His fist (hand) at the nations. There will be a reversal of Jewish fortunes at the expense of the nations (v9). When has this ever happened since the days of Zechariah? Of course, it never has; the fulfilment is reserved for the future.

Rejoicing

The prospect of this afforded an opportunity for great rejoicing, because then the Lord will have come and will be dwelling in the midst of His people. At His first coming, it was in humiliation and with no reputation (Philippians 2 vv 7,8), but at His second advent, it will be in power and majesty. In the first instance, the Word was made flesh (John 1 v 14; Malachi 3 v 1); in that future day, the Lord will dwell among all His people and He will be their light and glory.

Furthermore, in v.11, Zechariah foresaw that the Gentiles would be brought into God's blessings as well, not that there should be two peoples (the Church and the Jews) but that both should be one. Thus Abraham was promised that his seed should be as the sand on the shore (=earthly seed, Israel) and as the stars of heaven (=spiritual seed, the Church). Thus also, Paul explained that the middle wall of partition, which divided Gentiles from Jews in the Temple courts, had been broken down. Both had been made one in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2 vv 14-18).

Although earthly Israel seems not to be in her proper place yet, never forget that they are the Lord's, His possession, His inheritance. (vv12,13). All flesh will be silent when this millennial bliss is manifested, for the Glory of God will cover the earth. He will have risen from the habitation of His holiness. No more shall evil abound nor people say, "Where is your God?" God will be in obvious control. The message is sure. Be separate! Rejoice in the Lord!

Expository - OT