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Zechariah 2 (ESV)

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! ² Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” ³ And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him ⁴ and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. ⁵ And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

 

REFLECTION:

God’s blessing to the chosen people is proclaimed by the prophet’s vision of the “Measurer” (1-4). The prophet is called a “young man”, implying that he needs to listen and obey. God’s command includes three promises:

1. Jerusalem will be inhabited (4b) — a promise of abundance and prosperity (multitude of people and livestock), a condition after victory, not a condition after a nation’s downfall and ravages; and the city does not need walls, signifying peace and prosperity, city wall is not needed as defense against the enemy (this promise has not been fulfilled in history, and it will not be fully realized until the Messiah reigns on earth; eighty years later, Nehemiah has to compel the people to live in the city when he distributes the city land).
2. God will be Jerusalem’s wall of fire (Chinese translation “city of fire”) (5a) — at this time, God also introduces the promise of the Messiah, ensures that Jerusalem will become a city of fire, that is, a fortified city.
3. God will be the glory in Jerusalem (5b) — this is the promise of God’s presence with His people.

 

PRAYER:

Thank God for taking care of your children. Even though I have been weak and stumbled away from You, You promised that if I turn back to You, You will forgive and accept me; just as You brought the Israelites back from captivity You brought me from a state of shame into joy and singing. Dear God! I will bow down and worship You.

 

HYMN:

At the Cross – youtu.be/Zev5tHjCB_