ZECHARIAH 2

OPENS WITH A City Without Walls & A Call to Return to the Promised Land.


Verses 1-5 tells us of the man with the measuring line & the protection promised.


"Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So 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." And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, who said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying: 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.' "

A man with a measuring line in his hand: This was undoubtedly an angelic being and RIGHT HERE WE SEE ANOTHER PRE-BETHLEHEM APPEARANCE OF JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE "THE ANGEL OF THE LORD", AMEN?

To SEE what is its width and what is its length...
WHY?
Jerusalem is being measured to MAKE SURE that it is LARGE enough for the multitudes God will bring to it. In the time of Zechariah it seemed strange to worry about Jerusalem being big enough, because there seemed to be TOO FEW people for the city.

Jerusalem SHALL BE inhabited as towns without walls … For I … WILL BE a wall of fire all around her...

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

God PROMISES to bring so many people to Jerusalem that the crowds will overflow the walls of the city - but that won't matter because God will be their protection, not walls. He will be a wall of fire all around her.

AND WE KNOW THIS PROPHECY GIVEN TO ZECHARIAH HAD A short-term fulfillment in God's protection of the rebuilding, and blessing of the city under Ezra and Nehemiah; but clearly, ITS ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT is rebuilding under the rule of the Messiah, AMEN?

AND DID YOU KNOW TODAY, Jerusalem is indeed a city without walls, because in modern warfare they are useless in defending the city. Ultimately Jerusalem will be a city without walls because THE PRINCE OF PEACE WILL REIGN FROM JERUSALEM AND HE WILL BE HER PROTECTION DURING THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS ON THIS EARTH AFTER THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

Verses 6-7 tells us Exiles exhorted to return.

"Up, up! Flee from the land of the north," says the LORD; "for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven," says the LORD. "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon."

Flee from the land of the north...

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

In Zechariah's day FEW of those who were carried to captivity in the Babylonian Empire returned to the Promised Land when they were allowed to. NEHEMIAH TELLS US AT THIS TIME ONLY ABOUT 50, 000 OF MILLIONS had CHOSEN TO RETURN. THAT IS ONLY 2%. BUT ONCE AGAIN....Here THE LORD exhorts His people to return back to their land.

AND SADLY, WE KNOW THAT MOST of the exiles were comfortable in Babylon and refused to endure the 800 MILES TREK BACK TO JERUSALEM NOR WANTED THE challenge to build a work of God.

ESCAPE, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon...

WE KNOW THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE Babylon is used as AN IDEA (LOST WORLDLY LIVING) as well as a TRUE CITY. If Jerusalem carried the idea of "God's city" then Babylon carries the idea of the city of the world.

AND DID REMEMBER, Zechariah's call to come out of Babylon is both literal and figurative & ECHOED AND REPEATED IN Revelation 18:4-5.

Verses 8-9 tells us God promises to protect His precious people.

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. "For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me."

WHEN I READ THIS PASSAGE AND OTHERS, I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED DID ZECHARIAH HAVE ANY IDEA HE WAS LOOKING AT, AND SPEAKING TO AND HEARING FROM HIS PROMISED MESSIAH, OUR JESUS CHRIST?

He who touches you touches the apple of His eye...The phrase "apple of His eye" was used to describe something precious, easily injured and demanding protection.

They shall become spoil for their servants...RIGHT HERE GOD AGAIN PROMISES that those who enslaved the people of God will become spoil for them - the enslavers will become enslaved. AND WE KNOW FROM READING THE BIBLE, THAT THIS WILL BE ULTIMATELY FULFILLED IN THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST ON THIS EARTH. THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WILL BE JERUSALEM, AMEN?

I will shake My hand against them...

DO YOU SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST HERE? REVELATION TELLS US THAT JESUS WILL SPEAK AND THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL & THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME CHRISTIANS DURING THE TRIBULATION, HE WILL SPEAK A WORD AND THEY WILL BE DESTROYED.

AND HERE ALL OUR ALMIGHTY GOD NEEDS TO DO All to bring such a DRAMATIC REVERSAL standing is to shake his hand against the enemies of His people. HOW MIGHTY IS OUR GOD, AMEN?

Verses 10-13 tells us the PROMISE of the presence of the LORD.

"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. "Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. "And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!"

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion...God doesn't expect His people to be passive or "cool" in view of such dramatic promises. He expects them to sing and rejoice.

I AM coming and WILL dwell in your midst...The FIRST REASON WHY God's people should be excited is because He WILL BE AMONG them in a unique and powerful way.

WHEN I READ SCRIPTURES SUCH AS THIS...I THINK ABOUT THE DAWKINS OF THE WORLD, THAT FLOOD OUR MEDIA, INTERNET, AND THAT SNEER AND SNICKER AND ROLL THEIR EYES AT THE IDEA OF JESUS CHRIST. SHAKE THEIR HEAD AT STUPID CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN FAITH OF OUR JESUS. WHO SIGH OVER THE IDEA OF ONE TRUE TRIUNE GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS, WHO WAS AND IS AND EVER SHALL BE...LAUGH OVER THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA...I WONDER HOW MANY WILL FALL OVER IN A DEAD FAINT, WHEN THEY SEE OUR AMAZING JESUS?

Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day...The SECOND REASON FOR JOY is that God will bring MANY into His Kingdom. God's desire to bless for Israel was never intended to stop with Israel, but to use them as a channel of blessing for MANY nations.

AND THIS VERSE GIVES US HOPE TOO, AMEN? MANY NATIONS WILL BECOME BELIEVERS IN OUR JESUS ON THAT SWEET DAY! THIS IS SUCH AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO US, SINCE WE SEE OUR JESUS CHRIST KICKED OUT OF ALL THINGS, WE SEE OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS PERSECUTED, TORTURED, AND KILLED BECAUSE THEY LOVE JESUS...AMEN?

In the Holy Land...

DID YOU KNOW THIS IS THE ONLYYYYYY PLACE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE WHERE THE PHRASE THE HOLY LAND IS USED IN THE BIBLE?

SO WHY IS THE LAND CONSIDERED HOLY?

The land IS HOLY because it is separated unto God in a unique way.

Some assume that it is ONLY the people of Judah and Jerusalem that are God's holy inheritance but passages like this show that land itself is holy and precious to God.



TURN WITH ME NOW TO...

ZECHARIAH 3


OPENS WITH...The Cleansing of Joshua the High Priest

IT TELLS US THE VISION JESUS GAVE ZECHARIAH OF THE LORD, Satan, and Joshua the High Priest.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ASKED WHAT DOES JESUS DO FOR US. WHAT DOES JESUS DO ABOUT SATAN'S ATTACKS ON THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. WE SEE JESUS TELLING US PERSONALLY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THAT HE AS OUR HIGH PRIEST INTERCEDES FOR US DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE THE THRONE, AMEN?

SO FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE OR READ THE NEW TESTAMENT, RIGHT HERE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, ONCE AGAIN, OUR JESUS INTERCEDES FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, THE PROMISED AND BLESSED HOPE, AND SLAM DUNKS SATAN BEFORE THE THRONE, AMEN?

AND ALSO, WE WILL SEE, AND REMEMBER, THAT BEFORE THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD, AND HIS PRECIOUS SON JESUS CHRIST, WE, AS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHO BELIEVED AND TRUSTED IN THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE MESSIAH AND WE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT WHO CALL OUR JESUS LORD AND SAVIOR ARE SEEN AS PURE, PRECIOUS, AND HOLY IN GOD'S SIGHT.

AND NO MATTER WHAT SATAN CLAIMS, TATTLES, RANTS AND RAVES...WE WHO LOVE JESUS ARE SEEN AS CLEAN.

REMEMBER AND READ ZECHARIAH 3 WHEN YOU ARE UNDER ATTACK, AND SATAN & THE WORLD WHISPERS AND REMINDS YOU OF YOUR PAST, A PAST FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN AND FOREVER ERASED BY JESUS PRECIOUS BLOOD, AMEN?

VERSES 1-3 tells us The Angel of the LORD, which can ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST, stands against Satan on Joshua's behalf.

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel."

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest..

SO WHO WAS THIS JOSHUA?

Joshua was the High Priest at the time told to us in Haggai 1:1. In his vision, Zechariah sees the High Priest in the presence of the LORD (standing before the Angel of the LORD), and he is clothed with filthy garments.

Standing before the Angel of the LORD: The phrase standing before has the idea of PRIESTLY service. Joshua isn't in God's presence just as a spectator but as a MINISTERING priest.

DID YOU CATCH THIS?
DO YOU NOW UNDERSTAND WHY ALMIGHTY GOD HOLDS THOSE WHO SAY THEY COME OR MINISTER IN HIS NAME TO SUCH HIGH STANDARDS? THEY MINISTER AND PRAISE TO HIM, AS WELL TO THE LOST, SEEKING, AND HIS CHILDREN.

THEY WHO SAY THEY COME IN HIS NAME.

THEY WHO CLAIM TO COME AND SPEAK JESUS WORD.

THEY TEACH AND PREACH THAT THEY SPEAK GOD'S TRUTH.

I TREMBLE WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA, SAY THEY COME IN JESUS NAME. WHO SAY THEY SPEAK HIS TRUTH. WHO SAY THEY KNOW HIS WORD...YET TWIST, DECEIVE, RE-CREATE, IF NOT OUTRIGHT CHANGE GOD'S WORD.

RIGHT HERE, ALMIGHTY GOD IS SHOWING US AND THEM, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

SO BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT GET CREATIVE, OR RE-CREATE, OR TWIST, OR DECEIVE GOD'S WORD, AMEN?

AND DID YOU NOTICE...
Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him...Satan HATED the whole scene.

WHY?

SATAN HATES IT WHEN ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE GOD LOVES AND HONORS come into the presence of the LORD.

SATAN HATES TO BE UPSTAGED. HE WANTS ALL EYES FOCUSED ON HIM WHEN HE COMES TATTLING INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD.

He hates it when WHAT HE SEES AS FLAWED, WORTHLESS, DIRTY FILTHY MANKIND comes into God's presence in prayer or praise....and EVERYONE IN HEAVEN, AND THE TRIUNE GOD, IGNORE HIM & FOCUS ON US WHO HUMBLY COME IN PRAYER AND OUR PRAYERS MINISTER unto the LORD.

AND AS BOICE SUPPOSES..."Satan must have been pointing to those [filthy clothes] and declaring forcefully that Joshua was unfit to stand before the Lord in this office."

This is all according to character for Satan. LAST YEAR I DID A BIBLE STUDY ON SATAN: THE INSANE EVIL SPOILED BRAT.

AND HE IS.

AND DID YOU KNOW...the name "Satan" literally means ADVERSARY OR OPPONENT?

EPHESIANS 6:10-18 confirms that satan stands against us in spiritual battle.

The LORD rebuke you, Satan!

We see OUR JESUS WHO IS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD DIRECTLY EXERCISING AUTHORITY & STEPPING IN AND STANDING BEFORE SATAN AND PREVENTING HIS ADVANCE.

RIGHT HERE WE SEE SOMETHING POWERFUL...OUR TRIUNE GOD IS IN CONTROL. AND HE STRICTLY REGULATES WHAT SATAN IS ALLOWED TO DO.

REMEMBER LUKE 22:31-32...WHEN Satan wanted to destroy Simon Peter, sifting him like wheat but Jesus prayed for Peter and stood beside him and did not allow Satan to carry out every evil intention of his heart, AMEN?

CHARLES SPURGEON SAYS IT WELL."Take note that this rebuke comes at the right season. When Satan accuses, Christ pleads. He does not wait till the case has gone against us and then express his regret, but he is always a very present help in time of trouble. He knows the heart of Satan, being omniscient God, and long before Satan can accuse he puts in the demurrer, the blessed plea on our behalf, and stays the action till he gives an answer which silences for ever every accusation."

AND WE LEARN SOMETHING POWERFUL IN OUR THOUGHT AND PRAYER LIFE FROM JESUS HERE.

WHEN EVEN HE REBUKED SATAN....HE USED THE FULL TRIUNE GOD POWER. YOU NOTICE JESUS DOES NOT SAY I REBUKE YOU....BUT THE LORD REBUKE YOU.

AND REMEMBER FROM OUR STUDY OF JUDE, IN JUDE 1:9, THE HIGH RANKING WARRIOR ANGEL MICHAEL, DID NOT REBUKE SATAN, WHO IS HIS EQUAL ALTHOUGH OPPOSITE IN RANK....IN HIS OWN POWER...HE SPOKE THE REAL ABSOLUTE POWER AGAINST SATAN.

THE LORD REBUKE YOU!...Michael used this same phrase in battling against Satan. The example here of the Angel of the LORD and of Michael shows us a model for spiritual warfare - that we always should battle with the LORD's authority.

The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you...With this phrase, God reinforces the important standing of Jerusalem in His eyes. As mentioned in Zechariah 2:12 it IS HIS Holy Land.

Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Joshua the High Priest had a place of high standing - next to the Angel of the LORD and protected against Satanic attack. Still, this place of high privilege was not based on Joshua's own goodness or merit; he himself was rescued as a brand plucked from the fire.

This is even more boldly stated in that Joshua stands clothed in filthy garments.

WHICH TELLS US WHAT?

THAT SATAN, THE TATTLE TALE, KEEPS A LIST OF EVERY SIN AND WRONG WE WHO LOVE JESUS EVER COMMIT. SATAN KNOWS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS, BUT SATAN STILL TRIES TO REMIND OUR TRIUNE GOD.

Satan had a lot to accuse Joshua of, but HERE WE SEE OUR ADVOCATE, OUR DEFENDER, OUR SHIELD, OUR PROTECTOR, OUR JESUS CHRIST.

AND WHAT IS A FIRE BRAND?

SPIRITUALLY AND NATURALLY... A BRAND is a burning, burnt, or smoldering piece of wood.

Think of a campfire with a blackened, charred chunk of wood smoking in the ashes. It isn't worth much at all and will be consumed completely if it isn't plucked from the fire.

AND DO YOU NOTICE JOSHUA...HE HAS NOT HAD TO OPEN HIS MOUTH IN SELF-DEFENSE. HE DOES NOT NEED TO....HE LOVES JESUS AND JESUS PROTECTS US...

AND RIGHT HERE, WE SEE OUR TRIUNE GOD, OUR JESUS CHRIST, ALMIGHTY GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TELL SATAN YOU SEE A BLACK, DIRTY, USELESS, SINFUL FRAGMENT, A CASTAWAY...

BUT YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE HOWLING/ACCUSING, IF YOU DID NOT FEAR WHAT OUR JOSHUA WILL BECOME IN AND THROUGH US.

WHAT YOU SEE SATAN IS NOT WHAT JOSHUA WILL BECOME. HE IS LOVED BY US. IN OUR EYES JOSHUA IS PRECIOUS AND PRICELESS.

SO THE NEXT TIME, SATAN AND THIS WORLD WHISPER TO YOU, YOU ARE WORTHLESS, USELESS, UNIMPORTANT AND UNWORTHY OF OUR JESUS AND HIS LOVE FOR YOU...

AND SMILE...THE ONCE BEAUTIFUL LUCIFIER, WHO ONCE SERVED IN THE THRONE ROOM OF HEAVEN, IS NOW DISMISSED, IGNORED...AND WE FIREBRANDS ARE COVETED AND LOVED AND CHOSEN BY OUR JESUS!

JESUS CHOSE YOU....HE PLUCKED US EACH FROM THE FIRES...SO REMEMBER ZECHARIAH 3.

Verses 4-5 tells us Joshua's iniquity is removed, and is given clean garments.

"Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by."

Take away the filthy garments from him...As Joshua the High Priest stood in the presence of the LORD, Satan accused him and on seemingly solid grounds - Joshua was guilty of standing before God in filthy garments. Nevertheless, the LORD fixed the problem by cleansing Joshua, taking away the filthy garments and the iniquity they represented.

AND DID YOU KNOW....The Hebrew word translated filthy is the strongest expression in the Hebrew language for filth of the most vile and loathsome character.

And I will clothe you with rich robes...Joshua not only enjoys having his iniquity removed, he also is given a positive righteousness - clothed with rich robes. The thought of being clothed by God in righteousness runs from Genesis (Genesis 3:7 and 3:21) to Revelation (Revelation 7:13-14).

Let them put a clean turban on his head...

DID YOU KNOW THE TURBAN was part of the High Priest's garments and on the front it had a gold plate inscribed with the phrase HOLINESS TO THE LORD as told to us in Exodus 28:36-38.

Verses 6-7 tells us of God's message to Joshua the High Priest. It is a personal admonishment and promise to Joshua.

"Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.' "

If you will walk in My ways and if you will keep my command...

DID YOU KNOW Joshua in Zechariah's day was admonished much the same way that the first Joshua was admonished.

JOSHUA 1:7 says, "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go."

Then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts...God promised Joshua that he would indeed continue to serve as High Priest as he was diligent to stay obedient to God.

I will give you places to walk among these who stand here...

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

God promised Joshua privileged access into the presence of God. This isn't a surprising promise for a High Priest, but DID YOU KNOW we WHO CALL JESUS CHRIST LORD, SAVIOR, AND FRIEND have the SAME promise?

HEBREWS 4:16 PROMISES, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

VERSES 8-10 gives us a prophetic message of Messiah and His reign.

"Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day," says the LORD of hosts, "everyone will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree."

I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH...

DID YOU KNOW "BRANCH" is used several times as a title for the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15).

AND DID YOU KNOW "The BRANCH" is associated with fruitfulness and life.

Jesus used the same image IN JOHN 15:5, when He said, "He was the vine and we are the branches."

For behold, the stone I have laid before Joshua...If a branch seems "weak," then God gives us another picture - a stone, having seven eyes.

IN THOSE DAYS, eyes represented knowledge because we learn more through our eyes than any other way. The SEVEN EYES speak of the perfection and fullness of the knowledge and wisdom of the Messiah, AMEN?

I will engrave its inscription...Early Christians saw the engraving on the stone to be a picture of Jesus' wounds but the engraving could also be a mark of identification or beautification.

Everyone will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree....This is a proverbial expression that means prosperity and peace also told to us in (1 Kings 4:25, 2 Kings 18:31).

BUT ULTIMATELY, the peace that the reign of the Messiah brings. This vision and word from Zechariah shows how much God wanted to encourage and strengthen Joshua, and He does it in the best way: setting his eyes on our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

THEN AND ESPECIALLY NOW, THAT IS OUR BEST ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.