Zechariah 2
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CHAPTER 2
A Man With a Measuring Line (2:1–13)
1–2 The intent of this third vision is to show that there is going to be a full restoration of Jerusalem and the people of Judah. The vision had clearly begun to come true in Zechariah’s day, but its complete fulfillment will come only at the end of history.
Zechariah sees a man (angel) with a measuring line (see Zechariah 1:16); his purpose is to measure the size of Jerusalem to determine where its walls should be placed.3 This reflected Jerusalem’s actual situation, because when Zechariah received this vision Jerusalem had no wall. (The wall would be built later under the leadership of Nehemiah.)
3–5 Then the angel who had been speaking to Zechariah during the first two visions left (verse 3). But before that angel departed, a third angel (the Lord) went to the departing angel and told him to run and tell the young man (the one with the measuring line) that it wouldn’t be necessary to build the wall. First of all, the city would grow so much it would expand be yond any wall that was built (verse 4). Second, the Lord Himself would be a wall of fire (wall of protection) around Jerusalem (verse 5).
It is clear that this vision is depicting a future Messianic Jerusalem. Some scholars believe the vision applies to the Church—ever expanding and protected by God. But it can also refer to a millennial Jerusalem where the Messiah will reign and be a “wall of protection” for the city4 (Revelation 20:1–6).
Certainly this vision has an application for Christians today. The Church–each local congregation—is to be a city without walls (verse 4). Not only are outsiders to be invited in, but the “insiders” (believers) are to be sent out—in order to invite still more outsiders in! The overriding purpose of the Church—and of each individual church—is to be a light in the world; and the overriding purpose of each member of the church is to be a witness for Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8) and to help call unbelievers out of darkness into his wonderful light (1Peter2:9). Let us not “build walls” around our churches. We don’t need them; God is our protection—our wall of fire (verse 5).
6–9 Here the Lord exhorts the exiles still remaining in Babylon—the land of the north—to return to Judah; the Lord wants to gather all of His people together from the places He has scattered them (verses 6–7).
Then, in verses 8–9, the LORD Almighty speaks, and says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations . . . I will surely raise my hand against them.” Here the Lord Almighty is identifying Himself with the Messiah: it is the Messiah who will be sent against the nations to punish them for plundering Judah. The Messiah will enable their slaves (the Jewish exiles) to take part in plundering these nations (verse 9); when that happens, the people will know that the Messiah has been sent by God.5
10–13 A glad day is coming for the Daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem), because the Messiah is coming (verse 10); God is going to live among His people (see Leviticus 26:11–12; John 1:14). Many nations will also be joined with the Lord and become His people (verse 11); these are the Gentile nations, which even in our day are turning to Christ. But when Christ comes again there will be a complete ingathering of GENTILES in fulfillment of God’s promise to ABRAHAM (Genesis 12:3) and His word spoken through the prophets (see Isaiah 2:1–4 and comment).
Judah will have a special place in that day; it will be the center of the Messianic kingdom. It will be the Lord’s special “inheritance,” His special possession, and Jerusalem will be His chosen dwelling place. Judah will be a holy land because of God’s presence within it (verse 12). Let all mankind be still before the Lord in awe and reverence, because He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling (heaven) on behalf of His people (see Habakkuk 2:20).
We may ask: What do these visions have to do with Christians today? They have much to do with us—as do all the Old Testament PROPHECIES. Believers today—who are mostly Gentiles—have been given the same promises we find in these visions. We too are inheritors of the blessings promised to Abraham’s descendants. We too have become God’s chosen people through faith in Christ. For us also, God is a wall of fire (verse 5) protecting us (Matthew 16:18). For us also, He is a sustainer and guide. And most wonderful of all, He lives among us (verse 10), and He has promised to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). No wonder Zechariah has been called the “prophet of hope.”