THE LORD HIMSELF IS A WALL OF FIRE

Passage: Zechariah 2:1-13

Key verse: 5

NIV

A Man With a Measuring Line

2 [a]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”(A)

3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him 4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls(B) because of the great number(C) of people and animals in it.(D) 5 And I myself will be a wall(E) of fire(F) around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory(G) within.’(H)

6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered(I) you to the four winds of heaven,”(J) declares the Lord.(K)

7 “Come, Zion! Escape,(L) you who live in Daughter Babylon!”(M) 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(N)— 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.[b](O) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.(P)

10 “Shout(Q) and be glad, Daughter Zion.(R) For I am coming,(S) and I will live among you,”(T) declares the Lord.(U) 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.(V) I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(W) 12 The Lord will inherit(X) Judah(Y) as his portion in the holy land and will again choose(Z) Jerusalem. 13 Be still(AA) before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.(AB)”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Zechariah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:5-17.
  2. Zechariah 2:9 Or says after … eye: 9 “I … plunder them.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

2 [a] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, (B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, (C)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, (D)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited (E)as villages without walls, because of (F)the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her (G)a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 Up! Up! (H)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have (I)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. 7 (J)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me[b] to the nations who plundered you, (K)for he who touches you touches (L)the apple of his eye: 9 “Behold, (M)I will shake my hand over them, (N)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then (O)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 (P)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for (Q)behold, I come (R)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 (S)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. (T)And I will dwell in your midst, and (U)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 (V)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again (W)choose Jerusalem.”

13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Zechariah 2:1 Ch 2:5 in Hebrew
  2. Zechariah 2:8 Or he sent me after glory
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A wall of fire; glory within (1-9)

Jerusalem had been destroyed, and the returned exiles were trying to build the city and temple again. God showed Zechariah a preview of the new Jerusalem, a city without walls. The Church of Jesus is a spiritual city around which no wall can be built. God himself is a wall of fire to protect his people; and God's people are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, God's glorious presence. God's people are the apple of his eye. He will protect them.

2. Many nations will become God's people (1

-13)

God promised to come and live among his people. He chose them to be a kingdom of priests--a missionary nation. So he wants them to embrace the people of all nations. This is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Ge 12:3). This is God's great missionary vision.

Prayer: Lord, take down my walls and protect me with your wall of fire. Hasten the day when all people of all nations will be your people. Let your glory fill the earth.

One Word: A wall of fire around; God's glory within