Let us continue our study of Zechariah of which I have entitled “There’s Still Hope”.  The children of God are returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.  It is in the middle of trying to give hope to the remnant that Zechariah preaches out of the experience of the ten visions he saw.

            This week we find Chapter 2 is committed to his fourth vision, which is entitled ‘The Man With A Measuring Line’.  In verses 1-3 we are confronted with ‘The Perimeter Of Jerusalem’.  The man measuring the breadth and length finds it is larger than it has ever been.  It is beyond measuring.  Surely, this would not speak of the Old Testament Jerusalem, the New Testament Jerusalem, or even the modern day Jerusalem.  It would have to be yet future.  My, what hope begins to swell up in my soul about this little ole nation that so many have no use for. We find today that Jews from all over the world are returning by the plane and busloads.  Should we look up? Is our redemption drawing nigh?

            The angel speaks to the man measuring in verse 4 about its perimeter.  He says it will be a city without walls and with a multitude of men and cattle.  This city cannot be contained by walls or counted by the words of numbers.  Oh, what hope God has for this little nation centered in Jerusalem.

            When I think of it having no walls I fear it will be open for the enemy to come in like a flood. There need be no fear.  The Lord speaks in verse 5 about “The Protection Of Jerusalem’.  Jehovah said, I will put a wall of fire about it and be the glory in her midst.  If I were one of Israel’s enemies I would not fool with a nation where God is encircling it with fire and dwelling in it with His glory. You wouldn’t probably have much hope when you raised your hand against that city!

            In verses 6-8 our Lord reminds her of ‘The Position Of Jerusalem’.  In verses 6-7 there is an admonition to the present people to flee from their captivity in Babylon.  He tells them of His plan to spread them abroad as the four winds.  The four winds speak of the direction of north, east, south, and west.  Surely our God has scattered His people to all the four corners of the world.  He will soon begin to gather them back.  He reminds them that they are the apple of His eye. (Vs. 8)  What a position to be in.  The term speaks of being fixed upon the eyeball of another.  If you have time lean someone back and look closely in the eyeball and see what is there.  You will see your own reflection just as though looking in a mirror.  Our Lord says He has fixed His children as the apple of His eye.

            He encourages them in verses 9-10 about ‘The Praise Of Jerusalem’.  He asks them in verse 10 to sing and rejoice over His dwelling presence in their midst.  The presence of God has shook off their enemies in verse 9. Oh, how our precious Lord is worthy of every word of praise.

            In verse 11 we are told of ‘The Possession Of Jerusalem’.  In verse 11 many nations will come and join with Jerusalem.  The Lord will come again to His chosen portion of the Holy Land.  I am extremely interested in the phrase ‘He shall choose Jerusalem again’.  This seems to me an indication of our Lord not only returning to the earth but there is hope He will once again deal with Israel.  In verse 13 our God calls for silence in His holy presence. I cannot help but believe that every mouth will be shut when He begins to hold dear this little nation once again.  I bless the day He engrafted me into this tree and made me a Jew by the new birth.  He has now made me His holy habitation.  Glory to His holy name!