THE CITY THAT IS TO COME
Opening Prayer
Great King of Heaven, I kneel before you today. You are my Creator, my Lord, and my Savior. I bless your name.
Read Zechariah 2
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.”
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 because of the great number of people and animals in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.
7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 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— 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.[b] Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:5-17.
- Zechariah 2:9 Or says after … eye: 9 “I … plunder them.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If you were going to build the best of cities, what would you include? Maybe the best facilities and beautiful parks? What would be at the center of it all?The third vision Zechariah had that night was of a man with a measuring line in his hand. That man was on a mission – to measure Jerusalem. Why? Zechariah was told that God had plans for the city, plans that included himself as the protection around it, and also as its focal point.
When God plans to build a city, his plan is wonderful. This vision is an invitation to God’s people, who had been scattered, to return to the land. It makes clear how God views his people, ‘the apple of his eye’ (v 8), and it also makes clear that anyone who touches the apple of God’s eye is in for serious trouble (v 9).
But the greatest hope that could be offered to Jerusalem then, is the same great hope offered to us today – not just a place with perfect parks and fine facilities, but a city where God wants to dwell in the midst of his people (vs 10–13; see also Revelation 21:1–4).
Apply
Reflect on God’s plan for this city, where all who are his are welcome to come; all who are his will come to find love and joy with Christ himself. Take time to ‘Be still before the Lord’ (v 13).
Closing prayer
Dear God, I am excited to think of you on the move in the world, but also on the move in my life. My heart’s desire is to cooperate with you. Your will be done!
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