ZECHARIAH 2:1–13 (August 7, 2025)

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

2:1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then 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.” 3 And behold, 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, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. 7 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 to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: 9 “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

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

Zechariah 2_1-13

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Summary

In this third vision, Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line going out to measure Jerusalem. This is symbolic of rebuilding and restoring God's covenant community (v. 1–2). However, another angel stops him, declaring that Jerusalem will overflow with people and livestock and will no longer need physical walls, because God Himself will be a wall of fire around her and the glory within her.

Verses 4-5, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

This is not merely a vision of urban development. This is a prophetic image of God's promised city, teeming with life, security, and divine presence.

The Lord then calls out to His people still scattered in exile (vv. 6–7), telling them to flee from Babylon and return to Zion, for God is about to act against the nations that have plundered His people.

Verses 8-9, For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me.

The final verses (vv. 10–13) shift into a jubilant tone of eschatological fulfillment. God promises to dwell in the midst of His people (v. 10–11), and many nations shall join in the Day of the Lord, becoming His people. This is a stunning vision not only of Jerusalem's physical restoration but of the Kingdom of Christ. People from every nation will be gathered to King Jesus! All of humanity is called to be silent before the LORD (v. 13), for God has risen from His holy dwelling to act.

Who is God?

God is the King who gathers and protects His people. While the measuring line suggests human plans to restore Jerusalem’s boundaries, God interrupts with something greater. He will be the wall of fire around the city of God (v. 5). God offers not just protection but presence.

“I will be the glory in her midst.”

God is near. No longer do we have to go to the temple to experience the presence of God. He dwells with His covenant people. He is also the judge of nations. He acts not only in mercy toward His people but in justice against those who oppress them. This is the Lord of lords, who rules the universe. Yet, he dwells intimately among His people. He calls them out of Babylon and into His presence.

What is our Guilt?

The guilt exposed here is lingering comfort in exile. It's the hesitancy to leave Babylon, and we also have this. God says, “Up! Escape to Zion!” (v. 7), indicating that some of God’s people had become spiritually settled in the land of judgment. How about us today?

Like Lot lingering in Sodom, we are often slow to flee from compromise. There is also a subtler guilt. We underestimate God’s plans and timing. So, we end up relying on human "measurements" (v. 1–2). Faith goes beyond our "measurements." Faith leads us to trust in God’s supernatural vision for His Church. We often want tidy boundaries, manageable growth, and earthly security, while God intends something far greater. God is up to building a new city—an uncontainable, Spirit-filled people without walls, with God Himself in the center.

How does Grace Shine?

Grace shines in God's initiative. He calls His people out of Babylon. He promises to dwell among them, not because they deserve it, but because He has chosen them again (v. 12). The promise that “many nations shall join themselves to the LORD” (v. 11) reveals the heart of God from the Garden of Eden (Genesis) to the New City of God from Heaven (Revelation). This is fulfilled in Christ, who tore down the dividing wall (Eph. 2:14) through His Cross. Also, in Christ, at Pentecost, the covenant people of God can understand the Gospel in their languages. The "curse" of Babel is no more!

Ultimately, the New Jerusalem is not bound by physical walls. The City of God is the Church gathered from all nations, where God dwells with His people (Rev. 21:3).

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You are the wall of fire around Your people and the glory in our midst. You do not dwell in buildings made by hands, but in the hearts of Your people. Thank You for calling us out of exile, out of sin, and into the presence of Christ. Forgive us for lingering in places You’ve called us to leave and for limiting Your vision with our human measurements. Teach us to long for the heavenly Zion, where You dwell with Your people from every nation. May we be silent in awe before You, and bold in hope as You rise to build Your Church.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.