The Ultimate Wall.
Zechariah 2:1-5
The Great Wall of China was erected in the third century BC as a defense raids by nomadic peoples from the north. Throughout succeeding centuries, especially during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was repaired and extended in length, finally stretching for forty-five-hundred miles. It’s been estimated that over 400,000 people (slaves) died building it, and most were buried underneath the wall.
Centuries before it begin, biblical cultures used walls to protect themselves, and to draw boundaries around themselves for the purpose of identifying the land which was theirs. To be effective, however, those walls had to be regularly maintained. The slightest breach could give the enemy a huge advantage.
As a Christian, there is one wall in your defense system that has to be maintained and protected at all times, the wall of self control.
Proverbs 25:28NKJV Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
As believer’s, we are to guard our spirit—the Holy Spirit has been entrusted within us, so we pray in the spirit to build us up, in our most holy faith. (Jude 20).
The name "Zechariah" means "God remembered.” Zechariah's prophecies took place during the reign of Darius the Great, and were contemporary with Haggai in a post-exilic world after the fall of Jerusalem in 587/6 BC.
Zechariah 2:1-5NLT When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 “Where are you going?” I asked. He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him. 4 The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls. 5 Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”
In Zechariah 1:1-21, God gives the Prophet Zechariah two visions about Jerusalem, and His church.
In the first vision, some patrol officers report that throughout the empire all is calm and peaceful (11).
The second vision assures the Jews and His church, that they should have no fear of foreign enemies. That He (God) will bring judgement.
Now the third vision, In Zechariah 2:1, I want you to think about this—The Son of David, the Man Christ Jesus, whom the prophet sees with a measuring line in his hand, is the Master-Builder of His church.
Let me remind you—God knows how to grow His church, primarily, because He knows how to grow His people.
Everything a child of God faces is intended to produce spiritual growth. Listen, The good, bad and the ugly is all purposed to produce spiritual fruit and gifts! P.H
Think about the spiritual growth that has manifested within your being!
The Apostles Paul spoke about Spiritual growth in, Romans 5:1-5TPT Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. 2 Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!
3 But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. 4 And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. 5 And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!
Again, Romans 5:1, “Having already been declared righteous.” What bliss! We are declared righteous in the eyes of the Holy God. This is the wonder of grace!
Romans 5:3, Times of trouble, the Greek word thlipsis, often translated “tribulation.”
Romans 5:5, This hope does not put one to shame.
This wall of fire brings hope and builds us up, the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, until we all come together in unity.
Listen to, Ephesians 4:12-14NKJV for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Think long and hard about this wonderful truth: You’ve been given the third member of the Trinity, to build you up, and to grow you up. The Holy Spirit becomes a fortified wall within, so you might taste, and experience the glory of God for yourself as well as for others.
Q, What would our lives look like if we didn't put limitations on what God could do?
Going back to the text, in Zechariah 2:2-4, God notices the extent of his church, and will take care that whatever number of guests are brought to the wedding-supper, there shall be room.
In Matthew 22:8-10NKJV, Jesus gave this parable of a wedding feast. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
There an old song called—There’s room at the cross for you.
“There's room at the cross for you’
‘There's room at the cross for you’
‘Though millions have come, there's still room for one,’ ‘Yes there's room at the cross for you.”
Matthew Henry writes, This vision means well for Jerusalem. Most theologians agree that God is giving Zechariah a vision of New Jerusalem. He writes, Jerusalem shall be extended as freely as if it had no walls at all, yet shall be as safe as if it had the strongest walls.
Zechariah 2:5AMP For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
“You see, ‘this wall, this glory, not you will be seen by all, and it will promote more spiritual fruit and gifts by all who see.” P.H
John 14:16AMP And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever-
John 14:26AMP But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
John 16:33AMP I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
Again, Zechariah 2:5TM And I’ll be right there with her’—God’s Decree—‘a wall of fire around unwalled Jerusalem and a radiant presence within.’”
What God is saying is, “I will be the wall of fire around you, so you in return can live without walls.”
Adam Clark Commentary— ‘I’ will be unto her a wall of fire — Her safety shall consist in my defense. I shall be as fire round about her. No adversary shall be permitted to touch her.
So throw away the plumb-line because, you want have to measure. Once again, God say’s, “I’ll measure.”
J. Wilbur Chapman, one of histories great preachers, formulated what he called My rule for Christian living. The rule that governs my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, are cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.
One question in closing, “Have your boundary walls been breached, or fallen into disrepair?” If so, do something about it today!
Benediction.
