MINOR PROPHETS MAJOR MESSAGE:
THE MEASURE OF WHAT GOD WILL DO
ZECHARIAH 2:1-13
INTRODUCTION… Hallucinations (step1.medbullets.com/psychiatry/114022/delusions-hallucinations-illusions-and-loose-associations) [adapted]
I have never been so sick with fever that I had a hallucination. I have never had a waking dream or a vision of some kind because of an illness. I have never seen something that I could not explain other than people flipping out over a solar eclipse or Eastern Greene HS winning a football game. Those are experiences I have not had. I was praying about the passage that we are going to read today (Zechariah 2) and I got into reading about “hallucinations.” The human brain and emotions and senses are so complex and can be misinterpreted and depending on the conditions, a hallucination can occur. Did you know there are seven different kind of hallucinations? I didn’t.
There are visual hallucinations which are common in delirium when one has a medical issue. Auditory (hearing) hallucinations, I read, are common in schizophrenia and with psychiatric issues. Believe it or not there are olfactory (smell) hallucinations which can come because of a brain tumors. Gustatory (taste) hallucinations exist, but are rare. Tactile hallucinations are common in substance abuse withdrawal. And then there are hypnagogic hallucinations when one is going to sleep and hypnopompic hallucinations when one is waking up from sleep. Because this is not something I have ever personally experienced, I did not realize how complex such a thing can be.
I do sometimes kick when I am kicking someone in a dream, but that is not any kind of hallucination, that is called REM sleep behavior disorder and that is probably some other kind of issue.
SERIES INFORMATION… Background of Prophets
I mention those things because, in the Bible, when God wanted to get His people’s attention He would often do something demonstrative like speak from a burning bush or lead by a pillar of cloud or shake the ground or do a miracle in nature. God did all of those things and more and none of them were hallucinations or misinterpretations of a dream or just someone with a brain tumor or someone smoking the wrong plant. God spoke to and through people we call prophets. Prophets had many roles and many jobs. One of the jobs of prophets was to predict the future and what God would do among His people revealing His plan.
This morning as we continue our sermon series in the last twelve books of the Old Testament called “Minor Prophets Major Message.” I want to focus on one of these specific prophets and the message that he brought to the people of God because those messages are important for us. This morning it is a great message of hope!
Today, we will be in the Book of Zechariah (if you want to turn there in your Bibles). Zechariah is a little bit different than some of the other prophets. God gives Zechariah waking symbolic visions of what He will do and what He wants from His people. Over and over again in Zechariah the words “I lifted my eyes and saw” (1:18, 2:1, 5:1, 5:5, 5:9, 6:1) describe what happened to Zechariah. Even in 4:1-2, the Prophet Zechariah shares with us that an angel woke him up so he could physically see the next vision. He is not ill in any way, but rather God is showing him symbols of what will take place. Zechariah also receives oracles and burdens and Words from God like the other prophets, but Zechariah alone seems to be one who has these vivid images come to him while he is awake and sees them, in my opinion, like he is watching a movie on a wall.
His visions are eight. He has visions of horses and chariots and craftsmen and a high priest made holy and lampstands among olive trees and a flying scroll and a basket of sin being taken away to a distant land. If I had to pick a favorite, the woman in a basket being carried away is my favorite. I would like to focus on one of the other eight visions of Zechariah this morning… the third vision which is written about in Zechariah 2.
TRANSITION
Let’s read from the second chapter in Zechariah.
READ ZECHARIAH 2:1-13 (ESV)
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.
TRANSITION
What is the third vision of Zechariah about?
MEASURING JERUSALEM (VERSES 1-5)
The vision is first about measuring Jerusalem.
Zechariah sees an image of a man carrying a wound-up cord that is used for measuring. I don’t know if you know it or not, but if a fellow is just carrying around a measuring tape, another fellow is going to ask him: “Whatcha measuring?” It is in our male DNA. Measuring stuff is fun. Zechariah sees a man who is about to measure some stuff and asks where he is headed.
Immediately we should notice that Zechariah is not just an observer in this vision. He asked a question of the man with the measure and he got an answer from the man with the measure. The man is going to the city of Jerusalem to measure it. We need to take note that at the time of Zechariah’s ministry, not much of Jerusalem had been rebuilt from its destruction in 586 BC by the Babylonians. It is still about 75 years until Nehemiah gets wind that the walls are still in ruins and he leads the efforts to rebuild them. Why is the man measuring a ruined Jerusalem?
It is at this point that an angel of God jumps in and helps with the vision and gives it some direction and some answers. Verses 4-5 have a particular future tense to it that are important. Verse 4 says, “Jerusalem shall be” and verse 5 says “I will be” twice. “Shall be” and “will be” are future tense. Whatever is going on has to do with the future of Jerusalem and God’s people and God’s plan. Whatever is going on in this vision has nothing to do with the now, but everything to do with what God will do in the future.
The angel brings the Word of God (verse 4) that Jerusalem will be so filled with people and livestock that the city might as well not have walls. This is ironically funny considering that Jerusalem, at this time, has no walls. The population that will fill Jerusalem will be overflowing and no measurement of the boundaries of Jerusalem will contain all the people that will be in it. God is sharing through Zechariah that the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt and it will spread and be full past its measurable boundaries and be prosperous.
The angel brings the Word of God (verse 5) that Jerusalem will have God as the wall around it and that He will be in the midst of all the people. Verse 5 is very clear. God will be the wall around Jerusalem and He will be among all the people who are there. It is precisely in verse 5 that we are supposed to think… “wait a minute.” Questions come to our mind as to the nature of this vision. Is Zechariah seeing a vision about the physical Jerusalem that would be rebuilt? Is Zechariah seeing a vision about some other kind of metaphorical or spiritual Jerusalem that would be built? The answer is ‘yes’ to both questions. God is sharing that physical Jerusalem will be rebuilt, but the actual plan of God is to build an even greater spiritual Jerusalem.
Zechariah is receiving a vision that would widen the minds of the Jews of his day to see that God’s plan might begin in Jerusalem, but will not be confined to that one place. God’s plan is going to spill out past the boundaries of this one city. The future glory of Jerusalem is spiritual. The future glory of Jerusalem is in the Kingdom of God. This is an important Truth and the central meaning of the vision and the center of the hope that we have as we read.
TRANSITION
God is showing Zechariah a vision that is not necessarily focusing on physical Jerusalem. This is why Zechariah’s vision does not end at verse 5, but unfolds further what God means in verses 6-13. Verses 6-13 give Zechariah and the Jews of his day such hope and do for us as well.
THE MEASURE OF ZION (VERSES 6-13)
Verses 6-13 give Zechariah and the Jews of his day such hope and do for us as well. These verses are a little confusing because sometimes God is speaking Himself and sometimes He is speaking about Himself and sometimes Zechariah is speaking and sometimes Zechariah is being spoken to… and it switches between the verses with no warning. Amid all the confusing verses, we have several truths presented that give hope.
The important and key phrase that begins verses 6-13 is “I have spread you abroad.” Again, we have a tense of the phrase that is important. You didn’t know this was English class, did you? I did some digging on this phrase and apparently in Hebrew it is the prophetic perfect which means the “spreading out” is a “future with no doubt” expansion. God will spread His people out from Jerusalem all over the world and there is no doubt that it will actually happen. God has great purpose for those who are the apple of His eye and at the time of the vision are stuck in Babylon and want to return to the Promised Land (verses 7-8). God will shake the nations that are against Him and bring favor to those who are with Him (verse 9).
This gave them hope and gives us hope because God is preparing His people for victory and blessing. Sometimes it might feel like everyone gets ahead and wins except those who are faithful to God, but God promises that when we are faithful to Him, that He will provide for us in a spiritual kingdom that is without equal.
Another important word in verses 6-13 is word “Zion.” The word “Zion” in verse 7 and 10 reiterates for us that God is not just speaking about physical Jerusalem, but is speaking about spiritual things. Whenever we see “Zion” in the Scriptures (169x), we should take note that spiritual truths are being presented in a mighty way. Zion means the Kingdom of God. Zion means the remnant of those who hold God as their God and no others. Zion means the Kingdom of Heaven where God’s will is done by those in it. Zion means the Church and followers of Jesus Christ because use of this word occurs in the New Testament as well (7x). Zion is a special spiritual word that means Jerusalem, but so much more.
ILLUSTRATION… Nicknames of Cities, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_In diana
The name of Zion for Jerusalem got me thinking about city names and nicknames. There are other cities with significant and insignificant names. This got me thinking about nicknames of towns and cities in Indiana. Can you guess them?
Stone City = Bedford
University City = Bloomington
Roundabout Capitol of the World = Carmel
Mayberry of the Midwest = Clay City
Buckle of the Gas Belt = Elwood
Pocket City = Evansville
City of Churches = Fort Wayne
Amateur Sports Capitol of the World = Indianapolis
Goldfish Capitol of the World = Martinsville
Little Chicago = Muncie
Metropolis of Northern Indiana = South Bend
Covered Bridge Capitol of the World = Rockville
Some of those names for cities may not mean much or don’t mean much anymore, but each of those titles came about for a reason. Sometimes to lure tourists, but most of the time for other reasons. “Zion” is a name that had much meaning for people in Zechariah’s day and much meaning for people in our day! It is not a meaningless name! This description of Jerusalem as Zion gave them hope and gives us hope because God is preparing His people in His Kingdom for victory and prosperity and His presence. God promises that when we are faithful to Him, that He will provide for us in a spiritual kingdom that is without equal.
* Zion is the Kingdom of God has room for everyone who accepts Jesus Christ.
* Zion is the Kingdom of Heaven is a spiritual kingdom that lasts forever.
* Zion is the Kingdom of God where we see God face-to-face.
* Zion is the Kingdom of Heaven where all of God’s promises come true and are fulfilled.
Another important phrase in verses 6-13 is verse 11: “And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be My people.” God is giving Zechariah a vision that anyone in the world who believe in God belong to Him. Verse 12 repeats this promise in that we who are faithful are part of God’s inheritance and we are portioned out and belong to Him. This is hope-filled and comforting language in case you aren’t sure where you fit or to Whom you belong. God declares that those who occupy Zion belong to Him and He is their wall of protection and His presence is among them and marks them as His.
The last phrase I want to mention in verses 6-13 that are important is the very last phrase in verse 13: “He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.” At first glance at verse 13, I noticed the silence of the people before God and He deserves it. God is awesome and holy and the picture of verse 13 is all people are struck to silence because of His awesomeness. That is true, but is not actually the point of the verse. The point of the verse is the last phrase in verse 13: “He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.” The question is: Where is God going? He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling and is on the move and going somewhere. Where is He going?
May I suggest to you that the answer is not given until John 1:14 in the New Testament:
READ JOHN 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the foundation and the fulfillment and the means for Zion to be all it is predicted to be in this vision. None of it takes place unless Jesus Christ comes. God rouses Himself from His holy dwelling and spends time with us and saves us from our sins.
Jesus is the beginning and middle and end of Zion!
Jesus is the hope predicted in this vison!
TRANSITION
Zechariah the prophet has a series of symbolic awake visions and we have just looked at number three of eight. It is a vision that centers on Jerusalem being rebuilt, but it is much more than that. The promise of a spiritual Jerusalem being built is given which has its foundation in Christ Jesus and its purpose in Jesus as well. I’d like to share one more passage of Scripture with you because it explains everything that Zechariah sees, but in different words.
ALL THAT GOD WILL DO
Here what God will do. I want to re-read Zechariah’s vision for us to keep it fresh in our minds and then I want to read the other passage. I will read them back to back.
RE-READ ZECHARIAH 2:1-13 (ESV)
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.
READ REVELATION 21:1-4 (ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
CONCLUSION
Do you see all that God has planned for you when you believe in Jesus Christ?
Do you see all that you miss if you do not believe in Jesus Christ?
PRAYER
