Zechariah 2:6-13
6 “You there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord.
7 “You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.”
8 For the Lord of armies says this: “After glory He has sent Me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
9 For behold, I am going to wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me.
10 Shout for joy and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord.
11 “And many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me to you.
12 And the Lord will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
13 “Be silent, all mankind, before the Lord; for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”
The Explanation of the Third Vision
The apple of God’s eye
Today’s passage is an explanation of 2:1-5 (the third vision). That is, it explains that Jerusalem will be the capital in the Messianic Kingdom (the Millennial Kingdom). It says, “You there! Flee from the land of the north…” (v 6). “The land of the north” refers to Babylon, from Israel’s perspective. The people of Israel are commanded to return to Jerusalem. Looking at the conditions of the Great Tribulation, indeed Jews are living in Babylon (ref. Rev. 18). “For the Lord of armies says this: ‘After glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. For behold, I am going to wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me’” (v 8-9). (1) Here we see the One who sends (the Lord of armies) and the One who is sent (the Messiah). This teaches that there is a plurality of Persons in God. (2) The people of Israel are the apple of the Lord’s eye. In other words, the moment an enemy tries to touch them, God’s hand (His fist) will strike it away. (3) The enemies of Israel will be defeated in battle and become captives. The timing of this is when “the Lord of armies has sent Me,” that is, at the time of the Second Coming of the Messiah. (4) Behind this is the stipulation of the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.”
The blessings of the Messianic Kingdom (v 10-12)
(1) The people of Israel are commanded to sing for joy and rejoice. The reason is that God will dwell in their midst (in Jerusalem). (2) Furthermore, many nations (Gentiles) will become the people of God. (3) This will be fulfilled at the time of the Second Coming (the Lord of armies has sent Me to you). (4) At that time, Judah will become the Lord’s inheritance (His portion), and Jerusalem will be rebuilt as the chosen city. In this passage, the term “holy land” is used to refer to the promised land, and this expression appears only here. All “flesh” (finite humanity) must be silent before the Lord in reverence. For the Messiah will one day return to the earth. At that time, the prosperity of the nations will be reversed, and Jerusalem will be exalted. Let us learn to fear God. The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the final chapter of Your drama. Please help me to remember the Second Coming of the Messiah and continue walking daily in the light. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.