Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The Prophet in this Chapter is engaged in the opening of it in visions; but soon enters upon most blessed things without figures, in describing the great events of Christ's coming and dwelling with his people.

(Zechariah 2:1) "I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand."

I do not presume to say as much, but I venture here, as in the former Chapter, to believe, that this man is the man Christ Jesus. For to whom belongs the right of numbering his people, and the city of his redeemed, but the owner of both. See Hebrews 3:3-4; Isaiah 40:12; Revelation 11:1.

"Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof."

Reader, observe the familiarity of the Prophet, and then turn to that scripture, Isaiah 45:11.

"And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, (4) And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (5) For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."

It should seem, that this other angel was a servant of the former. Hebrews 1:14. But, observe the earnest solicitude of our Lord Jesus to inform his redeemed of all things suitable for them to know, and especially of his promises. Read what he himself saith, John 15:1. The promise that is made concerning Jerusalem, plainly proves that it was not literally Jerusalem, the city, for this Jerusalem had walls then built by Nehemiah. See Nehemiah 6:15. But it is spiritually to be considered as God's people Jerusalem, to whom he is himself their security, and for whom God hath provided salvation for walls and bulwarks. Isaiah 26:1; Ezekiel 38:11. And do not forget, Reader, to mark down with peculiar strength of expression, the Lord's gracious promise, that he himself will be both a wall of fire round about, and a glory in the midst of his people. Alluding perhaps to travelers, when traversing the desert, and places infested by beasts of prey, who make fires around them at night, which intimidate those creatures from approaching. It is a sweet and beautiful figure this, to represent Christ as the defense of his people, whose presence alone restrains the great enemy of souls, that roaring lion, from seizing the flock of Jesus. And, observe the greater beauty still of this emblem. Christ is not only a fence to secure, but a fulness of blessings to supply. He is both a sun and a shield. Jesus, that is their strength, is also their glory. See Isaiah 40:19; Revelation 21:1; Psalms 125:2. Reader! I do not think it needful to remind you of Israel's history in the wilderness, how the Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. Sweet type also of Jesus in his constant presence and favour to his redeemed forever. Matthew 28:20.

"Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. (7) Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. (8) For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (9) For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me."

This proclamation and call to the Church respecting Babylon, of coming out of her, cannot mean the temporal deliverance of the Church, for this was after the people had returned from Babylon. Besides, the discourse is prophetical, and refers to some future period of the Church. I am inclined to think that it is the call of Christ to his redeemed, directing them to himself, and his all-sufficiency. And I am t he more inclined to think so, from the tenderness of the expression with which this call is accompanied. Whoso toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. Whose eye but Christ's? Who was it led the Church about in the wilderness; instructed Israel, and kept him as the apple of his eye? Deuteronomy 32:10 Think, Reader, what a proof this is of the Church's union with Christ! Think what a testimony of the oneness and interest in Christ.

"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. (11) And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee."

The Prophet Zephaniah had called upon Zion to rejoice in nearly the same words, and from the same cause. Zephaniah 3:14-17. Yea, all the Prophets had been directed to bless the Church, in those glorious prospects of Christ's coming, and indwelling residence among them. Isaiah 12:6; Jeremiah 31:7-9. But what I particularly beg the Reader to remark with me, in reading those verses, is, that this joy of Zion is called forth, not only at the prospect of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus, but to the character of the Lord Jesus; together with all the auspicious events of his advent. Observe, it is the Lord that saith Lo, I come; and mark what he saith, it is the Lord of hosts that sends him; and observe further, his people shall know that it is so! Were there ever events of so glorious a nature, so many, and so dignified and distinguished, within so short a compass as is here? See, Reader what a testimony is given to the Godhead of Christ! See what authority to his mission as God-man. Mediator! Behold what glorious things are included in his coming; not only the Jewish Church, but the Gentile shall rejoice; for many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day; yea, as in the verse before, the Lord will shake his hand upon all his enemies; and every foe shall be destroyed. So that here are plain and palpable declarations, that the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus shall be set up in the hearts of his people And if these things are not subjects of rejoicing, I know not what are. Yea, I think I should not stretch this precious scripture beyond what it reacheth to, if I were to say, that according to my view of it, there is a yet a further direction from it to the latter day glory, when it is said, his feet shall stand again upon the Mount Olives. And when is that? Surely, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. I beg the Reader to turn to these several scriptures in confirmation of the whole. Zechariah 9:9-10; Isaiah 35:3 to the end. Jeremiah 50:4-5; Ezekiel 37:24, to the end. Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 18:20 to the end. 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

"And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. (13) Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation."

These blessed things come in as the consequence of what was said before. I do not presume to say as much, but I venture to think, they will have a full confirmation only in the latter day glory. Judah here stands for the whole Church of Jesus, if I mistake not, made up both of Jew and Gentile; and which are eminently so, the Lord Christ's portion. See Isaiah 49:6. And let the imagination of the Reader conceive, if he can, for all description sinks beneath the subject, what universal silence will pervade the earth, in adoration, love, and praise, when the Lord is raised up, or riseth himself out of his holy habitation in heaven, and comes openly and visibly, as in the days of his flesh, but not now in weakness, but in power and glory; to fill the earth with wonder in the calling home all his redeemed, among his ancient people the Jews, and all the Father hath given him among the Gentiles; and to destroy all his enemies before his face, with the brightness of his coming? Reader! consult those scriptures, and may the Lord be your Teacher, on this, and every other blessed prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus, If the Lord be raised up out of his holy place, that place is heaven. See Isaiah 47:15 and Isaiah 63:15. And when Jesus comes, he comes no more in the likeness of sinful flesh, but in glory and power. Compare Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

REFLECTIONS

BLESSED Lord Jesus! do I not behold thee in many of the precious things spoken of in this Chapter? Truly, Lord, it was said by thee, that Jehovah thy Father possessed thee in the beginning of his way, before his works of old; and that then thou wast set up from everlasting! And was it not, dearest Lord, as the Covenant Head of thy Church and People? Were not thy delights then with the sons of men, in this gracious Character? And when Zechariah beheld a man, as is here described, with a line to measure Jerusalem, was it not thou, O Lord, showing to thy Church thereby, that thou knewest not only the dimensions of thy Church and Temple, but all the chosen polished stones of it, the members of thy mystical body, whose names are written in the book of life? And who but Jesus is a wall of fire to his people, and a glory in the midst of them? To whom is the Church dear, and like the tender apple of a man's eye; but to Him that hath died for his Church, bled for his Church, is everlastingly interceding for his Church, and will not consider himself fully glorious until the whole Church is brought around him in glory? Who can be said to dwell in the midst of his people, or who is the Lord's portion, but Israel the lot of his inheritance? Precious Lord Jesus! do I not behold thee, my risen, exalted, and glorified Saviour; do I not behold thee in all these, and a thousand other endearing instances, of thine unequalled love to thy redeemed, and thereby proving that thou art indeed our Lord, and that the Lord of hosts hath sent thee unto thy people? Almighty Jesus! carry on, and finish, in thine own time, all thy blessed purposes yet to be accomplished. Cause many nations to come to thy rising! Bring home thy redeemed ones, thine ancient people the Jews, and let the fulness of the Gentiles be completed. And oh! thou sovereign Lord God! when that great day of thine shall come, and thy feet shall again stand on Mount Olivet; then will the whole earth be silent in one universal act of wonder, love, and praise! Amen.