relationship (Zechariah 2:1-13) Always In Our Midst

(Zechariah 2:1-13) Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. 4 And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. 5 But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

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.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This scripture is prophetic and applies to the nation of Israel.  The first time the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) came to dwell in Israel's midst, they rejected and crucified Him.  God knew this was to happen, and He allowed it to happen in order to pay the price for sin.  Jesus rose again to have victory over death so that anyone who believers in Him, will be saved from eternal death... as well as the Tribulation.

The second time Jesus comes to earth will be after Israel as a nation sees the signs (the judgements of the Tribulation), realizing that He was and is their Messiah, they as a nation will believe.  At the very end of the Jewish Age, Jesus will return.  Doing away with all evil, He will take Israel, and everyone else who became believers during the Tribulation, into the Millennial kingdom that He will set up.  Jesus will physically live in their midst!  He will usher in a time of peace that lasts a thousand years.  THIS is when people will be able to have "opened borders".  This will be a period of time that will be very much like the "Garden of Eden".

Therefore, this scripture isn't directing a country to have open borders, which allows criminals and terrorists to freely flow in and move about.  If you believe this is right, then you should be keeping all of your doors and windows unlocked and opened, for anyone to enter your house and live there.  We are to take a stand with justice;  NOT to take the side of the criminal, but be on the side for the victims, the weak and the vulnerable, the orphans and the widows (Proverbs 17:15).

For physical protection, people everywhere have always tried building walls around their personal dwellings, their castles, towns and land.  For emotional protection, people will build walls around their hearts.  For both the physical and the emotional, after a traumatic or hurtful event, these walls can become very big and unhealthy.  This doesn't mean that we throw caution to the wind, since God tells us to be wise - prudent - to escape evil (Proverbs 22:23), and to guard our hearts in order to keep God's words and live by them (Proverbs 4:20-27).  Above, verses 6 and 7 tell Israel to flee and escape the nations who practice evil (which is pre-Millennial).

While, our hearts, our lives, and our homes should be very open and receptive to the Lord, His calling, and His purpose for our lives, in all things (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually), we are to take refuge in the Lord (Psalm 18:2, 46:1, 91:2, Nahum 1:7).  The Lord is not only able, but He tells us to do this!  

As verse 5 says, when the Lord is in our midst, He will be like an all-encompassing wall of fire, and we can behold and enjoy His glory.  As Christians, as soon as we put our faith in the Lord, receiving His forgiveness and salvation, we receive His indwelling Holy Spirit, so that He is always "in our midst", faithfully guiding us, shaping, helping, healing, comforting, equipping, protecting and providing for us... 

(Psalm 136:1-3)

1  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
    For His faithfulness is everlasting.
2  Give thanks to the God of gods,
    For His faithfulness is everlasting.
3  Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    For His faithfulness is everlasting.