Jerusalem Restored

A study on Zechariah

Jerusalem Restored

Zechariah 2

Theme: God will restore His people in their homeland.

Introduction: In the first vision 1:7-17 God had promised comfort to Israel. In the second vision 1:18-21 God had comforted them with the fact He will punish the nations which afflicted them. Now, He is comforting them with a guarantee of future prosperity and expansion of Israel. God is reminding them that Jerusalem has a divine protector.

When certain events are to occur in our lives, it is very natural to be excited about that which is upcoming. As we deal with the daily routine, having something to look forward to will lift our spirit and keep us going forward.

The remnant had returned from captivity and their concern was the rebuilding of the temple and restoring the city and nation, but the work was difficult. God was assuring them in the work He had called them, God had planned a future glory and honor for them and their city one day in the future He would dwell in their city.

There are three parts of God’s promise.

I. The anticipation vv. 1-5

A. Exciting preparation vv. 1-2

1. Before any building can be built, there must be survey work done ahead of time.

2. Brother Garton surveyed the land in which we obey to measure all of the parts in anticipation for building this new building.

3. If a stranger were to come to your house and start measuring windows or floors, you would probably ask him to leave if you did not authorize him. When the prophet saw a man measuring Jerusalem, it was evidence that Jerusalem was God’s city and one day He would claim it.

4. The one with measuring line in his hand is evidently the Angel of the Lord, Israel’s Messiah.

B. Guaranteed growth vv. 3-4

1. As the Messiah measured, He measured areas outside of their vision, showing there is substantial growth.

2. It will be so large that you will not have any walls around it because of the population and normal way of life with the livestock.

3. Life will be normal in some ways, although, the Messiah will be reigning.

C. Secured protection v.5

1. The need for wall swill be gone since the Messiah will be the wall of fire around His people.

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; And break forth into singing, O mountains: For the Lord hath comforted his people, And will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, And my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, That she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, Yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; Thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; Thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: All these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, And bind them on thee, as a bride doeth. For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, Shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, And they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: Give place to me that I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, Seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, A captive, and removing to and fro? And who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; These, where had they been?” (Isaiah 49:13–21)

2. The remnant of captive Jews will keep alive a city that one day will be honored with the presence of God Himself.

II. The admonition vv. 6-9

A. Flee from comforts vv. 6-7

1. The Lord admonishes the Jews left in Babylon to leave the city.

2. There are times when we get too comfortable where are spiritually and we become lazy.

3. They were not to say in the comforts of a pagan society because they needed their own land.

4. The Lord was summoning the Jews who were putting comfort, vocation, and security ahead of doing God’s work in their own sacred city.

B. Follow God’s call vv. 8-9

1. The pupil is the tiny opening in the iris that lets in light and this a very delicate area of the eye.

2. God is saying you are a very important and delicate part of my life and plan.

3. Here the Messiah is saying the glory belongs to God, and we are to bring glory to Him in the future restored kingdom when He reigns on the earth.

4. This is the entire purpose of the death, burial, and resurrection on earth.

III. The adoration vv. 10-13

A. Rejoice in His coming v.10

1. Messiah will come and dwell with them just as the glory of God had dwelt in the tabernacle and the temple.

2. While they are building the city according to God’s instruction, they are building it for His future coming during the millennial reign.

B. Rejoice in His glory vv. 11

1. Many gather from all places in the earth to rejoice with Israel in this glorious kingdom.

2. This will be a special time where the Messiah will get all the glory He deserves.

C. Rejoice in His security vv. 12-13

1. This is only place in the Bible where Israel is called the holy land-often used today to describe the holy sights.

2. The land will not be holy until the Messiah cleanses the people and restores worship when He reigns as King.

3. A fountain of cleansing will be open to wash away sin and uncleanness.

4. All flesh will be under total security because the King of Kings is on His throne.

5. The silence refers to when He reigns, He will judge the nations during the time of Jacob’s trouble

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; But he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7)

6. Also called the day of the Lord or the great tribulation when He will be the ultimate Judge after the seven years of intense suffering.

Conclusion: We are reminded there is nothing that escape the seeing eye of God and He judges the nations for their sin.