Thoughts for the Day

I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then I asked, ‘Where are you going?’ He answered me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.’ Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, ‘Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and animals in it. For I will be a wall of fire all round it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it.’

Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon. For thus said the Lord of hosts (after his glory sent me)... Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on 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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Zechariah's vision of Jerusalem being a city without walls because of the number of people living there must have seen like a joke. But it shows us the dilemma that those who first returned from exile in Babylon faced. Jerusalem's walls had lain waste since they were destroyed by the Babylonians. The question was should they first rebuild them to keep safe, or rebuild the Temple? And anyway where were they to get faithful Jews to do this work? With Zechariah's words ringing in their ears, they decide to do the latter. Some 80 years later when Nehemiah comes to build the walls of the city he still cannot find enough people, and the few that he does have must build while holding a sword to defend themselves, in their other hand.

The prophet takes advantage of an unsettled time in the Persian Empire, to encourage the people to go back to their roots - to the covenant promises they have made with God. If they rebuild His temple, and put Him first then He will surely come and dwell in their midst. Notice the beautiful phrase 'one who touches you touches the apple of my eye'. Zechariah's prophecy was to the people of his time - to leave Babylon and rebuild the Temple. But it's also a prophecy for us - for God says many nations will join Him and He will dwell in our midst.

Our response is to 'sing and rejoice' that God's Kingdom will come, and that He wants to bless us!

Heavenly Father,
may we read the situation in our world,
to see how to comfort others,
and to encourage them to have hope,
and to keep the faith.
May we too rejoice, like Zechariah,
that You have promised us as Your people,
to dwell in our midst.
Amen.