The Holy Land

September 22
The Holy Land
Read Zechariah 2
 
Zechariah 2:1, 12-13 Then I looked up – and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! … 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
 
“THEN I looked up.” Indicates Zechariah has a second vision that moves immediately from the first.  Verses 12-13 summarize the chapter, which is God’s intention to re-establish his presence in Judah. The LORD’s will is that Judah will be a holy land. Here is the only place in the Bible “holy land” is used. Let’s see why the LORD uses it here.
 
Zechariah 2:1 Then I looked up — and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
 
The command to physically measure Jerusalem confirms God will physically rebuild the city as the Jews return from exile.
 
Zechariah 2:3 Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him 4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’”
 
The LORD points from the physical city toward the eternal city. Judah will truly be his holy land. God will be fully present with his people in the new heaven. He will be the city’s walls – its protector and its glory. Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. You, Christian, can look forward to living in God’s holy land.  
 
Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye – 9 I will surely raise my hand against them, so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
 
When we read of Christians being impoverished, persecuted, jailed and killed for their faith, do we wonder, “Do they trust God’s justice will be done against his enemies?” So often the opposition is “winning”, isn’t it?
   But we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). His will is certainly going to be accomplished on earth. See God’s loving, sure message: whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. God’s church is the center point of his vision. He sees you as his own against all who reject him and you. What great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1)
   Out of Jerusalem’s rubble would come a city and his temple. But that, too, would break down. Your heart must be full to praise God the Holy Spirit has extended God’s holy land throughout the entire world. From Jesus sacrifice, he is building an eternal kingdom.
   God’s holy land is where he is worshiped, honored, loved and obeyed. Prayerfully this is at your household, your workplace, your church and wherever his people gather to confess, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8b)