Measuring Room to Dwell with God

Zechariah 2:1-13 

1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, 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 what is its width and what is its length."

3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying: 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"

Future Joy of Zion and Many Nations

6 "Up, up! Flee from the land of the north," says the LORD; "for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven," says the LORD. 7 "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon."

8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.

10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!"

Here a vision show God measuring the place of His habitation to show there is room for all He chooses and calls to dwell with Him.  This is a picture of the immediate future of Israel restored from captivity but also of all those out of all nations joining them in the New Jerusalem at the end of time and beginning of eternal life.  Zechariah saw this as a man sent to measure Jerusalem to show there was room for all.  In the immediate time, the LORD would rebuild the earthly city as a shadow of the Celestial City to be brought down already built (Revelation 21:2, 10) and indestructible.  What is most amazing and of utmost importance is that God would be the wall around His people as protection and His very presence of glory would be in the midst of it (Revelation 21:3-4) and them!  In 2 Corinthians 6:16 we further see the implications of ourselves also being His temple where He lives and walks with us as we worship God in Christ according to His Spirit who lives in each transformed believer marked as His called and chosen out of all nations (Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:9-10, 1 John 4:13).  He Himself is the glory in our midst!  God specifically told Zechariah that His people of old would be rescued from the captivity of Babylon because they were His own special people whom He cares for and delivers, a foretaste of the eternal freedom from sin’s curse of punishment.  Therefore the comfort was seen in God’s presence among them after being set free, just as it continues today in Jesus Christ until He leads us home into eternity.  Many nations will be joined with Him and them there (Romans 4:18, 23, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11, Revelation 5:9).  Instead of questioning with doubt, we should hear these words and be silent before the LORD to listen carefully as He stands in our midst with the gospel hope.  Remember that He has prepared rooms for us (John 14:2) to live with Him forever with thankful praise and worship in the Celestial City where He lights up the new temple and the new earth with His very presence!