Saturday, April 23, 2016

Anticipation (Zech. 2:1-3)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/23/2016 11:11 PM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  PT-1 God will restore His People

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Zechariah 2:1-3

            Message of the verses:  “1 Then I lifted up 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 was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him,”

            Warren Wiersbe writes the following for his introductory commentary for this second chapter of the book of Zechariah:  “The remnant that had returned to Judah was concerned about rebuilding the temple and restoring the city and the nation, but their work was extremely difficult.  God assured His people that He planned future glory and honor for them and their city when He Himself would come to dwell with them.”  After this introduction we now look at the first sub-point from this main point entitled “Anticipation” which covers the first three verses.

            Measuring means ownership, and this is not the first time that Jerusalem, which belongs to God, has been measured for we see some measuring going on in chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel, and also in the book of Revelation, I think the eleventh chapter when God sends an angel to measure the temple.  Also in the 21st chapter of Revelation we see some measuring going on:  “Re 21:15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.” 

            It is the belief of Warren Wiersbe that the One measuring here is the Angel of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah.  There is much debate today, and has been much debate in the past over who controls the city of Jerusalem, but we know from the Word of God that it is God who is and was and always be in control of Jerusalem, for that is His city.  Even when this world is gone along with all the created universe the place where the Lord will reign will be the New Jerusalem.

            Dr. Wiersbe concludes “But this symbolic act declares something else:  Jerusalem will enjoy future expansion and glory such as the city has never experienced.  The population will spill over the walls; in fact there will be no need of walls because God will be a ‘wall of fire’ around His people.  (See. Isa. 49:13-21 and 54:1-3.)  The small remnant of Jews in ruined Jerusalem were helping to keep alive a city that would one day be great honored and blessed by Almighty God!”

            When we begin to look at the commentary from John MacArthur we will see that he gives a history of the city of Jerusalem.  Once we finish looking at the commentary of Warren Wiersbe on chapter two we will then look at the commentary of John MacArthur on chapter two.

4/23/2016 11:30 PM

  

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