Wall of fire, glory within

This message, along with all the others in the rest of this book, came to Zechariah during the rebuilding of the temple.

Here, we see a vision of horsemen going out to see the state of things in the world. What they saw were nations at peace and at ease, which may have been disturbing to God’s people, since God had talked of shaking the nations.

As a result, an angel of the Lord asked,

Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years? (Zechariah 1:12)

And the Lord spoke words of comfort to him (and to all the Jewish people) that indeed he would bless the people, that his house would be rebuilt, and that the towns would once again prosper. (Zechariah 1:13–17)

He then promised judgment on the nations that had conquered Israel, saying,

I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment. (Zechariah 1:14–15)

Thus in verses 18–20, he promises to strike down the four nations (horns) that had come against and scattered his people.

There’s some dispute on who these horns represent, but it seems to make sense that it is the nations of Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Persia.

But it is chapter 2 that really strikes me.

The Lord continues to talk about the restoration of his people, and he says that they would be so prosperous, they wouldn’t be able to set up walls around the city because of the sheer number of people and animals that would live there.

But beyond that, the Lord said,

I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be its glory within…whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye. (Zechariah 2:5, 8)

And again,

Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you. (Zechariah 2:10)

I love these words. God himself is a wall of fire around us. He is our protection and our shield. He fights those who come against us.

And he is our glory within. The Holy Spirit himself lives within us and shines through us.

As David put it,

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)