Fire and Glory

“And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.”

- Zechariah 2:5

As we journey through Zechariah this year, we have made our way into chapter 2! You may notice that these first few chapters are a ton of visions that Zechariah had. With that, I may begin to call Zechariah a dreamer.

He’s not just dreaming about anything though. Zechariah is dreaming about the restoration of Zion, the mountain in which Jerusalem is on. He’s dreaming of a city being reborn and reestablished with the return of Judeans and Israelites back into the land.

These aren’t just his dreams though. These are God’s plans being revealed to Zechariah to be announced as Good News to those still in Exile and those waiting for the rebuilding! With that context, we can look at chapter 2 which reveals a beautiful dream of fire and glory!

The Man:

In this vision there is a random man, we don’t know who, but it doesn’t matter as much as what this man is doing. Are you ever driving along the interstate and seeing a surveyor? They’re assessing the land for building projects or repairs that need to be redone. In examining the land they are trying to determine with the dream can be achieved.

In a sense, this man is surveying the land around Jerusalem, trying to determine the extent they need to rebuild the walls to protect all those who are returning. This is until two angels come and stop him from measuring any further, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem will not be necessary.

The Wall and the Fire:

Unlike modern cities, border walls were essential to the protection and safety of the city. It also showed their boundaries of expansion. If you could live within the walls, then you were under the protection of the city from animals and armies. Get stuck outside, or caste out because of disease and sin, then your life was at greater risk. Walls were a necessity, and no promising city would live without them.

But this dream from God is pretty clear, the Lord will be their wall of fire. This means a lot more than simply providing cool imagery of a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem. With no need to measure and set boundaries with physical walls, all the exiles could return to Jerusalem, and then some, and all would live under God’s protection.

“And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people.”

- Zechariah 2:11a

No walls and being under God’s protection through His fire enables the Church to be founded. To where it reaches well beyond the physical walls of Jerusalem but is under God’s care throughout the world, and the nations will join themselves to God.

There’s a massive invitation then calling all ye nations to God…

Glory in her Midst:

God is the center of it all.

Think about when you travel places. Most towns, even the smallest ones have a destination spot. Traverse City, MI has Front St (in my opinion the highlight); Big Rapids, MI has Hemlock Park and trails; Fort Wayne, IN has Coney Island (difficult to narrow down the many great things of these places). Those destinations are the “glory” of those towns. At one point in history, some would have said the Temple was the “glory” of Jerusalem, not only as a holy site but even a wonder of the ancient world.

Here’s the point, the New Jerusalem being dreamed of here, complete with people from many nations, its glory will not lay on a building or system, but God Himself. In the New Jerusalem, its glory will be easy to narrow down because it will be God Himself as its glory.

His presence and peace will be right there and those who dwell within the flaming walls will have an endless and relentless connection to God.

“And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.”

- Zechariah 2:11b

This was Good News to the Exiles who were coming out of strange lands where they dwelt with people who knew nothing of God. This remains Good News to the Church today who dwells among people who know nothing of God and yet God is present with the Church. Though we may not be in a New Jerusalem yet, we can be encouraged through the Spirit who dwells within the Church.

Final Blessing:

So maybe too catch this dream of Fire and Glory and hold it dearly in our hearts. As lives that live securely in God’s care, unable to be snatched away unwillingly from the Lord’s fold. Than striving to rest with God, the center and glory of the Church. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily moments and interactions of life.

As we think about this, I encourage you to click and worship to King of Glory.

Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.