December 22 - Jerusalem
Zechariah saw a vision of a man with a measuring line in his hand. When asked where he was going, he said, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” Then two angels told this man to run for Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. God will be to her a wall of fire all around and He will be the glory in her midst.
God has a plan for Jerusalem, His city, to fill it with people and livestock. It shall be expanding as other nations are going to live in it. The man with a measuring line will never measure up as the walls are going to be pulled down for its expansion. God’s presence will be all around the city and His glory will be in her midst. God did all this for those who were living in the land of Babylon and who were encouraged to escape to Zion. God was to provide protection to His people, the apple of His eye. He would dwell in their midst. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord and live in Jerusalem also. Judah will again be God’s portion in the holy land and He will again choose Jerusalem.
Joshua, the high priest, will be like a brand plucked from the fire. Despite of the accusations of Satan, God is going to remove his filthy garments (symbolizing his iniquity) and put on him pure vestments. A clean turban will be put on his head and a garment on his body. So Joshua was ready to serve the Lord and have the right of access before God. God would also bring the Branch (the Messiah) and the stone with seven eyes (the Messiah) so that in one day, God is going to remove the iniquity of the land.
This is how God looks at His city and His people. The end time revival of Israel will be centered on the city of Jerusalem when the priesthood is to be restored and the iniquity of the land and the people wiped out in a day. The heart of God to include all the nations and peoples on earth to be part of Jerusalem is indicative of His plan to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. We know that the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven and we are going to live in the New Heaven and the New Earth where righteousness dwells.
God is going to bless His church and His people. If He cares so much for one city, His eye is also on the apple of His eye, His children. You are His child and He purchased you with a great price. You are precious in His sight. There is a great plan for you life, although you may not realize it. Like the Jerusalem of today, the looks are deceiving. God is going to bring about a new you for your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Rejoice now for you are His and He is yours! He will be to you a firewall of protection and His glory will be with you.
Ps 145:1-7 Zech 2:1-3:10 Rev 13:2-18 Prov 30:18-20