Bible Reading

Zechariah Chapter 2 - Possessive, Protective

Because we are His, and His to be protected.

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“Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”
Zechariah 2:13

What is your impression of God when you read this verse: a passive lofty God, folding His arms while looking down at us, unconcerned? Or a proactive God who is sensitive to our needs and passionately cares for us?

As what God says in the earlier chapter of Zechariah:

“I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.”
Zechariah 1:14b

Towards His people, God is anything but unconcerned.

God’s zeal for us shows in His possessiveness and His protectiveness.

Possessive, because He wants to dwell in our midst and to possess us as His people and His inheritance (Zech 2:10-12).

Protective, as He wants to be our wall of fire (Zech 2:5), protecting us like the apple of His eye from enemies that threaten to harm us (Zech 2:8).

Why, then, does God want to measure us (Zech 2:1-2)?

To gauge if we are fit for His dwelling. Then, if we are not (yet), to start spiritual ‘renovations’ so that we can be a people and a possession pleasing to Him.

God’s zeal means He will not easily give up on us, but fight to keep us in His grace.

How about us? Do we reciprocate God’s zeal with a passion?

God earnestly wants us to be as zealous as He is for our personal salvation. As He says in verses 6-7:

“Up, up! Flee from the land of the north […]
Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”
Zechariah 2:6-7

Our zeal for God will show in our readiness to flee from the land of sin (Revelation 18:4) and into God’s kingdom.

May we zealously rely on God to possess and protect our salvation!

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See Also

Zechariah Chapter 12 - Don't Waste the Sorrow

Zechariah Chapter 12 - Don't Waste the Sorrow

Zechariah 12 begins with God promising to defend Jerusalem from enemy nations. He will make her like an immovable rock, and all who try to come against it will be injured (Zech 12:3). He takes the side of His people and strengthens even the weak to fight like David (Zech 12:8). But even more striking than His promise for protection is what He promises to do within them. Verse 10 marks a change in focus from physical protection to heart transformation. God declares that He will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication (Zech 12:10a). He opens their eyes so that they will finally recognize the One they have rejected. Their hearts will mourn like grieving a firstborn child with deep sorrow (Zech 12:10b). This sorrow is comparable to the historical mourning for King Josiah at Hadadrimmon (Zech 12:11). However, repentance is not a change we are naturally inclined to pursue. The Bible repeatedly shows that the human heart is stubborn and prone to self-justification. We either make excuses, downplay our faults, or grow numb to our mistakes. Yet through God’s mercy, our hearts seek repentance because God has begun the work in our hearts. Through an awakening sense of sorrow and longing, He moves our hearts so our eyes can now see. The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4), an invitation for us to draw back to Him through His grace. Realizing how we have strayed can leave us heavy-hearted, even ashamed. There might be a grief within us that says: I finally saw how far I had drifted from You, Lord. God does not reveal this to make us run; He tells it so we might come home. So instead of withdrawing, may we respond with courage, drawing near with a heart that says, “Lord, I want to walk with You again.” Though God offers this gift freely, not all will receive it. If we hear His voice today, let us not harden our hearts (Heb 3:15). Are we willing to walk through the door He has opened? “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I trust.” (Ps 91:2) Let this be our response to His calling.

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