Zechariah Sermon Series: Sermon 2
8-11-24 – Pastor Martin Saine
Chapter 2
Last week we saw the four horns and four craftsmen from Chapter 1 displaying the four Gentile world empires that would rule over Jerusalem until the final “terrorizing” of the last world empire by the “Stone cut without hands”, which is Jesus!
Interesting Note:
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
That vision adds additional clarity and information to Chapter 1 vs 15.
Zec 1:15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”
The craftsmen in the vision each represented a global world empire, each terrorized (judged) by the successive kingdom, because they “helped, but with evil intent”
Helped is: Azar- surround, protect or aid
Evil Intent is: Ra ra ah- bad, evil, affliction, calamity, adversity
The LORD is angry with these kingdoms and will judge them because they surrounded His people with calamity and despair.
The difference between the first three Craftsmen and the Fourth Craftsman (Carpenter) is that the final Craftsman does not come with evil intent!
Tonight we start Chapter 2, The Vision of the Measuring Line, which adds detail to Chapter 1 vs 16-17;
Zec 1:16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ‘
Zec 1:17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, And will again choose Jerusalem.” ‘ ”
Zec 2:1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
In Job, the line refers to creation.
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
Job 38:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Job 38:5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
(Rev 11:1-2 Line stretched out to destroy, or judge.)
In this case, it is to ENLARGE!
Zec 2:2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
Zec 2:3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,
Zec 2:4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
This was such good news that it was to be heralded immediately! Never has this been true to this point in history. There will be a false safety in the future – Eze 38:8-12- where they dwelt in un-walled villages in “safety”. Not true safety, but false sense of safety, self sufficiency, self reliance, etc. Theirs is a position without TRUE safety, distinctly different from the promise made here where Jerusalem shall be without walls and truly safe because of vs 5 below.
Zec 2:5 For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ “
See Rev 20:6-10
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
Rev 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Zec 2:6 “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD.
Zec 2:7 “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon .”
Many have said this was fulfilled in the return from the Captivity and has no future significance, but if this was only a commandment for the days of Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah, why didn’t Daniel go? Daniel read the writings of Jeremiah 50:8. Why didn’t he heed Jeremiah’s warning?
See Jeremiah 50:1-13
See Jeremiah 51:1-10
See Isaiah 11:11-12 “The second time”
See Jeremiah 23:1-8
Map out the speakers for vs 8-13 while we read them;
Zec 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.
Zec 2:9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.
Zec 2:10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD.
Zec 2:11 “Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
Zec 2:12 And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Zec 2:13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”
Now let’s go back through the passage knowing who is speaking.
Zec 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, Best read “after the glory” to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.
We can look at this two ways:
“He sent me after the glory departed to punish the nations that plunder you…”
“He sent me to get glory for Him by judging those that plundered you…..”
Both are true.
Zec 2:9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, signifies Judgment and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.
Messianic-
Who is speaking? Jesus
Who is He talking to? Israel
What is he telling them (key point)? Then you will know that the Lord sent me.
When will they know? When he shakes his fist over their enemies in judgment.
What is the most crucial point? Then you will know that the Lord has sent ME!
Zec 2:10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD.
Surprise guest or requested return?
Hos 5:14-6:3
Zec 2:11 “Many nations goyim – Gentiles shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
Romans 11:25
Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB;
Rom 11:27 FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
Acts 15
Act 15:13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
Act 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
Act 15:16 ‘AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP;
Act 15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.’
Act 15:18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
Zec 2:12 And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Zec 2:13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”
Rev 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
Rev 8:6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
