The word “RESCUE” is a very strong word from the Hebrew. It paints the picture of an individual, who is helpless and cannot deliver himself in a very oppressive situation.
It is a state, where a believer had to be “extricated from a dungeon and carried out of prison or from an excruciating destructive stronghold.”
Text: Zechariah 2:1-13
1. I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.
11 And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
From our text Jerusalem was not just the capital of Israel. It also symbolised the very essence of her spirituality.
It was the glory of their nationhood because the presence of the lord was in the temple.
Therefor, when Jerusalem fail to the enemy and the Temple was led in ruins, it simply meant that their national pride and Glory had been destroyed.
There’s was a rather desperate situation – a national disgrace!
In this reading, two facts stand out: the state of Jerusalem was indeed a matter for heavenly concern.
God was interested in ensuring that out of the rubble and real of the old city, a new and glorious war would emerge.
God himself will be her security. The people of Israel – the exiles – who had been lured away and captivated by the security and
wealth of Babylon were being encouraged to return and partake of the blessings of The New Jerusalem.
Of course, not many of them heeded this invitation. God’s faithfulness in keeping his promise is emphasized here.
Zacharias vision is in agreement with Isaiah’s prayer for Jerusalem (Isaiah 62 verse 1 to 10).
Our Jerusalem may be your country,state,Local Government etc where a lot of our hopes and prayers may seem to have been truncated.
Infact , the more we pray, the worse the situation seems to get: bombing today; armed robbery and kidnapping every now and then; paid assassin on the prowl and
getting more and more daring ;corruption eating deeper and deeper into the very fabric of our national life; youth unemployment with the attendant violent militantcy etc.
Be comforted by the word of God for today. Your prayers and concern for your nation will not be in vain.
One day your nation shall be given a new name and shall become the “pride of the Earth” hallelujah!
So, keep on praying for your nation and give God no rest until he complete his work!
Prayer
Gorious father, thank you that what appears impossible with man is very easy with you. we rejoice just in the assurance that one day the functions of our nation shall be restored in Jesus name .Amen….
Shalom…..
Also read this….
Heaven’s Special Announcement: They Shall Surely Gather
It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people in this particular topic, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking
about! Thanks