The Bigger Picture of a Bigger God

The Bigger Picture of a Bigger God Zech 2:1-13

Perception of God 1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then 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." 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. The figure with the measuring line is a visionary symbol of human expectations for the city a measurement of the width and length of Jerusalem according to human reckoning. This man was believed the messenger that Jerusalem will be rebuilt, but expects the new Jerusalem to be no different from the old and he would therefore conform its measurements to those it had before it’s fall. The angel sent to stop the man from measuring the wall, because his vision was not God’s vision. He assumed they would be built a wall like before to protect the craftsmen that worked on the temple. But God had a different vision so here the human perspective is corrected by God’s perspective on the city. (Zech 2:3-4). If we view the church and believers with human yardsticks as the man with the measuring line was doing we end up limiting God by our meager worldly appraisal of what can be achieved. Zachariah’s vision reminds us that we need our measuring line to be corrected and controlled by God ‘s mission. Our expectations for ourselves derived from the world are far lower than those of God. We want to be comfortable and happy and secure, but God intends for us to bear and reflect his own glory forever and that is why he refines our character in faith and trials and tribulations. the human perspective must be overruled by God’s perspective. God’s Perspective is not encompassed by walls but a city without walls where they would trust him for protection. We are engaged in proclaiming the gospel to bring blessing to all peoples of the earth (Gen 12) (Phillips) His vision was a vast city without walls to encompass the nations. (2:11) He would be the protection they need (2:5) He would make the provision of the Messiah to dwell in their midst and draw the nations to himself. (2:10) God’s purpose, plan, provision and perspective is bigger than ours and although we can’t always see what he is doing or how he will do it, we must search for and submit to his plan over ours. So we need to look above and beyond our current brokenness and despair to see God’s vision.

Provision from God

God’s Protection of us 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD Jerusalem had a wall that did not keep her from destruction. Walls alone never provide real protection, the protection they provide is not just militarily, but spiritually as well. It is not the status of the walls but the Spirit of the defenders that determines the strength of the city. Lying at the young man’s feet were the stones, the rubble of the old walls that furnish no protection. None of the walls we erect around our lives: money, position, friends, romantic relationships etc offers the kind of security and protection that only God could give. Ps 121:7-6) Here is a picture that the only sure defense for Israel is God himself who will be like a wall fire around his

people similar to the pillar of fire that was around them in the wilderness (Ex 13:22, 14:14, 24) (Philips) God is always for his church even surrounding us with his almighty protection. Enemies had prevailed against the city before, so, it was feared, they might again: But God promised that their enemies should not be able finally to prevail; for that he himself would be an effectual protection to them; not only as a wall which might keep off their assailants, but as “a wall of fire,” that should devour them .Great and mighty enemies have come and will come against God’s people to destroy them.(Ezk 38:14-16). But that is when God will be a wall of fire around them; and not only will he protect them effectually, but he will spread such desolation among their enemies as has never yet been heard of, from the foundation of the world. When Pharaoh pursued them, God made the Red Sea a wall for their defense, and by that swallowed up all the hosts of Egypt. (Ex 14). Even so, the weapons with which the people of God have been and will be assailed, shall suffice for fire-wood in the whole land. Wonderfully was the Church preserved in the first ages of its establishment. What but Omnipotence could have kept it, amidst all the assaults which it had to endure on every side? But God had said, that “the gates of hell should not prevail against it:” and it yet exists, a monument of his Almighty power. And what is every individual believer, but a spark kept alive in the midst of the ocean? If “He who dwelt in the bush,” which, though burning, was not consumed, had not dwelt in us, we would have all been consumed long ago As with Elisha, if we had but eyes to see it, there are chariots of fire, and horses of fire, round about us: and it is through their incessant and effectual interposition that no enemy has been able to prevail against us.(Simeon)

God’s Presence with us,5 and I will be the glory in her midst.'" 10 I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD 11 And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. multitudes live without the walls: yet they are safe from every enemy, because God himself is to them both a wall of fire for their protection, and the glory in the midst of them for their honor. What he had been to Israel when coming out of Egypt, that he would be to them again. He is present, as he has said: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Simeon) ) Always the chief and greatest blessing is not the gift of God but God himself God promises return was truly intended to revive efforts to rebuild God’s temple which would again represent God in the mist of his people. (Phillips)

God’s Passion for us 8 For thus said the LORD of hosts . . . for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: The eye is the tenderest part of the whole body; it not only is susceptible of injury from the smallest accident, but it feels most acutely any injury it may sustain. What exquisite concern then must God feel for his people, when their afflictions pierce him in so deep a manner; yes, when even that, which is but as a slight “touch” to them, inflicts on him so severe a wound! Can our imagination conceive a more expressive image, a more astonishing declaration? God sympathizes with his people in all their troubles both under temporal troubles (Acts 7:34, Jud 10:16) and still more under spiritual afflictions (Jer 31:18-20). God represent himself to us as “the comforter of them that are cast down,” yea, as a “God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3; 7:6.]!” He calls himself the “God that pleads the cause of his people (Is 51:22.]:” He assures us that he pities them even as a father pities his own children (Ps 103:13.], and he illustrates his compassion by the most tender image that the whole universe affords, even by that of “a mother dandling upon her knee her suckling child,” and striving by all possible methods to soothe and please it [ Is 66:12-13.] There is an union subsisting between him and them; yet not merely such as exists between a husband and wife, or a vine and its branches [Rom 7:4. Jn 15:1.], but one far closer; for he is the head, and his people are his members [Eph 4:15-16.]; he dwelleth in them, and they in him [1 Jn 4:12-16.]; he is one with them, and they with him; in short, they are so united, as to be one body [1 Cor 12:12; :27.], and one spirit, with the Lord [1 Cori 6:17.]. And when our Lord himself was pleased to illustrate this subject, in order, if possible, to convey to us some adequate idea of it, he set forth the union of the different persons of the Godhead as the truest pattern of that which subsists between himself and his people [Jn 17:21.].] are they despised? he does not scruple to declare, that he will consider himself as the object of that contempt which is poured on them [ Lk 10:16.]. We have a memorable example of this in the account which Paul gives us of his own conversion: he was going with a commission to Damascus to extirpate, if possible, the Christian name. Little did he think that the Lord of Glory himself was the person at whom his shafts were hurled. But Jesus stopped him in his mad career, and asked, “Saul, Saul, why persecutes! thou me [Acts 9:4.]?” Thus at this day every thing done to the Lord’s people is done to God himself; or, as the text expresses it, “Whoever touches them touches the apple of his eye.” How little can we comprehend the heights and depths of such unsearchable love! Still is he dealing with us as with his people of old [Deut 32:9-12, Is 63:9]. Yet we, like little infants, are almost unconscious of our Father’s love. But O that every heart might “praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!” We think but little of his honor in the world. But shall he be so mindful of us, and we be forgetful of him? Shall he be so concerned for our welfare, and we be indifferent about his glory [Ex 32:11-13, Josh 7:9.]. Shall not sin, the accursed thing which he hates, be a source of pain and anguish to our minds? Could we see the eye of an earthly parent pierced, and be unconcerned about it? Let “rivers of waters then run down our eyes because men keep not God’s law [Ps 119:136.].”Let us especially weep over the sins of his professing people [Phil 3:18.]. And above all, let us lothe and abhor ourselves for all the evils of our hearts and lives. Let us feel, as it becomes us, our obligations to God, and labor to repay his kindness in a suitable way. Yes, while we entreat him to “keep us as the apple of his eye [Ps 17:8.], let us keep his “law as the apple of our eye [Prov 7:2.],” and, “whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, do all to his glory [1 Cori 10:31.]. (Simeon) In this tender love and faithfulness of God to his own, Israel, you may see a picture of is unchangeable love and faithfulness to you also for if you have learned to put your trust in him and cries have been brought in the covenant relationship with him. You are loved of him with the same love with which he loves his only begotten son and our dear and indispensable to him as a dearest member of your family could be to you. You may therefore apply this figure also to yourself individually and pray with David “keep me as the apple of your eye hide me under the shadow of your wings” (Ps 17:8) (Baron)

God’s Power before us 9 "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. GOD makes use of the wicked as his rod, wherewith to chastise his own children. But while he accomplishes his own gracious ends with respect to them, he is not indifferent to the conduct of his agents, who unwittingly fulfil his will; he notices their motives, and will call them into judgment for the dispositions they have manifested (Is 10:5-7; 10:12.]: and because they exceed their commission, and seek the destruction, rather than the benefit, of his people, he will vindicate the cause of the oppressed, and recompense upon their own heads the wickedness of their oppressors [Is 47:6-9.]. This assurance the prophet gave to those who yet remained in Babylon. He exhorted them instantly to come forth from that wicked city; for that God had tenderly sympathized with them in the midst of all his chastisements and had determined to judge the nation for the needless and excessive severities they had exercised towards them [Zech 1:15; 2:6-8.]. Let those who revile and ridicule the Lord’s people well consider this. He makes use of this as an argument why his people should forbear to avenge their own cause, namely, that vengeance will one day be executed on their enemies by himself, and that too in a more equitable and more effectual manner than it could be by an arm of flesh [Rom 12:19.]. Nor will he punish only the positive evils that may be inflicted on them; he will mark also an inattention to their wants, and treat as despisers of himself, those who did not actively administer to their necessities [Matt 25:41-42.] (Simeon)

Response to our God 6 Up! Up! 10 Sing and rejoice13 Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. We have a reason to be thankful as we look at the past. As, at the rebuilding of Jerusalem, enemies arose to obstruct its progress, so, in every place where a Church is erected for the Lord, are enemies without number ready to destroy it. The same I may say respecting every soul that sets himself to seek the Lord. Where shall we find one who has not many difficulties to contend with; and that too, not only from avowed enemies, but from professed friends. But here we are, this day, monuments of God’s tender care Let us not overlook this great transcendent mercy. Let us remember to whom alone we are indebted, if we have not long since fallen by the devices of our great adversary and made shipwreck of our faith: and let us give glory to God, as a faithful and promise-keeping God. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; to which, if we run, we shall be safe.” Let no alliance then, of men or devils, alarm us. “Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.” Our enemies may be mighty; but our Friend is Almighty. He can do everything for us, and everything in us. Only let us look to Him, and rely on Him, and “no weapon that is formed against us shall ever prosper (Simeon)