Zechariah 2:6-7 – Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.
The first five verses of chapter two gave us the details of Zechariah’s third vision. As you recall, the vision was of an angel who was sent to measure the width and length of Jerusalem, in a future time.
In that future state, God’s people would be greatly multiplied; they would overflow and expand beyond the walls/boundaries of Jerusalem. Despite the fact that there were no walls which could contain them, they would be safe and secure because God would be a wall of defense and a ring of fire that would repel all of their enemies. In addition, God would dwell in their midst, blessing them with every good thing.
The remainder of this chapter is not technically included within the vision. However, it is a prophetic word tied directly to the third vision. Let’s examine this message more closely.
First, we need to reacquaint ourselves with some of the history of the Jews so we can better understand this prophetic word.
God had decreed a 70-year period of captivity for his people. Obviously, this caused the Jews a lot of distress. But God used the prophet Jeremiah to give a word of comfort and instruction to the displaced captives:
Jeremiah 29:5-7 – Build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take yourself wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in its peace shall you have peace.
In other words, God instructed the Jews of the captivity to settle into Babylon. They were to build houses, have children, earn money and seek peace wherever they settled. The Jews did exactly that – they firmly established themselves in Babylon where they lived in peace and became rich.
Then, at the end of the 70-year captivity, God opened a door for the Jews to return to the Promised Land and it capital, Jerusalem. Many people such as Ezra, Nehemiah, Joshua the priest, Zerubbabel, and others gladly took the opportunity to return to their native land (Jeremiah 3:18).
However, most of the Jewish population chose to remain in Babylon. They had no interest in exchanging their present prosperity for the hardships and doubtful future which their desolate homeland promised to provide.
That was a problem – a big problem! The refusal of the Jews to return home was a reflection of the attitude of their heart towards God.
In essence, they despised their inheritance and birthright. They had no desire to join their fellow Jews in rebuilding the temple and re-establishing fellowship with God. Thus, the majority of the Jews turned up their noses at the favor of God.
Up! Up! – Now we can better understand the phrase ‘Up! Up!’ It is an emphatic command for the Jews to stir themselves up to action. The command precedes a warning for the remaining Jews to flee Babylon.
Flee from the land of the north – There is no ambiguity regarding the identity of the land to the north – it refers to the Babylonian empire, with Babylon as its capital (Jeremiah 1:14-1, Jeremiah 23:8, Isaiah 48:20, etc).
The order to flee from Babylon implies that war or peril will shortly come upon that empire (and it did in the fourth year of Darius; just two years after this prophesy was given to Zechariah). Any Jews that remained in the land would suffer the same fate as the Babylonians. Thus we see that God, in his great mercy, is warning his indifferent and unthankful people to flee to safety.
The command to flee from the land of the north also has spiritual implications. The people of Babylon represent the pagan world. God’s people were forced to live among them, but at the same time they were to be separate. They were to conduct their lives in accordance with the principles and laws of the covenant. They were not to marry foreign women or serve their gods. They were to love the Lord with all of their hearts, minds and strength. They were to worship him alone. In essence, they were not to pollute themselves with the sins of the Babylonians.
Any person who chose Babylon (the world) over Jerusalem (the kingdom of heaven) would face the same consequences as the Babylonians.
The New Testament warns Christians against falling into the same trap.
2 Corinthians 6:17 – Therefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(See also Revelation 18:4). Clearly, we live in the world and rub shoulders with sinful people every day. God ordained that life should be that way, so that we would have ample opportunities to spread the gospel message and add to the increase of his kingdom.
But in order to effectively do that, we MUST be different from the world. We must love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We must love those of the world as we love ourselves. We must love sinners but at the same time we must hate their sin. We must keep ourselves holy:
1 Peter 1:16 – Because it is written, You will be holy; for I am holy.
We must live our lives according to the principles of righteousness set forth in the scriptures. Those who embrace the world may find themselves reaping the same punishments as they do.
I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens – This particular phrase has been interpreted in different ways. The differences largely occur based on whether the verb for ‘spread’ is past tense or future tense. Some ancient versions of the scripture say ‘have spread/scattered’ while others say ‘will spread/scatter’.
Have spread – If the verb is past tense, then we assume the scattering or spreading has already taken place. Therefore, the scattering refers to the captivity. In this case, God is telling the Jews that he was the one who sent them into captivity and he was the one who was more than able to gather them again and bless them in the land of their inheritance (Israel/Jerusalem). Because that was the case, they should not hesitate to return to the Promised Land.
Will spread – If the verb is future tense, then we assume the spreading/scattering had not yet taken place at the time of Zechariah’s third vision. If that is the case, when did (or would) this prophetic word take place?
Some point to the future wide spread dispersion of the Jews which was evident during the time of Queen Esther. During her reign (60 years after Zechariah’s prophesy), the Jews were known to have settled into 127 of the provinces of the Persian Empire. Their presence extended from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1, 3:8, 8:5-9). It could easily be said that they had been scattered to the ‘four winds’ – north, south, east and west.
In this case, God’s message to the Jews was that he did not want them to remain concentrated in Babylon, because they would end up suffering the same judgments as that sinful nation. Instead, they are encouraged to flee because God was determined to bless them, and spread them in all directions to be his witnesses throughout the known world.
Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon – This is a reiteration of what God just said. Whenever God speaks, we need to listen because his instructions are important.
When he says the same thing twice, we must drop everything we are doing and immediately take action on his instructions. Any delay could be catastrophic for us.
Therefore, if the Jews had any sense at all, they would have immediately sold their homes, packed up their belongings, and left Babylon!
Zechariah 2:8 – For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
For thus says the Lord of Hosts – Who is speaking these words to the prophet? If we consider the context of this passage of scripture, the identity of the speaker in verse eight is none other than Jesus.
After his (the) glory he has sent me – In the original manuscripts, there is no article in the phrase ‘after his glory’ (your translation may say ‘after the glory’). Thus, the actual English translation simply says ‘after glory’. This has opened up a lot of dispute as to the meaning of the phrase.
One interpretation says that ‘after his/the glory’ refers to the favor God shows to those who will receive it. For instance, eight people accepted the favor of God on their lives when they agreed to enter the ark. Thereafter, the flood came and the rest of the world was punished with death.
In this particular case, the ‘after his/the glory’ would refer to the window of favor/opportunity that God gave the Jews to leave Babylon and return to the Promised Land. Thereafter, judgment was going to fall on Babylon and anyone who stayed in her midst.
A second interpretation says that ‘after his/the glory’ is referring to the glory of the nations who had plundered Israel. Those who interpret the phrase this way believe it says that, though the enemies of Israel have triumphed for a time, their glory is coming to an end. God will send his messenger, Jesus, to effect a change and soon those who have spoiled Israel will become her prey.
A third view says that ‘after his/the glory’ should have been translated ‘He that dwells in the glory has sent me’ or ‘He that dwells in the pillar of light has sent me’. It refers back to the pillar of fire and cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness. Those who hold this view maintain that the glory refers to God the Father who is full of tender, paternal care for his children. God will protect and guard those who love him from harm, just as he protected Israel in the wilderness.
The last interpretation that we will mention here says that ‘after his/the glory’ should be interpreted as ‘afterwards the glory’ which refers to the time when God sends Christ to the nations. This theory says that after God’s people are brought out of spiritual Babylon and converted and after the fullness of the Gentiles shall be brought into his kingdom, there will be a time of great glory (Romans 11). At the same time, we will see the fall and destruction of the antichrist and his kingdom.
Specifically, this theory looks forward in time to when the anti-Christian nations which persecuted and wasted the people of God will be subject to the vengeance of the Lamb of God. In that day, Jesus will destroy the antichrist with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming (Revelation 19:11-16). This will happen during the tribulation period.
Apple of his eye – This phrase describes how God feels about his people; they are near and dear to his heart and closely united with him. God will consider any injury or insult done to them as an injury or insult to himself and he will act accordingly.
I would just like to mention once again that Old Testament prophesy often has more than one level or time of fulfillment. Thus, more than one of these interpretations may be true or may yet come to pass.
Overall, I think it is safe to say something like this:
God’s people are very, very precious in his sight. God has promised to be the glory that dwells among them. Therefore, he commands those who are still in Babylon (the world) to return to Jerusalem/the Promised Land (the place of fellowship with him. God is going to take care of his people and to that effect he is going to send his Son as judge of the nations who persecute the Jews/his children.
The message that Jesus conveys to the heathen nations is that they should cease persecuting the Jews/God’s people and instead join them in becoming part of the kingdom of God, where they can enjoy the same glory and safety of God that Israel enjoys. Should they refuse, they need to understand that any violence or injury perpetrated against Israel is a violation/injury against God himself. All such aggression will be judged and punished as an offense done to God.
This somewhat generalized interpretation is true in a literal, physical sense (something that happened on earth). It is also true in a spiritual sense (it reflects the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God).
Zechariah 2:9 – “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.”
Behold, I will shake my hand over them – Christ now continues to declare the commands of his Father. Specifically, he says that no matter how numerous or strong the enemies of the Jews may be, the Jews would still be safe because they are protected. God would exert his power on Israel’s behalf, inflicting punishment and destruction on Israel’s enemies by the mere shaking of his hand.
They shall become plunder for those who served them – Specifically, the plans of Israel’s enemies would be in vain, for the Lord would make their nation fall and become servants of another kingdom. Thus, Persia (under Darius) came in and spoiled Babylon, making her the servant of Persia instead of her master.
Then you will know the Lord of Hosts has sent me – If we look at this verse in the natural realm, then the destruction of Babylon by Darius will be proof that God had given this prophesy to Zechariah.
If we look at this prophesy in a spiritual sense, then the conversion of Jews and Gentiles into the kingdom of heaven will be proof that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he was sent into the world by the Father to be the sacrifice for our sin.
Zechariah 2:10 – “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.”
God’s people are instructed by the prophet to sing and rejoice. The reason for this joyful celebration is that God is coming to dwell in their midst. Although this certainly applied to the second temple built by the Jews after the return from captivity (Haggai 2:5-9), almost all commentators believe this is also a Messianic reference.
Thus, one fulfillment of this prophesy came during the incarnation:
John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(See also I Timothy 3:16, Colossians 2:8-9, etc). There was another fulfillment after the resurrection, when Holy Spirit came to dwell in the heart of every believer (II Corinthians 6:16), and the church was born. Salvation is a great cause of joy for every Christian!
A future fulfillment of this prophesy is also still on the horizon. It will come when God’s people are called upon to sing and rejoice at the destruction of the antichrist and his kingdom.
Revelation 18:20-21 – Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
(See also Ezekiel 37:26-28, Zephaniah 3:14-15).
Zechariah 2:11 – “And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.”
Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day – This verse is universally accepted to be Messianic as no nations or people groups ever became converts to the Jewish religion. However, it is clear that whole nations and people groups have embraced faith in Christ through the gospel message.
And shall be my people – In other words, those who had never professed to belong to God and those who were never before known to be children of God, will now openly become followers of Christ:
1 Peter 2:10 – [Gentiles] who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
As children of God Gentiles will love, fear, worship and obey Christ. They will be his witnesses to the unsaved world; seeking to bring others into the same kingdom they inhabit.
I will dwell in your midst – In other words, Jesus will dwell in the midst of the church in the person of Holy Spirit.
Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you – In this case, ‘you’ refers to all the children of God, both Jews and Gentiles. Their salvation in Christ is the proof that God sent Jesus to the world as our Messiah and Redeemer.
Zechariah 2:12 – “And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
This verse brings us full circle to the beginning of Zechariah’s third vision.
Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people was manifested in their occupation of the Promised Land, their temple sacrifices and worship, their festivals and the keeping of the law.
However, God had (for a time) cast them out of the land. Furthermore, he allowed Solomon’s temple to be burnt and razed, which destroyed the means of fellowship between the Jews and himself.
It would be natural for the Jews to conclude that they had been rejected by God. However, as we know, God never rejected his people; he was just disciplining them. This was evident in the fact that he had recently opened a door of opportunity for the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
The third vision of Zechariah reveals that God fully intended to restore Israel to her former state – she would once again live in the Land, once again worship and fellowship at the temple and once again rejoice at the yearly festivals.
And, in fact, her latter glory would be greater than the former; the walls of Jerusalem would not be able to contain the vast multitudes of people, cattle and blessings. This was a foreshadowing of the time when the Gentiles would join the Jews and together they would meld into one united body of Christ.
In other words, God had NOT forgotten or cast off the Jews. They were still his peculiar people, which he set aside as his own. Even though they were mixed with the other nations for a time, God was going to once again gather them to himself.
So when the Lord declares that he will inherit Judah and again choose Jerusalem, this is not a new promise – it is a reminder of the covenant that he had already made with them. That covenant was never void; it would reach its ultimate fulfillment at the appointed time.
This was the word of encouragement that God was giving to his people in Zechariah’s day. Because of these wonderful promises, God’s people should rejoice and once again be diligent to do all that God had commanded them.
Zechariah 2:13 – Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Children of God are willingly silent before God. We do this as we endeavor to hear him speak, to worship before him, or to ascertain his commands. When we are silent before God, we are prepared to humbly submit to his will.
However, that is not the silence that is being mentioned by the prophet. In this case, he speaks to the silence or submission of the wicked before God. The ungodly have consistently raged and railed against God and his people for years. But at the appointed time, God will arise and deliver his church.
At that time, all those who opposed the church will be forced into silence; they will tremble before the glory, majesty and power of God. They will experience fear, awe and astonishment as they see him move on behalf of his people. At that time, they will dare not open their mouths in his presence.
Habakkuk 2:20 – But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Let me offer you some encouragement:
In the third vision of Zechariah, we find that God sent an angel to measure the length and width of Jerusalem – in the future.
The point I want to make here is that God knows the end from the beginning; since time is in his hand, he already knows the outcome of everything. Although he sees you exactly as you are today, he also sees what you will become in the future as you grow and mature in him.
So let me offer you this encouragement: You are not yet what you will become. God has lots of victories, miracles and good things in store for your future. Don’t ever let go of the promises you are claiming. Don’t ever think your usefulness is over. Don’t ever stop repenting and growing in your walk with Christ, because goodness, blessing and joy are in your future, just as they were (and are) for the Jews and the church.
Let me offer you some relief and some strength:
The Jews made plenty of mistakes. They allowed the things of this world to get a foothold in their lives, and the end result was that they were removed from the Promised Land. As a result, they believed that God had completely cast them off; they believed there was no hope for them as individuals or as a nation.
But that was a lie of the enemy! It’s true that they needed (and received) correction, but that correction was for their good.
Hebrews 12:11-13 – Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it. Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
The truth is that God’s plans for Israel were not thwarted or destroyed by the enemy; God is infinitely smarter and greater than Satan. God gave his people a word of hope that his plans for them would still come to pass and these plans would be much, much greater and more widespread than the Jews could conceive.
But they had a part to play. They had to change their ways. They had to cast off despair, and choose to rejoice (see verse 10). They had to pick up their tools and return to building the temple and the walls.
Likewise, you may have made mistakes in your life. Satan may be trying to tell you that all hope is gone and that you have made such a mess God doesn’t want you anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth!
God’s love for you can never diminish. His plans for you can never be destroyed by the enemy. If you will turn to him now in repentance and humility, he will give you beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). If you begin to rejoice in him and pick up your tools (your talents and gifts), God will fulfill his call on your life in a way that is much, much greater than you could ever imagine!
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