Zec 2:1-13 “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD”
Zec 2:1-13 “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD”
[Study Aired June 8, 2023]
Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Zec 2:2 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.
Zec 2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
Zec 2:4 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:
Zec 2:5 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.
Zec 2:6 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. </b
Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Zec 2:8 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.
Zec 2:9 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.
Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
Zec 2:11 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.
Zec 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
The first two verses from chapter one in last week’s study explains that it is in “the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah” typifying when the new man represented by the “eighth month” can begin to be formed in us by our hearing the true witness of Jesus Christ “in the second year of Darius” when the word of the Lord came “unto Zechariah.” Darius is a Persian king who represents our fleshly minds which are going to be witnessed against [“in the second year“], where we are told that the LORD has been sore displeased (Zec 1:1-2).
In this second chapter of Zechariah, we will learn what it takes for God’s people, and all of humanity in time, to “Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings” of Zechariah 1:4. At present, the world does not hear or hearken unto the Lord as this verse goes on to tell us, which is a prophecy that speaks to all of humanity who have all gone astray (Isa 53:6).
Zec 1:4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. [Luk 64:4-64]
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. [“but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD“] For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart [Christ, who is that treasure within (2Co 4:7, Col 1:27)] bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [Rom 3:23-24]
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his graceG5463 [Rom 11:6] through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: “and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” [Rom 5:10].
Grace G5463 χαίρω
chairō khah’ee-roA primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: – farewell, be glad, Godspeed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice. Total KJV occurrences: 74
God’s elect, typified by the prodigal son, are the first to come to their spiritual senses (Luk 15:17) and be brought to see their need to be saved which results in our bringing forth fruit (Rom 11:1-6), and He uses the evil experiences in our life to bring us to that point of being humbled and crushed so that we can be spiritually productive in His service as the scapegoat that God lays the afflictions of Christ upon so as to fill up within our flesh in his stead (Psa 107:25-27, Col 1:24 [see JM version], Lev 16:10). Everyone needs to be saved because all have gone astray in the marred condition we are in, known as sinful flesh (Jer 18:4).
Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. [1Co 15:22] For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of graceG5485.
Grace G5485charis khar’-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy). Total KJV occurrences: 156
The grace (G5463) or favor God is showing us in this age as His children will be received by him through the fiery trials of this life that bring us to our wits’ end making our flesh quiet, silent, or still before him (1Th 4:11, 1Ti 2:2-3, 1Pe 3:4, Psa 46:10, Psa 107:29, Exo 14:13). We grow in our ability through Christ to become more and more comfortable in the fiery trials of this life, as we remember and learn of His continual faithfulness to not try us beyond what we can endure, but always make a way for us to bear the trial and go through it to His glory (Heb 12:6, Psa 107:25-27, 1Co 10:13).
1Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; [Joh 21:22]
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. [1Pe 4:1]
Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear.
When God says “doth he not leave the ninety and nine” in Matthew 18:12, it is a witness to the fact that God has turned His eyes away from the world (Rom 11:20-21) who are not being judged [“the ninety and nine“] at this time, and has made the elect the apple of His eye who are being judged ‘now’ (Zec 2:8, 1Pe 4:17). The elect are those who have been dragged to Christ and found in the mountain that represents Christ from where our help comes from (Joh 6:44, Psa 121:1).
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith [Php 1:29, Mat 13:16-17, Rom 3:27]. Be not highminded, but fear: [“be quiet, be silent, be still“]
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:18-19]Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine [the other fold who don’t think they need saving], and goeth into the mountains [signifying those being dragged to Christ in this age], and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Eventually all flesh will be as silent as silent can be when God subdues all things to Himself through Christ (1Co 12:6, 1Co 15:28, Eph 1:23). All flesh being silent before God is just another way of telling us that flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life, and that ultimately no flesh will ever glory in His sight (1Co 1:28-31).
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Zec 2:2 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.
Zec 2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
These opening verses are again talking about how we can have our eyes lifted, which symbolizes setting our eyes on things above and not on the earth (Col 3:2-4). When we have our eyes set on things above, our conversation is in heaven with Christ where we are raised in heavenly places “and [we] behold a man with a measuring line in his hand” who represents Christ or those whom we follow as they follow Christ (Eph 2:6, 1Co 11:1).
1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The context that is mentioned with the first instance of lifting our eyes in chapter 1 states, “Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” (Zec 1:17) That comfort will come through God commencing a work of judgment first within the elect, who will then rule the rest of humanity with a rod of iron (Zec 1:18-21). This pattern continues being shown as the world will also be scattered by judgment from the body of Christ that will begin to take away the stronghold of false religion and false worship from men’s lives, which process is revealed in these verses (Zec 1:18-21), followed by the second time he lifts his eyes and says “I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.” The narrative is from the perspective of the believer looking at how God’s plan is unfolding as His judgments go out to all the world (Isa 26:9) through Christ and His Christ (Rev 2:27, Rev 12:5, Rev 19:15, 1Co 6:2-3).
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron [1Jn 4:17,
Rev 2:27] and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
1Co 6:2. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
We ask therefore [“Zechariah representing the elect“] “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” which in this instance can be seen as ‘Jerusalem below’ (Gal 4:25-26), the religions of this world. What we are being sent to do is “to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.” The angel talking to us in this verse typifies the body of Christ the fellow servant or angel (Rev 22:9), “And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.” This “another angel” that went out to meet him represents Christ who meets the great cloud of witnesses who are ever with Him (1Th 4:17). They do this missionary work symbolized by the life of Paul who went to all the churches of Asia in his day, which was a type of all the world that we will go to during the reign of God’s elect. The same effect of that ministry will manifest as did with Paul’s, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” (2Ti 1:15, Rev 20:8)
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Zec 2:4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man [Zechariah], saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
Again, we are looking at both a prophecy which ‘now is in part’ and is yet to be fulfilled, and it is written to give us encouragement as to what we will come to learn and see is our role in God’s government that will be established on this earth. The “angel that talked with me” (the elect) that is told by “another angel” (Christ) to run “to this young man” represents our teachers who come to us with the word of God that witnesses to what God is going to do in the ages to come. We are told “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein” meaning Jerusalem above, whom the elect represent, will be dwelling with men who are likened to the beasts God sees us as in our flesh [Jerusalem below], and there will be “towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein” which typifies the truth that God’s government, God’s elect, will be a spiritually walled city perfectly protected (1Co 1:9-10), that will not have any dominion over the many beasts of the field but will rather be helpers of their joy (2Co 1:24).
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment [a spiritually walled city perfectly protected].
Zec 2:5 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.
Zec 2:6 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.
Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Zec 2:8 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.
We are the apple of God’s eye today as His little remnant, but in the future the world will become the apple of our eye (1Jn 4:17). These words we read speak of the encouragement God will bring forth through the church through the thousand-year reign of the saints, which we hear ‘in part’ now ‘in this age’ (1Co 13:9-12).
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
God’s elect, at this stage in the fullness of resurrected bodies, will be “a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her“, the “her” representing Jerusalem below. Our cry to the world still in Babylonian captivity is this: “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.” This is discussed in the first chapter of Zechariah [four horns and four carpenters that scatter and tear down the old ways]. God spreads the world abroad for that reason, to help loose the bands of iniquity and the false judgments of Babylon that come from “the land of the North“. This judgment from the north is the negative use of judgment which more often is spoken of as being God’s positive judgment from the north (the negative use of judgment from the north proceeds from the law of the lawless [1Ti 1:9] and the law unto the Gentile that they/we are unto ourselves at our appointed time [Rom 2:14]).
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Who are we telling the world to deliver themselves from, but Babylon? “Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon“, which the fleshly carnal mind of man cannot accomplish without Christ’s spirit within them. Zion represents God’s people, a people who are being witnessed against that they are operating in their flesh, their own righteousness. For today, there is an inward application to this verse that applies to God’s elect: “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.” There is also a dispensational application that speaks to all nations coming out of Babylon, being judged and learning of God’s righteousness through the saints, and being reassured that we are there in the midst of this process as Saviors who are going to watch over them like a shepherd does his flock, “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.“
Zec 2:9 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.
Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
Zec 2:11 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.
These verses are talking about flesh God will judge and correct during the thousand-year reign of the saints. “For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants“, introducing God’s judgments to the “daughter of Zion” (Mic 4:10) rather than the mount of Zion of (Oba 1:21), that represents the elect who will “dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies [“and they shall be a spoil to their servants“].
The result of that judgment with a rod of iron is “and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me“, which is another way of saying Isaiah 26:0 (see below). Learning righteousness is not the same as having the ability to reflect Christ’s righteousness (Php 3:9), seeing only Christ can be Christ (Rom 8:9). Therefore, although ‘the daughter of Zion’ is also likened to the elect who are called out of Babylon to be ‘judged in this age’ first (1Pe 4:17), in order to become those saviors on mount Zion, there is also a dispensational view on which we are focused in this study (Eze 23:36).
Eze 23:36 The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
What we will be commissioned to do in the midst of the world at this time reflects what we will do with all of humanity in the lake of fire and that is to be helpers of others’ joy by giving them the words of life that will be as fire to them which begins to destroy the carnal nature and former conversation we all inherit in sinful flesh, which will reside in those who are resurrected in the second resurrection: “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.“
The same message will be given to the world at that time and in the second resurrection (Joh 5:29), to rejoice for the many wonderful works unto the children of men of (Psa 107:30), the judgments which will be changing the heart of men and bringing them into a right relationship with their Creator. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.“
The result of that judgment is that “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.” The “sent me unto you” part of this verse again is a reference to how God’s elect will be sent, just as Christ promised (Joh 20:21).
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Zec 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
These last two verses once again give us perspective as to whom is being talked about, and the relationship we are looking at is that between the world and God’s elect during the thousand-year reign of the saints, a symbolic number (10x10x10) (Act 1:7). What is given to us to understand is that “the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” Since as He is, so are we (1Jn 4:17) is telling us that if we suffer with Christ in this life, we will rule with him in the next. Then the world, which can also be represented by Judah, will be our portion along with Christ (2Ti 2:12). Our message to the world at that time and in the great white throne judgment will be the same, which will be: “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation” [the elect being God’s holy habitation where the “manifold wisdom of God” is made known by the church (Eph 3:10)].
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Be silent and be still because the God of the universe is in your midst to save you and deliver you from yourselves (Exo 14:13, Psa 46:10, 1Ki 19:12, Oba 1:21).
Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Other related posts
- Zec 2:1-13 "Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD" (June 8, 2023)
- Psalms 76:8-12 - "Dost Thou Not Judge and Avenge Our Blood", Part 3 (September 3, 2016)
- Be Still (May 21, 2010)