A vision of safety.
"I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand," etc. We have here another case of repetition and expansion. In the end of Zechariah 1:16 we had a brief promise of the full restoration of Jerusalem as a city—a place of dwellings with dwellers therein. In the present passage we have the same promise expressed at more length. In other words, we are asked to observe
I. HOW IMMEDIATE ITS APPLICATION. So immediate, in fact, that the first steps towards its accomplishment had already begun. Whatever may have been previously resolved on in private in regard to building operations, the first visible and overt step in those operations themselves is that of measuring and staking the ground. The very children understand the meaning of that. Jehovah, accordingly, in the opening verses of this chapter, accommodates himself to this truth. The prophet sees manifestly (he "lifted up his eyes, and looked"), but apparently much to his surprise ("behold"), a man with a measuring line in his hand. Where is he going? so the prophet asks; and is told—He is going to "Jerusalem" with his line. For what purpose? To "measure" it, to survey it as for building, to ascertain its length and its breadth. What does all this amount to? It amounts to "business," as we should now express it. Consultation, deliberation, decision,—the time for all these is now past. It is the time for doing, for actual fulfilment. The work, in one sense, therefore, as we said, has begun. Compare "The hour is coming, and now is," in John 4:23; John 5:25; also Luke 12:49.
II. HOW EMPHATIC ITS REPETITION. This shown:
1. By the dignity of the speaker. Two angels are now spoken of (Luke 12:3, Luke 12:4), about whom and their respective doings much difference of interpretation exists. If, however, we assume the "young man" of Luke 12:4 to be the prophet himself (see Pusey, in loc.; and comp. Jeremiah 1:6; 2 Kings 9:4, "the young man the prophet"), it seems clear that the one of these angels, speaking as he does (in Luke 12:5) in Jehovah s name, is that Angel-Jehovah mentioned before in Zechariah 1:11, Zechariah 1:12, and afterwards in Zechariah 3:1; as also that it is this same Angel who commissions the other to communicate to the prophet the declaration of Zechariah 3:4. No speaker, therefore, in regard to dignity, can go beyond him (Matthew 21:37; Hebrews 1:5).
2. The earnestness of the action.
3. The explicitness of the language. Jerusalem was to more than recover (Zechariah 3:4) its former population and size. Now its population and dwellings were much too few for its ancient limits. By and by they should be as much too many. What evidence this of increase! What a picture of security, of population, of wealth (comp. Genesis 13:2; Genesis 24:35; Job 1:3)! What a promise, in short, of blessing and good!
III. HOW PROFOUND ITS SIGNIFICANCE. The features already noticed, however stalking, were only, as it were, on the surface. There were others deeper and still more worthy of notice which accounted for these.
1. How came Jerusalem to be thus secure and enlarged? Because the Lord Jehovah himself was as "a wall of fire round about;" such a defence, i.e; as would not only keep the enemies out, but also destroy them if they essayed to draw near.
2. How came Jerusalem to be thus protected and favoured? Because God himself had returned to dwell in her; and to do so, moreover, as her peculiar "glory." These two points illustrated by Psalms 46:5; and Acts 2:5-11; Acts 8:27, Acts 8:28. This, in short, was why there should be so many other inhabitants in Jerusalem, viz. because of this most glorious Inhabitant of all.
We are reminded by this subject yet further:
1. How swift and willing is the service of the angels of heaven. Compare the word "run," etc; with Daniel 9:21, Daniel 9:23; Ezekiel 1:14; and Psalms 103:20, Psalms 103:21. This described by the poet—
"Thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean."
This partly at the root, perhaps, of the common notion that angels have wings. This also a thing to be imitated and aimed at by us. "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
2. How blessed the effects of the presence of Christ. As to safety (Matthew 8:24-26); as to success (Matthew 18:19, Matthew 18:20); as to comfort (Mark 2:19); as to hope (Colossians 1:27, "Christ among you, the Hope of glory"); as to all that constitutes heaven (1 John 3:2; John 14:8; John 16:24).