Zechariah 2:1-13 - The Man With A Measuring Line

A man with measuring line appeared
To mark the boundaries of His work
The prophet asked who he might be?
"The Branch! The incarnate Deity!"

Before this plot could be fulfilled
And Judah's king become revealed
A two-fold plan was put in place
A call to leave and walls to raise.

To leave the comforts of their home
Where Babylon seemed secure
Was not the place where God had planned
As His intended promised land.

The vision for the Temple built
With walls prepared on Zion's hill
Was God's intent to put in place
With promised blessings to embrace.

When Nehemiah felt God's call
To leave the king and build the wall
In fifty-two historic days
They were complete to Yahweh's praise.

But far beyond the present scope
The measuring line was meant to give
A greater goal for Israel's land
Although they did not understand.

"Shout and be glad!" declared the Lord
"You are the apple of my eye!
I will return as Judah's king
And nations will rejoice and sing!"
--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. According to Zechariah 6:12, who is the man with a measuring line? Why is he given that name?
2. The walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins until Nehemiah, some 140 years later, rebuilt them. Why does the angel tell Zechariah "Jerusalem will be
a city without walls?"
3. Two angels are involved in verses 1-5. What confusion might have arisen necessitating further explanation?
4. Since so few left the comforts of the Babylonian lie style to return to Judah, what warning does the Lord give in verse 6, and why?
5. The vision seems to indicate a forward leap into the distant future. What time frame are verse 10-13 speaking about and what comfort or assurance might that have given to the remnant living in Judah at the time?