Zech. ii. 5. /, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of Jire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
IF some of the prophecies of Zechariah be dark and intricate, some are peculiarly clear. Such is that in the close of the preceding chapter, respecting
"four horns, and four carpenters;" — "the horns" denoting the enemies who had scattered Israel ; and " the carpenters/' those whom God would raise up for their restoration and protection. To the same effect is the vision of " a man with a measuring-line, going forth to measure Jerusalem ;" in order that the city might be re-constructed on its former site, and be of the dimensions which God had previously ordained. As the former vision denoted the removal of all obstacles to this work, this marked its speedy and well-ordered accomplishment. But, as enemies had prevailed against the city before, so, it was feared, they might again : God therefore promises, that, though walls should be constructed, such should be the concourse of people to Jerusalem, that multitudes should live without the walls : yet should they be safe from every enemy, because God himself would be to them both a wall of fire for their protection, and the glory in the midst of them for their honour. What he had been to Israel when coming out of Egypt, that he would be to them again.
But, as the prophecy before us admits of a general application, I shall consider it,
I. In reference to the Jewish Church —
Respecting that, at the time the prophecy was delivered, it must be understood, in the first place —
[The Jews, after their restoration, were impeded in their endeavours to rebuild their city and temple; and it seemed as if they would never be able to accomplish it. But God pro- mised 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 : and that his worship should be re-established among them, as in former days ; so that they should again, as they had formerly been, become the joy and glory of the whole earth. Through the energy with which the people were inspired, they rebuilt the wall with in- credible speed a: and the temple itself also, after many hin- drances, was raised ; and in some respects, especially by the presence of the Messiah himself in it, the glory of it was made to exceed even that of the former house b.]
a See Neh. iv. 7, 8, 13—18. and vi. 15. b Hagg. ii. 9.