In this chapter we have, I. Another vision which
the prophet saw, not for his own entertainment, but for his
satisfaction and the edification of those to whom he was sent,
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 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. 3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 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: 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.
This prophet was ordered, in God's name, to
assure the people (
I. He sees, in a vision, a man going to
measure Jerusalem (
II. He is informed that this vision means
well to Jerusalem, that the measuring line he saw was not a line
of confusion (as that
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. 7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 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. 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.
One would have thought that Cyrus's
proclamation, which gave liberty to the captive Jews to return to
their own land, would suffice to bring them all back, and that, as
when Pharaoh gave them leave to quit Egypt and their house of
bondage there, they would not leave a hoof behind; but it seems it
had not that effect. There were about 40,000 whose spirits God
stirred up to go, and they went; but many, perhaps the greater
part, stayed behind. The land of their captivity was to most of them
the land of their nativity; they had taken root there, had gained a
settlement, and many of them a very comfortable one; some perhaps
had got estates and preferments there, and they did not think they
could better themselves by returning to their own land. Patria
est ubicunque bene est—My country is every spot where I feel
myself happy. They had no great affection to their own land,
and apprehended the difficulties in their way to it insuperable.
This proceeded from a bad cause—a distrust of the power and
promise of God, a love of ease and worldly wealth, and an
indifference to the religion of their country and to the God of
Israel himself; and it had a bad effect, for it was a tacit censure
of those as foolish, rash, and given to change, that did return,
and a weakening of their hands in the work of God. Such as these
could not sing (
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 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. 12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Here is, I. Joy proclaimed to the church of God, to the daughter of Zion, that had separated herself from the daughter of Babylon. The Jews that had returned were in distress and danger, their enemies in the neighbourhood were spiteful against them, their friends that remained in Babylon were cool towards them, shy of them, and declined coming in to their assistance; and yet they are directed to sing, and to rejoice even in tribulation. Note, Those that have recovered their purity, and integrity, and spiritual liberty, though they have not yet recovered their outward prosperity, have reason to sing and rejoice, to give glory to God and take comfort to themselves.
I. God will have a people among them. If
their brethren in Babylon will not come to them, those of other
nations shall, and shall replenish Jerusalem and the cities of
Judah: Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day
that are now at a distance from him and strangers to him. The
Jewish nation, after the captivity, multiplied very much, by the
accession of proselytes to it, that were naturalized, and were
entitled to all the privileges of native Israelites, and perhaps
they were equal in number; and therefore Paul mentions it as an
honour to him which many Jews had not, that he was of the tribe
of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews,
II. They shall have his presence among
them: Sing and rejoice, for I come. Those to whom God comes
have reason to rejoice, for he will be to them their chief joy. God
will come, not to make them a visit only, but to reside with them
and preside over them: I will dwell in the midst of thee
(
III. They shall have all their ancient
dignities and privileges restored to them again,
II. Here is silence proclaimed to all the
world besides,