412. A Wall
Zechariah 2:4, 5 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: 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.
The promise is that the Lord will be a wall of fire around us, and He will be the glory in us. Walls were very important for the safety of settlements for much of human history. Marauding armies and bandits would raid, pillage and plunder unwalled villages on a regular basis. Most people lived in fear until they could build and live inside walled towns and cities. Building a wall around Jerusalem after the Exile was a driving passion for Nehemiah, for example. Literal walls do not have the same meaning for us in the modern age; different measures are taken for the protection of a nation’s citizens. But the symbolism of “walls” was not lost on the Biblical readers. Walls were absolutely necessary to live in comfort, safety and protection from enemies and bad guys.
The promise is that we will not need literal, physical walls for protection, since we have the Lord Himself as a wall of fire round about. The picture is clear. The promise is sure. Our spiritual enemies, marauders, raiders and invaders are always around us seeking to attack and destroy. Our spiritual life will never be safe and secure if the Lord were not a “wall of fire” around us. Sin, Death, and Satan are always about, scouting, and planning an attack on the soul. Not only did the Lord save us from our enemies, but also He continually protects us from enemy attack. The Lord Himself is our strong and high wall, our mighty fortress, the safe place, and the secure castle in which we can live freely and safely. Our prayers remind us that we are always under God’s care and protection, as behind a wall of fire. Our prayers build up a “hedge of thorns” around us to keep the devil out. What Adam failed to do (keep the devil out) our Lord Jesus Christ does for us.
Also, the Lord will be the glory in the midst of us. “Jesus Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Not only is God around about us as Shepherd, King and Protector, He is also within us, in our very heart and soul. His presence makes life glorious. We do not have to reach for heaven to find the glory; it is in the midst of us. Live there.