Day 1056: Jerusalem's security - Zechariah 14 vs 8 - 11

8-9 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one. 10 The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's wine presses. 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security. Zechariah 14:8-11 English Standard Version.

Verses 1-7 of this chapter spoke of a day 'known to the Lord' when Jerusalem would be ravaged by the nations, and how God would dramatically come to the aid of His people. It spoke of His feet 'standing on the Mount of Olives', which would then split in two. Many see this chapter as speaking of physical Jerusalem and the future return of Christ. Others see a strong connection to when Christ first came over 2000 years ago and set up His spiritual kingdom in the world. The Bible often uses picture language, and it's not always easy to see when the picture is to be taken as literal, or symbolic. This is certainly true of the living waters spoken of in vs 8-9.

Jesus used this same picture during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem. We read that, on the last day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38) Living water is a lovely picture of the eternal life that flows from Christ.

The same can be said of how Jerusalem is spoken of in the Bible. In most cases it refers to the physical city where David had reigned as King, and Solomon had constructed a temple for the Lord. But it is also used in a symbolic way, as in the book of Hebrews. The writer of that book said to Christians: “You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” (Hebrews 12:22-23)

The writer of the last book in the Bible tells how, in a vision, an angel showed him “the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God - it shone with the glory of God.” (Revelation 10-11) In the next chapter he says: “The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.” (Revelation 22:1-2)

Those who regard Zechariah's words in this chapter to be a prophesy about the physical city of Jerusalem would see today's verses as speaking of a literal river which continuously flows in summer and winter out of the city. And while the surrounding regions have become a plain (after Mount Olives had split in two), the city of Jerusalem would remain elevated. However, if this chapter is to be seen in a symbolic way, then it would be speaking of the blessings that flow from Christ when His victory is completed at His return.

Whichever view we take in trying to understand a difficult section of the Bible as in today's verses, what is the wonderful comfort we can all take from the promise God makes through Zechariah in vs 11?

I think the answer is beautifully expressed in the old hymn by Martin Luther. Speaking of how God's people will always face Satan's attacks in this world, he wrote: “And though they take our life - goods, honour, children, wife - yet is their profit small; these things shall vanish all: the city of God remaineth.”