Peace in God (3rd Tuesday of Advent)

Yesterday we looked at God’s promise to return to Judah and to once again bless Jerusalem. That theme continues today as the Lord promises to once again live in Jerusalem and walk among his chosen people. Further, God intends to turn Jerusalem into a city without walls, once protected by the Lord’s holy fire.

A city without walls certainly would have been unusual back in the Ancient Near East; and Jerusalem wasn’t just a city–it was the capital of Judah. Surely it would be foolish to not have a wall around the capital! How would the Jewish people keep their enemies out? Today, though we no longer build walls around our greatest cities, we still tend to rely on ourselves for protection. Nations raise armies, navies and air forces to protect their sovereignty. Anti-aircraft guns and defense missiles, satellites and spy networks all help countries stay on top of possible threats to their security. What no government does and what few of us individuals do is to trust that the Lord God will be our protection.

Yet God has promised to protect his chosen people. However, I find it interesting that God’s protection extends only to a certain geographical area. God calls his people to come to him, to find refuge in his holy city of Jerusalem. Those who chose to remain outside of God’s city were doomed to destruction.

How many of us desire God’s peace without bothering to seek out his presence? How many of us are unwilling to live with God? We may not be in charge of a great city or nation, but all of us live in a home, all of us have family and friends. Do we let God rule over our homes? Does God play a part in our relationships with family and friends? Or do we want to live out in "Babylon"–the world–on our own sinful terms apart from God’s presence?

God has indeed come to this world as the Christ child. In Jesus, we have a Savior who died and rose again for us. Today, God continues to work in this world through the Spirit. Today, God calls us to live in his presence. What will be our reply? The choice is ours, but know that true peace comes only under God’s rule.

Zechariah 2:1-13 (NIV)

Then I looked up—and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! I asked, "Where are you going?" He answered me, "To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is."

Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.'

"Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north," declares the LORD, "for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven," declares the LORD.

"Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!" For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye-I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.

"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."