Ver. 1. I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked] i.e. I looked wistfully, not sluggishly, as between sleeping and waking, as Zechariah 4:1. I saw further by the spirit than common sense could have carried me. I beheld Jerusalem in her future glory, I looked intently, I took aim, not by the things which are seen, but by the things which are not seen, 2 Corinthians 4:18 Heb 11:27 Ga 4:26. And behold a man] The man Christ Jesus, as his mother is called a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, the virgin, that famous virgin that conceived and bare a son, that got a man from the Lord, Genesis 4:1. This man (called before and after an angel, as appearing in human shape) is here seen and set forth as an architect or master builder, going to take the plot of his Church, see Revelation 21:15; and observe, by the way, how in that book the Holy Ghost borrows the allegories and elegancies of the Old Testament to set out the story of the New in succeeding ages.
Ver. 2. Whither goest thou?] This was great boldness; but the prophet understood himself well enough; and Christ approves and assents to it in a gracious answer here, and especially Zechariah 2:4. Great is the confidence of a good conscience toward God, 1 Peter 3:21. See Isaiah 63:16,17 Hab 1:12. We may come boldly to the throne of grace, Hebrews 4:16. To measure Jerusalem] This had been promised before, Zechariah 1:16. But for their further confirmation, who saw a little likelihood of such a rebuilding and repeopling, it is repeated. Thus the Lord, tending our infirmity, seals to us again and again in the holy sacrament, what he had said and sworn to us in his word.
Ver. 3. And behold the angel] Zechariah’s angel, as one calleth him. Went forth] to take direction from Christ, and to give the prophet further information. [See Trapp on “Zec 1:9”] And another angel went out to meet him] So ready is Christ to answer prayers and to satisfy his weak but willing people, that draw near unto him with a true heart, Hebrews 10:22. If any such ask and miss it is because they ask amiss, James 4:3.
Ver. 4. Run, speak to this young man] Not go, but run; yea, fly swiftly, with weariness of flight, as Daniel 9:21. Christ thinks it long ere his praying people hear from him. Only he will be inquired of by them, Ezekiel 36:37. Zechariah seems to have been a young prophet, and Christ remembered the kindness of his youth, and became a wonderful counsellor to him; he gave to this young man (or greenbeaded stripling) knowledge and discretion, Proverbs 1:4. Epiphanius saith he was an old man; and that he is called a young man because a client and disciple of the angel that communed with him. Where angels are called men it was no disparagement to Zechariah to call himself a lad, or servant, considering his distance. Thus Abraham’s servant, though old, is called his boy, Genesis 24:52, by a catachresis. That is a good note that Mr Potable gives here, that the angel tells the prophet, but the prophet must tell the people; God using not the ministry of angels, but men earthen vessels, to bear his name to his people, Acts 8:27 9:6 16:9. Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls] Or shall dwell in towns without walls viz. in the suburbs or villages, there being not room enough within the walls to receive them. This seemed an incredible thing to this poor remnant now returned from Babylon. But it is the property and duty of believers to trust God upon his bare word; and that against sense in things visible, and against reason in things improbable. For the multitude of men and cattle therein] That is, saith Augustine, of spiritual and carnal persons in the Church Catholic.
Ver. 5. For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire] Igneus qui et cominus arceat et eminus terreat (Theodor.). The Church (Christ’s garden) may seem to lie open to all incursions and disadvantages; but as it hath a well within it, Song of Solomon 4:15, so it hath a wall without it, yea, round about it, better and stronger than that about Babylon, or Susa in Persia; the stones whereof were joined together with gold, as Cassiodorus testifieth. The Lacedaemonians were forbidden to wall in their city of Sparta; as being sufficiently fortified by the valour of the inhabitants. The Hollanders will not wall the Hague, though it have 2000 households in it; as desirous to have it counted rather the principal village of Europe than a lesser city. China is said to be surrounded with a strong wall of stone; and England with walls of wood, sc. a powerful navy. But what is all this (either for defence or offence) to a wall of fire? who dare venture to scale such a wall? It is not valour, but madness, to fight with a flame. Fire is terrible to the fiercest creatures, as lions, leopards. Shepherds and travellers were used to guard themselves by making great fires round about their night lodgings to keep off wild beasts. Some think the prophet alludeth to that custom; others, to the angels guarding of Paradise with a flaming sword, that is, saith Lactantius, with a wall of fire (Instit. lib. 2, cap. 13.) The Church may sit and sing, “We have a strong city: salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks,” Isaiah 26:1. He “maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flame of fire,” Hebrews 1:7. These met and ministered unto Jacob at Mahanaim, making a lane for him, as the word importeth, Genesis 32:1. These fiery chariots and horsemen appeared for Elisha by whole legions, 2 Kings 6:17, and do still pitch their camp round about the godly, Psalms 34:7. (These are the watchmen over the walls of the new Jerusalem, and of the mountains about the same, Isaiah 62:6) Who, therefore, cannot but be safe, as being guarded by the peace of God within them, and by the power of God without them, through faith unto salvation. And will be the glory in the midst of her] God is the Church’s both bulwark and beauty; her muniment and ornament. His presence, his worship, his grace, his protection, is that tower in the midst of her, Isaiah 5:2, that golden head of the picture, that tower of the flock, and stronghold of the daughter of God’s people, Micah 4:8. Hence the ark is called the glory, Romans 9:4,5, and all comforts without it but Ichabods, 1 Samuel 4:20. Hence Judea is called the glorious land; and heathens are brought in saying, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, that hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law?” Deuteronomy 4:6-8. Surely as Samson’s strength and glory lay in his hair, so doth the strength and glory of our land consist in the true religion, and God’s sincere service; which if it should be shaved and deprived of, though every shower were a shower of gold, saith a divine, every stone in the land a pearl, every beggar an honourable senator, every fool as wise as Solomon, every weakling as strong as Samson; yet our wealth, honour, strength, wisdom, and glory are gone, and we shall sing a doleful Miserere ditty with Phineas’s wife, Ichabod, The glory of England is gone; for religion is gone.