Deliver Yourself, O Zion - Zechariah 2:7

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, says the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, says the LORD”, and in chapter two and verse seven of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “deliver yourself, O Zion” where we read,

Deliver yourself, O Zion, that dwell with the daughter of Babylon.

The verse reads, “Deliver yourself, O Zion, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “deliver yourself” or “speedily rescue and save your own self”, “O Zion” which means “O Zion whose name means parched place and is another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God called upon the people of “Zion or Jerusalem” to save themselves. 

The verse continues, “... that dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” Zechariah added the words, “that dwell with the daughter” or “who live, abide and remain alongside and beside the female offspring and progeny” “of Babylon” which means “belonging to Babylon whose name means babel or confusion and was the ancient site and the capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God instructed the people of Israel who were living in Babylon to rescue themselves.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God wanted the people of “Zion” or Israel to take actions to save themselves from their captivity in Babylon. Even though around 42000 of them came back to Jerusalem when they were set free by Darius, many people remained in Babylon. They had settled there during the seventy years of captivity, and some did not want to leave. God was calling the people back to their homeland, and even as He does today, God calls everyone to a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the whole world. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us a desire to live with Him wherever He desires in this world and in Heaven with Him for all eternity. 

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says what happens, “after the glory”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".