2:5
But having a city without walls was a great risk. Cities had walls around them to offer protection against invaders, and when an army attacked a city breaching the city walls was key step in taking the city. Notice that the Lord does not say that they do not need any protection, rather that He Himself will be their protection. Similarly, the Bible does not say that we do not need provision, but that the Lord is our provider. Seeing God’s plans fulfilled and going further with God means trusting in Him more and more. “And I will be the glory in her midst”. The fore and glory recalls God’s presence with the Israelites as they travelled towards the Red Sea. He is our glory and He is our protection. These are two basic human needs, both individually and corporately. We want some glory, something to make us feel of worth. We want to feel useful. We also want to be secure. God provides both the worth and the protection.
2:6,7
In the prophets the attacks were often stated as coming from the north (eg Jer 1:13). Babylon, although located to the east of Israel, the direction of attack was from the north. At this time some had returned to Israel, but relatively few. Yes, the Lord had scattered them, but now He was calling them back, and those who had not yet returned needed to do so quickly. “Daughter of Zion” is a term used several times in the Old Testament and means living under the care and protection of God. Here Zechariah uses the term “daughter of Babylon”. Those who had not returned were living under the care and protection of Babylon, they needed to get out. It can seem that the world will provide for and protect us, but the world will ultimately turn on us. We need to live under God’s protection.
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