“‘Sing, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee,’ saith the Lord.” Zechariah 2:10
There are two significant, major moments of importance in history, when the Lord comes to this earth. The first was at his birth in Bethlehem. The second will be when He comes as Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, with the hosts of heaven, to conquer His enemies and set up His kingdom for a thousand years on this earth. These are monumental events because of what, and who Christ is, but also, because of the effect that each has upon mankind, and what occurs afterwards on this earth. We see the Lord Jesus coming in His glory, though through the veil of His limited human flesh, revealed as being “full of grace and truth.” Later, upon a white horse, clothed in linen, in His glorified body, with a sharp sword protruding out of His mouth, we see Him as the conquering King. In both events, so different in their purpose and revelation of power, we discover a common result. Each event, by virtue of Christ’s person and power, changed the course of history on this earth.
In the book of Zechariah, we find the Lord speaking through the prophet concerning His will that the second temple should be finished, as the work on it had been stalled for approximately fifteen years. The Lord’s word to Jerusalem, and to the cities of Judah, was in the form of a cry concerning His jealousy for Jerusalem: “‘I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it,’ saith the Lord, ‘and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.'” (Zech. 2:14,15,16) That which will change the course of events in Jerusalem, in the face of opposition and resistance to the will and purpose of God, is the Lord’s specific coming. This coming, in some respects similar to the two major ones already mentioned, is a certain, clear declaration of His presence in the midst of the people of Israel. The announcement of His coming to “dwell” in Jerusalem will result in Zerubbabel, and Joshua the high priest, and the people, being stirred up, setting themselves to obey God, rather than men. It is the declaration of God’s presence, working “for” and “through” the people, that will result in the realization of His words: “…My house shall be built in it.”
Moses, in Psalm 90, at a different time in history, in circumstances that are not those of Zechariah, will declare: “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in ALL generations.” (v.1) In Psalm 91, we read: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Both of these Psalms deal with the subject of “dwelling,” one with regard to a place, and the other concerning the very act of living, remaining, or abiding IN that dwelling place. Moses identifies the dwelling place as God Himself. In Psalm 91, we find the believer being called to live and abide in God, dwelling in Him as his refuge and strength.
When we get to the New Testament, we find in John’s gospel, the Lord Jesus teaching His disciples concerning a life of abiding, or dwelling. He begins by laying the groundwork for their faith. “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” (15:5) Christ reveals that the believer is one with Himself, that He has become the dwelling place of the believer. Out of this living union between the Vine and the branches, the believer is called to abide, or to dwell, in Christ. Christ has become his very life. The Psalmist would write: “…all my springs are in Thee.” (87:7) Christ is the dwelling place, and the believer is to dwell in Him by faith.
In Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, he specifically prays that the believers will be, “…strengthened with might by His (Christ’s) Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may DWELL in your hearts by faith.” (v.16,17) This is true Christianity, Christ coming to dwell in the heart, and the believer dwelling, or abiding in Him, by faith.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to abide consistently in the Vine today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.