The Best Firewall

“For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

Zechariah 2:5

‍

In our digital world, protecting your computer, phone, and other technology has become more

important than ever. One of the most common and helpful tools is a firewall. A firewall functions in

several important ways. Not only does it block unauthorized access, but it also defends your technology

by creating a protective barrier of defense. As one industry source explains, a firewall’s main purpose is

to act as “a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network… controlling traffic, blocking

unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communication.”

‍

Similarly, the Lord promised to be a protective barrier for Israel against her many enemies. He is the same for the Church today.

The prophet Zechariah received a series of eight visions in a single night. In the third vision, God brings

comfort and reassurance to the Israelites. The Lord would not only rebuild the temple, but Jerusalem

itself would be prosperous again. What a word of encouragement this must have been to the returned

exiles. The Lord had not forgotten His promises to them in view of their past failures. Neither has He

forgotten us. In fact, one day Jerusalem would be so prosperous that she would not need walls.

The idea is that it would be an open city without walls. Jerusalem would be populated, as described, by

the multitude of men and cattle.

‍

“That Jerusalem will be a city without walls indicates that the city will overflow its boundaries because

of divine blessings.”

‍

Not only would Jerusalem be populated, but it would also be protected. This was not protection that

could be purchased or brokered, but rather something only the Lord could provide. One of the

unfortunate sins of Israel in her past was trusting in foreign alliances, military strength, and other

external sources rather than the Lord (see Isaiah 30, for example). In Zechariah 2:5, the Lord reveals that

He “will be a wall of fire” around the city.

‍

“This is a personal word from the Lord that He and He alone will be the city’s divine Protector. This is the

greatest assurance and defense any people could be given.”

‍

Just as we need protection from technological threats, so God’s people need protection from their

spiritual enemies. Often, we make a similar mistake to the one the Israelites made by turning to the

world for protection instead of the Lord. The Lord alone is the best protector of His people. As we trust

more in the Lord and His protective abilities, we will be safer and more secure than we ever could be on

our own.

‍

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The

watchman keeps awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 NASB95

‍

Lord, thank You that You alone are my greatest source of protection. Help me to rely upon You each day

to protect me in a world of evil until Christ’s return. Amen.