{"id":20903,"date":"2023-05-24T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-wednesday-24th-may-2023"},"modified":"2023-05-24T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-wednesday-24th-may-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-wednesday-24th-may-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 24th May 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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inspiration in your inbox<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Wednesday 24th May 2023<\/strong><\/span>
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Zechariah 2:1-5<\/strong>
Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand.  I asked, \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d He answered me, \u201cTo measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.\u201d While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him  and said to him: \u201cRun, tell that young man, \u2018Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it.  And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018and I will be its glory within.\u2019<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n

This vision is of someone like a surveyor measuring the land and planning a new housing estate, or town \u2013 such as is happening in many parts of Britain.  Brown and green-field sites are being developed to house our growing population; but, thankfully, in most places we don\u2019t try to enclose them behind security fences or defensive walls.  In ancient times city walls were commonplace, providing protection against enemy invaders.  A limited number of gateways ensured that checks could be made on the comings and goings of both members of the community and visitors to it.  The returned exiles might naturally have envisaged a restored Jerusalem around which its ruined walls would be rebuilt alongside rebuilding the temple and their homes.<\/p>\n

But no! \u2013 the divine command is that there shall be no city walls.  Two reasons are given: first, because walls would limit the number of people and animals returning to live in Jerusalem.  Secondly, God will provide all the protection needed as a fiery presence surrounding the city.  Zechariah\u2019s message is working on two levels, referring to the actual rebuilding project being undertaken by the community; but also alluding to the \u2018end times\u2019 and envisaging a \u2018new Jerusalem\u2019 as the heavenly dwelling place of God come on earth.  Fire is a common symbol of divine presence in the Hebrew Bible (think \u2018burning bush\u2019 and the pillar of fire guiding Israel through the wilderness in Exodus) and a ring can expand to embrace an ever growing population.  God\u2019s powerful presence will keep the city safe.<\/p>\n

Actual walls were unnecessary, anyway, as Judah was a small territory within the Persian Empire \u2013 Jerusalem wasn\u2019t under threat from any external force.  Walls might even have implied that Judah was preparing to rebel and seek independence from Persia (a somewhat foolhardy move considering their relative power!).  <\/p>\n

Things need to be different in God\u2019s coming world; don\u2019t try to reinstate the past.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Holy God, we know that we sometimes build walls to protect ourselves instead of trusting in your saving power.  We sometimes build walls to segregate ourselves from others, disobeying your command to love our neighbour as ourselves.  We are sorry.<\/p>\n

Help us to make our communities expansive places of welcome for all whom you draw into them; and in so doing may we discover your living presence in our midst.  Amen<\/p>\n

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Today’s writer<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Rev\u2019d Dr Janet Tollington is a retired minister living in Cambridgeshire; she is a member of Downing Place URC in Cambridge.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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inspiration in your inbox Wednesday 24th May 2023  Zechariah 2:1-5Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand.  I asked, \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d He answered me, \u201cTo measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.\u201d While the angel who was speaking … <\/p>\n

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