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"Flee from the land of the north"

Text: Zechariah 2:6

THE CAPTIVITY PERIOD IN BABYLON

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would go into captivity to Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11). He also wrote a letter to the captives as to how they may survive in Babylon (Jeremiah 29).

AT THE END OF THE CAPTIVITY PERIOD

Many of the Jews did well though they were captives. Daniel served Nebuchadnezzar so well that he was promoted to a very high position in the Babylonian civil service. There came a time when the Captivity period was over. Zechariah proclaimed this word from the LORD to the captives.

“‘Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,’ says the LORD;
‘for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,’ says the LORD.
‘Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.'”
Zechariah 2:6-7

1. “‘Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,’ says the LORD”

a) The land of the north was a common phrase for Babylon.

b) This word came from the LORD and may be understood positively.

c) The people from Judah need not stay any longer in Babylon.

2. “‘For I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,’ says the LORD”

a) It was the LORD who had scattered Israel and Judah.

b) The dispersion was described vividly. The imagery was that of four winds powerfully driving and dispersing.

3. “Up, Zion!”

a) The term “Zion” was an old word.

b) It was used nostalgically and with much affection.

4. “Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon”

a) The word was to “escape” and to “flee” from Babylon.

b) The Lord who dispersed Israel was the same One urging them to leave.

c) Babylon was described graciously by the Lord as “daughter”.