ZECHARIAH 1:16

“Therefore the LORD says this: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,”’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’ 

I inherited some of my dad’s tools. He had a shop full of them, but there was one thing I really wanted. I probably wouldn’t use it much, but I had such fond memories of using it with my dad on projects. It was chalk measuring line. Have you ever seen one? My dad’s was a metal case with red powdered chalk inside. On the side of the case was a winding handle for winding up the string that was inside the box. The way it worked was you would pull that string out and one person held that string over the board you wanted to cut. The other person would have the other end with the case and hold it firm against the wood. Then you would grab that string and snap it, making a straight line across that board. Now you had a straight line to use to guide your cut.

Why did I spend so much time explaining the chalk line? Because today’s verse talks about God’s measuring line. In previous passages, God uses this measuring line for judgment against Israel (2 Kings 21:13; Isaiah 34:11). But in today’s verse, God is using it for blessing. He is restoring the nation after their exile and is using that measuring line to help rebuild what had been torn down.

APPLICATION

Dear brothers and sisters, listen closely. God wants to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed in your life. Perhaps you have gone through a horrible divorce. God can restore you. Maybe you have a wayward child. God can restore that child. Whatever has been lost, God has a way of filling that gap in your life. I don’t want to give the impression that He will do it in the way you want Him to or expect Him to. We have to leave that up to Him.

Psalm 51:12 is one of my favorite verses about restoration. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” David is crying out to God. What does God do? Well, you know the story. David was one of the greatest kings of Israel. Even though he had fallen and sinned against His God, he was restored and strengthened.

Let God use His measuring line in your life. He may have to cut off something in order to build you up properly. He may measure your life and realize these pieces aren’t needed. Listen to Him. He is the Master Builder.

Father, measure and cut as You see appropriate. I trust You as You build me up.