The Craftsmen and the City Without Walls: A Vision from Zechariah

Devotional

Day 1: God Sees and Deals with Every Power That Threatens Us

No matter what dangers or threats arise—whether political, personal, or spiritual—God is fully aware of them all and promises to address every force that seeks to scatter or harm His people. He is not distant or indifferent; rather, He knows the fears that weigh on our hearts and assures us that the destroyers will not have the final say. Instead of focusing on naming specific enemies, we are invited to name our fears and declare that God reigns over them already, trusting that He will act on our behalf. [42:25]

Zechariah 1:18-21 (ESV)
And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Reflection: What is one fear or threat in your life that you need to name before God today, trusting that He sees it and will deal with it?

Day 2: God’s Answer to Destruction Is Sending Craftsmen, Not More Power

When evil and destruction rise up, God’s response is not to send greater force or violence, but to send craftsmen—builders, restorers, and healers—who quietly work to repair what has been broken. This is God’s way: sending a baby in a basket when Pharaoh rages, a shepherd with a stone when Goliath boasts, and ultimately, a carpenter when sin reigns. God invites us to join in this work, not by overpowering others, but by building with the tools of grace, forgiveness, and restoration. [44:44]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: Who is one person you can build up or encourage today with a quiet act of grace or restoration?

Day 3: God’s Presence Is Our True Protection

God promises a future where His people are not protected by walls of stone, but by His own presence—a wall of fire around them and glory within. In a world that often seeks security in barriers and boundaries, God flips the image: true safety and abundance are found in His nearness, not in what we build to protect ourselves. This vision calls us to trust in God’s presence as our shield and to live with openness, hospitality, and welcome, knowing that He surrounds us. [48:23]

Zechariah 2:4-5 (ESV)
And said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you relying on your own “walls” for security, and how can you invite God’s presence to be your true protection today?

Day 4: Jesus Dismantles Dividing Walls and Welcomes All

Jesus came to tear down every wall that separates us—from God, from one another, and from those we might call outsiders. By His sacrifice, He brings us into the fullness of God’s love, making obsolete the divisions of ethnicity, status, or background. As followers of Jesus, we are called to open the gates of our hearts, homes, and churches wide, welcoming those whom the world has shut out and celebrating when others are included in God’s family. [49:39]

Ephesians 2:13-14 (ESV)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

Reflection: Who is someone you might normally keep at a distance, and how can you take a step to welcome or include them this week?

Day 5: Remember Who You Are and Join God’s Work of Restoration

God calls us to remember our true identity as His people—builders and craftsmen in His kingdom—and to pick up our tools to join Him in restoring what has been broken. The horns of destruction do not get the final word; instead, every act of rebuilding, every word of grace, is an echo of the city God is building: open, radiant, protected by His presence, and filled with His glory. As we are nourished by Christ, we are sent out to be voices of hope and redemption, participating in God’s ongoing work in the world. [52:26]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “pick up your tools” and join God’s work of restoration in your family, workplace, or community this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering invited us to see ourselves as part of God’s ongoing work of restoration in the world, drawing from the vivid visions of Zechariah. As the people of Israel returned to a ruined Jerusalem, they faced the daunting task of rebuilding not just walls, but their very identity and hope. God’s message through Zechariah was not to simply reconstruct what once was, but to envision a future where God’s presence and glory would be so abundant that physical walls would be unnecessary. The vision of four horns—symbols of the powers that scatter, destroy, and dehumanize—was met not with greater force, but with the arrival of four craftsmen. These craftsmen represent God’s way of overcoming evil: not by matching violence with violence, but by sending builders, restorers, and healers.

This is the pattern of God’s work throughout history. When Pharaoh raged, God sent a baby in a basket. When Goliath threatened, God sent a shepherd with a stone. When sin reigned, God sent a carpenter. God’s answer to the destructive powers of the world is not more destruction, but creative, redemptive building. And the invitation is for us to join in this work. Each of us, as God’s workmanship, is called to be a craftsman—an apprentice of the Carpenter King—restoring what has been broken, building up what has been torn down, and planting hope where there has been despair.

The vision of a city without walls is a vision of radical openness, hospitality, and abundance. God’s protection is not found in stone and mortar, but in His very presence among His people. Jesus came to tear down the dividing walls—between us and God, and between one another—so that all might be brought inside His love. Our security is not in our achievements, reputations, or boundaries, but in the God who surrounds us with His glory. We are called to live as citizens of this city without walls: opening our hearts, homes, and churches wide, welcoming those the world has shut out, and trusting that the Carpenter is still at work, building His kingdom one act of mercy, one word of truth, one craftsman at a time.

Key Takeaways

1. God Sees and Addresses Every Threat The vision of the four horns in Zechariah is not just about ancient empires, but about the completeness of all that threatens and scatters us—politically, personally, and spiritually. God’s promise is that He sees every power that comes against us from every direction, and He is committed to dealing with them. Our fears are named, and God declares His sovereignty over them, assuring us that the destroyers do not get the last word. [42:00]
2. God’s Way Is Restoration, Not Retaliation When evil rises, God does not respond with greater force, but with creative restoration. The craftsmen in Zechariah’s vision symbolize God’s method: sending builders, not warriors. We are invited to participate in this work, not by tearing down with power or politics, but by building up with the quiet tools of grace, forgiveness, and love. [44:20]
3. We Are God’s Handcrafted Builders Paul reminds us that we are God’s workmanship, created for good works. Each believer is uniquely crafted to be a builder and restorer in the world, an apprentice of the Master Craftsman. Every act of forgiveness, every effort to build up another, is participation in God’s vision for restoration and echoes the city God is building. [45:35]
4. The City Without Walls: Security in God’s Presence God’s vision for Jerusalem is a city overflowing with life, so abundant that walls are unnecessary. True security is not found in physical barriers or human achievements, but in the presence and glory of God. Living as citizens of this city means opening ourselves to others, welcoming the excluded, and trusting that God’s protection is our true refuge. [48:09]
5. Jesus Dismantles Dividing Walls Jesus came to tear down every wall that separates us—from God and from one another. By being cast outside the city, He made a way for all to be brought inside His love. Our calling is to live out this radical inclusion, opening our hearts and communities wide, and joining the Carpenter in building a kingdom defined by love, mercy, and welcome. [49:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:13] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
[04:56] - Community Connection and Greeting
[10:30] - Confession and Assurance
[20:26] - Celebrations and Announcements
[21:35] - Introduction to Zechariah’s Visions
[22:11] - The Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
[24:54] - Making the Prophets Accessible and Relevant
[26:13] - Youth Reflections on Zechariah
[27:35] - Testimony: Relevance in Daily Life
[37:02] - The Ruins of Jerusalem and the Call to Rebuild
[39:56] - The Meaning of the Four Horns
[42:54] - God’s Craftsmen: Builders, Not Warriors
[47:08] - The City Without Walls
[49:14] - Jesus, the Carpenter, and the Tearing Down of Walls
[53:24] - Communion: Nourished for the Work
[56:36] - Sharing the Bread and Cup
[63:54] - Final Announcements and Opportunities to Serve
[66:07] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Zechariah 1:18–21; 2:1–5 (ESV) —
> 18 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
>
> 1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

Ephesians 2:10, 14 (ESV) —
> 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
>
> 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

Observation Questions

In Zechariah’s vision, what do the four horns represent, and what is the role of the four craftsmen?
According to Zechariah 2, what is unusual about the future city of Jerusalem that God describes?
How does Ephesians 2:10 describe our identity and purpose as believers?
In the sermon, what examples were given of God sending “craftsmen” instead of warriors to address evil?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chooses to send craftsmen—builders and restorers—instead of matching the destructive power of the horns with more force?
What does it mean for God to promise a “city without walls”? How does this challenge the way people usually think about safety and belonging?
The sermon says, “We are God’s workmanship, created for good works.” What does it look like to be an “apprentice of the Carpenter King” in everyday life?
Jesus is described as the one who “tears down every wall that separates us—from God and from one another.” What are some of the “walls” that exist in our lives or communities today?

Application Questions

The vision of the four horns is about the completeness of all that threatens and scatters us. What are some “horns” in your own life—fears, pressures, or forces—that feel overwhelming right now? How does it change things to know that God sees and addresses every threat?
God’s way is restoration, not retaliation. When you are hurt or see injustice, is your first instinct to fight back or to build up? Can you think of a recent situation where you could have responded as a “craftsman” instead of a “warrior”?
The sermon says, “Every act of forgiveness, every effort to build up another, is participation in God’s vision for restoration.” Who is someone in your life you could encourage, forgive, or help rebuild this week? What would that look like?
God’s vision is a city without walls—radically open, welcoming, and secure in His presence. Are there ways you have built “walls” around your heart, home, or church? What is one step you could take to open yourself to others this month?
Jesus came to tear down dividing walls. Is there a relationship in your life where a wall of misunderstanding, hurt, or difference has been built? What would it look like to join Jesus in dismantling that wall?
The sermon invites us to trust that our security is not in achievements or boundaries, but in God’s presence. Where do you most often look for security? How can you practice trusting God’s protection this week?
The city God is building is “overflowing with life, so abundant that walls are unnecessary.” What would it look like for our small group or church to live out this vision of abundance and welcome? What practical changes might that require?

Sermon Clips

And this is how God always works. When evil raises its head in power and force and violence, God doesn't send a bigger horn. He sends a craftsman. And so when Pharaoh rages sends a baby in a basket. When Goliath boasts God sends a shepherd with a stone. When the nations conquer he sends a builder. When sin reigns he sends a carpenter. [00:43:31] (40 seconds) #GodSendsTheCraftsman

We don't tear down the horns by power or by politics but we build with the quiet tools of grace. We look around and we know that the world is still filled with horns. Systems of greed and oppression. Cycles of resentment and persecution. The walls that we build between people and communities. Us versus them. They and me. And God's answer is not to build more horns or bigger or stronger horns. His answer is to send a craftsman. [00:44:38] (39 seconds) #GraceOverPower

Paul says in Ephesians 2 we are God's workmanship. We are God's workmanship. You have been handcrafted by God himself. Attention to detail. Why? Because you have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. In other words, God has crafted you in order to be a builder and a craftsman in your own right. The master craftsman has made us to be apprentices. [00:45:30] (41 seconds) #BuildersNotBoasters

So, when you forgive instead of retaliate. When you mentor somebody whose life has already been scattered. When you see ways to use your skill and your resources to build somebody up and to contribute to somebody else's well-being rather than to build yourself up and to boast in what you have. When you do that, you are participating in Zechariah's vision. This invitation. He is saying to the horns, you don't get the last word. Fear and darkness and violence and anger and hatred don't get the last word in this world. The builders do. God's craftsmen do. The horns destroy but the craftsmen restore. And every act of rebuilding, every word of grace is an echo of the city that God is building. A city without walls. [00:46:10] (62 seconds) #BuildersHaveTheLastWord

And in fact God says it won't even need walls. I will be the wall. I will be a fire around it. And I will be the glory within it. My protection is not built in stone and mortar. My protection is my presence. My people won't need walls because I will surround them. [00:48:09] (23 seconds) #GodIsOurProtection

He tore down the walls that separated ethnic groups, Jews and Gentiles, foreigners, insiders, outsiders, males and females, neighbors and strangers. He said these divisions, these separations, these walls that you build to protect yourself are obsolete. I've come into this world, says Jesus, so that everyone can be brought inside his love. [00:49:32] (34 seconds) #InclusionThroughSacrifice

``And to do that, Jesus was taken outside of the city. He was cast outside of the walls and put on a cross so that we could be brought in. He became the one who was left out so that we could be included. [00:50:06] (22 seconds) #LivingWithoutWalls

And it means that in every place where the horns are still in power, where the horns still rage, in our culture, in our families, in our workplaces, in our relationships, in our politics, in our hearts, the carpenter is still at work. The carpenter is still building. He's building the work. There's just one city without walls defined only by love. One act of mercy. One word of truth. One craftsman at a time. [00:51:19] (42 seconds) #RememberAndBuild

When the Pevensies finally realize that the ruins that they've stumbled upon are their own castle, their own home, their own story, everything begins to change for them. They begin to remember who they are. They begin to remember the one true king. And slowly, as they remember, Narnia comes alive again. And that's what God is doing here in Zechariah and in us. He's calling us to remember who we are, to pick up our tools, and to build. Because the horns don't get the final word. The craftsman does. And he's building the city without walls. It's open. It's radiant. Protected by his presence. And it's filled with his glory. And he is inviting you to join him. [00:52:01] (66 seconds)

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