They shall walk up and down in His name

Zechariah 10:12

And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

The book of Zechariah is addressed to the nation of Israel. It is full of the promises of God to His own people. It is replete with comforting prophecies that the children of Israel will be gathered again out of all lands, and that the Lord would save the house of Jacob. This is a clear promise that has its final fulfillment in the end times, on that day when Christ rules and reigns from Jerusalem. The prophets are clear about it. And He will bring Israel back to the fore, back to being the centerpiece of God’s plan. They will be saved, and it will be as though they were never cast off. And what a glorious day this shall be for them! They shall rejoice in the Lord! And they shall walk up and down in His name!

Walk up and down in His name! What does this mean? God will give them a new heart to follow Him. He will supernaturally change them, writing His laws on their hearts and minds. They shall be toward Him and never against Him. Therefore, they shall glorify His name. Everything they do shall be done in light of their Redeemer and Savior. The simple actions of walking to one place or another shall be done in the name of God and of Christ. This is what it means. They shall walk up and down in His name!

Now, dear Christian, should we not walk the same way? Has not Christ redeemed us from all countries; has He not saved us, called us, chosen us? Has He not done great things for us, whereof we are glad? Has He not brought us to this place because of His kindness, and goodness, and mercy. If only we would recognize this! O, if only! If only God’s people would do all for His glory because they know that He has done all for them! If only they would walk up and down in His name! We, who once were no people, are now the the people of God. And we live sometimes as those around us. We are redeemed out of them, therefore we should not be like them. The children of Israel were not to be like Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon. And we should not be like this world! We must come out from among them! For our gracious Lord has redeemed us! Christ should be constantly on our minds. We should be walking up and down in His name. All that we do should be done with Him in mind and for His glory. We should be rejoicing in Him! We should joy in the God of our salvation! It will keep us from sin when we do all in His name. We are told in whatsoever we do, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. This sounds like walking up and down in His name! Let us do all in His name today, and if we cannot do it in His name, let us not do it! Let us do all to glorify, honor, and live for that name which is above every name.

“Father, we thank you for the blessed promises of Scripture, that, although given to the Jews, are no less powerful and pertinent to us. We want to do all in your beautiful and wonderful name, that name by which we are saved and redeemed, and that name which is the only name under heaven by which we may be saved. It is the name that has brought us out of bondage and darkness into His marvelous light. May we understand what it means to live every day to honor that name. May we learn what it means to walk up and down in your name. And it is in the lovely name of Jesus that we pray, Amen.”