The North Country
"Then he cried out to me, 'Lo those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.'"
(Zechariah 6:8)
Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan sang a haunting duet once. It was called "The Girl from the North Country," and it has been one of my 'lesser-known' favorites of Johnny's for some time now. It's also what triggered me to stop, ponder, reflect, and journal today in the book of Zechariah. It was that exact phrase, "the north country" that caught my attention.
In Zechariah 6:1-8, the prophet has a vision of 4 chariots coming down from the mountains. An angel tells him they represent the "4 Winds of Heaven." They go out to patrol the earth (in north, south, east & west directions). And then the only direction mentioned afterwards is the north country. Those going there "have set my spirit at rest," says God.
Politically (and socially) the Hebrews living in Israel (The Northern Kingdom, while Judah was the Southern Kingdom) were being taken away into exile by first Babylon, and then later by Persia. It was a trying time for many reasons. Many so-called prophets were saying that the people should stay and fight. But others (like Jeremiah & Zechariah) said God wanted them to go into exile - for a season. They needed to learn the lesson God was teaching them. Here in Zechariah, those going "into the north country" (ie. exile) are going with God's spirit. No other direction has anything else where God's spirit is stated. (This doesn't mean God wasn't present elsewhere... but it does show a special blessing for those going north!).
In July 2015 we moved from Hawaii to the Antelope Valley of Southern California. Some (many) thought I was "going into exile" by leaving the islands. My new home is in the "North District" of our Cal-Pac Annual Conference. I haven't experienced it as exile, however. It has been a wonderful transition to life in the high desert. I love the area, the people, and our church. I know the sis where God has placed me for a reason (and a season!).
I couldn't help but make a connection today with God's spirit settling in the north country. I am at rest in God here. I am open and waiting to see how God uses me as a part of his Kingdom through the life and mission of everyone here at Palmdale UMC.