"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets."
Zechariah 8:4-5
The Lord is speaking about the restoration of His blessing on Jerusalem as the people turn their hearts toward Him. In this chapter He says that the economy will be blessed so that there will once again be money to pay the workers’ wages; that it will again be safe for people to come and go without being afraid of being assaulted in the streets; and then He describes this beautiful picture: old men and old women out with their canes and walkers, and boys and girls playing in the streets.
Old age is not a curse; it’s a blessing, even if it means you need a walker to get around. Noisy kids playing in the streets are evidence of God’s blessing, too. These are both signs of peace and prosperity, health and vitality, safety and security.
We get it all wrong in our sin-darkened minds when we think that it’s a curse to be getting old or that the neighbors’ grand-kids out playing in the streets are a problem. Praise God for these evidences of His blessing!
Don’t be cranky; rejoice in the happy sounds those kids bring Into your life! Don’t be disrespectful; praise God for the wisdom and the life experience your elderly neighbors bring to you!
That’s something I love about church. In a church we gather the very old and the very young, the teenagers and the parents, and we worship together, eat together, sing and pray together and enjoy each other’s company in fellowship.
May God fully restore His blessing on our nation as we turn our hearts toward Him.And Lord, start in our churches. Let us be a shining example for the rest to see and be inspired to follow. Start here, Lord Jesus, in our church! Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles
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