Day 976: Strong hands - Zechariah 8 vs 9 - 17

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.”

10 “For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbour. 11-13 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14-15 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16-17 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” Zechariah 8:9-17 English Standard Version

Verse 9 speaks to the discouragement some had felt when they saw the size of the foundations for the temple they were trying to rebuild in Jerusalem. While many rejoiced that a foundation was laid, “many of the old men who’d seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid.” (Ezra 3:12) The prophet Haggai had captured the mood by saying: “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? “ But then he added: “Yet now, be strong, declares the Lord. Be strong, all you people of the land. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts.” (From Haggai 2:3-4)

Verse 10 is a reminder of why the previous temple had been destroyed, and why their land had been left desolate. Chapter 22 of the Old Testament book of Ezekiel describes how ugly Jerusalem had become because of the vile things people were doing. And through the prophet Ezekiel God had said: “Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst. Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you?” Ezekiel 22:13-14.

But now, in vs 11-15, Zechariah describes how God was going to look favourably upon the remnant who’d returned from exile, and how they would no longer be seen as a nation whom God had cursed, but people on whom His blessing rested. But to enjoy that promised favour, what was required of them? (vs 16-17)

They were to put off things that God hates to see in the lives of those whom He calls to be His people. Things such as dishonest dealings, corrupt judges, wicked schemes and false testimony. These things were especially not to take place at the city gates, the court where even the poor and needy were meant to find true justice and compassion.

Those words are just as applicable for nations today. Psalm 127:1 says: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.” If leaders of nations don't administer fair justice, and the people of the land choose wicked ways rather than God's ways, the nation will experience financial ruin and rampant lawlessness – as Zechariah says in vs 10. So, to “let our hands be strong”, means to be courageous in doing God's work in God's way. To not be discouraged by appearances, when it seems as if God's cause in our world is a lost one. To press on, knowing that it’s “the poor in spirit, and the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and who show mercy, who will inherit the earth, and be called sons of God! (From Matthew 5:3-9) Indeed, let your hands be strong.