Faithful followers of the Lord are not guaranteed success, wealth, or comfort. In the time of Zechariah, he observed a lack of wages, no protection against adversaries, and strife within the community.
This truth is something we must confront in our journey with God. Faith must remain strong in the midst of adversity.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strong—you who have recently been hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of hosts.
For before those days there were no wages for people or for animals, nor was there any safety from the foe for those who went out or came in, and I set them all against one another.
But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 8.9-11).
A remnant of people who had returned from exile were faced with mass unemployment and strife. To those people, God could say, “Strengthen your hands.” The only way He could tell them to do that was because He was about to work alongside them.
A central theme among the prophets is the choice between depending on one’s own resources or placing trust in God. This dilemma is present in modern times.
Relying solely on our own resources often leads us to focus exclusively on the challenges we face. Conversely, as we know and do God’s will we will gain confidence because He is working alongside us.
The “I Will” of God
The Little Train That Could was heard saying, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,” as he made his way up a mountain.
God doesn’t speak to us with “I think I can,” God speaks to us with “I will” or “I purpose.” When God wills something, we can count on it taking place.
For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew, and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
Just as you have been a cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong (Zechariah 8.12-13).
Why will there be peace, prosperity, and blessing for the people of God? Because He says, “I will cause this to take place.”
Because of this, we can let our hands be strong as we trust God rather than our own resources.
As we look at the many troubled spots in the world today, let’s be sure to ask God to enforce His will in those areas and bring resolutions to those problems.
Our Response
When Israel abandoned their relationship with God and chose self-will and oppression over following His direction, God was unable to bless them. When God blesses us, He expects us to live according to His ways.
These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments 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 are things that I hate, says the Lord (Zechariah 8.16-17).
How we treat others mirrors the true nature of our relationship with God. By fostering a close and obedient connection with God, we are more likely to be truthful with each other.
We will respect God’s justice in legal matters as legitimate. Our efforts will be directed towards achieving truth and peace in our lives. We’ll refrain from inflicting pain on others, actively pursue what God cherishes, and avoid what God hates.
During a particularly stressful time a couple of generations back, Frank Laubach wrote a small pamphlet encouraging people who listened to him to begin praying for world leaders.
If we would take a moment each day and join the host of people coming before God asking for world leaders, we could pray this passage of scripture on their behalf.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage today on YouTube. You can find it on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 