Zechariah 8:4-6 - Streets full of children playing

8:4,5

The two pictures presented here, or old men and women sitting in the streets, and boys and girls playing in the street, are pictures of a nation at peace. When things go awry fear creeps into a nation, either because of war, or because of crime. But when peace and security comes the young and old are free to walk and live freely.

8:6

The people will be delighted with what is happening, but would the Lord be delighted? Since it is the Lord saying that this will happen, and it is He who will bring it about, one has to assume that the answer is yes. But why is God asking this question? Perhaps the answer is that the people who first heard this would focus on the peace and prosperity, what they should focus on is faithfulness and righteousness. The peace and prosperity follow the faithfulness and righteousness, but we so often and so easily put the peace and prosperity first rather than seeking the kingdom first.