I’m sitting at the computer in my new office (the home dining room table) and looking out the window into the world. The day is filled with sunlight and robins, one screaming mockingbird, at least a thousand bees around the blooming holly trees, yellow forsythia across the street, and all colors of azalea. There goes the neighbor walking her dog; there’s a lot of that going around. Walking is the new neighborhood pastime. An occasional car drives by, but not very often.
I have seen a lot of people in their yards this week. Quite a few conversations are going on from one side of the street to the other. Younger folks are out for a run, and older folks are sitting outside watching the world go by. The one thing grabbing my attention is something that I am seeing more and more: children. My street seems to be chockful of children! I knew there were a handful around, but these past warm days seem to be bringing them out of the woodwork! I haven’t seen so many bicycles and balls since I was a child myself, and I’m loving it!
During the reign of Darius the Great, exiled Israelites found themselves released from their banishment in Babylon and began to make their way back home. Zechariah, the prophet, uses this time to focus on rebuilding the Temple, and the first six chapters of the Book of Zechariah detail the prophet’s visions as the Hebrew people return from exile and begin that work. In the next two chapters, however, Zechariah reveals his vision of peace and blessing from God. No more should the people mourn the original loss of their city; they are home. No more should they be discouraged; they are in the presence of God.
“I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain,” says God in the eighth chapter. “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets… Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? ...I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Zechariah 8:3-8)
What a glorious prophecy! Seems to me that Zechariah’s vision continues to speak to us through the ages. We may be feeling displaced for a time, but God is faithful! Even when we feel despondent and without hope, nothing is impossible to God. When we accept Christ’s love, we begin to live as saved and joyful people. When we respond to God’s promises, we begin to live in holy space. WE are God’s people and God is OUR God in faithfulness and in righteousness.
A day will come soon when we are released from our “banishment” and begin to make our way back into the presence of one another. We will spend our time rebuilding the Church community and focusing on that work. We will not mourn the original loss of our way of life for we will be home.
For now, we simply remain faithful to the God who has great plans for us. Even though we are staying in our individual houses and yards, we should not be discouraged. Perhaps we take a cue from the children and get outside in the sunshine with our bikes and balls. Wherever we are, whatever our current lives look like, we are in the presence of God.
Blessings,
Pastor Beth
I have seen a lot of people in their yards this week. Quite a few conversations are going on from one side of the street to the other. Younger folks are out for a run, and older folks are sitting outside watching the world go by. The one thing grabbing my attention is something that I am seeing more and more: children. My street seems to be chockful of children! I knew there were a handful around, but these past warm days seem to be bringing them out of the woodwork! I haven’t seen so many bicycles and balls since I was a child myself, and I’m loving it!
During the reign of Darius the Great, exiled Israelites found themselves released from their banishment in Babylon and began to make their way back home. Zechariah, the prophet, uses this time to focus on rebuilding the Temple, and the first six chapters of the Book of Zechariah detail the prophet’s visions as the Hebrew people return from exile and begin that work. In the next two chapters, however, Zechariah reveals his vision of peace and blessing from God. No more should the people mourn the original loss of their city; they are home. No more should they be discouraged; they are in the presence of God.
“I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain,” says God in the eighth chapter. “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets… Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? ...I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Zechariah 8:3-8)
What a glorious prophecy! Seems to me that Zechariah’s vision continues to speak to us through the ages. We may be feeling displaced for a time, but God is faithful! Even when we feel despondent and without hope, nothing is impossible to God. When we accept Christ’s love, we begin to live as saved and joyful people. When we respond to God’s promises, we begin to live in holy space. WE are God’s people and God is OUR God in faithfulness and in righteousness.
A day will come soon when we are released from our “banishment” and begin to make our way back into the presence of one another. We will spend our time rebuilding the Church community and focusing on that work. We will not mourn the original loss of our way of life for we will be home.
For now, we simply remain faithful to the God who has great plans for us. Even though we are staying in our individual houses and yards, we should not be discouraged. Perhaps we take a cue from the children and get outside in the sunshine with our bikes and balls. Wherever we are, whatever our current lives look like, we are in the presence of God.
Blessings,
Pastor Beth
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