11. Let Your Hands Be Strong

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Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Adult Sunday School

15 April 2018

LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG

Zechariah 8:1-10 (KJV)

1  Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. 4  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.5  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 6  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. 7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 8  And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which werein the day thatthe foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10  For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there anypeace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 

  • O JERUSALEM – A CITY OF TRUTH? 

1  Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

“Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury” (Zech 8:1-2). God may punish His wayward children but He does not disinherit them. God demands from us nothing less than our whole heart and He will not be content with our divided allegiance. As the husband cannot tolerate the estrangement of his wife’s affections to a rival, so God cannot allow us to give our affection supremely to any other. 

“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain” (Zech 8:3). God’s presence in Jerusalem where she is called a city of truth and a mountain of holiness is yet future. As we survey the history of Jerusalem, as long as mortal sinful men rules Jerusalem, it will not be called a city of truth and a mountain of holiness. Only when Messiah rules, under God’s jurisdiction will truth and holiness prevail. 

Cities around the world today live under the constant threat of terrorist attack. The city that is featured most prominently for terrorist attack is none other than Jerusalem. The intensity of attacks escalates and the ruthlessness of the terrorists intensifies. The wickedness in the heart of men must grieve our Lord as in the time of Noah. May the Lord help us to be little citadels of truth and holiness, bearing witness of the regenerative work of God, looking forward to the day our Lord Jesus Christ will come in glory to establish His millennia kingdom on this earth ruling from His city of truth and mountain of holiness, O Jerusalem, when Messiah is come! 

Hope is a vigorous principle; it sets the head and heart to work and animates a man to do his utmost for His Lord. Lord, help me to occupy in Your will till You come. 

  • A MESSAGE OF HOPE 

4  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.5  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 6  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.

In Zechariah 8, the prophet turned his attention from the history of the people to the present and extending to the future. When God’s people repent of their sins, there is a time for restoration, fasting will turn to feasting. 

Oftentimes, we think that our sins are too great, Jesus’ blood cannot wash away! May the Lord forgive us for such foolish thoughts! When we humble ourselves in repentance, God forgives. The prodigal son became sober from among the swine, in a most pitiful state. He thought in his heart, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Lk 15:18-20) 

The scene of God’s restoration of a repentant sinner is described in Luke 15:21-24,“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” There is great rejoicing in heaven for every repentant sinner. A strong message of hope that will lift the soul of every depressed and dejected child of God to come home! How is your relationship with your parents? Is it estranged due to some conflict, misunderstanding and sin? May the Lord help us to make right! 

“Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.” (Tryon Edwards, 1809-1894) Grant to me, Lord, the courage to obey Your Word. 

  • A STAFF IN HIS HAND FOR VERY AGE 

Isaiah 2:1-4 (KJV) 1  The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2  And it shall come to pass in the last days, thatthe mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 

Not many people live to a ripe old age. The prosperous elderly in his old age during the time of the millennium is described here by Zechariah. The elderly today carrying a staff or “tongkat” is not a common sight. But in the millennium, it will be a common sight. To live to the ripe old age as Mahalaleel (830 years old) or Methuselah (807 years old) or Lamech (782 years old) is a future reality in the millennium. Every Israelite will be a believer in the millennium, a partaker of millennial blessings. There will be no terrorists or Skud missiles to deal with. Today, countries in the world are gearing up for an aging population from the baby boomer generation, many elderly care centers are being set up to care for the needs of an aging population. In the millennium, the elderly are cared for by our Lord Himself. 

Jerusalem will be greatly enlarged by God’s intervention and creation, the streets will be bursting at their seams, full of young people playing in the streets. The streets are not terror-striken where people are demonstrating to topple an incompetent government, but the old man shall sit gazing on the scenes of peaceful beauty before him, with his aged companion by his side, to enjoy with him the refreshing breeze that comes cool and sweet from the distant sea. Before him and around him are the merry shouts of children playing in their happy childhood. 

Such a picture strikes the Jewish mind with peculiar force. There is peace and prosperity and the presence of God in their midst (v 8). True blessedness can only come when God is the Ruler. True blessedness can come to the Christian today when God is his Ruler. God’s Word is the blueprint for a blessed life right here and now. Are we appropriating it? 

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.
Help me, Lord, to believe Your Word and trust Your grace. 

  • LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG 

9  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which werein the day thatthe foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

Zechariah now directly encouraged the returnees charged to re-build the Temple having been given a picture of the future prosperity of Jerusalem. Ezra 5:1-2, “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.” 

The record of the foundation of the Temple being laid is given in Haggai 2:18, “Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider it.” 

The hands of the people were weak because of the tremendous physical rigour of the work and the mental pressures from enemies who threatened their very lives. Are you involved in a ministry that has a glorious past and is now a far cry from its heyday? Take courage! God does not look at the size of the ministry but at the faithfulness of the worker. The Lord’s reward is not based on the magnitude of the work but the diligence and faithfulness of the worker. The man who was given 5 talents by his Master was given the same reward as the man given 2 talents. Or are you involved in a ministry that is still very small even after many years of hard work. Be not dismayed, take courage! The new Temple will not rival Solomon’s Temple but God’s blessing for His faithful workers will not diminish one bit. Therefore, pluck up your courage and plod on! 

“Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.” (Matt 25:30)
Help me, Lord, to work while it is still day! 

  • FAITH AND HOPE IN GOD 

10  For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there anypeace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 

Zechariah urged the builders to carry forward the great work of the Temple with faith and hope in God. God will bless their work as they persevere to complete it. “For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.” (Zech 8:10) 

There was severe economic depression in Israel. Jobs were scarce where “there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast.” Amidst such a discouraging economic outlook, Zechariah urged the people to persevere with the Temple project. Crime rate also increased and travellers faced security risk. There was civil unrest for every man was against his neighbour. 

The financial crisis that began at the close of 2008 has taken its toil on companies around the world. The severe credit crunch when banks were reluctant to give out loans resulted in cash flow problems for many who depended on such loans to sustain their daily operations. Coupled with reduced orders, it is causing massive layoffs and pay cuts. During economic recession, many building projects are often abandoned half-way. Crime rates also rise as jobless rates increase. 

It is in such depressing times that Zechariah was asked to encourage the faltering builders not to give up! It is the will of God that the Temple be rebuilt. It is the same with the work of the gospel which must continue in spite of economic afflictions. The work becomes harder because of the physical torment the people will have to put up with. There is less available to sustain themselves and their families. The vision in Zechariah 8:1-9 gave hope for the future prosperity of Jerusalem. This encouraged the builders to endure present suffering to strive on with the work to completion. 

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Grant me, O Lord, more grace and faith to do Your will.