Zechariah 8:4-5 The LORD of HOSTS declares that Jerusalem will have peace and prosperity so long that there will once again be aged men and women hobbling through her streets on canes, and the streets will be filled with boys and girls at play.
[Living Bible Translation]
Summary
Zechariah was a prophet and a Levite (a descendant of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose members became one of the tribes of Israel and who during the time of Moses were given priestly and religious duties regarding the care of the Tabernacle and later Temple). See, Deuteronomy 18:1. Zechariah was the son of Berekiah and the grandson of Iddo, the priest, and prophet. Zechariah was born in Babylon, in exile. He was a contemporary of Haggai, the prophet and Zerubbabel, the governor.
Jerusalem fell to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. and most of the Jerusalem inhabitants were deported to Babylon, where they stayed for about 70 years (as prophesized by the Prophet Jeremiah). See, Jeremiah 25:12. When the Babylonian Empire fell to the Persian Empire in about 529 B.C., Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. See, Ezra 1:2-4. Only a small group of those deported returned, including Haggai and Zechariah. See Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14. Zechariah encouraged the people to rebuild the temple and encouraged them to greater spiritual renewal.
In Zechariah Ch. 1, Zechariah delivers a message from the LORD calling for national repentance.
The message of repentance continues in Ch 7, where Zechariah tells the people that the LORD ALMIGHTY wants the people to “show mercy and compassions” (verse 9), to stop oppressing widows and orphans and foreigners (i.e. immigrants) and poor people, and to stop plotting evil against each other (verse 9 and 10). There is a warning that they not be disobedient as the previous generation, which turned their backs, plugged their ears and hardened their hearts like stone (verses 11 and 12) to GOD.
In Zechariah Ch 8 GOD gives Zechariah a message for the people which includes a prophetic vision of what a restored Jerusalem will look like. Zechariah vision of Jerusalem is one of peace. So peaceful that elderly people (i.e., senior citizens) will be secure and safe and walk the streets with their canes. Likewise, children (boys and girls) will be able to safely play. The Jerusalem streets will be filled with playing children.
Just as Martin Luther King had a prophetic dream that one day in Alabama, “little black boys and little black girls will hold hands with little white girls and boys,” Zechariah prophesized there will be a time when Jerusalem will be safe for even the most vulnerable, its senior citizens and children. Peace will truly prevail in Jerusalem when children can play. Zechariah tells the people to keep working, keep building, continue to lay strong foundations because the LORD is “sowing peace and prosperity” for them and their children. Zechariah 8:12.
CHILDREN NEED TO PLAY
Scientists have noted that just as animals play (e.g. cats, and dogs play; squirrels playfully chase each other and other mammals engage in social play) children need to play too. In fact, “Scientist Say Child’s Play Helps Build A Better Brain.” See, https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain, by Jon Hamilton 8.6.2014.
According to “Why Kids Need To Play,” by Heather Gilmore, MSW, BCBA, play is important because:
- Play contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children;
- Play is important to a child’s neurological development;
- The United Nations High Commission on Human Rights recognizes play as a right of every child;
- When children are allowed to play, without being told specifically what they have to do, they become more focused, have greater attention spans and improve their academic performance;
- Overscheduled family lifestyles often lead to less quality parent-child interaction and child-driven play;
- Children learn to be assertive, resolve conflicts, share, make decisions, work in groups through unstructured play;
- Play allows children to express, identify and learn about feelings;
- Children can often make sense of their life experience through unstructured play;
- Parents can help children who have experienced difficulties by learning to play with them in specific ways using selected toys. Some of the difficulties may include divorce, speech problems, social difficulties, chronic illness, disability, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, etc.;
- Parents can significantly improve their relationship with their child by playing with them.
See: https://pro.psychcentral.com/child-therapist/2014/08/why-kids-need-to-play/.
ADULTS NEED TO PLAY
Adults need to play too. It’s not all about work. Playing with pets, children, friends, partners, and others is important too. Play is important for relaxation and stimulation. Play can relieve stress, stimulate learning, connect you with the world and can sometimes make work more productive. Play can stimulate a person’s imagination, increase their problem-solving ability and sometimes result in forming a new business relationship. Sometimes play can even improve teamwork.
Play can benefit people of all ages. Being able to play with children at their level (e.g. getting on the floor with a baby, or rolling around or playing “peek a boo” or stimulating a child’s imagination with make-believe or playing a board game with an older child, or an age-appropriate sport can be important relationship-building activity for the child and the adult. It can be a parent-child bonding experience.
Sometimes it is important to turn off the TV, give a child, friend or family member your undivided attention and just play. There is no need to force or prolong play, sometimes it is best to let the child take the lead.
Also, stay in shape so you can play.
CREATING PLENVIRONMENTS AY
We need to create safe environments where children can play. We need to create cities where seniors can walk the streets and where children can play.
We need to roll up our sleeves, rebuild trust in our communities, have compassion and remember that children and adults need to play!
Pray for children and adults in difficult situations. Pray for the children and parents held in detention camps. Pray for children and adults who have lost everything because of hurricanes, fires, war, conflict, and strife. Pray for children and adults who spend so much time “trying to make a living” they have forgotten how to play. Pray for less gun violence, less addiction, less homelessness, less indifference, less brutality, and more fairness, justice and compassion. Pray for world repentance. Pray we allow GOD to sow seeds of peace and prosperity in our hearts.
PRAY, play and BE BLESSED.
