Text: Zechariah 8:1-23.
In an age when safety was rare, when nations were always at war, and few
people reached old age, this promise is most desirable. Yahweh will dwell
in the midst of His people, and there will be peace and safety for the oldest
people to the smallest children. Jerusalem will be called “the City of Truth”
because the lies of idolatry and sin will be destroyed forever, and the truth of God and obedience will remain. Of course that would bring peace and safety!
However, after Judah’s return from exile, after Zechariah’s prophecy, the people were always under some kind of oppression by some nation. The promise spoken by Yahweh was about a time that was/is still in the future. At our point in time, Jesus is still bringing His people home, tens of thousands every day in Africa alone! But some day, when the gathering is finished, and there is a new earth, there will also be eternal peace, real peace and rest, when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb (Isa.11:6).
Meditate on verses 16-17. How are you going to apply them to your life?
My heavenly Father, help me seek peace with every one. In the name of Jesus Christ I have prayed. Amen.