Let your hands be strong

Today’s passage is a message spoken to those of Zechariah’s generation. “The Lord of armies says this: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built’” (v 9). (1) This is a message saying, “Take courage and devote yourselves to the building of the temple.” (2) Previous generations ignored the voices of the prophets, but the people of this generation were not to do so. They had been given the prophets Zechariah and Haggai. “‘For before those days there was no wage for man nor any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies, and I sent all the people against one another’” (v 10). (1) “Before those days” refers to the time before the foundation of the temple was laid. (2) While they neglected the building of the temple, three curses afflicted the people: (a) there was no work, and even if they labored, it did not produce income. (b) There was no peace because external enemies existed. (c) Internally, there was strife among the people themselves. The same thing is spoken of in Hag. 1:2-6.

From curse to blessing

However, the Lord intends to bless the people of this generation. “But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of armies” (v 11). (1) They will be given agricultural blessings (v 12). (2) Furthermore, blessing will be given to the people who had been under a curse (v 13). The phrase “house of Judah and house of Israel” shows that all twelve tribes of Israel had returned to the land of Zion. “Do not fear; let your hands be strong” is an encouragement to press on with the building of the temple. (3) The Lord says that although He judged their forefathers, He will bless the people of this generation (v 14-15). As a conclusion, a summary is given of the message spoken by the prophets of the Lord (v 16-17). (1) Speak the truth. (2) Let judgments of truth and peace be carried out within the city. (3) Do not devise evil against one another. (4) Do not swear falsely. These are the things that the people of God must practice. God blesses those who practice these things. Let us also receive courage from the Lord and devote ourselves to the work of building His kingdom that has been entrusted to us. “Do not fear; let your hands be strong.”