Boys and Girls Playing in the Streets

Zechariah 8:1-5 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. 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. 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. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

As a parent, it is wonderful to sit outside in the summer time, in the cool of the evening and watch children happily playing. When the temperature is just right, the bugs are not pestering you, the children are all in a happy mood while hard at play; it is such a blessing from God.

Often though, we don’t have these scenes as much as we would want. Sometimes it’s too hot or too cold; other times it rains. Sometimes one of the children are in a bad mood and makes playing a chore rather than a joy. Sometimes one will fall and get hurt, other times the game becomes a fight. Young children want to explore past the watchful eye of mom and dad, but must be corral “back where I can see you!”
There is so much danger around us. Cars driving too fast and carelessly near the front of the home. In the back yard other dangers are lurking, whether be snakes, neighbor’s dogs that escaped and the like. Take the children to the park and see the strange man who is lurking about watching the children, or the terrible thought of what would happen if the kids wandered too far away and were taken by some deviant.

Oh the sinfulness of sin! That is why that a evening of joyful play can be a rarity. Sin has affected the weather, the earth, the animals and especially the human heart. Sin hurts and hampers even the simplest joy a family can participate in; it destroys the very act of children’s play. As time progresses, the dangers increase. Men wax worse and worse, life becomes worse and worse.

In our text, we have a concerning the millennial reign of Christ, when Jesus will rule this Earth for 1,000 years. He will rule all things, weather, animals and men. During Christ’s blessed reign, there will be no dangers in the woods, no dangers down the street, sin will not be allowed or tolerated. There will be no Satan to tempt and harm and all will be well.

The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. What a beautiful way of describing the joy of Christ’s kingdom and how it illustrates what we lost in the fall, and what we gain in Jesus Christ. The city streets will not be filled with gangs and violence, but with children and play.


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Douglas Newell IV