From the book of Zachariah

8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

² This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

³ This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. ⁵ The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

I’m reading the Bible on Biblegateway, and one of their reading plans lets you read it chronologically, which is a great way to work your way through the Bible in a year. But, as I was reading today at the very beginning it had this promise from God concerning His people.

Now here’s what struck me, that the picture God paints of his people, restored to Jerusalem and with His presence centered in that city, that the characteristic is old people sitting in the streets while the streets are filled with the sound of boys and girls playing! A wide spread expression of age where the old live and enjoy the sight and sounds of youth – implied that life is long and filled with joy! That really sounds wonderful to me. It sounds how life should be. It sounds like God’s intention is for us to enjoy the company of others!

Not being able to gather – in these days – is probably the hardest part! We look forward to being “together again” in the days to come.

Interesting that several times in the Scriptures such a image is created – the fellowship of the saints, the great cloud of witnesses to name two.

God bless you today and enjoy whoever you are with!