Week of Monday May 12 - May 18
Strong Hands – Man as Provider
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. … For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” - Zechariah 8:9, 12-13 ESV
When I meet another man, I can tell a lot about him from his eyes and his hands. Does he , or does he look away? Does he offer a firm handshake, or is he limp-wristed like a dead fish? Within moments of meeting someone, I can start to size up his character based on these two characteristics. A man who looks me in the eye and shakes my hand firmly gives off the impression of strength and confidence. On the other hand, unless the man is old or frail, a weak handshake leaves a poor impression.
Apparently, the men who returned from the Babylonian exile suffered from “limp hands.” God, in His amazing grace through Cyrus the Persian ruler, had made a way for the first wave of Jewish refugees, some 50,000 strong, to return to their homeland. God gave them a mission: to rebuild the temple. They started strong; it wasn’t long until the foundation was laid, the altar was built and consecrated, and the inaugural sacrifices were offered in celebration.
However, progress stalled due to local opposition, which included false accusations of treason, and their Persian overlords imposed further delays. Years passed without any progress. Consequently, God began to speak through His prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to stir up the people’s hearts and remind them of their commitment to rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
Two times in our passage, Zechariah exhorts the people “Let your hands be strong.” Why did the Jews need to hear that message? Why do we need to hear it today?
Sometimes, life’s challenges can make it difficult to stay spiritually focused and energized. We might start well, but as the demands and setbacks pile up, it can be tempting to let up or even give up.
The writer of Hebrews addressed a similar situation. Early Jewish Christians had initially thrived in their faith, but when they faced persecution, some were tempted to revert back to the Old Covenant ways and give up on Jesus. The writer of Hebrews urged them: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down” (Hebrews 12:12a NKJV).
God is reminding us—just as he reminded Israel regarding the unfinished temple and the persecuted church about their unfinished faith—this is no time to grow weary and quit. We must strengthen our spiritual hands in the Lord and the power of his might! There is a mission to complete!
For an example of someone finishing what they start, look to God Himself. The Bible tells us over and over again that God completes His work, whether it is the act of creation (Genesis 2:1-3) or our redemption (John 19:30). The author of Hebrews encourages us to look to “Jesus, the author [starter] and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV). Just as Jesus completed His mission, we are encouraged to finish the tasks God has given us, whether that involves leading our family, working at our job, serving in a ministry, or any other calling.
We have family members, Battle Buddies, and others who look to us for guidance. Consequently, we need to persevere through hardships and setbacks and honor the Lord by completing what we start. Just as Zechariah urged the people of Israel, “Let your hands be strong!”
- What spiritual disciplines do you practice ensuring your hands stay strong to complete the missions God has given you?
- Do your family and friends see you as someone who follows through on his commitments? Are you providing an example of a man who has “strong hands” for the tasks at hand?
- If you find it difficult to maintain your spiritual strength, ask the Lord to “strengthen your hands.”
Strong Hands – Man as Provider
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. … For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” - Zechariah 8:9, 12-13 ESV
When I meet another man, I can tell a lot about him from his eyes and his hands. Does he , or does he look away? Does he offer a firm handshake, or is he limp-wristed like a dead fish? Within moments of meeting someone, I can start to size up his character based on these two characteristics. A man who looks me in the eye and shakes my hand firmly gives off the impression of strength and confidence. On the other hand, unless the man is old or frail, a weak handshake leaves a poor impression.
Apparently, the men who returned from the Babylonian exile suffered from “limp hands.” God, in His amazing grace through Cyrus the Persian ruler, had made a way for the first wave of Jewish refugees, some 50,000 strong, to return to their homeland. God gave them a mission: to rebuild the temple. They started strong; it wasn’t long until the foundation was laid, the altar was built and consecrated, and the inaugural sacrifices were offered in celebration.
However, progress stalled due to local opposition, which included false accusations of treason, and their Persian overlords imposed further delays. Years passed without any progress. Consequently, God began to speak through His prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to stir up the people’s hearts and remind them of their commitment to rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
Two times in our passage, Zechariah exhorts the people “Let your hands be strong.” Why did the Jews need to hear that message? Why do we need to hear it today?
Sometimes, life’s challenges can make it difficult to stay spiritually focused and energized. We might start well, but as the demands and setbacks pile up, it can be tempting to let up or even give up.
The writer of Hebrews addressed a similar situation. Early Jewish Christians had initially thrived in their faith, but when they faced persecution, some were tempted to revert back to the Old Covenant ways and give up on Jesus. The writer of Hebrews urged them: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down” (Hebrews 12:12a NKJV).
God is reminding us—just as he reminded Israel regarding the unfinished temple and the persecuted church about their unfinished faith—this is no time to grow weary and quit. We must strengthen our spiritual hands in the Lord and the power of his might! There is a mission to complete!
For an example of someone finishing what they start, look to God Himself. The Bible tells us over and over again that God completes His work, whether it is the act of creation (Genesis 2:1-3) or our redemption (John 19:30). The author of Hebrews encourages us to look to “Jesus, the author [starter] and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV). Just as Jesus completed His mission, we are encouraged to finish the tasks God has given us, whether that involves leading our family, working at our job, serving in a ministry, or any other calling.
We have family members, Battle Buddies, and others who look to us for guidance. Consequently, we need to persevere through hardships and setbacks and honor the Lord by completing what we start. Just as Zechariah urged the people of Israel, “Let your hands be strong!”
- What spiritual disciplines do you practice ensuring your hands stay strong to complete the missions God has given you?
- Do your family and friends see you as someone who follows through on his commitments? Are you providing an example of a man who has “strong hands” for the tasks at hand?
- If you find it difficult to maintain your spiritual strength, ask the Lord to “strengthen your hands.”