Zechariah 8:4-6

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts, If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell int the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

Take a few minutes to pray silently and ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate the soil of your heart for truly hearing His words.  Then, read the above passage twice through slowly.  Before jumping into the below blurb, what is the Spirit “bubbling up” in you?  What words or phrases stick out?  What does this vision do for your vision of God, of self, of the world? Ponder this first and offer it back to the Lord in prayer. 

Now, let’s think together more about what this means for God’s people then and now.

For some of us, play is frivolous. We no longer have time for something so inefficient and unproductive.  Others may believe life is solely for play – everybody’s working for the weekend. But what if play, in and of itself, is neither to be avoided nor lived for, but rather, is a reflection of God’s delight in His people. He delights in his people delighting in their children. He delights in our delight.  This is perfect play. 

Our passage acts as a teaser-vision for the age to come, when God has set all things right, we see children “playing” in the streets. It is two-times marvelous even, and a sign that there is no fear – the children are safe to play and all people to marvel together.  Rather than the chaos and brokenness that keep children inside in our world – crime, violence, war - the city here is under no attack.  It is at peace and flourishing as God has designed.  Play is a foretaste of peace.  We see also that God’s presence is near and real.  He is not distant, and neither do his people feel distance from Him or each other – They shall be my people and I will be their God.  Play is a foretaste of God’s nearness.  And here we see that God, in His covenant faithfulness to His people, has rescued them into righteousness (right relationship with Him, each other, and the world).  Play is a foretaste of God’s faithfulness and righteousness in relationships and creation.  And though many of us think of play as ardently active, and often physically rigorous, we see here the old men and women also on the street as a part of the delight, and yet completely at rest.  Rather than at odds with one another, could it be that rest and play, bathed in the delight of God’s peace, presence, and righteousness have great overlap both in the eschaton and in our souls?

Questions to ponder and fodder for prayer -

  • When do I feel God’s delight in play? What activities? Settings? Contexts?  Relational spaces? 
  • What makes my soul feel at rest, even if my creative mind, body, and community may be fully activated?
  • How does God use play to connect with you? You with others?  His body with those who do not yet know him?  What is the importance of “marvel,” “delight,” and “joy” in play? 

 Incarnate/embody

  • Seek a time for worshipful play both alone and with others today. Even a few minutes!
  • Take time afterward to reflect on any insights from the Spirit about ways you experienced God’s presence. Were there moments of transcendence? 
  • What does the nostalgia of play point you towards?
  • How did the relational climate change with the other people and with God in shared play?
  • Ask others about how well you play.