Zechariah 8:9 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Let your hands be strong.’ The hands will be strong if the heart is strong, and the heart is strengthened by the word of the Lord. There is work to be done, and although the remnant would not fully understand all that God was doing in requiring them at this time to rebuild the physical temple, they are given enough insight into the glory that would follow to motivate them to obey. These verses are at the same time an explanation for why they have suffered so much, and an assurance that God now has intentions of doing them good. They should not allow the troubles of the past to make them despondent, because those troubles originated in God, and he had a reason for sending them, ‘for his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5). Truly (verse 10) it had been very difficult for them during the exile and the time of punishment of the nation. Those were days of shortage, and they were often surrounded by enemies. The agriculture and industry of the nation was disrupted and it was hard to find work. A general anxiety about the state of affairs affected the people. But (verse 11) that is now all going to change. If they think rightly, they can turn the troubles of the past into a source of encouragement for the future. All that happens to them is a matter of what God has said he is going to do. Previously he had threatened again and again with discipline; now he assures them equally strongly that they will be blessed. This remnant that has returned from Babylon will see significant blessing. God who determines all these things will cause the harvests to be fruitful and the land to produce its increase – a vital blessing for a farming community.