Charles Spurgeon Commentary Zechariah 8:4-5

"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, 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." — Zechariah 8:4-5 (ASV)

It is an indication that there is peace in the city when the children can play in the streets without fear. We may apply these verses spiritually thus: when God greatly blesses a Christian church, there are sure to be many aged persons in it, those who, by their long experience and their matured wisdom, are able to teach others the lessons which they have themselves learned at the feet of Jesus.

Happy is the church that has in it many fathers and mothers in Israel. At the same time, a church that is largely blessed by God will also have in it many young converts, who will be as full of life and joy as children playing in the streets of a city in time of peace.

There is a text which is true both in its literal and its spiritual sense: Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord... Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. There is no glory so great to a Christian minister, and a Christian church, as that of having an abundance of spiritual children, and multitudes of converts brought to Christ. So it will be with any church when God is in the midst of her.