The Measure of a City

I encountered a statement about the proper manner by which we might measure the success or failure of our cities:

"Too often men are apt to measure a city's significance by its business, professions, and industry, its buildings, its wealth, its art and culture.  Zechariah [8:4-5] suggests that we measure the significance of our cities by their effect upon two groups easily overlooked--the old and the young." -- T. C. Speers, Zechariah (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1956), 1085.

Sadly, we do not understand the power of this image, but for those who live in a world of fear, lack and destruction such images are profound and may seem far-fetched.  The poignant passage to which Speers was speaking dramatically portrays the blessing of the young and old alike in the idyllic eschatological age:

"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem's streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play." (Zech. 8:4-5 NLT)