Displeased with the Heathen - Zechariah 1:15

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry you, saying, thus says the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy”, and in chapter one and verse fifteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said, “I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease” where we read,

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: 

for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

The verse reads, “And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease:” Zechariah began with the words, “and I am very sore displeased” or “and I, Jehovah God, exist as greatly, abundantly, exceedingly and intensely angry, filled with wrath and furious” “with the heathen” which means “with the foreign Gentile nations and people groups” “that are at ease” or “who exist securely, carelessly, quietly and arrogantly”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He was exceedingly angry with the Gentile nations who were living arrogantly and securely. 

The verse goes on to say, “for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.”. Zechariah continued with the words, “for I was but a little displeased” or “because, since and on account that I, Jehovah God, existed with a light, hardly and small amount of anger toward Jehovah God's people Israel”, “and they helped forward the affliction”which means “and they, the foreign Gentile nations, succored, supported and aided the bad, disagreeableness, malignancy, unhappiness, evil and wickedness that went against God's people”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God was only slightly angry with His people Israel, but the foreign Gentile nations went too far with the punishment that was put upon them. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God was exceedingly angry with the “heathen foreign nations” who carried out His punishment upon the people of Israel. Israel was carried into captivity in Babylon for seventy years because they forsook Jehovah God and His ways, and while they were banished from their homeland, the Gentile nations abused them, and their abused caused God to be exceedingly angry with them. God loves His people Israel, and He loves us. He proved His love to the whole world when He sent His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding that we are never to abuse others especially when they are people who belong to Him. 

Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD says, “I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".