In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah wrote, “And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart”, and in chapter seven and verse eleven of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said, “they refused to hearken” where we read,
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder,
and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
The verse reads, “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “but they refused to hearken” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover they, the people of Israel, declined, protested and rejected listening, obeying and being attentive”, “and pulled away the shoulder” which means “and turned aside the shoulder of their bodies”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said the people of Israel stubbornly rejected listening to Jehovah God and turned their “shoulders” aside from Him in resistance.
The verse goes on to say, “... and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.” Zechariah continued with the words, “and stopped their ears” or “and made heavy, dull and insensible their, the people of Israel's, physical ears for hearing and perceiving”, “that they should not hear” which means “so they, the people of Israel, ought in no way or manner perceive, discern or obey”. Zechariah shared how the people of Israel made their physical ears dull of hearing so they could in no way listen or perceive what God was saying.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how God was speaking to the people of Israel, however, they made their physical ears dull of listening to Him. God loves people, and although He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, we must believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and to enjoy a relationship with Him. If we refuse and reject His words, we will not be saved. Let all who read these words understand the importance of “hearing” God and never be like those who have “stopped their ears, that they should not hear”.
Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD says, “yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone”, 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".
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