In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD of hosts said the people of Israel, “refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts has sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts”, and in chapter seven and verse fourteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said, “I scattered them with a whirlwind” where we read,
But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
The verse reads, “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. ” Zechariah began with the words, “but I scattered them” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover I, Jehovah God, drove away and spread them, the people of Israel, out” “with a whirlwind” which means “by the means of a raging storm” “among all the nations” or “in the midst and middle of each, every, the whole and everyone of the heathen, foreign and Gentile people groups” “whom they knew not” which means “that they, the people of Israel, were unfamiliar with and did not recognize”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He drove the people of Israel toward foreign people groups that were unfamiliar to them.
The verse continues, “Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” Zechariah added the words, “thus the land” or “therefore, then, wherefore and on this account the country, territory, region and district” “was desolate after them” which means “existed as appalled, astonished and wasted following the time when the people of Israel departed”, “that no man passed through” or “so no person whether male or female marched, traversed or crossed the land” “nor returned” which means “no and not in any way turned or came back ”: “for they laid the pleasant land desolate” or “because, since and on account that they, the people of Israel, put, set, appointed and established the precious, desirable, goodly and delightful country, territory, region and district as appalling, horrific and wasted”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said the dwelling place and habitation of the people of Israel was left in such a horrific condition after Jehovah God “scattered” them to other “nations” that no one was able to travel through what used to be a beautiful and precious territory.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God was responsible for dispersing the people of Israel throughout the world. Because they were obstinate and hard hearted, they would not listen to His words. This caused Him to spread them out to foreign lands where they did not know the people, the language nor the culture. This was not God's intent for them because He loved them, but when they rejected Him, He rejected them. God invites everyone to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and never have need to scatter us throughout the world and into lands that do not know God.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Zechariah say, “Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me”, 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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