In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast unto me, even to me? And when you did eat, and when you did drink, did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?”, and in chapter seven and verse seven of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD asked, “should you not hear the words which the LORD has cried?” where we read,
Should you not hear the words which the LORD has cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
The verse reads, “Should you not hear the words which the LORD has cried by the former prophets, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “should you not hear the words” or “ought you, the people of Israel and the priests, in no way or manner perceive, discern and distinguish the speeches, utterances and declarations” “which the LORD has cried” which means “that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God has loudly uttered, proclaimed and commissioned” “by the former prophets” or “through the means of the foremost, beginning and previous spiritual spokesmen, speakers and inspired men” according to the following. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God questioned whether the people of Israel and the priests perceived His declarations which were presented through the means of previous spiritual spokesmen.
The verse goes on to say, “... when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, ...”Zechariah continued with the words, “when Jerusalem was inhabited” or “at the time and moment Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split remained, abode and continued”, “and in prosperity” which means “and within quiet, ease and security”, “and the cities thereof” or “and the dwelling places, abodes and habitations that exist” “round about her” which means “that are places in a circuit or from every side of her, Jerusalem” and includes the next words. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God referred to the time that “Jerusalem” and the dwelling places surrounding it were living in calm, tranquility, security and “prosperity”.
Finally the verse says, “when men inhabited the south and the plain?” Zechariah concluded this verse with the words, “when men inhabited” which means “at the time and moment people both male and female dwelled, remained and abode within” “the south and the plain” or “the southern region and the lowland or valley”? Zechariah ended this verse by referring to the time that people dwelled and remained in the southern portion and within the lowland.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God questioned whether the people of Israel ad the priests “heard” the proclamations of His previous spiritual spokesmen at the time they and the dwelling places surrounding them were living in “prosperity”. People were living in the southern part of the nation and within the valley therein, and in all their dwelling places, there was peace and security. God knew there was a time when the people of Israel were prospering in the world, and they should have been listening to the spiritual spokesmen He dispatched during that season. God wants us to “hear” His words at all times, and when we perceive that He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, we may humble ourselves, repent of our sins and yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”. When we hear His words and surrender, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a resolve to hear Him and His ministers as His words are proclaimed over and over again.
Next time Zechariah shares how, “the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah” again, 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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