They Cried and God did not Hear - Zechariah 7:13

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”, and in chapter seven and verse thirteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said, “they cried, and I would not hear” where we read,

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:

The verse reads, “Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear;” Zechariah began with the words, “therefore it is come to pass” or “wherefore, then and on this account the following happened, occurred and fell out”, “that as he cried” which means “that during the time he, Jehovah God, shouted aloud, proclaimed and uttered a loud sound”, “and they would not hear” or “and they, the people of Israel, would in no way or manner listen, hearken or obey” the following happened. Zechariah shared because the people of Israel would not listen to or obey Jehovah God's proclamations and shouting aloud, the following occurred. 

The verse goes on to say, “so they cried, and I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts:” Zechariah continued with the words, “so they cried” or “therefore, then and on this account they, the people of Israel, shouted aloud, proclaimed and uttered a loud sound”, “and I would not hear” which means “and I, Jehovah God, was unwilling to listen, hearken or take heed”, “says the LORD of hosts” or “utters, declares and proclaims Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is over the spiritual army of angels and warriors”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said because the people of Israel would not listen to His proclamations, He would not listen to theirs. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God knew the people of Israel ignored and rejected hearing what He had to say to them, and even though He loves Israel, their “souls and minds” were hardened against hearing His words. This caused God to respond to them in like kind. They wouldn't listen to Him, so He wouldn't listen to them. This is not an uncommon behavior for people today as they tend to disregard the word of God until they get in trouble or have needs. God wants us to have a personal intimate relationship with Him though His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we are inclined to hear Him when He speaks, and He will hear us in the same way. 

Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD says, “I scattered them with a whirlwind”, 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".