"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts."
Zechariah 7:11-12
This is an interesting scripture, and out of context like this, it would seem like God was asking something really incredibly difficult and distasteful to get this reaction. And yet, if we look back at the previous verses which prompted this reaction, God was really just asking them to be nice to each other.
Sometimes being nice *is* hard. Especially with people we don't like or don't agree with or don't have a lot in common with. I'm not saying that it is simple, or something that can be accomplished in the short-term. It is a lifelong lesson, and hopefully as we learn more and more, we learn to be kinder and more merciful and compassionate. Definitely though, it isn't something that we should stand against, or give up on. Today, let's soften our hearts so they won't be adamant stones, resisting the Lord's voice. Let's work on our compassion and try to heal rather than harm. Then, perhaps, we will get some kindness in return, rather than the "great wrath" spoken of here.
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts."
Zechariah 7:11-12
Sometimes being nice *is* hard. Especially with people we don't like or don't agree with or don't have a lot in common with. I'm not saying that it is simple, or something that can be accomplished in the short-term. It is a lifelong lesson, and hopefully as we learn more and more, we learn to be kinder and more merciful and compassionate. Definitely though, it isn't something that we should stand against, or give up on. Today, let's soften our hearts so they won't be adamant stones, resisting the Lord's voice. Let's work on our compassion and try to heal rather than harm. Then, perhaps, we will get some kindness in return, rather than the "great wrath" spoken of here.
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