Zechariah 7:13
Therefore it is come to passe, that as he cried, and they would not heare, so they cried, and I would not heare, saith the Lord of hostes. Zechariah 7:13 (KJV)
“Therefore it is come to pass, that they cried, and the LORD hearkened not, so the LORD cried, and they would not hear,” saith the LORD of hosts. The book of Zechariah was written by the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic period in Israel’s history. At this time, the Israelites had returned from the Babylonian exile and were working to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. In Zechariah 7, we find a delegation sent from Bethel to Jerusalem to seek God’s guidance and inquire about fasting. The people questioned whether they should continue observing a particular fast that had been established during the exile. They were essentially seeking God’s opinion on whether they should continue with this religious practice. In response to their inquiry, Zechariah emphasizes that their religious rituals and observances must be accompanied by genuine obedience and righteousness. The Lord, through Zechariah, rebukes the people for their insincere fasting and hypocritical practices. He reminds them that God desires justice, mercy, and compassion rather than mere external acts of piety. In verse 11, the Lord declares, “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.” This verse highlights the people’s rebellion and refusal to listen to God’s instructions and guidance. Despite God’s repeated warnings and calls to repentance through the prophets, the Israelites continued to disregard His commands. In Zechariah 7:12-13, we find the verse you specifically asked about. It states, “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.” This verse emphasizes the hard‑heartedness of the people. They intentionally hardened their hearts, refusing to listen to the law and the messages brought by the prophets. Consequently, the Lord’s anger was kindled against them. The latter part of Zechariah 7:13 says, “Therefore it is come to pass, that as they cried, and the LORD hearkened not, so the LORD cried, and they would not hear,” saith the LORD of hosts. This statement reveals a principle of divine justice. The people had ignored God’s call to repentance, and now when they cried out in distress, God chose not to respond. Their disobedience and rejection of His message resulted in God withholding His favour and protection. In this verse, we see the importance of attentiveness and obedience to God’s instructions. The Israelites had the opportunity to heed God’s words and turn back to Him, but they chose to harden their hearts. Consequently, they experienced the consequences of their actions. This passage in Zechariah serves as a reminder that our external religious practices, such as fasting or other rituals, should always be accompanied by a genuine heart that seeks God’s will and desires righteousness. Mere religious observance without an inner transformation is not pleasing to God. Overall, Zecharah 7:13 highlights the significance of listening to God’s voice, obeying His commands, and seeking righteousness in our lives. It serves as a call to sincerity, obedience, and genuine repentance before the Lord.
