6/16 2 Chronicles 24:20

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'"


You can hear the heartfelt cry of God in the prophetic call of Zechariah: "Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper?" How God longed for them to be faithful so that He might bless them. He is like a father with children that continue in disobedience and must be punished to turn them from danger. Why? The seduction of the false promises of gods that are no gods drew them away from the true God time after time. When would they learn from their history?

We can ask ourselves the same question. God wants to bless our lives, but if discipline would turn us toward Him and cause us to rely upon Him, then we must be disciplined. The warning we hear at the end of the verse is ominous. If we forsake Him, He will forsake us. In other words, God will lift His hand of protection and we will face life without His guidance and care. We will be like sheep without a shepherd.

The hearts of the southern kingdom were so hardened that not only did they refuse to listen, but they stoned Zechariah for being the messenger of truth. Let us not be angry with the messengers that would warn us when we are busy serving other gods, but heed their plea to repent.

Prayer: LORD, please give us ears to hear Your word and Your messengers that speak Your word. Keep our hearts sensitive to Your correction that we might prosper. Help us to keep our hearts wholly devoted to You