But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets.
Did you ever see that kid who ruins the party by being miserable and mean, making other kids miserable? That was the people of Zechariah’s day as he exhorted them to renew the covenant. In verses 8 through 10, he simply told them in so many words to be nice, to treat others the way you want to be treated. But no. They were not in the mood for nice. They did childish things to avoid hearing it. You can picture that kid at the party stopping his ears and screaming so reason would not intrude on his misery. These people knew right and wrong better than anyone but they made the wrong choice about which they would follow.
If you were to make a profile of the average person of today, they would be equal parts, selfish, rude, closed minded, and hateful. The person of today is repeating the mistakes of the person of Zechariah’s day. Sadly, Scripture tells us the result will also be the same. Those who rejected God in the Old Covenant suffered defeat and captivity. The people who reject Jesus today face a far bleaker future, an eternal future in fact. It is time to urgently explain to them their childish ways. It is hard to tell an adult to grow up but the time for niceties may be passed. They must open their ears, face the truth, and pay attention…
Before the party’s over.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church