MONDAY MORNING!

"...and would not listen"

 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." -- Zechariah 7:9-10

Administer (execute, bring about) 
--- true (assured) justice (a verdict to restore order)

Show (grant, practice, provide) 
--- mercy and compassion to one another

Do not oppress (defraud, deceive, violate) 
--- the widow (one without a husband, her covering)
--- the fatherless (one without parents, the orphan)
--- the alien (a guest traveling in your country)
--- the poor (the afflicted, lowly, needy)

In your hearts do not think (contrive, imagine, plot) 
--- evil (calamity, harm, trouble) of each other

Just reading that scripture kind of spelled out and expanded should make us consider a lot of things differently. The words were spoken to God's people while they were in exile and captivity in Babylon. They could be spoken to us today as well. In verse 12 the word of the LORD through Zechariah says, "They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen ..." May that never be us.

 Bottom Line: Even in these words spoken to a rebellious people may we pay attention. May we not turn our backs on these words. May we not stop up our ears to these words. And, may we not harden our hearts to these words. Amen? Amen.