“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But, they refused to listen, and tuned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Just as, when I called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts, and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.” Zechariah 7:8-14

What is my/your/our heart(s) adamant for? Who and what do we listen to in our communities? It is not good when we refuse to listen and refuse to be obedient. Pay attention anytime we see ‘Therefore’ in scripture – ask the question, what is it there for? In this case a warning! Great wrath came from God. God who is slow to anger. Notice what got God to that point. His people refused to listen to His word, His people rendered false judgments, were not kind nor merciful to one another; they oppressed the less-than among them – the widows, orphans, aliens and the poor; and they schemed against one another for their own betterment. O God, I desire that my heart be adamant for you! Help me God.