God Dwells Again

May 25th, 2026
by Gary Gunther

[ READ ] Zechariah 5–8

8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 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. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, 14 “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 the pleasant land was made desolate.”
Zechariah 7:8-14

God and his people are experiencing a total breakdown in communication. Neither is hearing the other. Their relationship is broken. God's desire is that his people will be blessed and be a blessing to all people (Gen 12:2-3). They will experience this by loving God and loving their neighbor. God’s commands in Zech 7:9, true judgment, kindness, mercy, not oppressing or devising evil, are nothing new. Yet, in vs. 11 his people refuse to pay attention or even to listen. Not listening implies that they are doing all those things God told them not to, and are like an ox that would not accept a yoke by turning a stubborn shoulder. Finally, they make their hearts as hard as the hardest material, a diamond. Because of their hardness God does not hear them. By refusing to be a blessing to others, they bring desolation on themselves.
A broken relationship with God requires spiritual renewal not behavior modification. God loves to take a heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:24). God can replace a diamond-hard heart with no more difficulty than a stony heart. Instead of turning a stubborn shoulder draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Is there an area in which you are stopping your ears to God’s voice?
+ What motivates you more, avoiding desolation or pleasing God by being obedient?
+ In Matt 11:30 Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. In Jewish tradition a teacher’s yoke represents a teacher’s interpretation of the Law. How might following Zech 7:9-10 make our burden light?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess to clear the way for God to use me in his perfect purpose?
+ Spend time listening to God in prayer or reading his word.
+ Be a blessing to at least one person today.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.churchcenter.com/groups)
+ Pray with me:
Father, reveal where my heart is hard and by your grace soften my heart. Open my eyes to others I can bless so that you will be glorified.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
+ What stands out to you from this passage?
+ Is there an area in your life God has turned from desolation to blessing?