EGW WritingsZechariah 7

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 65a, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 65a, 1900, par. 22

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart.” [Zechariah 7:1-10.] This is the Word of the Lord.

15LtMs, Ms 65a, 1900, par. 23

I cannot think that the closing part of this chapter will be the course that you will pursue. “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Verses 11-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 154, 1906

21LtMs, Lt 154, 1906, par. 24

In connection with these Scriptures, read the first four chapters of the prophecy of Zechariah and the entire book of Malachi.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 354, 1906

21LtMs, Lt 354, 1906, par. 6

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion: every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” [Zechariah 7:9, 10.]

21LtMs, Lt 354, 1906, par. 12

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts; but I scattered them with the whirlwind among all the nations which they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, and no man passed through nor returned; for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Zechariah 7:4-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 164, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 164, 1899, par. 7

But the people who should have been a moral light amid the darkness of the world disregarded the Word of the Lord. They lived for themselves, and neglected to do the very work God had appointed them, and which would have constituted them laborers together with God. The prophet Zechariah writes, “Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and unto the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even in all these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even unto me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Shall ye not hear the word of the Lord which the Lord hath cried by the mouth of his former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?” [Zechariah 7:4-7.]

14LtMs, Ms 164, 1899, par. 8

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion, every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” [Verses 8-10.]

14LtMs, Ms 164, 1899, par. 9

This teaching was the opposite to the course of action which the people had been pursuing, and they were displeased with it. They wanted to follow their own wisdom. In the tenth verse of the seventh chapter, the prophet is represented as addressing the men whose course of action was as evil leaven among the people, his hand placed upon their shoulder in earnest entreaty. “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the word which the Lord of hosts had sent in his Spirit by the former prophets.” [Verses 11, 12.]

14LtMs, Ms 164, 1899, par. 10

And what was the result? “Therefore a great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it came to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear, so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. But I scattered them as a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not.” [Verses 12-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Ms 128, 1901

16LtMs, Ms 128, 1901, par. 27

“Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?” [Zechariah 7:4-7.]

16LtMs, Ms 128, 1901, par. 32

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother, and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” [Zechariah 7:8-10.]

16LtMs, Ms 128, 1901, par. 33

What excellent advice is this! Did the wayward people heed it? “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Verses 11-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 4, 1902

17LtMs, Ms 4, 1902, par. 4

“Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain? ... Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts; but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not.” [Zechariah 7:4-7, 9-14.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 6 [Nos. 347-418]

MR No. 406—Theology of Zechariah

6MR 375.2

“The word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:8-10.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Lt 42, 1912

25LtMs, Lt 42, 1912, par. 2

“The word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:8-10.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 360, 1906

21LtMs, Lt 360, 1906, par. 13

“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent in His Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts.” [Zechariah 7:8-13.]

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6

Chapter 57—The Publishing House in Norway

6T 460.1

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:8-10. This is the word of the Lord to us also.

6T 460.2

I cannot think that the closing part of this chapter will be your experience: “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” Verses 11-14.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 65, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 65, 1900, par. 18

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart.” [Zechariah 7:8-10.] This is the Word of the Lord.

15LtMs, Ms 65, 1900, par. 19

I cannot think that the closing part of this chapter will be your experience. “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear, yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, and they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned. For they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Verses 11-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 64, 1902

17LtMs, Ms 64, 1902, par. 19

“The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts; but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through, nor returned; for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Zechariah 7:8-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Ms 122, 1906

21LtMs, Ms 122, 1906, par. 4

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against His brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations.” Zechariah 7:8-14.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Ms 8, 1914

25LtMs, Ms 8, 1914, par. 14

“And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger; nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against your brother in his heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts has sent in His Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it came to pass that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Zechariah 7:8-14.]

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 59—Where Is God’s True Israel?

SS 363.3

The sins that had characterized Israel prior to the captivity were not to be repeated. “Execute true judgment,” the Lord exhorted those engaged in rebuilding. “Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.” Zechariah 7:9; 8:16.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 388, 1907

22LtMs, Lt 388, 1907, par. 11

My brother, a great work is to be accomplished in the world; and if you will believe, you may act your part in this work. “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother.” [Zechariah 7:9.] It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom. In life and character they may reveal these principles. His purpose is to separate His people from the customs, the habits, and the practices of the world. Because He loves them, He is seeking to bring them near unto Himself, that He may make known unto them His will.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 59—“The House of Israel”

PK 704.1

These promises were conditional on obedience. The sins that had characterized the Israelites prior to the captivity, were not to be repeated. “Execute true judgment,” the Lord exhorted those who were engaged in rebuilding; “and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother.” “Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.” Zechariah 7:9, 10; 8:16.

The Health Food Ministry

A Specious Offer

HFM 83.1

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:9-10.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 196, 1906

21LtMs, Lt 196, 1906, par. 1

The Lord would be pleased to have Dr. Place serve Him with his whole heart. The word of the Lord to Dr. Place is, “Judge true judgment; and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor: and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” [Zechariah 7:9, 10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 71, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 71, 1895, par. 32

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” [Isaiah 57:15.] The word of the Lord to Zachariah the prophet should be heeded by us. He says, “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, the stranger nor the poor; let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets. Therefore came great wrath from the Lord of Hosts.” [Zechariah 7:9-12.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 138, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 138, 1899, par. 23

God made Zion His holy habitation, the joy of the whole earth. But notwithstanding His goodness to [them], they forgot Him, and wandered into idolatry. Before their dispersion the warning came to them, “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy, and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” [Zechariah 7:9, 10.] These words are just as surely spoken to us as to God’s people of that time.

14LtMs, Ms 138, 1899, par. 24

How did the Jews treat God’s message? “They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.” [Verses 11, 12.] If men refuse to receive the admonitions of the Lord, if they persist in walking contrary to His instruction, He cannot deliver them from the sure consequences of their actions.

14LtMs, Ms 138, 1899, par. 25

They place themselves in such opposition to His purposes and heaven’s principles that He permits their enemies to have power over them and to humble them. “Therefore it came to pass that as he cried, and they would not hear, so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts; but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned; for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Verses 13, 14.] This was the result of men following their own unsanctified, unsubdued way.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 69a, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 69a, 1896, par. 18

Unless there is a most earnest, decided purpose to cultivate our own spirituality to a higher degree, accepting light, the light we already have becomes darkness. Unless there is a constant necessity felt for prayer to our heavenly Father for His wisdom, and a searching of the Scriptures to know His way and to be kept by the power of God, then it will become very easy to drift farther and farther away from God and unite our interest with those who know not the truth and who will not accept the truth. We need spirituality to discharge our duties daily in the fear of God. The Bible history tells us that when men deliberately turn away from God and the messages He sends them, the Lord turns away from them. What is the result? “Therefore I scattered them with a whirlwind among all nations.” [Zechariah 7:14.] “He that honoreth me I will honor. He that despiseth Me,” (and the message I send,) “I will lightly esteem.” [1 Samuel 2:30.] This is not making God a hard master, it is simply a declaration of the effect of the cause, an eternal necessity of results.

11LtMs, Ms 69a, 1896, par. 20

The Lord will have the whole heart or nothing. The lawyer asked of Jesus, “What shall I do that I may have eternal life?” The Lord Jesus answered, “What saith the Scriptures? how readest thou?” The lawyer answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself.” Christ responded, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” [Luke 10:25-28.] How are we treating this question? The law of God is plainly revealed. Will you or I venture to find some other way whereby we shall obtain the precious boon of eternal life? Will we, to whom God has given the opportunity to obtain light and knowledge, refuse to receive the message sent from heaven? Shall we refuse the light because in accepting the truth we see it will cause a separation from those who will not hear, who will not believe? Shall there be concession made with you or me to bind up in bundles with the world? They have “pulled away the shoulder” [Zechariah 7:11], because the yoke of Christ they would not take, and refused to lift His burden. Christ says, “I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” [John 15:10.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 3 [Nos. 162-209]

MR No. 201—Unpublished E. G. White Materials Desired for Use in the Compilation Presenting “Principles of True Science”

3MR 346.1

Nature, Lessons From, Contrast of Nature and Man in Obedience to God—These words [from] Zechariah 7:11-14, quoted in preceding paragraph are very impressive. The Lord calls upon dew and rain and the varied agencies of nature, and they obey His call, to be used either in blessings or in judgments. They are under His control. Inanimate nature is represented as being shocked at man’s disregard for God’s word. God calls for famine and plague and pestilence, for calamities by sea and by land to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The things of nature spring in response to the word of God to do His bidding either in wasting and destruction or in mercies and blessings.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 116, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 29

“They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by former prophecies: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them that no man passed through nor returned; for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” [Zechariah 7:11-14.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 105, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 105, 1894, par. 10

The work of fathers and mothers is to keep their children uncontaminated from the world. In order to do this, it will be necessary to study the word of God and obtain a rich experience. You will feed upon rich food in studying the life and lessons of Christ, in reading and in praying with the door of your heart open to receive the teachings of the Holy Spirit. In this way you may become truly converted. I entreat you do not make it necessary for God to afflict you by withdrawing his blessing from you. He will withdraw the blessing that is treated by you as though yours by right; for you make it a hindrance rather than a help. The Lord who gave his life for you and for your children, has left this command; “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” [John 5:39.] Those who do not earnestly cultivate spirituality by accepting light, and walking in the light, will find that the light they already have will become darkness. Unless we continually feel the necessity of praying to our heavenly Father for wisdom, unless we search the Scriptures to know the way of the Lord and to be kept by the power of God, then it will become easy to drift further and further away from God, and to unite our interests with that of those who know not and love not the truth. We need spirituality in order to discharge our duties in the fear of god. The Bible tells us that when men deliberately turn away from God, the Lord turns away from them. When the Jews did this the Lord said, “Therefore I scattered them with a whirlwind among all nations.” [Zechariah 7:14.] Again, the Lord says, “Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” [1 Samuel 2:30.] This is simply a declaration of the effect of a cause, the necessary result of a certain course of action. The Sun of Righteousness will shine upon those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus; he says, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12.]