Disciple: “What must I do to be prosperous?”
God: “Sin not”
When the leaders of Judah decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord and instead fall into the sin of idolatry, worshipping Asherah poles and idols, it infuriated God. Yet the LORD sent his prophets to warn his people so that they would repent and return to him, but the people did not listen. Then God’s Spirit was poured out on Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, with the question “Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper?” The message of the LORD was for the people to sin (transgress) not so that they may prosper, but the people at the commandment of their king, heeded not the message of God and sinned even more by stoning Zechariah to death.
Points to ponder:
Wanna be prosperous? Heed God’s voice and sin not. Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper?
2 Chronicles 24:17-21 (KJV)
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.
21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.
