7:12
This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible, but also one that sums up the attitude of Israel, and indeed of all mankind. “They made their hearts as flint and would not listen”. What would they not listen to? Both the Law and the Prophets. Note the clear implication what the prophets spoke was God’s word. This is entirely consistent with 2 Peter 1:20,21. When Jesus came to earth the Jewish leaders hardened their hearts against Him. This is also true of humanity as a whole. It takes the grace of God to open our minds to the word of God. “So the Lord Almighty was very angry”. Man objects to the idea of God being angry, but what was the Lord commanding? It was that they administer justice and mercy with compassion, and they were refusing to do this. It would be wrong if He was not angry.
7:13
God had called to His people on numerous occasions, but they would not listen. So when they called upon Him He would not listen to them. Where does the problem lie? With the people. We are so ready to blame God, to object to the way that God acts, but the one who needs to change is not God, but us.
7:14
They did not listen to the Lord, so He did not respond to their calls to Him. Instead He scattered them to the nations, nations they did not know. This would primarily be Babylon and Egypt, but some would go to other nations as well. This is looking at the matter as effectively backward looking, but it could also be forward looking as well, for the Jews have continued to be scattered among the nations. In their absence the land became desolate. The land was created to be looked after by God’s faithful people, this is why Paul speaks in Romans 8:22 of creation waiting for the sons of God to be revealed.
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