Zechariah 7: A Call to Genuine Obedience
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem–melech, and their men, to pray before the Lord,
And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
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?
And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying,
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew 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. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
Zechariah 7 provides a crucial lesson on the importance of genuine obedience and heartfelt worship, a message as relevant today as it was in Zechariah's time. This chapter, delivered approximately two years after the eight visions of Zechariah 1:7, addresses a specific inquiry regarding fasting and mourning practices, revealing deeper issues of the heart. The prophecy in Zechariah 7 came in the fourth year of King Darius (Zechariah 7:1).
The Question of Fasting (Zechariah 7:1-3)
The passage begins with a delegation from Bethel approaching the priests and prophets in Jerusalem (Zechariah 7:2-3). They sought guidance on whether they should continue their traditional fasts, observances they had maintained throughout their seventy years of exile. With the temple nearing completion and the community re-established in the land, they wondered if these acts of mourning were still required. This question, seemingly simple, unveils a critical juncture in the people's spiritual journey.
God's Rebuke: Heartfelt Worship vs. Empty Rituals (Zechariah 7:4-7)
God's response, delivered through Zechariah, cuts to the heart of the matter. The LORD challenges the sincerity behind their fasting: "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?" (Zechariah 7:5). This is not an innocent question. God sees past the outward displays of piety and examines the motives of the heart.
God questions whether their annual feasts and festivals were truly celebrations of His provision or merely self-indulgent affairs: "And when you eat and drink, do you not do it for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:6). The problem wasn't the act of fasting itself, but the lack of genuine devotion and love for God that should have accompanied it. They were going through the motions without engaging their hearts.
The LORD reminds them of the message proclaimed by earlier prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous (Zechariah 7:7). This highlights a recurring pattern of disobedience. Their actions were not new; they were repeating the very sins that led to the exile. As Isaiah prophesied and Jesus later reiterated, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8, quoting Isaiah 29:13).
The Call to Justice and Compassion (Zechariah 7:8-10)
The people stood on precarious ground, dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of their ancestors. Through Zechariah, God reiterates the core principles of true worship: justice, mercy, and compassion. The LORD commands them to "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another" (Zechariah 7:9). Biblical love is more than just a feeling; it's a commitment to seeking the good of others and meeting their needs in a way that honors God.
The call extends to protecting the vulnerable: "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor" (Zechariah 7:10). This echoes James's definition of "pure and undefiled religion" as caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). God champions the cause of the marginalized and expects His people to do the same. Fellowship with Him requires actively demonstrating love and justice.
Furthermore, they are warned, "Do not plot evil in your hearts against one another" (Zechariah 7:10). Evil actions originate in the heart. To truly love and show compassion, one must guard their thoughts and intentions. Transformation begins with "the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2), replacing selfish desires with a desire to honor God and serve others.
The Consequences of Disobedience (Zechariah 7:11-14)
The previous generations had stubbornly refused to listen to God's prophets, hardening their hearts and closing their ears (Zechariah 7:11-12). This was not passive neglect but active resistance to God's law. The consequences of their disobedience were severe: God scattered them among the nations, and their land was left desolate (Zechariah 7:13-14).
This serves as a stark reminder that actions have consequences. The generation of Zechariah's day needed to understand the lessons of the past to avoid repeating them. The only way to correct the violation of God's principles is to actively implement kingdom practices of justice, compassion, and genuine worship.
Zechariah 7: A Timeless Lesson
Zechariah 7 challenges us to examine the sincerity of our own worship. Are we merely going through the motions, or are our hearts truly engaged with God? Do our actions reflect a genuine love for God and a commitment to justice and compassion for others? This chapter calls us to move beyond empty rituals and embrace a life of authentic obedience, transforming our hearts and actions to reflect the character of God.
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem–melech, and their men, to pray before the Lord,
And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
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?
And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying,
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew 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. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
Zechariah 7 provides a crucial lesson on the importance of genuine obedience and heartfelt worship, a message as relevant today as it was in Zechariah's time. This chapter, delivered approximately two years after the eight visions of Zechariah 1:7, addresses a specific inquiry regarding fasting and mourning practices, revealing deeper issues of the heart. The prophecy in Zechariah 7 came in the fourth year of King Darius (Zechariah 7:1).
The Question of Fasting (Zechariah 7:1-3)
The passage begins with a delegation from Bethel approaching the priests and prophets in Jerusalem (Zechariah 7:2-3). They sought guidance on whether they should continue their traditional fasts, observances they had maintained throughout their seventy years of exile. With the temple nearing completion and the community re-established in the land, they wondered if these acts of mourning were still required. This question, seemingly simple, unveils a critical juncture in the people's spiritual journey.
God's Rebuke: Heartfelt Worship vs. Empty Rituals (Zechariah 7:4-7)
God's response, delivered through Zechariah, cuts to the heart of the matter. The LORD challenges the sincerity behind their fasting: "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?" (Zechariah 7:5). This is not an innocent question. God sees past the outward displays of piety and examines the motives of the heart.
God questions whether their annual feasts and festivals were truly celebrations of His provision or merely self-indulgent affairs: "And when you eat and drink, do you not do it for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:6). The problem wasn't the act of fasting itself, but the lack of genuine devotion and love for God that should have accompanied it. They were going through the motions without engaging their hearts.
The LORD reminds them of the message proclaimed by earlier prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous (Zechariah 7:7). This highlights a recurring pattern of disobedience. Their actions were not new; they were repeating the very sins that led to the exile. As Isaiah prophesied and Jesus later reiterated, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8, quoting Isaiah 29:13).
The Call to Justice and Compassion (Zechariah 7:8-10)
The people stood on precarious ground, dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of their ancestors. Through Zechariah, God reiterates the core principles of true worship: justice, mercy, and compassion. The LORD commands them to "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another" (Zechariah 7:9). Biblical love is more than just a feeling; it's a commitment to seeking the good of others and meeting their needs in a way that honors God.
The call extends to protecting the vulnerable: "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor" (Zechariah 7:10). This echoes James's definition of "pure and undefiled religion" as caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). God champions the cause of the marginalized and expects His people to do the same. Fellowship with Him requires actively demonstrating love and justice.
Furthermore, they are warned, "Do not plot evil in your hearts against one another" (Zechariah 7:10). Evil actions originate in the heart. To truly love and show compassion, one must guard their thoughts and intentions. Transformation begins with "the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2), replacing selfish desires with a desire to honor God and serve others.
The Consequences of Disobedience (Zechariah 7:11-14)
The previous generations had stubbornly refused to listen to God's prophets, hardening their hearts and closing their ears (Zechariah 7:11-12). This was not passive neglect but active resistance to God's law. The consequences of their disobedience were severe: God scattered them among the nations, and their land was left desolate (Zechariah 7:13-14).
This serves as a stark reminder that actions have consequences. The generation of Zechariah's day needed to understand the lessons of the past to avoid repeating them. The only way to correct the violation of God's principles is to actively implement kingdom practices of justice, compassion, and genuine worship.
Zechariah 7: A Timeless Lesson
Zechariah 7 challenges us to examine the sincerity of our own worship. Are we merely going through the motions, or are our hearts truly engaged with God? Do our actions reflect a genuine love for God and a commitment to justice and compassion for others? This chapter calls us to move beyond empty rituals and embrace a life of authentic obedience, transforming our hearts and actions to reflect the character of God.