Zechariah 7

Question regarding prayer and fasting (vs. 1-14)—We are two years later now (v. 1, cf. Zechariah 1:1), and men were sent (by somebody, the Hebrew is unclear and thus the best versions are, too) “to the house of God to pray before the Lord” (vs. 2-3). They asked the priests and the prophets, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” (v. 3). This “weeping” and “fasting” was inaugurated as a result of the destruction and burning of the temple by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Since the people had now returned home, should they continue this memorial? The Lord’s response through Zechariah was a rebuke.  They had not really mourned over their sins against Jehovah; they were only sad because of the loss of their temple (v. 5). What the Lord really wanted was obedience (v. 7). In verses 9 and 10, He lays out before them, in general, what He expects: “'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.'” As the prophets had told the people time and time again, ceremonial rituals were vain unless accompanied by a righteous, holy lifestyle. Their fathers had refused to heed that message (v. 11). “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” (v. 12). Thus, when calamity came upon them, and they cried out to Jehovah, but “I would not hear” (v. 13). He scattered them among the nations, and their land lay desolate (v. 14). The chapter ends there, but the warning is plain: Hear and obey the Lord or disaster will come. A simple chapter which is very illustrative of man vs. God. Man wants to get by with as little as possible. God has given us His word and thus our responsibilities towards Him. We refuse to obey, ruin results, we cry out to Him, but it’s too late. Happens over and over and humanity never learns.