Bible Discussion Thread

Zechariah 7

Verse 3 states:

"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?"

Verse 4-6 state: 4 Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, 5 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? 6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

We are reminded here of parallel passages in Isaiah 58; verse 4 states "Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high."

Zechariah 7:9-10 goes on to say 9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 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.

Again in Isaiah 58:6-7 we see simiilar admonitions: 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

We can see here in the rest of this chapter in Zechariah the results which were the captivity; in the Isaiah passage the end of that chapter talks about blessings should they heed a correct fast in their worship. These are all things we should take into consideration if we find ourselves going through the motions of worship without putting our heart into it. Revelation 2:4 is a good warning for our example in this matter.