Why Fast?

O. T. #2296"Why Fast?"

Oct. 10, 2022

Zechariah 7

LET IT GLOW

Tradition. Does your family, city, even state have traditions? Throughout out my state there are a lot of fall festivals being held. I think originally, festivals were meant to be a time of thanking the Lord for the great harvest He provided. However, now it has become a time of selling crafts and merchandise.

The Jews had their traditions, too. During the 70 years of captivity, they had their fasts throughout the year. Actually, it would be a day of mourning, not worshiping the Lord God. Their religious calendar included:

• The tenth month when the Babylonians begun to lay siege on Jerusalem;
• the fourth month when the city walls were broken through;
• the fifth month when the Temple was burned;
• the seventh month when the Jewish governor was assassinated.(Wiersbe)

It was going to be another 3 years before the Temple was completed and worship there established. A delegation was sent from Bethel, about 12 miles north of Jerusalem to seek the Lord's favor and inquire of the prophets and the priests at the Temple. (About 223 exiles had returned with Ezra and settled there.) 

Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple's destruction, as we have done for so many years? That was the question. The answer is found in verses 5-6, which isn't actually an answer. The Lord asked if it was all really done for Him, the fasting, or to please yourselves.

The first message: Obedience is better than fasting.

We find out later that God's answer was to consider their heart-why were they fasting.

Why do we do things? Is it just a tradition? Is it because we love the Lord? Is it for us to feel good?

LET IT GROW

The Lord gave Zechariah the first message:

• Judge fairly.
• Show mercy and kindness to one another.
• Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.
• Do not scheme against each other.

The second message: Disobedience leads to severe judgment. 

Do we show compassion? Or do we pull away our should and stop up our ears so we do not hear the Lord's instructions?

LET IT GO

Help us to love You, Jesus, and love our neighbor.

LET IT GO