SCRIPTURE: ZECHARIAH 7
JUSTICE AND MERCY NOT FASTING (vs. 1-14)
The people of Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men to entreat the Lord by asking the priest and the prophets this question: “Should I mourn and fast in the 5th month as I have done for so many years?” Then the Lord said to Zechariah: “Ask all the people of the land and the priest, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? Tell the people to administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts, do not think evil of each other.” (vs. 5-6). But the people did not listen. They hardened their hearts so the Lord was very angry. Since they would not listen to God, the Lord Almighty would not listen to them also. God scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations to make them become strangers. The land was left so desolate behind them that no one could come or go. (v. 14)
THOUGHTS:
While in Babylon, the Jews started a new tradition of fasting on the 9th day of the 5th month to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem. Now that the remnants were rebuilding the temple, they did not know whether fasting should continue or not. The people came to the temple to ask this question, but God did not answer their question directly. Instead, he told them that justice and mercy were more important than fasting. What God wanted was true justice and their compassion for the needy and weak.
The Israelites had lost their sincere desire for a loving relationship with God. They fasted during their exile with no thought of God. When you go to church or have fellowship with other believers, are you doing it from habit or with a sincere attitude to worship God?
Traditions should be examined from time to time to make sure that they are meaningful. It should not just being a ceremony that looks impressive. The fast that God wants is sharing compassions and mercy and helping the poor and needy. God wants mercy not sacrifice.