Obedience Better than Fasting
“Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the Lord, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?”
Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ”
Disobedience Resulted in Captivity
Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘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.’
“But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts. “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
There is a word in Yiddish, “Chutzpah.” Anyone having chutzpah has incredible amounts of nerve. It is said that someone possessing chutzpah might shoot both his parents and then throw himself on the mercy of the court as an orphan. Based on that definition, these men who are coming to inquire from the priests and the people backing them have huge amounts of chutzpah! Look at the question these men are asking: “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” There’s an implied complaint here. These men are furious because God has refused to bless them even though they have been going through ALL these religious motions! “God, what’s wrong with you?!”
Too bad for these guys that God isn’t putting up with this rubbish. “‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ”
God knows the hearts of these people and they are complete fakes! While observing religious rites, these people have absolutely refused to follow God’s commands. “Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘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.’” God is far more concerned about His people following His commands and being just and merciful; however, they have completely blown off everything God has commanded them to do.
“But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts. “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
God’s people have not gone into exile because they have been so virtuous but because they have “refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they cannot hear.” These people have hearts of stone and they have shoved their fingers in their ears, bringing God’s judgement on themselves as a result.
APPLICATION: Reading much of the Old Testament might give you the same feeling as watching a horror movie; you know something terrible is going to happen and it’s only a question of when. Read the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and you realize that God has given the Israelites a complete outline of how to conduct themselves righteously so that they can be blessed. One of the main laws of God’s kingdom is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. Give out justice, mercy, righteousness, honesty, etc., and God will bless you. But rebel and violate God’s principles and you are on your own. No blessings from God. Repeatedly, God warns His people the consequences of disobedience, and repeatedly they run off to fertility cults, child sacrifices, etc.
“So what?” you might ask. “What does this have to do with me?” God’s principles have not changed; He still wants us to follow these tenets: “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.’” Times may have changed and cultures may have changed, but God’s principles remain the same.
How do we interact with our families? Our neighbors? Our fellow workers? Our fellow church members? The other families involved with our kids’ athletic teams? The list is endless. The question is simple: Are we merciful or not? Are we just and compassionate? If we know families headed by single moms, how are we coming along side to help nurture those kids? If there are immigrant families in our school district, do we reach out to them or shun them?
Remember, sooner or later, you or your children may find yourselves in need of assistance. When a Jewish religious leader asked Jesus which of the commandments was the greatest, Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
What do we gain by obeying God? Obedience brings blessings of all kinds. Sure, you can rebel against God; however, you are cutting off your own nose to spite your own face. You and your family members are the ones who will suffer from your disobedience.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, speak to the hearts of all who read these words, so that they will understand the manifold blessings You have in store for them if they will only obey You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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