Zechariah 7 - Who are you doing this for?

This occurred in 518 BC, about two years after the last of the previous set of visions. “The people of Bethel has sent Sharezer” could be translated “Bethel-sharezer had sent ..” Interestingly enough NIV and ESV do not even give this as an alternative translation, yet the sometimes derided NLT does give this as an alternative. The IVP Tyndale commentary suggests that this alternative is actually the most likely. Fortunately the interpretation of the rest of the chapter does not hinge on this!

Whilst in exile the people had held an annual ceremony to mourn the destruction of the temple. They had sent people to Jerusalem to ask if they should continue this practice, now that the return had taken place and rebuilding was continuing.

Now this seems a perfectly valid question to ask, but see how the Lord responds. He responds by asking them a question, much as Jesus did when here on earth, and in doing so goes to the heart of the matter.

Remember who had destroyed the temple. It was God’s doing, His act of judgement upon all that Israel had done (see Jeremiah). So He asks them if they were fasting for God’s benefit or for their own benefit. With all our worship services and other religious practices we need to ask if we are really doing it for God, or just for ourselves.

Notice then in verse 6 that God asks what were they doing when they were feasting? We should not compartmentalise life, all that we do should be done in faith. There are probably two parts of Scripture that form the main backdrop to this. One is Isaiah 58 on true fasting, and the other is Micah 6:8. These both show what is really important, as does the teaching here. Compassion, mercy and justice are what the Lord requires. Religious practices can so easily become an excuse for neglecting to do the really important things.

The Law and the words of the prophets both clearly showed that justice and mercy were what the Lord cares about. Notice also in v12 the reference to the Spirit speaking through prophecy.

The land had become desolate, but this was not the true tragedy. The real tragedy was the sin of the people.

Atheists often complain that God demands worship. But true worship of God involves caring for the poor and acting justly. When we turn away from the Lord there is an increase in exploitation and degradation of people. Just look at society today.