Zechariah 7:4-14

In Zechariah the issue of tradition has to do with fasting.  But this issue applies to all the spiritual disciplines.  Remember that in Matt. 6 Jesus dealt with fasting, giving gifts and offerings and prayer.  We can add daily meditation in His word and the fellowship of believers, and singing of hymns and spiritual songs to that list.  The question deals with what we do to carry out these spiritual disciplines.  

Today’s passage raises two tremendous questions concerning these things.

·        7:4-7: Are we glorifying God or merely satisfying man?  Did you see the reiteration in v5: for Me? for Me?  Verse 5 expands the question, in essence, to everything we do when it questions their attitude when they eat and drink: do you not eat and drink for yourselves?  

o   I have no problem understanding this issue because I have experienced it.  Something bad happens and I turn to the Lord and plead with Him to change it.  The question comes back, Why are you turning to the Lord now; where were you before when things were going well?  This is God’s question.  The bad had come because they were not honoring God (v7) so it makes one wonder: why were they fasting?  Did they just get spiritual to try to get God to remove His wrath?  

o   Scripture is clear: all we do, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, do it all for God’s glory (1 Cor. 10:31).  Whatever we say or do must be done in the name of Christ with an attitude of thanksgiving to the Father (Col. 3:17).  Whatever gift we have from God, whether for serving or speaking, must not be used for our fame but that God might be praised (1 Peter 4:11).  This is not just a valid question; this is the essential question!

·        7:8-14: Are our actions producing the fruit of righteousness?  Verses 8-10 express some important relationship and righteousness issues, critical to Zechariah’s crowd but also to the people in previous generations (and, of course, critical for us today).  Those previous generations had not obeyed (v11-12) so God had, in holy anger, judged them (v13-14).  He would not listen to their prayers; He scattered them; He made the land desolate.

o   They were fasting but not living in obedience to the LORD.  Sometimes religious activity becomes a replacement for obedience, like King Saul who thought it was better to sacrifice than obey.  What about a wife who faithfully attends church without her unsaved husband but then treats him disrespectfully throughout the weak, considering herself to by the spiritual one in the home?  Or the man who never misses reading his daily bread in the morning but then at work is known for bad language, attitudes, complaining and so forth?  Spiritual disciplines serve a purpose, the purpose of our lives which is Christlikeness.  If we are doing all the right things but our lives are not changed there is a problem.  Let us plead with God to show us and deliver us from the evil of hypocrisy!