Zechariah Part 11: Was It For Me?

Zechariah 7:1-14.

Intro:

The Question of Fasting, Vs 1-3

vs 1, This would be now 2 years later, after the visions (Dec. 7, 518 BC)

two years since temple work resumed, two years till finished

Vs 2, entreating the favor of Yahweh

vs 3, Fifth Month

(Probably in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem) 2 Kings 25:8-11.

we have been doing this for so long, can we stop? Zech. 1:16.

The Lord’s Response, vs 4-7

Vs 4-5,

the seventh month also, Fast for Assassination of Gedaliah (reform instead of fighting, like Zedekiah)

Was it for me?

Their motivations

The Motivations behind obedience and worship to God can be shown as one of two things; external and internal. Merely external obedience to God is like making a cake and frosting from scratch without sugar. you've missed the point. While there can be merely external worship, the same cannot be said about Internal worship. True internal worship is never merely internal. it always works itself outward.

Vs 6, eating and drinking

this wasn't for God either

he received neither true mourning for sin or true thankfulness

Vs 7, The Former Prophets

What did they say?

Fasting

Is. 58:3-7.

About the underlying problem

Is. 1:10-11, Joel 2:12-13, Ps. 51:16-17.

This Is What Got You Into This Mess, Vs 8-14

Vs 8-9, first things first

they had lost this and was the reason for the exile

Micah 6:8.

This would later be the pharisees problem, Mt. 23:23.

Vs 10, this was said before as well

Jer. 7:4-10.

they had this attitude that Service to Yahweh would absolve them and allow them to do whatever

This is a dangerous mindset to live in and we in the church are also susceptible today

Contribution, LS, Hymns

Too many people in the church view worship like this

it leads to hypocrisy, legalism, and damnation