God’s Instruction on Fasting

A study on Zechariah

God’s Instruction about Fasting

Zechariah 7:1-7

Theme: God shows the heart matter in fasting.

Introduction: God addresses a question through the prophet that comes up regarding tradition. Two years have passed since the first six chapters of the book. Zechariah had been given a series of visions in the first 6 chapters and in the 8th vision God had promised to be faithful to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and He would do something great in the middle of Jerusalem 70 years after His people were carried away into captivity.

There had been a tradition of fasting four times a year. There was only one fast that was mandated by God in Leviticus 23:16. The fast was to remember the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This day is a reminder of an atoning for sins which is marked by fasting and prayers of repentance during a daylong service in the synagogue. It is the only fast commanded by God. When Jerusalem was destroyed, the people began to fast four times of the year.

1. They fasted in the tenth month to commemorate when the Babylonians had begun to lay siege to Jerusalem.

2. The fourth month to commemorate when the city walls of Jerusalem had been broken through.

3. The fifth month to commemorate when the temple in Jerusalem had been burned.

4. The seventh month when Governor Gedaliah had been assassinated.

The purpose of fasting is to focus on the importance of our spiritual condition that physical necessities fade into the background. Fasting is designed as a process leading to humbling ourselves before God and seeking His forgiveness. There is a desire by the people to honor and glorify God in their lives for what He has done.

There was a delegation that came 12 miles from Bethel to Jerusalem with question about fasting. The questions all deal with the issue of empty ritualism. The purpose of chapters 7 and 8 is to impress on the people their need to live righteously in response to their past judgment and future glory.

The delegation was asking: Do we keep on fasting? Do we keep on mourning? Do we keep on remembering that our city, Jerusalem, was torn down, and the temple was torn down? Do we keep on fasting now that the temple is being rebuilt?

I. Transformed from fasting to feasting 1-3

This passage is prophetic in nature.

A. The beginning

1. The people knew that the captivity would last 70 years (Jer. 25:11-12), and 68 of these years had already past. It seemed that fasting over the destruction fo the temple might be inappropriate, since the Lord enabled them to rebuild the temple and reestablish worship.

2. Zechariah wanted them to remember that spiritual life begins when they put their faith in Christ. The gospel transforms our lives from fasting to feasting.

3. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

B. The process

1. Zechariah asked them questions to point out their spiritual condition: “statements accuse and questions convict.”

2. Zechariah answered their questions with a reminder of the purpose of the fast-when you fasted: was it for you or for the Lord.

3. What is in the heart. If we fast, we must do it to honor and glorify Him. The Lord must be the center of our lives and the reason for our actions.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

C. The correction

1. God’s final answer 8:19-all four feasts will one day be turned into feasts.

2. This will take place during the Kingdom Age when Messiah will sit on the throne, judging with justice and truth.

3. So instead of living in the past tense and mourning over calamities, why not live in the future tense and rejoice over what God has promised to do or His people.

4. As we live in this world, our focus should still be on God in our lives.

5. The central idea in changing wrong attitudes is experiencing God’s living presence which requires deep transformation in our lives by the power of the gospel.

II. Transformed from serving ourselves to serving Christ vv. 4-7

A. Changed desires

1. When God enters our lives, our desires will change.

2. Our hearts will be transformed daily by the gospel.

3. The gospel is not a one-time event, it is the power of God to change our hearts to be more like Him daily.

4. Our daily habits and activities will be shaped by our desires which God changes in our lives.

B. Changed purpose

1. For their understanding, we are to honor God daily in our lives and when we serve Him.

2. Our purpose is to serve Him now rather than ourselves.

3. A man without Christ will serve himself, his desires are not in align with Scriptures. He naturally is selfish and will serve himself.

4. Yet, a believer is given a purpose to serve and honor God with his life.

5. While fasting is only commanded once for the nation of Israel, it is honoring to God and pleasing to God. This is our purpose.

Conclusion: In this passage, God gives us a clear understanding about fasting. May God help us to have the right heart in this area of our life.