Greetings to you all greatly beloved of God in Christ Jesus. Welcome to another wonderful day. We are thankful to God for preserving our lives each new day and for blessing us with all spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
In our today’s episode 628, we shall be examining the book of Zechariah Chapter 7 titled:
To Fast Or Not To Fast; What Is Your Opinion About This?
Again, I am going to drop here the summary of the book of Zechariah in tabulated form for clarity and reference purposes. Have a look below:
Today, we shall be examining one out of about four sermons that prophet Zechariah delivered to the people of Israel after their return from captivity between chapters 7 and 8.
The first sermon was about fasting.
It happened that on the fourth year that Darius was emperor, on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev, which is equivalent to November/December in the Gregorian Calendar. Prophet Zechariah received a message from the Lord about the matter brought before him by the people of Bethel through their representatives namely Sharezer and Regemmelech to ask whether they should continue to fast as they have been doing for some years while they were in captivity.
Actually, in the history of the Israelites, the issue of fasting began during the period of Moses, when the Israelites and the foreigners living among them, were commanded to observe a day fasting called the Day of Atonement. It’s a day to humble themselves and to purify themselves from all their sins, so that they will be considered ritually clean.
Priests were the ones in charge of the purification rituals during this 1-day fast and must be done on the 10th day of the seventh month every year. Read more details in Leviticus 16:29-34.
However, as time went by, when Jerusalem was captured, the Israelites were instructed to observe another day of fasting in order to mourn and humble themselves. This happened on the 17th day of the fourth month. You will find this in Jeremiah 52:6-30
In addition to this, during the invasion of Jerusalem in 2Kings 25:2-10, and the destruction of the Temple of Solomon, they were also instructed to fast. This happened on the 9th day of the 5th month.
Then on the 3rd day of the 7th month, when Gedaliah was assassinated alongside his 80 men, the Israelites also instituted a fast. You will find this in Jeremiah 4:1-10.
Then finally, another day of fasting was established on the 10th day of the 10th month when king Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. You will find this in 2 Kings 25:1
So, they have been observing these fasts while in captivity in Babylon. However, the moment they were repatriated back to Jerusalem, they wanted to know if they should continue to fast. This was the reason they sent representatives to the Priests and the Prophet to get some answers.
Especially on the one they have always observed on the fifth month for so many years.
Since Jerusalem has been restored and the temple was almost getting completed, they felt there was no need for them to fast and pray anymore. They got what they needed already, so no need for fasting.
Unfortunately for them, they did not get a “pleasant” answer from Prophet Zechariah.
In verse 5, the prophet told them that the fast which they have been observing in the fifth and seventh months during their entire seventy years of captivity was never in honour of God and when they broke their fast to eat and drink, it was completely for their own satisfaction.
It’s shocking to know that this was the same issue the prophets of their forefathers had with their people too in the past. They kept on making the same mistake repeatedly. Remember Prophet Isaiah said the same thing too. Zechariah probably must have read Isaiah’s notes in Isa. 1:10-17 and 58:1-12
Having closed the first message about fasting, he opened the second sermon from verse 8 which centred on embracing justice and ensuring the demonstration of the fruits of kindness and mercy to one another.
If you claim to be fasting and praying and you are very good in being bitter towards your fellow human being, perverting justice, keeping malice, planning on how to harm one another, engaging in all forms of immorality, oppressing the widows, orphans and even foreigners living among you, then your fasting and prayer are mere exercises and are definitely in vain.
These were the things they were busy doing. Their minds were closed, while their hearts were as hard as rock, because they refused to listen to sound teachings. All these became stumbling blocks to their prayers. As a matter of fact, it was their disobedience that landed them in captivity in the first place. Like a storm, they were swept away, while their lands were left desolate with no one living in it. What a terrible situation they subjected themselves into willingly.
Now, let’s ask the question again: “is it right to engage in fasting and prayer?”
The answer is yes. But while doing that, we must ensure we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit as enumerated in Galatians 5:22-25
Our Lord Jesus Christ also elaborated on this when He gave us the two greatest and most important commandments in Matt. 22:39.
The whole law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two greatest commandments. Please take time to read them in Matt 22:39-40.
And that is the foundation upon which the first church was built – the foundation of LOVE.
Any fasting and prayer program organised leaving out LOVE is a waste of time. Please, think about it and let it sink deeply.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let’s pray:
I declare the love of God will continue to have a permanent residence in your heart producing spiritual fruit that will benefit others and drawing them to God, in Jesus name.
In this new year, I declare you are full of divine favour and you are a partaker of all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.
Because you are born of God, you are an overcomer and you have overcome the world already, in Jesus name.
Every form of anxiety, worry, heaviness of spirit, sorrow, depression etc that the devil is planning for you this year, I declare they are cleared out of your way and life, you are completely disconnected from them all, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Book of Genesis Chapters 10 & 11 with Psalm 4
I call you blessed now and always.
Monday January 04, 2021 (DDMI)
