Religious rituals can be empty if they are not rooted in a heart that seeks to obey and reflect the character of God. Zechariah 7 reminds us that God is not impressed by external fasting if it’s disconnected from internal repentance and outward justice.
Key Verse:
“Then the word of the LORD of armies came to me, saying, ‘Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?”’” —Zechariah 7:4–5 (NASB)
Background Context:
Zechariah 7 takes place two years after the initial visions in chapters 1–6. A delegation comes to the temple to ask whether they should continue commemorating the destruction of the temple with fasting, now that the new temple is being rebuilt. Rather than giving a simple yes or no, the Lord redirects the question: “Were you fasting for Me—or for yourselves?” God then reminds the people of their history, how He had called them to justice, compassion, and mercy, but they refused to listen. Their disobedience led to judgment and exile. Now He is calling them back—not just to rebuild a temple, but to rebuild their hearts.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
Hearts like Flint
1In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. 2Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the LORD, 3speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, “Shall I weep in the fifth month and abstain, as I have done these many years?” 4Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 5“Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? 6‘When you eat and drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves? 7‘Are not these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?’”
8Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying, 9“Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11“But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. 12“They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13“And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the LORD of hosts; 14“but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
Reflection on Zechariah 7:
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that religious activity is enough to please God. Fasting, praying, attending services, or giving offerings—all of these can be good and meaningful. But God looks deeper. He asks us to check our motives. Are we doing these things to feel better about ourselves or to look righteous in the eyes of others? Or are we truly seeking to honor and obey Him?
God’s message in Zechariah 7 is timeless: He desires obedience, not just ceremony. He wants justice, mercy, and humility—not empty tradition. When our actions reflect His heart for the vulnerable and our motives align with His truth, our worship becomes real.
Application:
Examine your heart behind your spiritual practices. Ask yourself, “Am I doing this for God—or for me?” Seek to live out your faith with integrity, loving what God loves and rejecting what He hates. Don’t settle for routine religion. Instead, pursue righteousness, compassion, and truth. Let your life—not just your rituals—be your worship.
Closing Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve gone through the motions without truly seeking You. Help me to worship You not only with my words or habits, but with my heart and actions. Teach me to love justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with You. Make my worship real, and let my life bring You honor. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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