Zechariah 7 - God's Compassion

 

Zechariah 7– God’s Compassion

 

Although the Israelites had rebelled against God and had been exiled to Babylon, God had brought a small group of them back to Jerusalem. The exiles knew what it was like to experience God’s compassion. Now, through Zechariah, God asked them to “show mercy and compassion” to each other. What did that mean? To look after widows, orphans, the poor and those who were strangers in the land.

 

All who have experienced God’s mercy, the forgiveness Christ freely offers need to show that same type of compassion to others. Zechariah’s prophecy is like Haggai’s prophecy. These people mentioned here in this chapter is from Ephraim and they came from Bethel to the House of God. They came asking if the ritual of fasting and weeping was right or wrong. They had fasted and wept for many years, but God did not bless them because of their disobedience. God gave the Israelites a religion which was very ritualistic, but they became bored of it and so did God.

 

God asked the Israelites if they fasted for Him or for themselves. God never gave them days of fasting and weeping but he did give them days of feasting. He asked them where their heart was when they did fast. He told them that when their heart is right the ritual would be right. When it was wrong the ritual would be wrong. God’s purpose is never changed by a ritual. God never approves or condemns the ritual but asks to know where your heart is.

 

Whatever we do we must do it to the glory of God. Our repetitious prayers can become a ritual and if our focus is not from the heart in communicating with God it will not only become boring for us, but for God also. He doesn’t want to hear the same words repeatedly. He wants to know what your heart is saying. The same can be said in going to church, in taking communion, and in singing worship songs. It must be from the heart if you want God’s attention.

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible