“"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another."”
Zechariah 7:9
Summary
In Zechariah 7, a delegation from Bethel asks if they should continue fasting as they have done for years. The question concerns fasting in the fifth month, which commemorates the destruction of the temple. God's response, delivered through Zechariah, challenges the sincerity of their fasting, pointing out that the fasts have not been observed for God's sake but for their personal intentions. God calls the people to genuine repentance and highlights the importance of justice, mercy, and compassion over ritual. The Lord recounts the disobedience of their ancestors, who ignored previous warnings and faced exile. This chapter underscores the need for true worship exemplified through righteous actions rather than hollow religious practices.