71 In 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 . 2 Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the Lord , 3 speaking 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 ?" 4 Then 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 ?' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zechariah 7:1-7
Commentary on Zechariah 7:1-7
(Read Zechariah 7:1-7)
If we truly desire to know the will of God in doubtful matters, we must not only consult his word and ministers, but seek his direction by fervent prayer. Those who would know God's mind should consult God's ministers; and, in doubtful cases, ask advice of those whose special business it is to search the Scriptures. The Jews seemed to question whether they ought to continue their fasts, seeing that the city and temple were likely to be finished. The first answer to their inquiry is a sharp reproof of hypocrisy. These fasts were not acceptable to God, unless observed in a better manner, and to better purpose. There was the form of duty, but no life, or soul, or power in it. Holy exercises are to be done to God, looking to his word as our rule, and his glory as our end, seeking to please him and obtain his favour; but self was the centre of all their actions. And it was not enough to weep on fast days; they should have searched the Scriptures of the prophets, that they might have seen what was the ground of God's controversy with their fathers. Whether people are in prosperity or adversity, they must be called upon to leave their sins, and to do their duty.