Zechariah 7:1-14
April 27th 2025, Fourth Holy Day of the Month
Rev. Tadashi Nagae, Pastor
The people from Bethel asked if they should fast. From the LORD's words in response to them, we learn what He wants us to do.
The first is worship from the heart. Fasting was a way to abstain from food, in order to pray, and deepen their relationship with God. They had fasted, but they were pointed out that it was for their own sake. God was looking on their hearts. We also need to offer worship from the heart to the LORD, who looks on our hearts.
The second is righteous judgment, sincerity and mercy. From what is written in this way, it is assumed that they were walking in a way that lacked righteous judgment, sincerity and mercy. We also need to remember that the LORD wants such things and act accordingly.
The third is a soft heart that responds to His voice. They heard the Word, but they did not obey it. The LORD desires us most to listen to and obey His Word.
The LORD is speaking to us through His Word even today. Let us listen to, and obey His Word with a soft heart!
<The Word of the Bible>
“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fas ted?
Zechariah 7:5 (English Standard Version)
