INTRODUCTION

The prophet Zechariah was most uncompromising in his analysis of the behaviour of Israel and he dwelt on the very hard things that would happen to them.  He did this through the use of many pictures or visions to communicate God's intentions. In doing so, Zechariah placed a powerful emphasis on the covenant between the nation and their God and issued stern demands on the people. He stressed that God's word was powerful, right, unfailing and eternal. We can rightfully

call this lesson ‘The Triumphant Word of God’. 

To fully grasp the significance of Zechariah's ministry we have to understand the context, the period of time in which he ministered. The northern kingdom and the southern kingdom had gone through a very bitter experience. Despite the difficult but magnificent work and testimony of many of the prophets that preceded Zechariah, the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah had gone into exile in Babylon because of their gross sins. They had been overwhelmed by their enemies and in the case of Judah had sunk so low as to practice cannibalism to survive. 

The experience of exile did in large part cure them of idolatry, but let us remember that idolatry was not their only sin. The professing people of God can be and are guilty of many different types of sin. Sin encompasses a variety of activities and they are all serious. All sins are offensive to God, so we should be careful not to think that our sins are somehow lighter than the sins of others.  If we do that we are simply deceiving ourselves.   

Despite the harsh lesson of exile the nation of Israel still continued to sin.  The people of Judah spent seventy years in exile after which a tiny remnant returned to again inhabit the land and rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Note that after their return there was no King in Israel or Judah and though they were basically an independent nation, they remained under the titular control of the ruler of the Medes and the Persians. They were still able to rebuild their capital city and the Temple and worship their God. 

The focus of our study is on the “remnant”. They had determined to brave the difficult trek back to the ‘Land’ and expose themselves to the age-old hostility of the surrounding Gentile nations, because they wanted the blessings God promised after the seventy-year exile. So these people were certainly among the ‘cream of the crop’ that was devoted to Yahweh. Sadly, as Zechariah encouraged the people, he was obviously aware that not all the remnant that returned were fully sincere in serving God.  Hence his strong message from God and his urgent exhortation. 

As we shall see, the “cream of the crop” had significant difficulties.  Let us not think that returning to the land was a cakewalk.  The land was desolate after seventy years of abandonment and neglect.  The returnees lacked money and manpower.  The enemies around them were hostile and did everything they could to retard the work of rebuilding.  On top of that the people could remember the relatively easy time they had had in the rich city of Babylon. 

In the eyes of God, a return to the land was not quite the same as them “returning to God”.

We will look at what it means to “return to God”, for in properly understanding what this means we will be able to better understand the spiritual state of our own lives. 

Zechariah then had to declare the truth of God with vigour and forthrightness. He had to deal with what God wanted from his people and contrast that with the convenience of our ‘flesh’ which makes professing believers feel free to set aside the truths of God. God’s precepts are often set aside because professing believers think that they are being very honest when they say that they believe the Scriptures. The widespread problem today as well as in Zechariah's day however, is that though people say they believe the Scriptures in practice they are in denial.   

We will address this problem in our study and chapter seven provides a perfect example of this malaise among the people of God. Some people posed a question to the prophet and we can summarize God’s response in this way: “Are you doing what you're doing for me or for you?”

In God's eyes when He looks at what His people were doing and why they were doing it the command went out from him: “Return to me”. 

The events of the Old Testament, or more specifically those dealings with the children of Israel, could probably be summarized as ‘the sordid cycle of rebellion and repentance; and God’s mercy and love in calling a people to himself.’   

This is one of the many cases where God raised up a prophet to warn the people that they were again heading in the wrong direction. It was a powerful message of God’s great displeasure and mounting wrath that would be poured out on them, if they did not avail themselves of his mercy, repent and return to Him. 

The social, spiritual and economic landscape was in tatters as the people had forsaken the covenant, which in turn led to all kinds of social injustice.  The poor, the widows and fatherless were routinely oppressed and maltreated.  The people held no regard for the requirements of the covenant, yet they frequented the temple and made a great deal of their sacrifices and ritual fasts.

Economically some of the people were doing well, however greed also flourished and those who had money would oppress the poor to acquire their property and possessions in the most underhanded fashion.  There was no limit to their pursuit of prosperity or the means that they would employ; staying up at night to devise schemes by which they could defraud their brother.  Evil was rampant and truth was merely a commodity used to support ones personal interests.   

Corrupt priests officiated in the temple and the leaders were unjust, while the true prophets of God were not held in the highest regard.  Righteousness was scarce and no one fought for the rights of the poor and down trodden. It was a dangerous time to be a prophet, they were unpopular and greatly disliked; but such is the grace of God that he sent prophets to call them back to covenant relationship. 

Zechariah was a youth like Jeremiah when God called him to the prophetic office (Zech. 2:4) and he also from a line of priests, a role that he would also assume later (Ezra 5:1, 6:14).   He was the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets, but there was nothing minor about his prophecies.  Second only to the book of Isaiah, Zechariah penned the most profound prophecies on the Messiah and the future kingdom. 

He came to warn the people to return to God. He gave this message and prophesied as he did because of their evil and unrepentant ways. Apparently, though the people had returned to the land, they had little intention of drastically amending their ways. It was inevitable that God warned that His wrath would again be meted out, since they had continued to reject His mercy and multiple pleas to return to Him. 

The prophet showed how God dealt with the unrepentant and callous hearts of his people.  He also demonstrated God’s love for His people and that He will often deal very harshly with them in order that they repent and return to Him. So this is a lesson that demands deep and penetrating self-examination from all of us.

THE TEXT

Verse 1(1:1).  The book of Zechariah begins by dating his prophecy. From this we gather that he was a contemporary of Haggai. His prophecy follows that of the prophet Haggai by two months (Hag. 1:1, Zech. 1:1) in the eight month of the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. 

Haggai and Zechariah worked together to encourage the people to resume the building of the temple, a project that had been abandoned. “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem. And with them were the prophets of God helping them.”( Ezra 5:1-2). 

Some of the elders who knew the previous temple mourned, for the appearance of the new Temple didn’t come close to the beauty of the old Temple. Interestingly in a prophecy that is linked to the coming of Christ, the promise is given that the ultimate glory of the new Temple will be greater than that of the former. (Hag.2:1-9). 

The Temple played a central role in the lives of God’s people and the holiness of this sanctuary was to reflect the holiness of God; it was not a place merely for social gatherings. The activities of the people in and around its precincts were to be holy.  Since our bodies are now said to be the temple of God it too should be treated in high regard. Thus Zechariah’s words of encouragement were accompanied by a very stern admonition that reminded them of the need for genuine repentance. 

The relatively precise dating of the prophecy and the genealogical information about Zechariah in his rather lengthy introduction to his visions, has given rise to speculation about his age and his place in the priesthood. But more interesting and rather perplexing is a possible connection between this prophet Zechariah and the Zechariah son of Barachias mentioned in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11: 51 who was brutally murdered between the altar and the temple because the rulers and people obviously did not like his message.  The Scriptures however leaves the connection open to speculation. 

The lesson is set firmly in the context of the history of the people, for to turn from Yahweh, to break covenant with him, something that the prophet accused the people of was serious disloyalty and not just an incidental or insignificant sin.

Verse 2.   Zechariah’s warning came in the form of a history lesson; if they were uncertain how God will act regarding their sin, they should simply look at their fathers’ example – they greatly displeased God.  They participated in all the pagan rituals, worshipped other gods, were disobedient and rebellious and oppressed the poor and fatherless. They would not heed the words of God’s prophets and persisted in their evil until God unleashed the wrath that they had earned. 

For these reasons God was very angry with them and the result of their persistent disobedience before the exile was the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  Zechariah was then pleading with them to repent, not to follow the folly of their fathers lest they suffered the same destruction. Their fathers had clearly failed.  They were not to be like them.   

David understood this very well and wrote in Psalm 60:1-2 “O GOD, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh”. 

Note that when all the letters in God are capitalized as in this Psalm, it is the specific name for the mighty God who is ready for battle.  So the people would know that when this kind of name was used they were being warned to wake up and to stop their foolishness, to obey God’s word and begin to rebuild the Temple and do whatever it was that God commanded.

Verse 3.   God's displeasure led to him taking a particular approach to them. The prophet is commanded to give them a command. 

God used the name of the Lord of Hosts, a name that refers to God as the commander of the armies of Heaven, which consists of innumerable powerful angels and the armies of earth as well.  This is not a God to be trifled with, for even one of his angels can kill hundreds of thousands of well-armed and well-trained soldiers.  This would recall to them what God did during the days of Hezekiah.  (See 2 Chronicles 32:21 and 2 Kings 19: 35).  So the God of hosts gives the command, “turn”.   

With the command to ‘turn’ comes a promised result. Every believer must be aware that this has always been God's style.  He told ancient peoples that they should “Return to Him” and today He is telling us that we should “Return to Him”, so that He would return to us.  We find as we turn from sin and turn to God, that he will also turn to us.  No longer will our prayers fall on deaf ears, for the Lord is actively restoring the broken fellowship. 

This is always God's way.  Just look at yourself!  If you are moving away from the presence of God, your faith is dimming, discouragement increases, you increasingly face all kinds of temptations, all kinds of strange and evil thoughts increasingly plague you, your life is growing cold, the Lord of Hosts is telling you simply this: “Return to me, and I will return to you”. This is the formula for restoration. 

We should not dwell on our past mistakes or the ones we are presently making. We know that God is always displeased when his people turn from him.  But we also must know that all we have to do is to turn to him. We might have drifted far away from God, or we might be quite near.  We might be like the Prodigal Son. We might have walked up to the front of the church dozens of times and made dozens of commitments.  Or we might have crossed the street when we came to a church and passed by on the other side. We might have slipped into the habit of spending our time and money on wasteful or even on bad things and we know that we are going downwards despite the decisions we have made time after time. We might realize that we have been feeding pigs. 

We don't need to be anointed with oil, be baptized all over again, to go up to the altar one more time and cry, or send money to any preacher.  All we have to do is turn to God right where we are, talk to him, tell Him frankly what is bothering us, ask for His help and ask for His forgiveness.  Deal directly with him and return to His embrace. Tell Him that we are weak and prone to slipping and can only survive with His help.  He will understand.  He's waiting.

Verse 4.   Zechariah now has to become even more blunt. The people of Israel loved to talk about their fathers and the patriarchs but Zechariah takes a more direct approach and puts all subtlety aside. He tells the people that they should realize that their fathers were bad and that they should not be as bad as their fathers, who had received the word of God through the previous prophets and were told unequivocally that they must “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil doings”.

The words spoken to their fathers were not simply words of a prophet, for God declared them as his own words, “So says Jehovah of Hosts”. 

Sadly the people refused to listen or heed the word of God brought by the prophets.  Such obstinate, disobedient and wicked people would not go unpunished and as their fathers were seriously chastised, they could expect the same fate. 

Verse 5.   Zechariah reminded them of the certainty of the fulfillment of the word of God. His word would not return to him void without accomplishing those things he had spoken. Zechariah emphasized that the word of God was an unfailing word.  What God had promised, what He said, and what He had determined would never fail.  This was serious business and so they should repent. 

There would be no escape.  Their fathers who thought they did not have to listen to the word of God were all dead as a result of their not listening and heeding. Israel had been destroyed in the bloody battles with the Assyrians and Judah likewise suffered. 

The promises of God outlasted the fathers and had even outlasted the prophets who declared them. The urgent call was that they learn from the experience of their people. It was as if a person refused to take the insurance policy now and wanted to get it when they were on their deathbeds.  That was foolish. 

Often the political ideals and plans of men die with them, left with no one being left to champion their cause. The predictions of the prophets however came to pass long after they had gone and this was proof that God had indeed sent them. The prophet was telling them to use the opportunity that they were being offered now and not to choose waiting, then suffering a forced repentance.

Verse 6.   These were no ordinary people, they were the people of God; they were in a covenant relationship with Him and had committed themselves to keep the covenant. Still, time after time they totally disregarded the covenant in virtually every respect; any similitude of religious activity was a sham. Their hearts were corrupt and their minds blind to the truth, because they continually and unrepentantly ignored the word of God. 

Zechariah reminded the people of Judah of the acknowledgement and lamentation of their fathers, for all that the prophets had said had come to pass. “But My words and My statutes which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?”

 Beginning with Moses the curse for not keeping the covenant was well known.  “And all these curses shall come on you, and shall pursue you and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.” Deut. 28:45   

All the prophets brought basically the same message to the wayward people of God; that if they did not ‘clean up their act’, cease their evil doings, repent and keep the covenant, God would reduce them to dust.  God would allow their enemies to rule over them and cause them terrible grief. 

“…did they not overtake your fathers?”  This was a tremendously deep question.  The people had no answer for it. They knew that the leaders among their fathers were rebels who thought they knew better than the prophets of God.  The audience before Zechariah knew that Jeremiah and Ezekiel had warned their fathers that making an alliance with Egypt would not save the nation. 

Everyone knew that the leaders, the prophets and the people had laughed at God and continued to live their lives of hypocrisy.  They thought they would get away with it. The true prophets were routinely ignored, instead the King and the people preferred to listen to false prophets and corrupt priests.  While the false prophets prophesied peace and safety, the word of God had pronounced death and destruction if they did not heed the word of God.  Their fathers had persecuted and eventually killed many of the prophets, but regardless of what they did to the prophets of God, His word had come to pass.  God had the last laugh. 

So said Zechariah, all of those are dead, and the people admitted the truth finally.

“…And they returned and said, As Jehovah of Hosts planned to do to us, according to our ways and according to our doings” 

The false prophets, corrupt priests, the King and the people knew of God’s dealings with his wayward people, who had to confess that not only had they been doing evil, but that God did indeed punish them exactly as the prophets had said He would. 

The terrible wickedness of man’s heart is on full display. These obstinate and stiff-necked people persisted in their doings even after the Babylonians had taken them captive.  The false prophets’ message shifted from peace and safety, to a prediction that in two years they would be back in their land.  Nothing they said ever came to pass. 

The false prophets however were killed at the exact time and manner that Jeremiah had said; the king also witnessed the killing of his sons before he was blinded by the Babylonians.

“…according to our ways and according to our doings, so He has done with us.”  

The people seem to have repented somewhat but only after tremendous sorrow and affliction, starvation, burning and exile.  They repented only after they had paid a great price.  

As God has done in the past he will do in the future. If people do not repent and follow him He will humble them.  All these things have been recorded for our benefit and we are doomed if we commit the same folly as they did; we have no excuse. 

So what lesson can we get from this.  First, prophecy does last.  The words of God, the truths of God, what God has decided, last! Second, rebel leaders do not last.  Individuals do not last but die, and there generally is another generation of fools who encourage people to make the same mistakes as the previous generation. 

Scripture is the only thing that makes sense of history.  The Scriptures never fail.  It tells us what we need to know about the past, it analyzes our present life and what we need and it tells us about the future.  It explains all the significant events in history. It tells us that empires rise and fall, one set of oppressors are replaced by another set of oppressors.  The most glittering and beautiful powers described in the image of Daniel 2:31-33 are reinterpreted in Daniel Seven as animals.  For that reason God will sweep them away one day.

The only remedy we have to break the cycle of foolishness is to follow the words of Scripture carefully, for in doing that we will not make the same mistakes over and over again.  Following the words of God and listening to the prophets of God enables us to do what is right and to gain true freedom. 

So brethren let us all remember, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked”. 

His prophecy and His promises never fail.  Nobody can ever prove that God is a failure. So let us recognize and be faithful to the word of God in your daily walk, making the kind of choices that are in line with the Scriptures. Now even if you are one of the rebels, and even if you are one of the disobedient ones, when you are making your evil plans, for what it is worth, recognize that the word of God never fails. 

King Ahab thought that by giving his regal clothes to the unsuspecting king of Judah, the enemy army would chase after the king of Judah rather than chase after him.  Ahab thought that his plan would allow him to have the last laugh at God and be able to sneer at the words of the prophet of God that had predicted his death.  But when he thought he was so smart and had gotten away with that ruse, an arrow went into a chink in his armour and he died a bitter death. 

Let this be a lesson to us.

CHAPTER 7

The related issue of God’s requirement that the people are honest and open in their way of life and especially when they come before Him will be the focus in this section. Expectedly, this is a fundamental requirement of God. 

On this occasion advice was sought on the understanding of human sorrow and its place in the worship of God.  

Given the effects of sin on the world, mourning is a definite and inevitable feature of life.  As such every believer must try to understand and face grief in the way that God wants.  We know for example that sin and its consequences are so serious that the prophets wept and lamented over the conditions they faced. We also know that Jesus had the same reaction to the conditions he faced and he wept at Lazarus’ grave and over the city of Jerusalem itself. 

God looks at our reaction to sin and its consequences in such a remarkable fashion, that he pronounced a blessing on those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness and those who are poor in spirit.  Obviously this matter of sorrow and the practices of worship connected with it are extremely important and must be carried out in a correct fashion for it to be pleasing to God. 

It should be noted here that the consequences of sin were so serious and painful that during the seventy years of Babylonian captivity there were four days when significant events that happened during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem were recognized. Zechariah 8: 19 tells us there was “the fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the 10th month”. The first day of fasting recognized the day that Jerusalem was surrounded by the Babylonian armies (2 Kings 25:1). The second fast day recognized the day when the walls of the city were breached.  The third fast was in memory of the day when the Temple was destroyed

(2 Kings 25:2-10). The fourth fast brought to remembrance the day when one of the Jewish leaders Gedaliah was killed at Mizpah in the last despicable act of rebellion against the Babylonian governor of Judah.  Along with him eighty innocent men were massacred. 

(See Jeremiah 4:1-10 and 2 Kings 25: 25). 

On the anniversaries the Jews recalled the sorrow surrounding those days and remembered the agony that they had experienced and so they set aside special days to fast in remembrance of those horrific events. 

Now that God had graciously allowed them to return to their homeland and they were rebuilding the Temple, some of the people wanted to know whether they should continue to remember those days of sorrow and continue to fast. (Verse 3). 

We should remember that the Law of Moses had commanded one fast day, the Day of Atonement 

(Lev.16:29-34).  Since the people in exile had introduced four fast days to remember key dates in their tragic defeat, the issue had come up as to whether they should be observed as days of fasting only temporarily.  Was it appropriate to continue to fast and carry on with this mournful remembrance given the blessing of God that He had promised and which at the precise time predicted had come to the nation? 

Should tradition be allowed to develop to such an extent that once something has started, even if it is for good reason and it is done for a long time, should it be allowed to develop a momentum of its own!

It is an extremely relevant issue today.  We have to ask ourselves the question as to how long should we remember or mourn over our past! Should we do things to remember our past sins and our past tragedies? 

Zechariah cut to the heart of the issue and as one writer puts it asked the people:

“Was it actually for me that you fasted all those years?

And when you eat your feasts, who is it really for?  Isn't it really for yourselves, not for your Lord, that you carried all the routine of worship, assembly and discussion? 

Was it for me that you fasted?

Was it because of your sorrow over my broken heart, over my loss of honor among my people, over the effrontery of the rebels?  Was it for me that you fasted?” 

This was certainly a reasonable question and it gave Zechariah the chance to tell the nation how true worship and real respect for the works of God should be presented.  In answering their question he linked fasting to feasting and verses seven to fourteen address the issue of hypocrisy in fasting. 

As we read this let us remember that worship and fasting can become as one writer calls it

“indulgent pity parties instead of a time to genuinely seek God”. 

Zechariah will tell us that if our lives are not right with God, when we feast on the feast days and fast on the fast days, we are doing it for ourselves and not for God. What is worse is that the few days of fasting every year that one expects would absolve one from what one did the rest of the year, when one lived only for oneself, will not make any person approved to God. As one writer tells us: “It was easy to spend fast days mourning their losses, but harder to face up to God's continuing demands.”   

Verse seven confronts the people with the fact that all the fasting and feasting and their expectation that these activities would make God think that they were serious about Him was off the mark.

Instead of actively fasting and feasting and remembering the sins of the past, they should be focusing on actively obeying God and walking with Him the way he wanted! 

Long before the Babylonian invasion the prophets had been preaching to Israel and had constantly reminded them about the concerns of God. During this time Jerusalem was prosperous and the nation had spread all over the land.  That was the time for obedience and heeding the divine call. 

Clearly Zechariah was telling them that if their fathers had been obedient the land would not have been conquered and destroyed and they would never have had to fast and remember the tragedies that had befallen them.  It was disobedience that had wiped out their prosperity. Clearly as one writer says: “Too many of us are always dwelling beside the graves of the dead past….

When God forgives and restores, the need for dwelling on the bitter past is over…”.

So brethren let us shape up and stop the mourning over our past.  When God forgive us there is no need for sad anniversaries of our sins.

Verse 8.   Zechariah had simply asked the people if they had really observed the feasts to God or themselves, implying that their enquiry was of little value if it did not proceed from the heart. The Lord then sends Zechariah to repeat the message delivered to them by the previous prophets. The message was that their fathers had rejected God and that led to their ruin.  He emphasized that mere ritual fasts and ceremonial feats could never replace obedience to the word of God. 

God would again outline the kind of behaviour that He desired, He would have to repeat himself.

Verse 9.   The message echoed that of the earlier prophets, addressing first those who judged the people and who were still corrupt, but who were required to execute true judgment. They were expected to judge the people righteously according to the law of God without respect to persons. 

They should not take bribes or judge in favour of the wealthy and affluent or to further any personal or political agenda but truth and righteousness must characterize their judgment. 

Note that “executing justice” has a very wide meaning, and is an activity expected of every single person. Mercy and compassion must be shown for this is a sign of “executing justice”. This behaviour is essential and has to be exercised. 

Verse 10.   Repatriation brought numerous difficulties and the people were reminded to care for each other as rooted in the covenant. They were to extend compassion and mercy, to help those who were in need of food, clothing and shelter and help to alleviate whatever distress they may be experiencing whether in body or mind.  These virtues outweighed the ritual requirement of sacrifices or fasts; in fact their sacrifices were not acceptable to God if they did not show compassion and mercy. 

Throughout the Scriptures God shows great concern for those in society that are mistreated in any way; thus the care for the oppressed, the widows and fatherless, the stranger and the poor are all integral to the keeping of the covenant. 

We are called to fight for the God given rights of people who tend to be cast away by society; thus to keep the covenant entails the observation of the law.  Note that the application of the covenant has universal implications, for it stipulates how we ought to relate to the stranger among us, as well as those who belong to the household of faith. 

The extent to which covenant keeping provides protection, not only involves the prohibition against evil acts towards ones brother, but extends to the very things that one might think about them.  To lay awake in ones bed and devise evil schemes against one’s brother, even if not acted out is sin. Evil thoughts as well as actions of evil are forbidden by the law of God.  This agrees with our Lord's sense of the law.   

What was clear is that it was easier to treat people badly during the year, then fast a few days and expect forgiveness. Note that when believers treat people properly this reflects the fact that they have a good relationship with God.  Conversely, treating people badly is a clear indication that one has a fundamentally bad relationship with the Lord.  (See Matt. 5:22).

“Woe to those who plot wickedness and prepare evil on their beds! When the morning is light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.  And they covet and seize fields; and houses, and take them away. And they oppress a man and his household, even a man and his inheritance.  So Jehovah says this: Behold, against this family I am plotting an evil from which you shall not remove your necks; nor shall you go proudly, but it is an evil time.”  (Mic. 2:1-3). 

If we ignore these very important aspects of the law, it is because we are in darkness. “But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:11). 

Verse 11.   Zechariah's history lesson continued. He reminded the nation that after all the prophets had said there was no remorse, no repentance and no recognition of the law. They blatantly refused to listen and were speeding headlong into the same destruction that came on their brother Israel.

The backslidden people stopped their ears and simply refused to listen

Verse 12.   Notice the steps.  First, they refused to listen.  They stopped their ears and in doing so pretended not to hear.  Then they hardened their hearts, they became harder than flint or diamonds and they resisted the word of God.  Isaiah says the people intentionally hardened their hearts in case they hear and be converted.

“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed.” (Isa. 6:10).   

They not only stopped their ears, but covered their eyes for the evidence was overwhelming.  Covering the eyes is a reflection of the state of the mind. Just as light cannot enter the covered eye, so their mind was blind and in darkness. They resisted the grace of God so vehemently, that there was only one course of action and that was to receive the great wrath of God; as prophesied the Babylonians would be God chosen instrument of chastisement.

Verse 13.  After their deceitful behaviour, the only thing left for the people to do was to play the hypocrite.  So it was logical that they would now ask whether they should keep on with the feasts and fasting that they had begun in Babylon. Zechariah told them that they were to ask themselves why they were doing all that, whether or not they were really worshiping, or doing it for a religious show.       

He called the people to repent and return to God; he literally pleaded with them, knowing that God still extended his hand of mercy though he has announced judgment, but such an offer of mercy will expire and they will not escape the wrath of God. 

We must seek the Lord while he may be found and call on him while he will listen, for there will come a time when it is too late.  When unbearable calamity overtakes us because of our sin and neglect of God’s word; and when in total distress we call out to God, our calls will fall on deaf ears. Because in the time of peace and prosperity, we neither served nor worshiped God, but rebelled continuously.

“when your fear comes as a wasting away, and your ruin comes like a tempest when trouble and pain come upon you.   Then they shall call upon me, and I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me;” ( Prov. 1:27).   

Isaiah, Hosea, Micah and Jeremiah had all echoed the same warning – “now” was the time when the nation had room to repent and so avoid the punishment God promised. The nation had not listened then.  So Zechariah had to warn them not to be like their fathers but to listen “now”.  God was now repeating himself.

When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood” (Isa. 1:15).

Verse 14.   Zechariah had warned the people that God was very angry with them, their unrepentant, rebellious spirit would only serve to stoke the fire of God’s wrath.  After much pleading the offer of mercy would again expire and judgment would be dispensed. 

Zechariah reminded them that God used the Babylonians to scatter all the people like a whirlwind. The judgment had been swift and harsh, breaking up families and taking them captives, dispersing them throughout the vast Babylonian empire among people they did not know, to be slaves. The land of Judah was totally decimated, only the bottom of society, cripples, lepers and the mentally unstable were left behind. Thus the land was in ruins and the temple was destroyed.

CONCLUSION         

God gave his people numerous calls to repent and return to Him; warning after warning, pleading and begging us to repent while mercy is still extended. Like Israel and Judah we are obstinate, rebellious backsliders, our heart become increasingly harder, we refuse to listen, till eventually mercy runs out and the wrath of God is poured out.

The plight of the Jews is an example and warning to us; pretentious religious activity is not a substitute to hearing and doing the word of God and keeping his commandments. There has to be genuine spiritual fasting, genuine remorse, if God is to be pleased.