In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, ...”, and in chapter seven and verse five of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD asked a question about, “when you fasted and mourned” where we read,
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast unto me, even to me?
The verse reads, “Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “speak unto all the people” or “utter, declare, proclaim and say to each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and female” “of the land” which means “belonging to the country, territory, district and region”, “and to the priests” or “and toward the spiritual leaders and officers”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking” the following question. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God told him to make a declaration to every one of the people in the country and to the spiritual leaders in the temple by asking the following question.
The verse goes on to say, “... When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast unto me, even to me?” Zechariah continued with the words, “when you fasted” or “at the time and moment you, the people of Israel, abstained from food” “and mourned” which means “and wailed, lamented and expressed grief” “in the fifth and seventh month” or “within the fifth and seventh lunar month or new moon”, “even those seventy years”which means “also and indeed those seventy yearly divisions of time”, “did you at all fast to me” or “did you, the people of Israel, abstain from food toward me, Jehovah God”, “even to me” which means “indeed toward me, Jehovah God”? the words in our next verse. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God asked the people of Israel whether they abstained from food and lamented toward Him in the “fifth and seventh lunar moons” during the “seventy years” that they were in captivity in Babylon.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God questioned the people of Israel concerning their times of “fasting and mourning” while they were exiled in Babylon. In other words, did they just perform these acts in religious rote? God wants us to observe spiritual practices such as “fasting and mourning” with good and honest motives and passions. He was passionate toward us when He went His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire through His Holy Spirit to follow spiritual practices in a manner that is passionate and pleasing to Him.
Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD asks, “did not you drink and eat for yourselves?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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